<p> Water drops at their boiling point were projected through a steam atmosphere to strike a surface which was varied in temperature from 300 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. A high-speed motion picture study of the collision process showed that, except at low surface temperatures, the drop flattened out on impact and rebounded in a state of oscillation. Measurements of the change in drop diameter on--collision indicated that the amount of evaporation due to heat transfer from the surface was extremely small except when the drop extensively wetted the surface. Solution of a mathematical model of the initial impact dynamics and models of heat transfer through a vapour film beneath the drop and by direct liquid-surface contact confirmed experimental observations. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Two new homologous series of amphiphiles–five long-chain, three-headed amphiphiles [3CCb14, 3CCb16, 3CCb18, 3CCb20, 3CCb22; CH3(CH2)n-1OCONHC(CH2CH2COOH)3, n = 14, 16, 18, 20, 22], and six branched-chain, three-headed amphiphiles [3CCb1(7,7), 3CCb1(8,8), 3CCb1(9,9), 3CCb1(10,10), 3CCb1(11,11), 3CCb1(12,12); (CH3(CH2)n-1)2CHOCONHC(CH2CH2COOH)3, n = 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]–were synthesized. The synthesis of the 3CCbn series was accomplished in two steps from Weisocyanate™ and the long chain alcohol in good yields of chromatographed products (65–81%). The 3CCb1(n,n) series was similarly synthesized from Weisocyanate™ and the two-tailed symmetric alcohol (produced from a reaction of alkyl magnesium bromide and ethyl formate) in good yields of chromatographed products (71–84%). CMC data were collected by pendent-drop technique for the 3CAmn, 3CCbn, 3CUrn, and 3CCb1(n,n) series of amphiphiles to establish the concentration required for detergency. The triethanolammonium salt provided better solubility and higher CMCs of these amphiphiles than the potassium salt. All amphiphilic series tested lowered the solution surface tension from ~ 72 mN/m to ~ 50–55 mN/m, indicating that these amphiphiles are less surface active than typical surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate. The CMCs for the 3CAmn series were found to decrease in value from 2 × 10⁻² M (3CAm15) to 2 × 10⁻³ M (3CAm21) in a linear fashion. The CMCs for the 3CCbn series were found to decrease in value from 7 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb16) to 0.4 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb22) in a linear fashion. The CMCs for the 3CUrn series were found to decrease in value from 2 × 10⁻³ M (3CUr18) to 1 × 10⁻³ M (3CUr22) in a linear fashion. Due to discrepancies in several of the IFT vs. log concentration plots for the previous homologous series of amphiphiles, the CMC data was collected using a pyrene fluorescence measurement technique. The data from the pyrene fluorescence technique seems likely to be more accurate, indicating that surface tension may not be the most reliable method for determining the CMC of these amphiphiles. The CMCs (as determined by pyrene fluorescence) for the 3CAmn series were found to decrease in value from 2 × 10⁻² M (3CAm15) to 2 × 10⁻³ M (3CAm21) in a linear fashion. The CMCs for the 3CCbn series were found to decrease in value from 7 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb16) to 0.3 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb22) in a linear fashion. The CMCs for the 3CUrn series were found to decrease in value from 7 × 10⁻³ M (3CUr16) to 0.2 × 10⁻³ M (3CUr22) in a linear fashion. In both the surface tension and the pyrene fluorescence techniques, the shortest chain length homologues (3CAm13, 3CCb14, and 3CUr14) did not show a break up to the limits of solubility. The CMCs as determined by surface tension for the 3CCb1(n,n) series were found to decrease in value from 0.5 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb1(9,9)) to 0.02 × 10⁻³ M (3CCb1(12,12)) in a linear fashion. The 3CCb1(8,8) and 3CCb1(7,7) amphiphiles did not show a CMC break up to the limits of solubility. The 3CCb1(12,12) showed an unusually steep decrease in surface tension over a very narrow range of concentration. There is considerable doubt as to the accuracy of the 3CCb1(11,11) data, and the CMCs for these two-tailed amphiphiles needs to be measured by a second method as was done for the single-tail series to verify the CMCs of all the two-tail homologues. Activity (minimal inhibitory concentrations, MICs) for the 3CAmn, 3CCbn, 3CUrn, 3CCb1(n,n), 2CAmn, and 2CCbn series was measured against several different bacteria, mycobacteria, yeast, and fungi. Additionally, anti-HIV and cytotoxicity data was collected for the 3CAmn, 3CCbn, and 3CUrn series. Greatest inhibition was typically seen from the 18–20 carbon tail length homologues of each series (3CAm19–3CAm21, 3CCb18–3CCb20, 3CUr18–3CUr20, 2CAm19–2CAm21, and 2CCb18–2CCb20). Inoculum density affected the activity of our earlier studies, and selected organisms were retested to obtain the intrinsic activity. 3CUr18 and 3CAm19 proved most effective against Mycobacterium smegmatis, with MIC99 = 6.3 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. 3CCb20 was most effective against Mycobacterium marinum with MIC99 = 16 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. 3CAm19, 3CCb18, and 3CUr18 all showed equivalent activity against Mycobacterium chelonae with MIC99 = 17 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. Against Staphylococcus aureus, the 2CAm21 was most effective, with MIC90 = 2.0 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. 3CCb20 was most effective against MRSA with MIC90 = 2.9 μM @ 10⁵ CFU/mL inoculum density. The two-tailed analogs (3CCb1(n,n), 3CUr(n,n), and 3CUr1(n,n)) typically showed little to no activity against the tested microorganisms. Comparison of MIC to CMC is a relative measure of safety of a drug candidate. All single-tail amphiphiles showed ratios of MIC/CMC of 16–126, with a ratio of 100 or better being optimal. The ratios for the two-tail amphiphiles ranged from 0.39 to 2.9. / Ph. D.

