abstract: With the increase of academic courses moving to online instruction (Blake, 2011), it is only natural language education also would make the leap to online platforms. Following Vygotsky's (1978) Sociocultural Theory (SCT), the purpose of this study is to test the differential effect of the presence of a language learning orientation module in online environments as well as exploring the possible variables affecting student success in module and non-module containing courses. The effectiveness of the module is measured by triangulating student success as defined and tested by Kerr et al. (2006) using their quantitative TOOLS (Test of Online Learning Success) instrument and collecting qualitative data in the form of journal entries and surveys. Data were collected from 1st year university Spanish courses from both a control group (no module use), as well as an experimental group (module use). Case study data from both control and experimental groups showed trends related to student success and may help to shed light on the pedagogical implications of language orientation modules in both online and face-to-face language learning environments while providing avenues for future research designs to explore the effectiveness of the aforementioned modules in online environments. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Spanish 2016

abstract: Surface exploration of the Moon and Asteroids can provide important information to scientists regarding the origins of the solar-system and life . Small robots and sensor modules can enable low-cost surface exploration. In the near future, they are the main machines providing these answers. Advanced in electronics, sensors and actuators enable ever smaller platforms, with compromising functionality. However similar advances haven’t taken place for power supplies and thermal control system. The lunar south pole has temperatures in the range of -100 to -150 oC. Similarly, asteroid surfaces can encounter temperatures of -150 oC. Most electronics and batteries do not work below -40 oC. An effective thermal control system is critical towards making small robots and sensors module for extreme environments feasible. In this work, the feasibility of using thermochemical storage materials as a possible thermal control solution is analyzed for small robots and sensor modules for lunar and asteroid surface environments. The presented technology will focus on using resources that is readily generated as waste product aboard a spacecraft or is available off-world through In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). In this work, a sensor module for extreme environment has been designed and prototyped. Our intention is to have a network of tens or hundreds of sensor modules that can communicate and interact with each other while also gathering science data. The design contains environmental sensors like temperature sensors and IMU (containing accelerometer, gyro and magnetometer) to gather data. The sensor module would nominally contain an electrical heater and insulation. The thermal heating effect provided by this active heater is compared with the proposed technology that utilizes thermochemical storage chemicals. Our results show that a thermochemical storage-based thermal control system is feasible for use in extreme temperatures. A performance increase of 80% is predicted for the sensor modules on the asteroid Eros using thermochemical based storage system. At laboratory level, a performance increase of 8 to 9 % is observed at ambient temperatures of -32oC and -40 oC. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2016

An experimental characterisation of a pre-commercial spiral wound permeate gap membrane distillation module was carried out to test its performance at different operating conditions for the purpose of seawater desalination. The experimental setup consisted of a flat plate solar collector field indirectly coupled to the permeate gap membrane distillation module via an inertia tank. The operating parameters varied were the condenser inlet temperature (from 20 °C to 30 °C), evaporator inlet temperature (from 60 °C to 80 °C) and seawater feed flow rate (from 200 l/h to 400 l/h). Within this operational boundary, it was found that the maximum permeate/distillate flux was 4.135 l/(h∙m2) which equates to a distillate production/flow rate of close to 21.3 l/h. The maximum potential distillate production rate is expected to be significantly higher than this value though as the maximum manufacturer specified feed flow rate is 700 l/h and the maximum evaporator inlet temperature is rated at 90 °C. Both these parameters are positively related to the distillate production rate. The minimum specific thermal energy consumption was found to be 180 kWh/m3. A mathematical model of the overall system was developed, and experimentally validated, to mathematically describe the coupling of the membrane distillation module with a solar collector field. The effectiveness of internal heat recovery of the membrane distillation module was found to be an accurate and simple tool to evaluate the thermal energy demand of the distillation process at a given set of operation parameters. The mathematical model was used to further investigate the experimental findings and provide insights into the operational dynamics of the membrane distillation module. It was also used to determine some external conditions required for steady state operation, at a given distillation operating point, such as the minimum solar irradiation required for operation and the auxiliary cooling required in the solar collector loop for maintaining steady state conditions. Finally, general guidelines are provided toward better operational practices to improve the coupling of a solar thermal collector unit/field with a membrane distillation system using a storage tank or inertia tank.

