Graduation date: 1994

A new experimental approach to determine the hydraulic characteristics of unsaturated soils using a centrifuge permeameter was developed in this study. Specifically, the centrifuge permeameter is used to determine the water retention curve (WRC), which quantifies the energy required to retain water in the soil pores during wetting and drying, and the hydraulic conductivity function (K-function), which quantifies the soil's change in impedance to water flow as it becomes unsaturated. An aim of this study is the promotion of using experimentally-derived hydraulic characteristics in engineering practice. Accordingly, the goals behind development of the centrifuge permeameter were a reasonable testing time, measurement of all variables relevant to water flow in unsaturated soils, and a methodology allowing straightforward interpretation of experimental data to determine the hydraulic characteristics. Development of the centrifuge permeameter was guided by lessons learned from an evaluation of previous characterization approaches. Specifically, issues such as the use of steady-state or transient water flow, boundary condition effects, and the use of instrumentation were evaluated in conventional tests to better develop the centrifuge permeameter. Steady-state infiltration of water through a soil specimen instrumented with tensiometers to measure matric suction and time domain reflectometry to infer moisture content was found to be the most reliable means of characterization. Steady-state water flow permits straightforward, repeatable interpretation of instrumentation results, boundary conditions, and flow data to determine the hydraulic characteristics. Centrifugation is employed to decrease the time required to reach steady-state water flow through a soil specimen by imposing a centripetal acceleration on the infiltrating water. The water infiltration rate and centripetal acceleration can be independently controlled in the centrifuge permeameter in order to reach different target hydraulic conductivity values. Continuous, in-flight measurement of the variables relevant to hydraulic characterization is possible through an on-board data acquisition system. The experimental component of this study is focused on validation of the centrifuge permeameter and verification of the hydraulic characteristics obtained using this approach. Simultaneous determination of the WRC and K-function for a clay of low plasticity was found to be possible in less than a week using the centrifuge permeameter, whereas several months were required in conventional tests. Consistent measurements of hydraulic conductivity were obtained using this approach, and little hysteresis was observed in the hydraulic characteristics. Additional experiments were performed to evaluate the validity of different assumptions required to interpret the experimental data and different issues in centrifuge testing. Two major assumptions required in previous centrifuge permeameter approaches were evaluated using the instrumentation available in the centrifuge permeameter. During steady-state water flow in the centrifuge, the suction and moisture content were found to be relatively uniform along the longitudinal axis of the permeameter, and the outflow boundary was found to have a negligible influence on the suction profile. Settlement under the increased body forces in the centrifuge were found to be negligible for the soil investigated in this study. The hydraulic characteristics were found to be sensitive to the calibration of the transducers and sensors used to infer the water pressure and moisture content during centrifugation. Overall, the expeditious, direct determination of the hydraulic characteristics of unsaturated soils was successfully achieved using centrifuge technology. Accordingly, the centrifuge permeameter approach helps promote the use hydraulic characteristics of unsaturated soils in geotechnical engineering design.

Increasing irrigation efficiency on turfgrass could help reduce water consumption on large turf facilities. Two experiments were conducted using perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne (L.) Derby) to evaluate the potential of using remote sensing to estimate turf water status, predict daily evapotranspiration (ET), and estimate turf biomass. In the first experiment a crop water stress index, utilizing remotely sensed canopy temperature, were used to schedule irrigations on 6 of 10 drainage lysimeters. Three of the remaining lysimeters were irrigated used on meteorological estimates of ET calculated using a modified Penman equation. The results of this experiment were inconclusive due to inconsistent lysimeter drainage characteristics. The second experiment was conducted on a turf green with multiple heights to evaluate the potential for using canopy radiance to estimate turf biomass. These results showed that turf biomass could be estimated from a vegetative index (Red Ratio = Near Infrared/Red radiance) obtained through measurements of canopy radiance (r2 = 0.91).