yes / ACI Committee 544’s repeated drop-weight impact test for concrete is often criticized for large variations within the results. This paper identifies the sources of these large variations and accordingly suggests modifications to the ACI test. The proposed modifications were evaluated and compared to the current ACI test by conducting impact resistance tests on 40 specimens from two batches of polypropylene fiber-reinforced concrete (PPFRC). The results obtained from both methods were statistically analyzed and compared. The variations in the results were investigated within the same batch and between different batches of concrete. The impact resistance of PPFRC specimens tested with the current ACI test exhibited large coefficients of variation (COV) of 58.6% and 50.2% for the first-crack and the ultimate impact resistance, respectively. The corresponding COV for PPFRC specimens tested according to the modified technique were 39.4% and 35.2%, indicating that the reliability of the results was significantly improved. It has been shown that, using the current ACI test, the minimum number of replications needed per each concrete mixture to obtain an error below 10% was 41 compared to 20 specimens for the modified test. Although such a large number of specimens is not good enough for practical and economical reasons, the reduction presents a good step on the development of a standard impact test.

The fact that traffic congestion upstream of a bottleneck causes a reduction in the discharge flow rate through the bottleneck has been well documented in several empirical studies. However, what has been missing is an understanding of the causes of these empirically observed flow reductions. An identification of these causes is important in order to develop various mitigation schemes through the use of emerging technology. The concept of capacity drop can be introduced at time-independent bottlenecks (e.g. freeways) as well as time-dependent bottlenecks (e.g. signalized intersections). While to the author's knowledge no one has attempted to link these phenomena, the research presented in this thesis serves as a first step in doing so. The research uses the INTEGRATION simulation software, after demonstrating its validity against empirical data, to simulate time-independent and time-dependent bottlenecks in an attempt to characterize and understand the contributing factors to these flow reductions. Initially, the INTEGRATION simulation software is validated by comparing its results to empirically observed traffic stream behavior. This thesis demonstrates that the discharge flow rate is reduced at stationary bottlenecks at the onset of congestion. These reductions at stationary bottlenecks are not recovered as the traffic stream propagates downstream. Furthermore, these reductions are not impacted by the level of vehicle acceleration. Alternatively, the drop in the discharge flow rate caused by time-dependent bottleneck is recoverable and is dependent on the level of acceleration. The difference in behavior is attributed to the fact that in the case of a stationary bottleneck the delay in vehicle headways exceeds the losses caused by vehicle accelerations and thus is not recoverable. In the case of vehicles discharging from a backward recovery wave the dominant factor is the delay caused by vehicle acceleration and this can be recuperated as the traffic stream travels downstream. / Master of Science