L'objectif de ce travail de thèse est la caractérisation et la modélisation du comportement thermo-mécanique d'un acier à haut taux de carbone dans des conditions de chargement identiques à celles d'un procédé de formage incrémental à 720°C. Le regain d'intérêt des industriels pour ce type de procédé provient du fait qu'ils sont moins énergivores et permettent un ratio matière valorisée sur matière brute intéressant pour des propriétés mécaniques améliorées de la pièce formée. Le recours à l'outil numérique devient aujourd'hui une solution intéressante pour optimiser au mieux la mise au point du procédé. Son application demande, entre autres, une description fine du comportement du matériau dans les conditions de sollicitations de celui-ci, c'est-à-dire sur une large plage de vitesses de déformation et de températures. Pour cela, une caractérisation du matériau est nécessaire dans ces conditions. Le comportement mécanique d'un acier à haut taux de carbone a été étudié au travers d'essais de traction quasi-statiques et dynamiques afin de déterminer la sensibilité du matériau à la température et à la vitesse de déformation. Cette caractérisation repose sur la combinaison novatrice d'un système de chauffage par induction contrôlé par pyrométrie et d'un système d'acquisition d'images numériques. Ce dernier est utilisé pour la détermination des déformations à partir des champs de déplacement obtenus par corrélation d'images. En particulier, les effets de la température sur le module d'élasticité, l'anisotropie et l'écrouissage isotrope ont été étudiés. Les résultats de ces essais ont ensuite constitué une base de données expérimentales pour l'identification des paramètres de divers modèles de comportement thermo-élasto-visco-plastique. Ces derniers sont plus ou moins complets selon le nombre de paramètres utilisés pour décrire le comportement du matériau sur l'ensemble du domaine étudié. Cela permet d'identifier le modèle avec le meilleur ratio qualité/coût-délai pour une application donnée. Chacun des modèles étudiés dispose donc d'un domaine de définition propre. / The aim of this thesis work is the characterization and the modelisation of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of a high-carbon steel with loading conditions corresponding to those imposed by a forming process at 720°C. The renewal interest for this kind of industrial process comes from the fact that they use less energy and provide a ratio of material valued/raw material interesting to improved mechanical properties of the formed part. The use of numerical tool becomes today an interesting solution to optimize the development process. Its application requires a detailed description of the material behaviour in the loading conditions of the process, that is over a wide range of strain rates and temperatures. So, a material characterization is required in those conditions. The mechanical behaviour of a high-carbon steel was studied through quasi-static and dynamic tensile tests in order to determine the temperature and strain rate sensitivity of the material. This characterization is based on the innovative combination of an induction system controlled by pyrometry and a digital image acquisition system. This one is used for the determination of strains from displacement fields obtained by digital image correlation. In particular, effects of temperature on the modulus of elasticity, anisotropy and isotropic hardening were studied. Results of these tests allow us to establish an experimental database for the identification of parameters of various thermo-elasto-visco-plastic models. These are more or less complete depending on the number of parameters used to describe the material behaviour throughout the studied area. The model with the best ratio quality/cost-delay for a given application can be identified. Each of studied models has a specific domain of validity.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T14:59:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2733979 bytes, checksum: 31a7b17d4e55b0b76104e86521d477c4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work presents a new method for determination of thermal properties of materials. As it makes use of two different materials at the time of measurement, it is a differential instrument. In the proposed method a thermal wave is generated at one end of the material and measured the temperature at the other end. Based on the relationship between the input and output waves is possible to obtain the thermal properties of the material. The equation of heat conduction in materials was deduced and simulated, to determine the temperature at any point of the materials. In the experimental setup two thermoelectric modules were used along with a PID control to generate a thermal wave and a module to maintain a constant temperature. The LabVIEW platform together with the cFP-2000 was used for data acquisition and control. Type T thermocouples were used as temperature sensors. The materials used in the experiments (ASTM A36 Steel, Nylon and Quartz) have their thermal properties provided by the manufacturers, these values were used as reference for validation. The developed instrument generates waves with amplitudes between 1 and 3 ° C and periods from 100 to 10000 seconds. To solve the problem of determining the temperature in the material, the analogy between thermal and electrical systems was applied, a technique called the Method of Simulation Network. The results were divided into three parts: The first introduces thermal sinusoid generated by the thermal generator and the second compares the theoretical values to the measured values of temperature between the two materials and the third displays the value of thermal conductivity measured by the instrument. The results were positive and indicate the feasibility of the method and instrument. / Neste trabalho é apresentado um novo método para determinação das propriedades térmicas dos materiais. Como faz uso de dois materiais distintos no momento da medição, trata-se de um instrumento diferencial. No método proposto é gerada uma onda térmica em uma extremidade do material e medida a temperatura de saída na outra extremidade. A partir da relação entre as ondas de entrada e saída é possível obter a condutividade térmica do material. A equação da condução de calor nos materiais foi deduzida e simulada, permitindo determinar a temperatura em qualquer ponto dos materiais. Na montagem experimental foram utilizados dois módulos termoelétricos com controle PID para gerar uma onda térmica e um módulo para manter a temperatura constante. A plataforma LabVIEW em conjunto com o cFP-2000 foram utilizados para aquisição de dados e controle. Foram empregados termopares do tipo T como sensores de temperatura. Os materiais utilizados nos experimentos (Aço ASTM A36, Nylon e Quartzo) têm suas propriedades térmicas previstas pelos fabricantes. Esses valores foram utilizados como referência para a validação. O instrumento desenvolvido gera ondas térmicas com amplitudes entre 1 e 3 ºC e períodos de 100 a 10000 segundos. Para solução do problema de determinação da temperatura nos materiais aplicou-se o Método de Simulação de Rede, que aplica uma analogia entre sistemas elétricos e térmicos. Os resultados foram divididos em três partes: a primeira apresenta a senóide térmica gerada pelo Gerador Térmico; a segunda compara os valores teóricos com os valores medidos da temperatura entre os dois materiais; e a terceira apresenta o valor da condutividade térmica medida pelo instrumento. Os resultados foram positivos e indicam a viabilidade do método e do instrumento.