Bibliography: leaves 205-258. / vii, 258 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The studies described in this thesis examine the mechanical function of the barostat. The barostat is then used to assess proximal gastric function in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, and the effects of hyperglycaemia on proximal gastric sensory and motor function in normal individuals. To detect the low pressures that may be important in determining gastric outflow, a high accuracy manometric recording system is developed ; patterns of intragastric pressure are then examined during gastric emptying of saline. Finally, a new barostat is designed and tested. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine, 1997

Orientador: José Eduardo Pitelli Turco / Banca: Adhemar Pitelli Milani / Banca: Renato Farias do Valle Júnior / Resumo: O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar três métodos de estimativa da evapotranspiração de referência (Hargreaves, Radiação Solar e Makkink), comparando-os com o método de Penman-Monteith, recomendado pela Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e Agricultura (FAO) como método padrão para estimativa da ETo, para o município de Pradópolis - SP. Para esse fim foi instalada no posto agrometeorológico da cidade de Pradópolis - SP uma estação meteorológica automatizada. Por intermédio desta estação foram obtidas medidas da radiação solar global, temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar e velocidade do vento. A análise dos resultados foi feita por uma técnica que considera os erros da ET0. O resultado da avaliação dos métodos indica um melhor ajuste para estimativa da ETo para o método de Hargreaves. Os métodos de Makkink e Radiação Solar não obtiveram um ajuste satisfatório com o do Penman-Monteith. Para avaliar métodos de estimativa da evapotranspiração deve-se considerar os erros da estimativa da ETo, evitando possíveis erros de avaliação / Abstract: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate two reference methods to Monteith method, recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as the standard method for estimating ETo in Pradópolis - SP. To this data collection, an automated weather station was installed in the meteorological station at Pradópolis - SP. Through estimate evapotranspiration (Hargreaves, Radiation and Makkink), compared to Penman-this station, we obtained measures of global solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The analysis was done by a technique that considers the mistakes of ETo, which depends on the combination of the errors of the variables that make up the estimating equations, derived from the measurement instruments used to obtain these variables. The aftermath showed a better adjustment to Hargreaves. Makkink, and Radiation methods are different from Penman-Monteith, therefore, they cannot be compared. To evaluate methods to estimate evapotranspiration and avoid possible evaluation errors, ETo estimate errors must be considered / Mestre

Advanced manufacturing machinery is a corner stone of essential industries of technologicallydeveloped societies. Their accuracy permits the production of complexproducts according to tight geometric dimensions and tolerances for high efficiency,interchangeability and sustainability. The accuracy of advanced manufacturingmachinery can be quantified by the performance measure of positioning accuracy.Positioning accuracy measures the closeness between a commanded and an attainedposition on a machine tool or industrial manipulator, and it is ruled by lawsof physics in classical mechanics and thermodynamics. These laws can be applied tomodel how much the machinery deflects due to gravity, expands due to a change intemperature and how much and how long it vibrates due to process forces; hence,one can quantify how much the accuracy decreases. Thus, to produce machinerywith ever higher accuracy and precision one can design machines which deflect,expand and vibrate less or one can understand and model the actual behaviour ofthe machinery to compensate for it.This licentiate thesis uses physics-based modelling to quantify the positioningaccuracy of machine tools and industrial robots. The work investigates the potentialincrease in positioning accuracy because of the simultaneous modelling of the kinematics,static deflections, vibrations and thermo-elasticity as a lumped-parametermodel of the machinery. Consequently the models can be used to quantify thechange of the accuracy throughout the workspace.The lumped parameter models presented in this work require empirical modelcalibration and validation. The success of both, calibration and validation, dependson the availability of the right measurement instruments, as these need to be ableto capture the actual positioning accuracy of machinery. This thesis focuses on theimportance of measurement instruments in industry and metrology and creates acatalogue of requirements and trends to identify the features of the measurementinstruments required for the factories of the future. These novel measurement instrumentsshall be able to improve model calibration and validation for an improvedoverall equipment effectiveness, improved product quality, reduced costs, improvedsafety and sustainability as a result of physics-based modelling and measurementof advanced manufacturing machinery.