When a rope quickly transfers from a slack state to a taut state, a snapping action occurs and produces a large tensile force which is known as a snap load. Energy is dissipated during this snap load, and it is proposed to use synthetic fiber ropes as a type of passive earthquake damper in order to take advantage of this phenomenon. This thesis is the second phase of a multi-stage research project whose goal is to investigate and develop what will be known as Snapping-Cable Energy Dissipators (SCEDs). The experimental data that was collected in the Master'­s Thesis of Nicholas Pearson was organized and analyzed as a part of this research in order to evaluate the behavior of the ropes during the snapping action. Additional tests were also conducted for this project under more controlled conditions in order to better understand how the ropes change throughout a sequence of similar snap loadings and also to determine the amount of energy that is dissipated. The data from both projects was then used as input parameters for a mathematical model that was developed to characterize the behavior of the ropes during a snap load. This model will be utilized in subsequent research involving the finite element analysis of the seismic response of structural frames containing SCEDs. / Master of Science

Each year there are approximately 589,000 nonfatal violent victimizations (e.g., aggravated assault, simple assault) committed by an intimate partner (US Dept. of Justice, 2003). Of that, roughly 85% of these violent victimizations were committed against females (US Dept. of Justice, 2003). Even with this large amount of violence against women, only about 33% of the perpetrators of those crimes are brought to trial in state courts (US Dept. of Justice, 2005). Even a cursory look at the literature indicates that extra-legal factors, including the personal views of the police, judges, and prosecutors, have an effect on which cases are brought to trial. Mandatory prosecution laws attempt to overcome these extra-legal factors. I will investigate if these laws succeed in reducing prosecutorial discretion and result in a greater percentage of domestic violence cases going to trial or if the views of the prosecutors' offices still determine which cases are brought to trial. / Master of Science

Numerical modeling and prediction techniques are used to determine pressure drop, minimum fluidization velocity and segregation for bubbling fluidized beds. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchange (MFIX) is used to study a two-stage reactor geometry with a binary mixture. MFIX is demonstrated to accurately predict pressure drop versus inlet gas velocity for binary mixtures. A new method is developed to predict the pressure drop versus inlet gas velocity and minimum fluidization velocity for multi-component fluidized beds. The mass accounting in the stationary system (MASS) method accounts for the changing bed composition during the fluidization process by using a novel definition for the mass fractions of the bed not yet fluidized. Published experimental data for pressure drop from single-, binary- and ternary-component fluidized bed systems are compared to MFIX simulations and the MASS method, with good agreement between all three approaches. Minimum fluidization velocities predicted using correlations in the literature were compared with the experimental data, MFIX, and the MASS method. The predicted minimum fluidization velocity from the MASS method provided very good results with an average relative error of ±4%. The MASS method is shown to accurately predict when complex multi-component systems of granular material will fluidize. The MASS method and MFIX are also used to explore the occurrence and extent of segregation in multi-component systems. The MASS method and MFIX are both shown to accurately predict the occurrence and extent of segregation in multi-component systems. / Master of Science

Energy is lost when a rope transfers from a slack state to a taut state. This transfer is called a snap load and can be very violent. It is proposed to use synthetic fiber ropes as a type of passive control device in new or existing structures to mitigate seismic response. Experimental static and snap load (dynamic) tests were conducted on various synthetic fiber ropes. An eleven-foot-tall drop tower was built in the Virginia Tech Structures and Materials Laboratory in order to conduct these tests. Force and acceleration of the drop plate, which slides vertically within the drop tower, were measured with respect to time for all dynamic tests. Acceleration data was integrated using the trapezoidal or midpoint rule to obtain velocity and displacement values. Plots were made for each test in order to give a better representation of the results. These plots include representations of force and acceleration vs. time, force vs. absolute displacement, force vs. velocity, and force, acceleration, velocity, and displacement vs. time (during the initial taut phase only). Test results show that energy was dissipated in all of the dynamic drop tests, which was expected. Also, the displacement of each rope did not return to zero at the same time that the force returned to zero after the initial snap load. This proves that the ropes undergo some permanent elongation under load. The stiffness of each rope increased with continuous testing. As more tests are conducted on each rope, the strands are pulled tighter into the braided configuration, which causes the rope to become stiffer. / Master of Science

