No description available.

This study examined the bias and precision of four residualized variable validity estimates (C0, C1, C2, C3) across a number of study conditions. Validity estimates that considered measurement error, correlations among error scores, and correlations between error scores and true scores (C3) performed the best, yielding no estimates that were practically significantly different than their respective population parameters, across study conditions. Validity estimates that considered measurement error and correlations among error scores (C2) did a good job in yielding unbiased, valid, and precise results. Only in a select number of study conditions were C2 estimates unable to be computed or produced results that had sufficient variance to affect interpretation of results. Validity estimates based on observed scores (C0) fared well in producing valid, precise, and unbiased results. Validity estimates based on observed scores that were only corrected for measurement error (C1) performed the worst. Not only did they not reliably produce estimates even when the level of modeled correlated error was low, C1 produced values higher than the theoretical limit of 1.0 across a number of study conditions. Estimates based on C1 also produced the greatest number of conditions that were practically significantly different than their population parameters.

Seismic multiples are a serious hindrance to hydrocarbon exploration in Australia. In particular, water bottom multiples can be very difficult to attenuate. This is because there often exists a strongly reflective sea floor which gives multiples large amplitudes when compared with the primary events they overlay, and secondly, because of a widely occurring velocity inversion, which seriously reduces the effectiveness of a very important class of multiple attenuation techniques.Multiple attenuation techniques can be classified according to the characteristic of the data which is used to discriminate against the multiples in conjunction with the operation behind the demultiple process. Common multiple attenuation processes include FK demultiple, Radon Demultiple, predictive deconvolution, wave equation based demultiple procedures and the family of techniques which come under the umbrella of Surface Multiple Attenuation (SMA). All of these techniques, given the right conditions, can be very effective. They also vary in price from very cheap (FK demultiple) through to expensive (wave equation based demultiple procedures).However, despite these procedures, and fifty odd years of research, there is no effective general solution to multiple problems off the coast of Western Australia and indeed in many regions around the world.Two new wavefield transformations, Multiple MoveOut (MMO) and IsoStretch Radial Trace (ISR), have been developed in this research to precondition data prior to the removal of surface related multiples by existing techniques. These form the basis of a new multiple attenuating procedure.MMO shifts the data so that the water bottom primary event is flattened and the simple water bottom multiples are also flat and periodic. Water bottom peg leg multiples are made approximately periodic.To solve the stretch problem introduced by the MMO transform, ISR ++ / interpolates oblique traces of constant stretch, which also map constant shot emergence angles. The water bottom primary and multiple events form a stationary time series after MMO and ISR. They are then amenable to removal by autoconvolution and predictive deconvolution.The results of the new procedure are demonstrated on two case studies from offshore Western Australia. It is shown to be more effective at removing both simple and peg leg water bottom multiples than traditional techniques. Finally, it is an inexpensive procedure, which does not require velocity analysis prior to its application.

Ultrasonic attenuation is a useful tool in characterizing the damage state of different materials. The attenuation coefficients for the incident longitudinal and transverse waves are both derived from the scattering cross section of the material. Scattering cross section is defined as the ratio of the scattered energy to the incident energy. The incident wave field can be scattered at inclusions, voids and material defects; there is also grain boundary scattering in polycrystalline materials. For accurate material characterization, it is important to distinguish between the different types of scattering and to relate the attenuation to its appropriate source. This study first solves the single scatterer problem using either the Born approximation (for difficult scatterer shapes and for anisotropic scatterers), or the exact solution (in cases where it is necessary to provide an accurate description of the viscoelastic behavior of the surrounding effective medium). Multiple scattering effects are investigated by a differential self-consistent scheme and a self-consistent scheme. Both multiple scattering approaches are applicable for each single scatterer solution. The differential self-consistent scheme describes the scattering cross section dependent on the volume fraction of the scatterers, and is restricted to low volume fractions and materials, where the surrounding material is clearly distinguished from the inclusions. The self-consistent scheme is applicable to high volume fractions of inclusions as well as to polycrystalline materials, where the distinction between surrounding material and inclusions is not possible.