Woody biomass transportation costs and market values/costs are strongly correlated with the woody biomass moisture content. Properly managing moisture content can potentially lead to economic and environmental advantages in biomass energy markets. Good management requires accurate moisture content measurements. Therefore, availability of accurate, precise, reliable, and efficient tools to assess woody biomass moisture content is essential. In this study, six different tools (Fibre-Gen HM200, IML Hammer, Humimeter BLW, Timbermaster, Humimeter HM1 and Wile Bio Meter) were evaluated. The six tools employed three different measurement technologies; acoustic, conductance, and capacitance. Woody biomass samples were collected over one season (summer 2011) at three different locations in western Oregon (Corvallis, Dallas, and Clatskanie) for three softwood species and three hardwood species: Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa L.), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), hybrid poplar (Populus spp.), Madrone (Arbutus spp.), and Garryana Oak (Quercus garryana Dougl. ex Hook). Twenty 3-meter long log (20 to 400mm diameter) specimens were collected per species; 18 specimens were divided into two different treatments (open vs. covered), and the two remaining specimens were chipped. In addition, approximately 100 kilograms per species of hogfuel (limbs and tops) were collected and chipped. Moisture content measurements of logs, chips, and hogfuel were made regularly over a four month period. These data was used to develop multiple linear regression models for assessing the moisture content of the six species using the six tools. The major factors considered in the regression models were species (6), treatment (2), and tools (6). The data were also used to estimate the sample size needed for each tool. The best tool from each technology type was identified. The results generated from this study show that (1) none of the tools are accurate without calibration for different species, (2) the best model/tool combination could only explain about 80% of the variability in measurements, (3) further product development is required in some cases to ensure that the tools are robust for industrial application, and (4) there is a wide range in efficiency of the tools (i.e., 50 minute tool efficiency range). The Fibre-Gen HM200 and Wile Bio Meter were the most accurate, precise and efficient tools tested. The cost of transporting woody biomass from the forest to woody biomass plants is "optimized" when the moisture content drops to approximately 30% (wet basis). Validation of the models developed for three of the tools tested (Fibre-Gen HM200, Humimeter BLW and the Wile Bio Meter) indicates that the tools are accurate below 35% MC (wet basis). This suggests they could be used for making threshold transportation decisions, i.e., determining when to haul. / Graduation date: 2013

No description available.

