Matching Items (161)
Description
Ultra-concealable multi-threat body armor used by law-enforcement is a multi-purpose armor that protects against attacks from knife, spikes, and small caliber rounds. The design of this type of armor involves fiber-resin composite materials that are flexible, light, are not unduly affected by environmental conditions, and perform as required. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) characterizes this type of armor as low-level protection armor. NIJ also specifies the geometry of the knife and spike as well as the strike energy levels required for this level of protection. The biggest challenges are to design a thin, lightweight and ultra-concealable armor that can be worn under street clothes. In this study, several fundamental tasks involved in the design of such armor are addressed. First, the roles of design of experiments and regression analysis in experimental testing and finite element analysis are presented. Second, off-the-shelf materials available from international material manufacturers are characterized via laboratory experiments. Third, the calibration process required for a constitutive model is explained through the use of experimental data and computer software. Various material models in LS-DYNA for use in the finite element model are discussed. Numerical results are generated via finite element simulations and are compared against experimental data thus establishing the foundation for optimizing the design.
ContributorsVokshi, Erblina (Author) / Rajan, Subramaniam D. (Thesis advisor) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Committee member) / Mobasher, Barzin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
The current method of measuring thermal conductivity requires flat plates. For most common civil engineering materials, creating or extracting such samples is difficult. A prototype thermal conductivity experiment had been developed at Arizona State University (ASU) to test cylindrical specimens but proved difficult for repeated testing. In this study, enhancements to both testing methods were made. Additionally, test results of cylindrical testing were correlated with the results from identical materials tested by the Guarded Hot&ndashPlate; method, which uses flat plate specimens. In validating the enhancements made to the Guarded Hot&ndashPlate; and Cylindrical Specimen methods, 23 tests were ran on five different materials. The percent difference shown for the Guarded Hot&ndashPlate; method was less than 1%. This gives strong evidence that the enhanced Guarded Hot-Plate apparatus in itself is now more accurate for measuring thermal conductivity. The correlation between the thermal conductivity values of the Guarded Hot&ndashPlate; to those of the enhanced Cylindrical Specimen method was excellent. The conventional concrete mixture, due to much higher thermal conductivity values compared to the other mixtures, yielded a P&ndashvalue; of 0.600 which provided confidence in the performance of the enhanced Cylindrical Specimen Apparatus. Several recommendations were made for the future implementation of both test methods. The work in this study fulfills the research community and industry desire for a more streamlined, cost effective, and inexpensive means to determine the thermal conductivity of various civil engineering materials.
ContributorsMorris, Derek (Author) / Kaloush, Kamil (Thesis advisor) / Mobasher, Barzin (Committee member) / Phelan, Patrick E (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2011
Description
Lateral Double-diffused (LDMOS) transistors are commonly used in power management, high voltage/current, and RF circuits. Their characteristics include high breakdown voltage, low on-resistance, and compatibility with standard CMOS and BiCMOS manufacturing processes. As with other semiconductor devices, an accurate and physical compact model is critical for LDMOS-based circuit design. The goal of this research work is to advance the state-of-the-art by developing a physics-based scalable compact model of LDMOS transistors. The new model, SP-HV, is constructed from a surface-potential-based bulk MOSFET model, PSP, and a nonlinear resistor model, R3. The use of independently verified and mature sub-models leads to increased accuracy and robustness of an overall LDMOS model. Improved geometry scaling and simplified statistical modeling are other useful and practical consequences of the approach. Extensions are made to both PSP and R3 for improved modeling of LDMOS devices, and one internal node is introduced to connect the two component models. The presence of the lightly-doped drift region in LDMOS transistors causes some characteristic device effects which are usually not observed in conventional MOSFETs. These include quasi-saturation, a sharp peak in transconductance at low VD, gate capacitance exceeding oxide capacitance at positive VD, negative transcapacitances CBG and CGB at positive VD, a "double-hump" IB(VG) current and expansion effects. SP-HV models these effects accurately. It also includes a scalable self-heating model which is important to model the geometry dependence of the expansion effect. SP-HV, including its scalability, is verified extensively by comparison both to TCAD simulations and experimental data. The close agreement confirms the validity of the model structure. Circuit simulation examples are presented to demonstrate its convergence.