This research aims to develop a method to evaluate the deterioration of the tube material within a boiler, in order to reduce the failure of it. In this thesis, natural frequency measurement method and ultrasonic attenuation method are mainly applied, and it has reached to a conclusion that the ultrasonic attenuation method is more reliable. Traditionally, the inspectors used the ultrasonic thickness measurement machine to evaluate the thickness and track the condition of a boiler. However, besides the thickness, the inspectors could not have clear understanding of the material and situation within a boiler. To improve the inspection effectiveness, the researcher measures the natural frequencies of the tube material in the new and old boilers by using natural frequency measurement. They found that the used tube material has been altered due to the difference between the natural frequencies. The ultrasonic attenuation conditions of the tubes are also evaluated in this thesis. The echoes of the ultrasound propagating through the thickness of the tube can be analyzed by relative comparison and absolute comparison, respectively. The relative comparison compares the echoes of the multiple back reflections of the ultrasound between the tubes of old and new boilers. In addition, the absolute comparison analyzes the amplitude of the echoes of the ultrasonic multiple back reflection to calculate the ultrasonic attenuation of the tube. Besides the two major techniques, the material analysis, metallurgical analysis, internally scale analysis and mechanical property evaluation are also applied in this thesis to help developing a method to evaluate the deterioration of the tube material within a boiler. This research demonstrates that the ultrasonic attenuation measuring methods can offer reliable results to evaluate the quality of the boiler.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Electrical Engineering, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (Proquest, viewed on Aug. 25, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-194). Also issued in print.