Water is a scarce resource used by various stakeholders. Agriculture is one of the users of this resource especially for growing plants. Plants need to take up carbon dioxide to prepare their own food. For this purpose plants have stomatal openings. These same openings are used for transpiration. Quantifying transpiration is important for efficient water resource management and crop production because it is closely related to dry matter production. Transpiration could be measured using a number of methods or calculated indirectly through quantification of the soil water balance components using environmental instruments. The use of models such as the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT v3.5) is, however, much easier than environmental instruments. Nowadays, with increased capabilities of computers, the use of crop simulation modelling has become a common practice for various applications. But it is important that models, such as DSSAT v3.5, be calibrated and verified before being used for various applications such as long-term risk assessment, evaluation of cultural practices and other applications. In this study the model inputs have been collected first Then the model was calibrated and verified. Next sensitivitY analysis was carried to observe the model behavior to changes in inputs. Finally the model has been applied for long-term risk assessment and evaluation of cultural practices. In this study, the data collected formed the basis forthe minimum dataset needed for running the DSSAT v3.5 model. In addition, the factory given transmission of shading material over a tomato crop was compared to actual measurements. Missing weather data (solar irradiance, minimum and maximum air temperature and rainfall) were completed after checking that it was homogeneous to measurements from nearby automatic weather station. It was found that factory-given transmission value of 0.7 of the shade cloth was different from the actual one of 0.765. So this value was used for conversion of solar irradiance measured outside the shade cloth to solar irradiance inside the shade cloth. Conventional laboratory procedures were used for the analysis of soil physical and chemical properties. Soil water content limits were determined using texture and bulk density regression based equations. Other model inputs were calculated using the DSSAT model. Crop management inputs were also documented for creation of the experimental details file. The DSSATv3.5 soil water balance model was calibrated for soil, plant and weather conditions at Ukulinga by modifying some of its inputs and then simulations of the soil water balance components were evaluated against actual measurements. For this purpose half of the data available was used for calibration and the other half for verification. Model simulations of soil water content (150 to 300 mm and 450 to 600 mm) improved significantly after calibration. In addition, simulations of leaf area index (LA!) were satisfactory. Simulated evapotranspiration (E1) had certain deviations from the measured ET because the latter calculated ET by multiplying the potential ET with constant crop multiplier so-called the crop coefficient. Sensitivity analysis and long-term risk assessments for yield, runoff and drainage and other model outputs were carried out for soil, plant and weather conditions at Ukulinga. For this purpose, some of the input parameters were varied individually to determine the effect on seven model output parameters. In addition, long-term weather data was used to simulate yield, biomass at harvest, runoff and drainage for various initial soil water content values. The sensitivity analysis gave results that conform to the current understanding of the soil-plant atmosphere system. The long-term assessment showed that it is risky to grow tomatoes during the winter season at Ukulinga irrespective of the initial soil water content unless certain measures are taken such as the use of mulching to protect the plants from frost. The CROPGRO-Soya bean model was used to evaluate the soil water balance and gro'W1:h routines for soil, plant and weather conditions at Cedara. In addition, cultural practices such as row spacing, seeding rate and cultivars were also evaluated using longterm weather data. Simulations of soil water content were unsatisfactory even after calibration of some of the model parameters. Other model parameters such as LAI, yield and flowering date had satisfactory agreement with observed values. Results from this study suggest that the model is sensitive to weather and cultural practices such as seeding rates, row spacing and cultivar maturity groups. The general use of decision support systems is limited by various factors. Some of the factors are: unclear definition of clients/end users; no end user input prior to or during the development of the DSS; DSS does not solve the problems that the client is experiencing; DSS do not match their decision-making style; producers see no reason to change the current management practices; DSS does not provide benefit over current decision-making system; limited computer ownership amongst producers; lack of field testing; producers do not trust the output due to the lack of understanding of the underlying theories of the models utilized; cannot access the necessary data inputs; lack of technical support; lack of training in the development ofDSS software; marketing and support constraints; institutional resistances; short shelf-life of DSS software; technical constraints, user constraints and other constraints. For successful use of DSS, the abovementioned constraints have to be solved before their useful impacts on farming systems could be realized. This study has shown that the DSSAT v3.5 model simulations of the soil water balance components such as evapotranspiration and soil water content were unsatisfactory while simulations of plant parameters such as leaf area index, yield and phonological stages were simulate to a satisfactory standard. Sensitivity analysis gave results that conform to the current understanding of the soil-plant -atmosphere system. Model outputs such as yield and phonological stages were found to sensitive to weather and cultural practices such as seeding rates, row spacing and cultivar maturity groups. It ha been further investigated that the model could be used for risk assessment in various crop management practices and evaluation of cultural practices. However, before farmers can use DSSAT v3.5, several constraints have to be solved. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

A laser-driven miniflyer system is built in design similar to those at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Eglin Air Force Base. It is composed of three parts: laser drive source, impact experiment assembly, and diagnostics. The laser drive source is a Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064nm at a maximum energy of 3 J. The impact experiment assembly consists of a BK7 substrate on to which is deposited an ablation layer consisting of carbon, alumina, and aluminum. Mounted on the ablation layer is a metal foil (flyer). The carbon in the ablation layer absorbs the laser energy to form a rapidly expanding plasma. The alumina and aluminum layers provide thermal insulation and also contain the plasma. The set-up is expected to provide flyer velocities in the range of 100 to 1000 m/s. Diagnostics consist of a Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) system that uses Doppler-shifted coherent laser light to measure the instantaneous velocity of a moving surface, as well as velocity dispersions caused by mechanical or material heterogeneities. This thesis will provide a description of the set-up of the laser-driven miniflyer system, as well as an evaluation of the flyer velocity, measured using the PDV system, as a function of laser energy. The flyer velocity trends will be used in order to characterize and calibrate the system. A manual providing system operation instructions will also be included to serve future users of this miniflyer system