ContributorsYao, Wei (Author) / Gildenblat, Gennady (Thesis advisor) / Barnaby, Hugh (Committee member) / Cao, Yu (Committee member) / McAndrew, Colin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
ABSTRACT As the technology length shrinks down, achieving higher gain is becoming very difficult in deep sub-micron technologies. As the supply voltages drop, cascodes are very difficult to implement and cascade amplifiers are needed to achieve sufficient gain with required output swing. This sets the fundamental limit on the SNR and hence the maximum resolution that can be achieved by ADC. With the RSD algorithm and the range overlap, the sub ADC can tolerate large comparator offsets leaving the linearity and accuracy requirement for the DAC and residue gain stage. Typically, the multiplying DAC requires high gain wide bandwidth op-amp and the design of this high gain op-amp becomes challenging in the deep submicron technologies. This work presents `A 12 bit 25MSPS 1.2V pipelined ADC using split CLS technique' in IBM 130nm 8HP process using only CMOS devices for the application of Large Hadron Collider (LHC). CLS technique relaxes the gain requirement of op-amp and improves the signal-to-noise ratio without increase in power or input sampling capacitor with rail-to-rail swing. An op-amp sharing technique has been incorporated with split CLS technique which decreases the number of op-amps and hence the power further. Entire pipelined converter has been implemented as six 2.5 bit RSD stages and hence decreases the latency associated with the pipelined architecture - one of the main requirements for LHC along with the power requirement. Two different OTAs have been designed to use in the split-CLS technique. Bootstrap switches and pass gate switches are used in the circuit along with a low power dynamic kick-back compensated comparator.
ContributorsSwaminathan, Visu Vaithiyanathan (Author) / Barnaby, Hugh (Thesis advisor) / Bakkaloglu, Bertan (Committee member) / Christen, Jennifer Blain (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
Calcium hydroxide carbonation processes were studied to investigate the potential for abiotic soil improvement. Different mixtures of common soil constituents such as sand, clay, and granite were mixed with a calcium hydroxide slurry and carbonated at approximately 860 psi. While the carbonation was successful and calcite formation was strong on sample exteriors, a 4 mm passivating boundary layer effect was observed, impeding the carbonation process at the center. XRD analysis was used to characterize the extent of carbonation, indicating extremely poor carbonation and therefore CO2 penetration inside the visible boundary. The depth of the passivating layer was found to be independent of both time and choice of aggregate. Less than adequate strength was developed in carbonated trials due to formation of small, weakly-connected crystals, shown with SEM analysis. Additional research, especially in situ analysis with thermogravimetric analysis would be useful to determine the causation of poor carbonation performance. This technology has great potential to substitute for certain Portland cement applications if these issues can be addressed.
ContributorsHermens, Stephen Edward (Author) / Bearat, Hamdallah (Thesis director) / Dai, Lenore (Committee member) / Mobasher, Barzin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Abstract As we move forward in education reform in the globalized 21st century, the United States must visit new ways to teach science in high school classrooms. The goal of this investigation is to analyze the current research literature for the best and most promising teaching strategies and techniques in secondary education biology classrooms that promote academic excellence for all students. Looking at policy and school reform literature in science education to establish the context of the current system, the paper will not focus on the political as or systematic changes needed to ground an overall successful system. However, because of their inherent effect on the education system, the political aspects of education reform will be briefly addressed. The primary focus, by addressing the emphasis on standardization, inflexibility of instruction and lack of creativity specifically in high school biology classrooms, seeks to clarify small changes that can influence students' academic outcomes. The United States is performing on such a poor level in science and math proficiency that it cannot match students abroad and this is seen through test scores and the production of competent graduates. This investigation serves to organize literature from education researchers and showcase best and promising teaching and learning practices that catalyze academic excellence for all students in our pluralistic, democratic and complex schooling and societal contexts.
ContributorsHildebrandt, Kevin Andrew (Author) / Ovando, Carlos (Thesis director) / Schugurensky, Daniel, 1958- (Committee member) / Fischman, Gustavo (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
As green buildings become more popular, the challenge of structural engineer is to move beyond simply green to develop sustainable, and high-performing buildings that are more than just environmentally friendly. For decades, Portland cement-based products have been known as the most commonly used construction materials in the world, and as a result, cement production is a significant source of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and environmental impacts at all stages of the process. In recent years, the increasing cost of energy and resource supplies, and concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts have ignited more interests in utilizing waste and by-product materials as the primary ingredient to replace ordinary Portland cement in concrete systems. The environmental benefits of cement replacement are enormous, including the diversion of non-recycled waste from landfills for useful applications, the reduction in non-renewable energy consumption for cement production, and the corresponding emission of greenhouse gases. In the vast available body of literature, concretes consisting activated fly ash or slag as the binder have been shown to have high compressive strengths, and resistance to fire and chemical attack. This research focuses to utilize fly ash, by-product of coal fired power plant along with different alkaline solutions to form a final product with comparable properties to or superior than those of ordinary Portland cement concrete. Fly ash mortars using different concentration of sodium hydroxide and waterglass were dry and moist cured at different temperatures prior subjecting to uniaxial compressive loading condition. Since moist curing continuously supplies water for the hydration process of activated fly ash mortars while preventing thermal shrinkage and cracking, the samples were more durable and demonstrated a noticeably higher compressive strength. The influence of the concentration of the activating agent (4, or 8 M sodium hydroxide solution), and activator-to-binder ratio of 0.40 on the compressive strengths of concretes containing Class F fly ash as the sole binder is analyzed. Furthermore, liquid sodium silicate (waterglass) with silica modulus of 1.0 and 2.0 along with activator-to-binder ratio of 0.04 and 0.07 was also studied to understand its performance in contributing to the strength development of the activated fly ash concrete. Statistical analysis of the compressive strength results show that the available alkali concentration has a larger influence on the compressive strengths of activated concretes made using fly ash than the influence of curing parameters (elevated temperatures, condition, and duration).