Investigations on the design of controllable magnetorheological (MR) fluid devices have focused heavily on low velocity and low frequency applications. The extensive work in this area has led to a good understanding of MR fluid properties at low velocities and frequencies. However, the issues concerning MR fluid behavior in impact and shock applications are relatively unknown. To investigate MR fluid properties in this regime, MR dampers were subjected to impulsive loads. A drop-tower test facility was developed to simulate the impact events. The design includes a guided drop-mass released from variable heights to achieve different impact energies. Five drop-heights and two fundamental MR damper configurations were tested. The two configurations were a double-ended piston and a mono-tube with nitrogen accumulator. To separate the dynamics of the MR fluid from the dynamics of the current source, each damper received a constant supply current before the impact event. A total of five supply currents were investigated for each impact velocity. After reviewing the results, it was concluded that the effect of energizing the MR fluid only leads to "controllability" below a certain fluid velocity for the double-ended design. In other words, until the fluid velocity dropped below some threshold, the MR fluid behaved as if it was not energized, regardless of the strength of the magnetic field. Controllability was defined when greater supply currents yielded larger damping forces. For the mono-tube design, it was shown that the MR fluid was unable to travel through the gap fast enough during the initial impact. Consequently, the damper piston and accumulator piston traveled in unison until the accumulator bottomed out. After which, the fluid was forced through the gap. In conclusion, the two designs were compared and general recommendations on designing MR dampers for impulsive loading were made. Possible directions for future research were presented as well. / Master of Science

Interfacial phenomena are prevalent in various natural and engineered systems. A thorough understanding of these phenomena is essential for a complete understanding of processes such as phase transitions and interaction of liquid droplets with different surfaces. The insights gained from understanding interfacial behavior are pivotal in fields such as pharmaceuticals, microfluidics, material sciences, and environmental engineering. This dissertation aims to advance our understanding of interfacial behaviors, thereby facilitating the development of innovative technologies for applications in health, defrosting, and omniphobic surfaces. In Chapters 1 and 2, relevant background information and goals are provided to contextualize the research being presented in this dissertation. Chapter 3 introduces a novel metal-free alternative to conventional antiperspirants (containing aluminum salts and zirconium salts). We leverage the composition of human sweat (97% water and 3% minerals) and employ a hygroscopic substance near the outlet of an artificial sweat duct rig. This leads to complete diffusion and dehydration of sweat, forming a natural mineral plug within the artificial sweat duct that halts the flow. Chapter 4 examines the behavior of room temperature water droplets spreading on a flat icy substrate. The use of flat ice, as opposed to cold substrates, eliminates the nucleation energy barrier, enabling freeze front initiation as soon as the bulk temperature of the spreading drop reaches 0 C. Through scaling analysis, we identify distinct thermo-hydrodynamic regimes with varying Weber numbers. Chapter 5 presents a novel construct for lubricant-impregnated surfaces (LIS). To date, most of the investigations characterizing the wettability of LIS have focused on droplet mobility. We pioneer a lubricant-impregnated fiber (LIF) which exhibits unique droplet dynamics due to simultaneous exploitation of both, high mobility and high adhesion. Chapter 6 proposes an innovative approach for defrosting by exploiting the polarizability and natural thermo-voltage of frost sheets. By placing an actively charged electrode near the frost sheet, we observe that frost dendrites migrate towards the electrode. This technique, termed Electrostatic Defrosting (EDF), effectively removes up to 75% of the frost mass for superhydrophobic surfaces and 50% of the frost mass for untreated surfaces in less than 100 s. / Doctor of Philosophy / Raindrops falling on surfaces, pesticides being sprayed on crops, and frost forming on windshields—these seemingly unrelated phenomena all stem from fundamental water-structure interactions and phase change processes. We encounter these occurrences throughout nature, with some being enchanting, like water dancing on lotus leaves or morning dew sparkling on glass, while others can pose risks, such as condensation impairing visibility while driving. This dissertation aims to enhance our understanding of water-structure interactions by utilizing the phase changes of water (transitioning between vapor and ice). Through this exploration, we seek to develop innovative technologies for health, de-icing, and fog harvesting, highlighting the practical applications of such water-structure interactions. Through four distinct projects, we aim to unlock innovative solutions that enhance everyday life and address pressing environmental challenges. In the first project, we introduce a novel antiperspirant construct that utilizes sweat's own minerals to clog sweat ducts by vaporizing water with a hygroscopic material. The second project investigates droplet dynamics on ice, focusing on how freezing initiates at the contact line when droplets make contact. In the third project, we develop a new design for oil-impregnated surfaces by embedding fibers, characterizing droplet behavior on these curved surfaces. We envision these fibers being utilized in industrial fog harvesting systems, where water can be effectively collected through dropwise condensation. Finally, we present an innovative defrosting method that exploits naturally occurring thermovoltage in frost, using a positively charged electrode to facilitate the removal of frost sheets. Together, these projects illustrate the impact of water-structure interactions on technology and the environment.