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The study of infinitely long cylinders of constant cross-section floating in an infinite fluid bath in zero-gravity environments has primarily been focused on bodies whose cross-sections are strictly convex and sufficiently smooth. In this thesis, our efforts are concentrated on the consideration of bodies that are only convex and piecewise smooth. These types of bodies are seldom considered in current literature. We have worked with a series expansion of the energy function in order to determine when configurations of a given body will be in equilibrium, stable or otherwise. We have proven that any convex body with a straight side cannot float in a stable equilibrium with the fluid interface intersecting the interior of the straight side in a single point. This fact is then used to prove necessary and sufficient conditions for stable equilibrium of polygons, bodies whose cross-sections are comprised of only straight sides. We illustrate these conditions with several examples. In the latter portion of the thesis, we turn our attention to bodies in three dimensions. While past research has again been focused on strictly convex bodies, we began to consider bodies that do not meet these requirements by examining bodies of revolution. A condition for stability with respect to vertical variations of bodies of revolution is derived. We conclude with several examples of bodies of revolution, some of which interestingly relate back to an analogous two-dimensional shape.

The study of infinitely long cylinders of constant cross-section floating in an infinite fluid bath in zero-gravity environments has primarily been focused on bodies whose cross-sections are strictly convex and sufficiently smooth. In this thesis, our efforts are concentrated on the consideration of bodies that are only convex and piecewise smooth. These types of bodies are seldom considered in current literature. We have worked with a series expansion of the energy function in order to determine when configurations of a given body will be in equilibrium, stable or otherwise. We have proven that any convex body with a straight side cannot float in a stable equilibrium with the fluid interface intersecting the interior of the straight side in a single point. This fact is then used to prove necessary and sufficient conditions for stable equilibrium of polygons, bodies whose cross-sections are comprised of only straight sides. We illustrate these conditions with several examples. In the latter portion of the thesis, we turn our attention to bodies in three dimensions. While past research has again been focused on strictly convex bodies, we began to consider bodies that do not meet these requirements by examining bodies of revolution. A condition for stability with respect to vertical variations of bodies of revolution is derived. We conclude with several examples of bodies of revolution, some of which interestingly relate back to an analogous two-dimensional shape.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, March, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-116)

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate how educational research, specifically Research-Based Instructional Strategies (RBIS), is adopted by education practice, specifically within the engineering Statics classroom. Using a systematic approach, changes in classroom teaching practices were investigated from the instructors\' perspective. Both researchers and practitioners are included in the process, combining efforts to improve student learning, which is a critical goal for engineering education. The study is divided into 3 stages and each is discussed in an individual manuscript. Manuscript 1 provides an assessment of current teaching practices; Manuscript 2 explores RBIS use by Statics instructors and perceived barriers of adoption; and Manuscript 3 evaluates adoption using Fidelity of Implementation. <br /><br />A common set of concurrent mixed methods was used for each stage of this study. A quantitative national survey of Statics instructors (n =166) and 18 qualitative interviews were conducted to examine activities used in the Statics classroom and familiarity with nine RBIS. <br /><br />The results of this study show that lecturing is the most common activity throughout Statics classrooms, but is not the only activity. Other common activities included working examples and students working on problems individually and in groups. As discussed by the interview participants, each of Rogers\' characteristics influenced adoption for different reasons. For example, Complexity (level of difficulty with implementation of an RBIS) was most commonly identified as a barrier. His study also evaluated the Fidelity of Implementation for each RBIS and found it to be higher for RBIS that were less complex (in terms of the number of critical components). Many of the critical components (i.e. activities required for implementation, as described in the literature) were found to statistically distinguish RBIS users and non-users. <br /><br />This dissertation offers four contributions: (1) an understanding of current ractices in Statics; (2) the instructor perspective of the barriers to using RBIS in the classroom; (3) the use of Fidelity of Implementation as a unique evaluation of RBIS adoption, which can be used by future engineering education researchers; and (4) a systematic approach of exploring change in the classroom, which offers new perspectives and approaches to accelerate the adoption process.<br /> / Ph. D.

This thesis highlights a method of arriving at form that minimizes the need for high end technology and complex mathematical models, yet has structural principles of load flow at the highlighted methods core. Similar to how graphical statics assisted earlier architects and engineers to arrive at form by relating form and forces, this thesis suggests a method of form finding that relates the flow of stresses within solid masses to possible load-bearing façades. Looking to nature, where an abundance of efficient structural solutions can be found, this thesis focuses on a tree-like structural form called the dendriform. In doing so, this thesis explores the idea that through an understanding of typical load flow patterns and the removal of minimally stressed material of the solid body, dendriforms can be revealed that qualitatively exemplify load flow yet maintain an architectural aesthetic.