ContributorsBanh, Kingsten Chi (Author) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Thesis director) / Rajan, Subramaniam (Committee member) / Mobasher, Barzin (Committee member) / Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Programs (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
This study examined the quality of professional life at a Title I school that has achieved the Arizona Department of Education's highest accountability rating of Excelling for eight consecutive years. By examining the factors that influence the school environment including teachers' attitudes and the connections within the teacher community at this school, a description emerged of the factors that influenced the quality of professional lives of teachers. This descriptive study sought to describe, "What is the quality of professional life for teachers at a Title I elementary school with a history of high levels of student achievement?" The research was conducted at Seneca Elementary school (a pseudonym) in the Seneca School District (a pseudonym). By examining the quality of professional life for teachers in a highly ranked Title I school, a better understanding of the quality of professional life may lead to recommendations for other schools with high levels of poverty on how to support teachers who work in high poverty schools. Within a theoretical framework of motivation-hygiene theory and socio cultural theory, the study identified principal leadership as a primary supporting factor of quality of professional life. The study also identified lack of input and lack of teacher control over curriculum and instruction as barriers to quality of professional life. Teachers described principal leadership, environment, social factors and teacher identity as contributors to enhancing the quality of professional life. Trust and focus emerged as additional factors that improved the workplace for teachers.
ContributorsThomas, Jeffrey J (Author) / Danzig, Arnold (Thesis advisor) / Fischman, Gustavo (Committee member) / Boyle, Charlotte (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2011
Description
The existing compact models can reproduce the characteristics of MOSFETs in the temperature range of -40oC to 125oC. Some applications require circuits to operate over a wide temperature range consisting of temperatures below the specified range of existing compact models, requiring wide temperature range compact models for the design of such circuits. In order to develop wide temperature range compact models, fourteen different geometries of n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs manufactured in a 0.18μm mixed-signal process were electrically characterized over a temperature range of 40 K to 298 K. Electrical characterization included ID-VG and ID-VD under different drain, body and gate biases respectively. The effects of low-temperature operation on the performance of 0.18μm MOSFETs have been studied and discussed in terms of sub-threshold characteristics, threshold voltage, the effect of the body bias and linearity of the device. As it is well understood, the subthreshold slope, the threshold voltage, drive currents of the MOSFETs increase when the temperature of the MOSFETs is lowered, which makes it advantageous to operate the MOSFETs at low-temperatures. However the internal linearity gm1/gm3 of the MOSFETs degrades as the temperature of the MOSFETs is lowered, and the performance of the MOSFETs can be affected by the interface traps that exist in higher density close to conduction band and valence band energy levels, as the Fermi-level moves closer to bandgap edges when MOSFETs are operated at cryogenic temperatures.
ContributorsKathuria, Achal (Author) / Barnaby, Hugh (Thesis advisor) / Schroder, Dieter K. (Committee member) / Vermeire, Bert (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2010
Description
In this work, a high resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for use in harsh environments is presented. The ADC is implemented in bulk CMOS technology and is intended for space exploration, mining and automotive applications with a range of temperature variation in excess of 250°C. A continuous time (CT) sigma delta modulator employing a cascade of integrators with feed forward (CIFF) architecture in a single feedback loop topology is used for implementing the ADC. In order to enable operation in the intended application environments, an RC time constant tuning engine is proposed. The tuning engine is used to maintain linearity of a 10 ksps 20 bit continuous time sigma delta ADC designed for spectroscopy applications in space. The proposed circuit which is based on master slave architecture automatically selects on chip resistors to control RC time constants to an accuracy range of ±5% to ±1%. The tuning range, tuning accuracy and circuit non-idealities are analyzed theoretically. To verify the concept, an experimental chip was fabricated in JAZZ .18µm 1.8V CMOS technology. The tuning engine which occupies an area of .065mm2; consists of only an integrator, a comparator and a shift register. It can achieve a signal to noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) greater than 120dB over a ±40% tuning range.
ContributorsAnabtawi, Nijad (Author) / Barnaby, Hugh (Thesis advisor) / Vermeire, Bert (Committee member) / Gildenblat, Gennady (Committee member) / Chae, Junseok (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2011