Wireless Communications are revolutionising personal and telecommunications services and the way in which they are utilised. Overall growth in cellular, fixed and satellite communication system markets in recent years has exceeded expectations. There is a widespread anticipation that customer demand for wireless telecommunication systems will continue to expand in the foreseeable future. Such systems rely in their planning, design and implementation on the availability of radiowave propagation models. These models are required to describe and characterise with sufficient accuracy the interaction of radiowaves with the environment, especially the various obstacles in the radio path. Prediction tools are highly desirable to radio planners in achieving appropriate coverage planning, determination of the propagation modes and the prediction and control of mutual co-channel interference between existing and new radio links. In the case of land mobile systems as well as wireless fixed access systems, trees, singly or in a group, are usually present in the radio cell environment, giving rise to both absorption and scatter of radio signals. An important part of the modelling process applied to vegetation effects is aimed at analysing the radio propagation modes and the identification of individual signal contributions to the scattered signal caused by various elements of the tree. Past research work on vegetation available in the literature does not account for the interaction between an incident plane wave and individual elements constituting the tree. The work reported in this thesis describes detailed studies aimed at the characterisation of propagation mechanisms arising in single trees of various types. It explores effects of geometrical and physical properties of the tree on radiowave propagation modes arising specifically, i.e. absorption, scatter and depolarisation. These have been addressed through a combination of analytical, computational and experimental modelling, based on thorough examination of the re-radiation functions of single trees. Appropriate measurements performed in both anechoic and outdoor environments at microwave and millimetre wave frequencies, covering frequency band from 2 to 62.4 GHz, provided both model validation and a deeper insight into the problem. Single tree scatter has been shown to be modelled adequately in terms of a re-radiation function with parameters which can be deduced from measured data. This is an important extension to the Radiative Energy Transfer (RET) model, which hitherto has been applied to a homogeneous forest half space. Forward, side and back scatter regions have been identified and characterised. Depolarisation effects were subjected to detailed study with the help of an idealised metallic structure. Analyses of measured results provided deep insight into the causes of depolarisation and the specific polarisation states likely to arise in vegetation. Reasons for signal fades or nulls in the re-radiated signals are established. Wideband channel measurements performed at 2 GHz provided valuable information on the dispersive effects of single trees, whose subsequent analyses revealed the sources of scattering, effects of tree elements, e.g. leaves and branches, and wind effects. The thesis provides also a novel method based on the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) technique, used in studying the propagation modes due to interaction with single trees, starting from primary models for leaves, trunk and branches. Re-radiation fields in 3D of the entire tree are predicted by combining the effects of the single elements forming the tree. The model is shown to be capable of predicting the near-field radiated signal and the radar cross section (RCS). RCS predictions yielded good agreement with measurements and have provided a good basis for a planning model capable of accounting for single trees in the radio path. Overall, the thesis contributes new information, results and models which are very useful in radio system planning and design of broadband wireless communication services.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is a sensorineural hearing loss resulting from excessive noise exposure (von Geirke, 1975). In New Zealand the Department of Labour stipulates that employees must not be exposed to more than an eight-hour equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq,8h) of 85 dB(A) or a peak sound pressure level (Lpeak) of 140 dB(A). Sandblasting is a process, whereby an abrasive is mixed with air at high pressures and exposes the operators to excessive noise (Blair, 1975). The protective equipment currently worn is a closed respirator system consisting of a helmet and cape, overseas research indicates noise levels inside the helmet are above the allowable levels (Blair, 1975; Environmental Medicine Unit, 1998; Irving, 1995; Patel and Irvings, 1999; Price and Whitaker, 1986 and Sussel 1992). There is disagreement in the literature as to the contribution of the noise created by the respirator system to the total noise exposure (Blair, 1975; Environmental Medicine Unit report, 1998; Irving, 1995 and Price and Whitaker, 1986). In some blasting sites additional hearing protection such as foam insert earplugs and/or earmuffs are worn in conjunction with the helmet. No research could be found investigating the resulting attenuation these combinations provide. It is well reported in the literature that the combined attenuation is more complex than the simple sum of the two components attenuation (Abel & Armstrong, 1991; Abel & Odell, 2006; Behar, 1990; Berger, 1983; Damongeot, Lataye & Kusy, 1989). The aims of the current study were to investigate noise levels during blasting inside booths and the operators’ helmets at two sites in New Zealand. The attenuation provided by the helmet alone and in combination with earmuffs was investigated in the laboratory. The contribution of the respirator airflow to the total noise exposure was also investigated. Finally the measured combined attenuation was compared to that calculated using three methods from the literature. Findings indicate that noise levels in blasting booths and inside operators’ helmets are above allowable levels. Laboratory findings indicate that the use of earmuffs in conjunction with the helmet increases the attenuation provided, therefore decreasing the risk of NIHL and that noise from the respirator airflow does not contribute to the total noise inside the helmet. The combined attenuation calculated from two methods in the literature was inaccurate while one was close. The findings, recommendations, limitations of the study and areas for further research are discussed.

Monitored natural attenuation (MNA) has been widely used as a remedial strategy, acknowledged by the EPA as the most appropriate technology for cost effective remediation under certain site conditions. Despite the widespread use of MNA, empirical methods are lacking to evaluate the sustainability of MNA at a site. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the natural attenuation capacity (NAC) as a quantitative metric for evaluating the sustainability of MNA for contaminants in groundwater systems. Five DoD sites were selected for this study, where the common thread between the sites is the existence of a mature chlorinated ethene groundwater plume and the use of MNA as the long-term remediation strategy. Constituent specific NAC values were quantified and statistically examined to determine past performance of MNA at the sites. A conceptual decision model was developed to be a framework of the statistical tools demonstrated in this thesis. Analyzing MNA sustainability at a site can be separated into two components; past performance of natural attenuation and evaluation of current MNA parameters. The former is the focus of this thesis where NAC is the screening metric and the temporal trend in the rate of natural attenuation being evaluated. Within the conceptual decision model, the use of NAC as a screening tool in combination with a specific analysis of MNA parameters allows engineers, regulators, and decision makers to clearly determine whether MNA at a site is sustainable and whether site specific remediation goals will be met. / Master of Science