Resumo: Nesta dissertação é apresentada uma aplicação web, dinâmica e interativa, para o controle e monitoramento de transdutores inteligentes conectados em rede de acordo com o padrão IEEE 1451. O ambiente está hospedado em um computador pessoal que desempenha as funções de um servidor web e da parte lógica de um processador com capacidade de operar em rede. O acesso aos transdutores da rede é realizado através de um módulo de interface para transdutores inteligentes, implementado em um dispositivo lógico programável. No desenvolvimento do MATIW 1451 utilizou-se somente plataforma operacional e linguagens de programação de domínio público, abertas e padronizadas como estabelece o comitê gestor do padrão IEEE 1451. O sistema foi testado em uma rede de transdutores contendo um sensor de temperatura e uma ventoinha e em uma rede de distribuição de água, contendo sensores de pressão, vazão e um redutor de pressão. / Abstract: This paper presents an interactive and dynamic web application to control and monitor smart transducers connected in network according to the IEEE 1451 standart, named MATIW 1451. A personal computer acts as a web server and as the logical part of a NCAP (Network Capable Application Process). The transducers are accessed via a STIM (Smart Transducer Interface Module) implemented by a PLD (Programmable Logic Device). The tools used in the implementation of MATIW 1451 are all in public domain, open as defined by the 1451 committee, including the operating system, languages, libraries and API’s. The system was tested in a network of transducers comprised by a temperature sensor and cooler, and also tested in a water distribution kit with pressure and flow sensors, and a pressure reducer. / Orientador: Alexandre César Rodrigues da Silva / Coorientador: Carlos Antônio Alves / Banca: Ailton Akira Shinoda / Banca: Mauro Conti Pereira / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-15T11:46:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 403531 bytes, checksum: ecf0300b6ad75f58a9c2431f8679a8ca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-06-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neste trabalho provamos o Teorema algebro-geométrico de Ganey, o qual caracteriza completamente as condições de Whitney de famílias de espaços analíticos complexos com singularidades arbitrárias em termos do fecho integral de módulos naturalmente associados a estas famílias. / Neste trabalho provamos o Teorema algebro-geométrico de Ganey, o qual caracteriza completamente as condições de Whitney de famílias de espaços analíticos complexos com singularidades arbitrárias em termos do fecho integral de módulos naturalmente associados a estas famílias.

