Browsing by Subject "Design"
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Item The 5th wall project : projection design applications for transforming education and medical spaces for youth communities(2015-05) Lord, Patrick William; Ortel, Sven; Alrutz, MeganThis paper and project explore how creative applications of existing design and technology can provide a unique service for children anywhere. This project fuses that technology with a belief that youth communities in education and medical spaces deserve access to artistic experiences. By devising original, immersive story performances with two classes from local Austin schools, The 5th Wall Project has begun to develop a process that facilitates educational engagement, and exposes students to design and art where they live and learn. The intention of this project is to continue beyond the performances and residencies completed and documented in this paper. Future applications, such as the installation of this model into pediatric patient rooms is a primary goal of the project that has yet to be explored, but is an integral motivator in the aforementioned investigation of our process.Item A comparison of Chinese and Western traditions of design with a proposed model based on the Yin-yang principle(Texas Tech University, 1991-08) Yang, Jung-shihnNot availableItem A design approach to a risk review for fuel cell-based distributed cogeneration systems(Texas A&M University, 2004-09-30) Luthringer, Kristin LynA risk review of a fuel cell-based distributed co-generation (FC-Based DCG) system was conducted to identify and quantify the major technological system risks in a worst-case scenario. A risk review entails both a risk assessment and a risk analysis of a designed system, and it is part of risk engineering. Thorough literature reviews and expert interviews were conducted in the field of fuel cells. A thorough literature review of the risk engineering field was also conducted. A procedure for a risk review of the FC-Based DCG System was developed. The representative system design was identified by the current DCG design technology. The risk assessment was carried out, identifying the system components and potential failure modes and consequences. Then, using probabilities of failure for the various system components, the risk associated with a particular system design was determined. A Monte Carlo simulation on the total system reliability was used to evaluate the potential for system failure at a time of 1 hour, 5 hours, 10 hours, 50 hours, 100 hours and 500 hours of continuous operation. The original system was found to be acceptable at the initial times, but after 100 hours was predicted to fail. The components which consistently contribute significantly to the overall system risk are the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and the nickel-metal foam flow fields. A revised system was analyzed with the reliability of the MEA and the Ni-foam set to 100%. After the revision, the components which contributed significantly to the system risk were the pumps. Simulations were run for several alternative systems to provide feedback on risk management suggestions. The risk engineering process developed with the design approach for this research is applicable to any system and it accommodates the use of many different risk engineering tools.Item A scenic design for cat on a hot tin roof(2005-05) Tipton, Shannon W.; Christoffel, Frederick B.; Sorensen, George W.A scenic design for the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams was developed and executed using steps of the design process used in the design program at Texas Tech University’s Department of Theatre and Dance.Item A unified theory of engineering design(Texas A&M University, 2007-04-25) Dyas, Scott PatrickA theoretical model of design, that is universal and has a scientific basis, was developed. By doing so, it is believed that the practice of engineering design can be significantly improved. A better system of modeling designs is the missing ingredient that needs to be developed in order to improve the practice of design in the manner suggested above. Existing methodologies were reviewed to examine the current state of engineering design. This helped in developing a set of requirements for a new methodology. The potential for a scientific methodology to improve the practice of engineering design is also discussed. Developing a scientific theory of design, and showing that it meets these requirements was done to satisfy the objective. The theory takes the form of a conceptual model of design, which relates important aspects of the problem and the solution to facilitate a truly top-down hierarchical approach. A few examples are given to show how the methodology can be applied to real world design problems. As a result, a theoretical framework for design was created as a part of this research project. The new methodology, termed UTED (Unified Theory of Engineering Design), addresses many important aspects of design which are overlooked by other methodologies. A set of rules was developed, to guide the designer through the design, and allow a more scientific process to be used. Making design more scientific increases the likelihood of achieving a successful design. The primary conclusions are that the development of a scientific theory of design can be created that makes design processes faster and more efficient, and improves the quality of designs produced, meaning there is a strong potential for such a methodology to have a positive impact on the field of engineering design.Item Accounting for reservoir uncertainties in the design and optimization of chemical flooding processes(2012-08) Rodrigues, Neil; Delshad, Mojdeh; Pope, Gary A.Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery methods have been growing in popularity as a result of the depletion of conventional oil reservoirs and high oil prices. These processes are significantly more complex when compared to waterflooding and require detailed engineering design before field-scale implementation. Coreflood experiments that have been performed on reservoir rock are invaluable for obtaining parameters that can be used for field-scale flooding simulations. However, the design used in these floods may not always scale to the field due to heterogeneities, chemical retention, mixing and dispersion effects. Reservoir simulators can be used to identify an optimum design that accounts for these effects but uncertainties in reservoir properties can still cause poor project results if it not properly accounted for. Different reservoirs will be investigated in this study, including more unconventional applications of chemical flooding such as a 3md high-temperature, carbonate reservoir and a heterogeneous sandstone reservoir with very high initial oil saturation. The goal of the research presented here is to investigate the impact that select reservoir uncertainties can have on the success of the pilot and to propose methods to reduce the sensitivity to these parameters. This research highlights the importance of good mobility control in all the case studies, which is shown to have a significant impact on the economics of the project. It was also demonstrated that a slug design with good mobility control is less sensitive to uncertainties in the relative permeability parameters. The research also demonstrates that for a low-permeability reservoir, surfactant propagation can have a significant impact on the economics of a Surfactant-Polymer Flood. In addition to mobilizing residual oil and increasing oil recovery, the surfactant enhances the relative permeability and this has a significant impact on increasing the injectivity and reducing the project life. Injecting a high concentration of surfactant also makes the design less sensitive to uncertainties in adsorption. Finally, it was demonstrated that for a heterogeneous reservoir with high initial oil saturation, optimizing the salinity gradient will significantly increase the oil recovery and will also make the process less sensitive to uncertainties in the cation exchange capacity.Item An omni-directional design tool for series hybrid electric vehicle design(Texas A&M University, 2005-02-17) Shidore, Neeraj ShripadSystem level parametric design of hybrid electric vehicles involves estimation of the power ratings as well as the values of certain parameters of the components, given the values of the performance parameters. The design is based on certain mathematical equations or ?design rules?, which relate the component parameters and the performance parameters. The flow of the design algorithm is uni-directional and fixed, and cannot be altered. This thesis proposes a new method for such parametric design, called omni- directional design, which does not have a fixed sequence like the conventional design, but can start with any parameters of the designer?s choice. The designer is also able to specify the input parameters over a range, instead of a point (one, fixed value) input. Scenarios having a point input, but values of an output which can vary over a range for the point input, can also be studied.Item Analysis, implementation, and applicable designs of low impact developments for stormwater management in Austin, Texas(2012-05) Wade, Shannon Brooke; Paterson, Robert G.; Kahn, Terry D.This paper serves as a “kicking-the-tires” analysis of low impact developments as a method of stormwater management. Specifically, this paper examines the feasibility, benefit, and current practice of low impact developments in Austin, Texas. Merits, strengths, and weakness are comparatively determined primarily on the basis of the impact and efficiency of design, particularly relating to ability to handle water volume and potential to improve water quality. By examining case studies and “applied” examples the potential of low impact development application is considered for the expected, potential, and/or alleged benefits of low impact implementation.Item The application of systems engineering to a Space-based Solar Power Technology Demonstration Mission(2012-05) Chemouni Bach, Julien; Fowler, Wallace T.; Guerra, Lisa A.This thesis presents an end-to-end example of systems engineering through the development of a Space-based Solar Power Satellite (SSPS) technology demonstration mission. As part of a higher education effort by NASA to promote systems engineering in the undergraduate classroom, the purpose of this thesis is to provide an educational resource for faculty and students. NASA systems engineering processes are tailored and applied to the development of a conceptual mission in order to demonstrate the role of systems engineering in the definition of an aerospace mission. The motivation for choosing the SSPS concept is two fold. First, as a renewable energy concept, space-based solar power is a relevant topic in today's world. Second, previous SSPS studies have been largely focused on developing full-scale concepts and lack a formalized systems engineering approach. The development of an SSPS technology demonstration mission allows for an emphasis on determining mission, and overall concept, feasibility in terms of technical needs and risks. These are assessed through a formalized systems engineering approach that is defined as an early concept or feasibility study, typical of Pre-Phase A activities. An architecture is developed from a mission scope, involving the following trade studies: power beam type, power beam frequency, transmitter type, solar array, and satellite orbit. Then, a system hierarchy, interfaces, and requirements are constructed, and cost and risk analysis are performed. The results indicate that the SSPS concept is still technologically immature and further concept studies and analyses are required before it can be implemented even at the technology demonstration level. This effort should be largely focused on raising the technological maturity of some key systems, including structure, deployment mechanisms, power management and distribution, and thermal systems. These results, and the process of reaching them, thus demonstrate the importance and value of systems engineering in determining mission feasibility early on in the project lifecycle.Item Assessment of Flow Efficiency Through a Closed Circuit Wind Tunnel with Recommendations for Improvements(2013-12-02) Guthery, JohnWind tunnels are designed for a certain range of test velocities and model sizes. The Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel (LSWT) at Texas A&M, was designed to reach 200 mph (M=0.26) with its original 1250 hp motor and 7 x 10 ft test section. In 2012 the motor and main bearing were replaced with a new 3000 hp motor. With the increased power and motor efficiencies, the tunnel could potentially reach M=0.42 flow. However, the current structure still