A 10 GHz microwave bridge measurement system has been developed to automatically measure the electromagnetic field parameters transmitted through a dielectric material. These parameters are used to calculate the complex dielectric constant with the free-space transmission technique. The system is used to measure the field parameters transmitted through dimension lumber and a correlation is made with two strength determining factors of lumber: specific gravity and moisture content. Hemlock and Douglas Fir wood samples were tested and a grading technique was implemented. The system is capable of estimating the specific gravity to ±0.05 accuracy and the moisture content to ±3.0% accuracy. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of / Graduate

QC 20110811

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The objective of this study was to assess the performance of a capacitive sensor in measuring moisture content of cotton within the moisture range of 6-13%. The assessment was conducted in two phases: static and dynamic. During the static phase, models to predict moisture content were created and a 95% Confidence Interval of [-0.619,0.619], Percent Residual Accuracy of 97.586%, and a mean error of 4.396% were achieved. The Bland-Altman plot yielded a curve with a slight positive trend, suggesting the data could be modeled more appropriately by multiple models. The dynamic phase saw similar results as the static tests in overall trends, however the predicted values tended to be less accurate than static testing. Static testing had a RMSE of 0.313 compared to the dynamic testing having a RMSE of 0.737 [MC%]. Future work should increase the number of data points in the dynamic environment to improve these statistical markers.

<p> During the spring and summer months of 1967, measurements of the temperature and moisture regimes under a control, and lamp black, white talc, and straw mulch surface treatments, on a fine sandy loam, and a sandy clay loam, were undertaken. The sites were the McMaster University campus, and the Arboretum of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario.</p> <p> A description of the experimental procedures is presented in Chapter II. Chapter III discusses the regimes of soil temperature and moisture - content; and also the effects of clear and cloudy skies, and rain on soil temperatures.</p> / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

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