A presente Tese de Doutorado apresenta uma análise de diversos fatores que influenciam nos resultados da caracterização elétrica de módulos fotovoltaicos e na obtenção de seus principais parâmetros. A principal análise refere-se aos efeitos que ocorrem ao traçar a curva I-V (corrente versus tensão) de um módulo fotovoltaico decorrentes da rapidez e da direção da varredura (de Isc para Voc e vice-versa) utilizada na tensão de polarização necessária para traçar a curva I-V. Quando a caracterização elétrica é realizada com tempo de varredura reduzido, como por exemplo, em simuladores solares pulsados, há desvios significativos nos resultados, dependendo da tecnologia de fabricação do módulo fotovoltaico. Também é analisada a importância do fator de descasamento espectral no resultado da caracterização elétrica de módulos fotovoltaicos. Uma comparação entre os resultados dos valores dos coeficientes térmicos determinados com simulador solar (indoor) e sob iluminação natural (outdoor) é realizada, concluindo-se que são equivalentes dentro do intervalo de incerteza das medidas. Finalmente é apresentada uma comparação entre medidas realizadas sob iluminação natural e com simulador solar, levando-se em conta os fatores investigados na tese, isto é, os efeitos decorrentes da rapidez da varredura de tensão, da medida da temperatura do módulo e do descasamento espectral no momento da caracterização. / This doctoral thesis presents an analysis of several issues that influences the electrical characteristics of photovoltaic modules and its parameters. The main analysis is about sweep time effects that arise due to the speed and direction (Isc to Voc and vice versa) used to polarize the module in order to trace the I-V curve. A fast voltage sweep, as used in pulsed solar simulators, can cause discrepancies in the results of some photovoltaic module technologies. It is also analyzed the importance of the spectral mismatch factor in the characterization of photovoltaic devices. A comparison of indoor and outdoor measurements of thermal coefficients is performed and it is concluded that they are equivalent and the results are equivalent among the experimental uncertainties. Finally a comparison between indoor and outdoor measurements of photovoltaic modules is presented where it is discussed the issues studied in the thesis, i.e., sweep time effects, temperature measurement and spectral mismatch factor.

A presente dissertação, intitulada Estruturas Contingentes e Formas Resguardadas: o tecer como prática artística inserida no cotidiano, propõe a análise do processo de tecitura manual dos objetos que compõem a pesquisa. Ao sistematizar e analisar o processo dos referidos objetos, abordarei as interferências e intercorrências em espaços privados e públicos – experienciados enquanto lugares de atividades cotidianas e do exercício de tecer. Também estarão sob foco as reverberações dessas experiências no atelier e nos modos de exposição. / This dissertation, titled Contingent Structures and Withdrawn Shapes: weaving as an everyday art practice, proposes the analysis of the process of hand weaving the objects that make up the research. By systematizing and analyzing the process of said objects, I will approach interferences and events in private and public spaces - experienced as venues for everyday activities and for the act of weaving. Echoes of these experiences in the studio and in exhibition methods will also be addressed.

abstract: Potential induced degradation (PID) due to high system voltages is one of the major degradation mechanisms in photovoltaic (PV) modules, adversely affecting their performance due to the combined effects of the following factors: system voltage, superstrate/glass surface conductivity, encapsulant conductivity, silicon nitride anti-reflection coating property and interface property (glass/encapsulant; encapsulant/cell; encapsulant/backsheet). Previous studies carried out at ASU's Photovoltaic Reliability Laboratory (ASU-PRL) showed that only negative voltage bias (positive grounded systems) adversely affects the performance of commonly available crystalline silicon modules. In previous studies, the surface conductivity of the glass surface was obtained using either conductive carbon layer extending from the glass surface to the frame or humidity inside an environmental chamber. This thesis investigates the influence of glass surface conductivity disruption on PV modules. In this study, conductive carbon was applied only on the module's glass surface without extending to the frame and the surface conductivity was disrupted (no carbon layer) at 2cm distance from the periphery of frame inner edges. This study was carried out under dry heat at two different temperatures (60 °C and 85 °C) and three different negative bias voltages (-300V, -400V, and -600V). To replicate closeness to the field conditions, half of the selected modules were pre-stressed under damp heat for 1000 hours (DH 1000) and the remaining half under 200 hours of thermal cycling (TC 200). When the surface continuity was disrupted by maintaining a 2 cm gap from the frame to the edge of the conductive layer, as demonstrated in this study, the degradation was found to be absent or negligibly small even after 35 hours of negative bias at elevated temperatures. This preliminary study appears to indicate that the modules could become immune to PID losses if the continuity of the glass surface conductivity is disrupted at the inside boundary of the frame. The surface conductivity of the glass, due to water layer formation in a humid condition, close to the frame could be disrupted just by applying a water repelling (hydrophobic) but high transmittance surface coating (such as Teflon) or modifying the frame/glass edges with water repellent properties. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S.Tech Engineering 2012