Computing agents require state information to make coherent and useful decisions. A state representation is a numerical translation of the environment and conditions that are pertinent factors in an agent's decision making. Although many representations, when paired with clever learning algorithms, are able to coordinate and capture prey in specific...
Data from a state department of transportation fleet shows that the usage of a typical asset decreases as it ages. One possible explanation for decreasing asset usage with age is operator preference for using the newest available asset. In this research the long-term cost and replacement implications of such a...
Ocean Wave Energy Converters (WECs) operating on the water surface are subject to storms and other extreme events. In particular, high and steep waves, especially breaking waves, are likely the most dangerous to WECs. A method for quantifying the breaking severity of waves is presented and applied to wave data...
Aerodynamic improvements in automotive racing can have a significant effect
on vehicle performance. Recent developments in Formula SAE (Society of
Automotive Engineers) have included the design and implementation of aerodynamic
devices such as inverted wings and undertrays to improve performance. In this work
the literature of undertray technology is presented...
This research studied the role of shared ownership on virtual team effectiveness, using student teams enrolled in engineering management coursework at Oregon State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. After a thorough review of the literature, the concept of shared ownership was developed. This concept was operationalized as the extent to...
The substantial wave energy resource of the US Pacific Northwest (i.e. off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and N. California) is assessed and characterized. Archived spectral records from ten wave measurement buoys, operated and maintained by the National Data Buoy Center and the Coastal Data Information Program, form the basis...
Numerical modeling of methane-steam reforming is performed in a micro/mini-channel with heat input through catalytic channel walls. The low-Mach number, variable density Navier-Stokes equations together with multicomponent reactions are solved using a parallel numerical framework. Methane-steam reforming is modeled by three reduced-order reactions occurring on the reactor walls. The surface...
Steam-methane reforming is a well understood industrial process used for generating hydrogen and synthesis gas. The reaction is generally carried out with residence times on the order of one second. By performing this reaction at microscales it is possible to take advantage of increased heat transfer rates and low diffusion...
The field of nanotechnology has been rapidly developing new materials. These materials have become incorporated into consumer products and the environment after only minimal assessment of their effects on human health or the environment. The toxicity of these new nanomaterials remains unknown due to the unpredictable nature of the core...
Qualitative data analysis (QDA) is a time consuming and, potentially unreliable research activity. In qualitative research, a number of tasks must be repeated for every new research case, even if each case is closely related or is in the same area of study.
Existing QDA applications provide users with a...