Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2004. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-164). Also available on the World Wide Web.

We produce explicit geometric representatives of non-trivial homology classes in Emb(S1,Rd), the space of knots, when d is even. We generalize results of Cattaneo, Cotta-Ramusino and Longoni to define cycles which live off of the vanishing line of a homology spectral sequence due to Sinha. We use con figuration space integrals to show our classes pair non-trivially with cohomology classes due to Longoni. We then give an alternate formula for the first differential in the homology spectral sequence due to Sinha. This differential connects the geometry of the cycles we define to the combinatorics of the spectral sequence. The new formula for the differential also simplifies calculations in the spectral sequence.

A Seifert surface for a knot in ℝ³ is a compact orientable surface whose boundary is the knot. Seifert surfaces are not unique. In 1934 Herbert Seifert provided a construction of such a surface known as the Seifert Algorithm, using the combinatorics of a projection of the knot onto a plane. This thesis presents another construction of a Seifert surface, using differential geometry and a projection of the knot onto a sphere. Given a knot K : S¹⊂ R³, we construct canonical maps F : ΛdiffS² → ℝ=4πZ and G : ℝ³ - K(S¹) → ΛdiffS² where ΛdiffS² is the space of smooth loops in S². The composite FG : ℝ³ - K(S¹) → ℝ=4πZ is a smooth map defined for each u∈2 ℝ³ - K(S¹) by integration of a 2- form over an extension D² → S² of G(u) : S1 → S². The composite FG is a surjection which is a canonical representative of the generator 1∈H¹(ℝ³- K(S¹)) = Z. FG can be defined geometrically using the solid angle. Given u ∈ ℝ³ - K(S¹), choose a Seifert surface Σu for K with u ∉ Σu. It is shown that FG(u) is equal to the signed area of the shadow of Σu on the unit sphere centred at u. With this, FG(u) can be written as a line integral over the knot. By Sard's Theorem, FG has a regular value t ∈ ℝ=4πZ. The behaviour of FG near the knot is investigated in order to show that FG is a locally trivial fibration near the knot, using detailed differential analysis. Our main result is that (FG)-¹(t)⊂ ℝ³ can be closed to a Seifert surface by adding the knot.

Elastic rods have been studied intensively since the 18th century. Even now the theory of elastic rods is still developing and enjoying popularity in computer graphics and physical-based simulation. Elastic rods also draw attention from architects. Architectural structures, NODUS, were constructed by elastic rods as a new method of form-finding. We study discrete models of elastic rods and NODUS structures. We also develop computational tools to find the equilibria of elastic rods and the shape of NODUS. Applications of elastic rods in forming torus knot and closing Bishop frame are included in this thesis.

Southern pine (SP) lumber is the primary softwood material in the United States. The main procedure during lumber grading process is the identification of the strength reducing characteristics that impacts the modulus of rupture (MOR). Non-destructive evaluation technology can be used to identify higher-stiffness material. This study investigated the use of vibration methods to evaluate the mechanical properties of southern pine lumber. Significant correlations between the properties determined by non-destructive techniques and the static MOE were found. No strong correlations were found for MOR because it is related to the ultimate strength of material, often associated with the existence of localized defects, such as a knot. Non-destructive measurements, visual characteristics, and lumber density were used as independent variables. Linear models were constructed to indirectly estimate the MOE and MOR. The variables selected was dynamic modulus of elasticity (dMOE) to predict MOE. Adding density and knot diameter ratio to the model it was possible to develop a prediction model for MOR. It was possible to improve predictability of strength (MOR) with a combination of non-destructive and knot evaluation.

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In this thesis, we study alternating virtual knots. We show the Alexander polynomial of an almost classical alternating knot is alternating. We give a characterization theorem for alternating knots in terms of Goeritz matrices. We prove any reduced alternating diagram has minimal genus, and use this to prove the frst Tait Conjecture for virtual knots, namely any reduced diagram of an alternating virtual knot has minimal crossing number. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In this thesis, we show that every periodic virtual knot can be realized as the closure of a periodic virtual braid. If K is a q-periodic virtual knot with quotient K_*, then the knot group G_{K_*} is a quotient of G_K and we derive an explicit q-symmetric Wirtinger presentation for G_K, whose quotient is a Wirtinger presentation for G_{K_*}. When K is an almost classical knot and q=p^r, a prime power, we show that K_* is also almost classical, and we establish a Murasugi-like congruence relating their Alexander polynomials modulo p. This result is applied to the problem of determining the possible periods of a virtual knot $K$. For example, if K is an almost classical knot with nontrivial Alexander polynomial, our result shows that K can be p-periodic for only finitely many primes p. Using parity and Manturov projection, we are able to apply the result and derive conditions that a general q-periodic virtual knot must satisfy. The thesis includes a table of almost classical knots up to 6 crossings, their Alexander polynomials, and all known and excluded periods. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In this dissertation, we discuss how to realize simple Smale flows on 3-manifolds. We use four-band and three-band templates to study the linking structure of two types of closed orbits known as attracting closed orbits and repelling closed orbits in the flow. This dissertation extends the work done by M. Sullivan on realizing Lorenz Smale flows on 3-manifolds, by Bin Yu on realizing Lorenz-like Smale flows on 3-manifolds and continues the work of Elizabeth Haynes and Michael Sullivan on realizing simple Smale flows with a four-band template on a 3-sphere. The four-band template we use in this dissertation is different from the template used by Haynes and Sullivan.

This research investigates the effect that knots in close proximity have on strength properties of southern pine lumber. The project involved specimens of 2×4 dimension southern yellow pine lumber exhibiting multiple knots in close proximity. Knot dimensions were measured to determine the knot diameter (KD) parallel to the cross-section of the specimen, knot area (KA), and clear wood (CW). In addition, the density (D) using the entire specimen weight by volume was determined. A third-point bending test was used in a flatwise orientation to quantify the modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE). The relationships between the simple correlation coefficients showed significant correlation. Multiple regression analysis with one dependent variable, MOR, and three independent variables, KD, MOE, and D resulted in a coefficient of determination value (r2) of 0.702 as contrasted with 0.564 obtained by using MOE alone to predict MOR.