Learning of threshold concepts in engineering science courses such as statics has traditionally been a difficult and critical juncture for engineering students. Research and other systematic efforts to improve the teaching of statics in recent years range widely, from development of courseware and assessment tools to experiential and other "hands-on" learning techniques. This dissertation reports the findings from a multi-year, dual-institution study investigating possible links between short writing assignments and conceptual knowledge development in statics courses. The theoretical framework of the study draws on elements from cognitive learning theory: expertise, procedural and conceptual knowledge development, and conceptual change. The way that students approach learning in statics with regard to procedural and conceptual knowledge is explored qualitatively, and the relationship between the writing assignments and conceptual knowledge development is examined using a mixed-methods approach. The results show that students approach learning in statics with varying emphasis placed on procedural and conceptual knowledge development and that a student's learning approach influences their perception of the written problems and the ways that they utilize them in learning. Thus, they provide evidence that the learning approach of students may be an important factor in the success of interventions designed to improve conceptual knowledge in statics. Increases in conceptual knowledge as a result of completing the written problems are also empirically supported though limited by problems with data collection. Areas for future work in light of these findings are identified. / Ph. D.

The livestock industry in the United States has experienced significant concentration and vertical integration in recent years. This change has resulted in greater observed levels of pollution attributed to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) and society has attempted to use regulation to remedy these problems. Despite regulation at the federal and local level no documented improvement in water quality has been observed to date. This thesis is concerned with the response of profit-maximizing economic agents to the form of environmental regulation adopted at the federal level. A theoretical model of firm profit is proposed and analyzed using comparative statics to derive a variety of firm and policy relevant results. A qualitative discussion of monitoring and enforcement aspects of regulation and transaction costs in public policy implementation is provided. Results suggest that the form that regulation has taken fails to address the economic decision making process of the firm and thus fails to create incentives for more environmentally benign behavior.

Há mais de uma década os robôs paralelos têm atraído a atenção das comunidades acadêmica e industrial devido às suas vantagens potenciais sobre as arquiteturas predominantes - as seriais. Dentre estas vantagens, pode-se citar a leveza, as elevadas velocidades e acelerações e a capacidade de carga. A aplicação industrial mais promissora para estas arquiteturas alternativas de robôs são as operações \"pega-e-põe\", necessárias nas indústrias alimentícia, farmacêutica e de componentes eletrônicos. Neste trabalho apresenta-se um robô paralelo, concebido com a finalidade de realizar operações \"pega-e-põe\" no espaço bidimensional (plano). O objetivo principal é a análise dinâmica deste mecanismo, empregando o método de Kane, para a determinação dos torques dos atuadores e das forças de reação, causados pelo efeito dinâmico de sua movimentação, quando a garra esteja sujeita a esforços externos e realizando uma trajetória retilínea ou circular em movimento uniforme ou uniformemente variado. Para tanto, desenvolveu-se nesta dissertação a análise cinemática do robô, um estudo de possíveis trajetórias para a garra, o levantamento do espaço de trabalho, bem como a análise dinâmica correspondente. Incluiu-se também diversas simulações para caracterizar melhor suas propriedades. / For over a decade parallel robots have attracted the interest from academic and industrial communities due to their potential advantages over the predominant serial architecture. Among these advantages are the lighter weight and higher speeds, accelerations, and load capacity. The most promising industrial application for these alternative architectures are the pick-and-place operations, which are needed in food, pharmaceutical and electronics industries. We show here a parallel robot designed to perform pick-and-place operations in two dimensions , i.e., on a plane. The main goal is the dynamical analysis of this mechanism by means of the Kane method. We determine the torques of the actuators and the reaction forces caused by the dynamical effects of its movement, when its end-effector is subject to external load. The cases of uniform and accelerated movements, with either straight or circular trajectory, are considered. Therefore, in this dissertation we present the kinematics analysis of the robot, an analysis of possible end-effector trajectories, the workspace development, and the corresponding dynamical analysis. A few simulations are also included to better describe its properties.

"Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are integrated mechanical and electrical devices that are fabricated with features micrometers in size. MEMS are used as chemical laboratories on a chip, actuators, sensors, etc. To increase their operational capability, various MEMS sensors are being integrated into sensor systems, whose functionality may not decrease when their size decreases. However, before more advancement can be made in the sensor systems, behavior of individual sensors must be better understood. Without the basic knowledge of how and why MEMS sensors react the way they do, it is impossible to determine how MEMS sensor systems will behave. Out of the many sensors that can be included in the system, a MEMS gyroscope was selected for consideration in this paper. More specifically, the effects that suspension has on the topography of the microgyroscopes were studied. In this thesis, the folded springs that support the MEMS gyroscopes were modeled using analytical and computational methods, whose results were verified using experimentation. The analytical results correlated well with the computational and experimental results. The analytical and computational results for the deformations of the cantilever compared within 0.1%. The differences between the analytical and experimental results were on the order of 10%. Knowledge gained from these studies will help in the development of a through methodology for modeling the microgyroscope. This methodology will facilitate insertion of the microgyroscopes into the sensor systems."