limits the testing speed to M=0.26. This thesis outlines modifications that may allow the LSWT to reach M=0.5 for testing and potentially M=0.8 for an empty test section. The flow throughout the circuit and concomitant losses will be investigated. Methods for improving the efficiency will be presented, along with their estimated reduction in power loss. In order to reach this higher velocity, a 6 x 5 ft reduced test section with higher structural strength is required. This reduction in test section size requires subsequent diffuser and contraction alterations. The method for designing the diffuser will be presented, along with the design chosen. With these modifications to the tunnel, as well as using estimations of the motor efficiency, and results from measured and estimated losses in the circuit, the testing speed of M=0.5 in an empty test section could be reached with 1,200 to 1,800 hp supplied to the motor.Item Bohème bohème : finding a way into new design using disruption of design method(2014-05) Bennett, Hope MacRoberts; Mickey, Susan E.This thesis describes an exploration of creative process and a set of methods used to find new ideas for theatrical design. The project began with questions about repetition and disruption. Can altering a typical process of designing a show help when designing the same show repeatedly, as an opera designer needs to be able to do? Can new ideas be generated not from streamlining one process but using a diverse pattern of research methods? How does using one design of the same opera as a lens for another affect the sum of both works and the understanding of the work? Several methods of work process are examined and explained.Item Characterizing argumentation structure within the asynchronous, online communication of novice engineering design students(2014-12) McKenna, William F., active 21st century; Treisman, UriPracticing argumentation in secondary school classrooms benefits students both in terms of learning how to argue and learning the course material at hand. Amidst the onset and growth of engineering design courses in secondary schools, this dissertation is an exploratory case study to characterize the use of argumentation among novice student engineering designers. The setting is a high school robotics class. Specifically, a group of students from one class section teamed up with a group of students from a separate class section to design and build a single robot. The team members communicated online via a shared, editable document. That text is the primary data set for my analysis. I looked for indications of argumentation structure that emerged from the online discussion, given that, to my knowledge, the students had not been taught argumentation strategies, per se. Engineering design is relatively new to secondary school, so I thought it appropriate to develop a baseline—a case study that reveals how students communicate about their designs when left largely to their own devices. This study may inform the development argumentation scaffolds that support the students’ existing strengths while ameliorating their weaknesses. My analytical supposition was that argumentation in design will take the form of resolving differences of opinion toward the creation of a single design. Hence, I used Pragma-dialectic theory as my analytical framework. It is a broad theory, based upon resolving differences of opinion in everyday conversation. As such, Pragma-dialectic theory may also be able to encompass the idiosyncrasies of team design, such as reliance on intuition and experience, as well as the important roles that designed objects play throughout the process. Taken together, the importance of intuition, experience, and objects suggests multiple modes of communication that ought to be considered arguments within design deliberations. Results suggest that the students worked to resolve differences of design opinions. In doing so, the students relied heavily on their designed objects to make their arguments meaningful. I classified five object-based claims which emerged from the students’ discussions: keystone, tinkering, visual, tactile, and counterfactual. These form the beginnings of a theory of object-based argumentation.Item Color fields : what designers need to know about color(2016-08) Witcher, Diana T.; Gorman, Carma; Steiner, Frederick; Schumacher, JadaThe goal of this report is to identify what designers today need to know or understand about color and—consequently—what design educators should be teaching design students about color. While designers use color intuitively like artists, they also use color instrumentally as a means of communication and a medium for creation. Fine arts paint-mixing models of instruction have long dominated color education for designers. While traditional color education holds much value, I propose that today, designers need a more complete understanding, which includes color theory, color systems, color materials and color management. Design educators therefore need to teach more about the practical use of color in practice: color management, color science, color systems and color standards (such as CIE, Pantone, NCS and Munsell) that are used today in design, commerce and industry. I seek to help designers and educators achieve a more comprehensive understanding of color through a series of artifacts designed to illustrate color concepts and through a curated list of existing print and online color resources. These artifacts and resources provide methods for design educators to teach a more contemporary, comprehensive and practice-based understanding of color. The artifacts at the center of this project are didactic toys that demonstrate important concepts in color theory and form a system that illustrates the technical and practical aspects of color as well as an updated framework for understanding color and its production.Item Communication through artifact creation(2014-05) Ogden, James Vincent; Isackes, Richard M.Communication Through Artifact Creation was an opportunity to design an installation of artifacts in a new and provocative way. Using the inherent properties of the objects contained within the context of the installation as the performative event, the audience was able to shape their own narrative around these objects. Usually, as a scenic designer, I am shaping a space that performers are allowed into but the audience is not. There is a predefined narrative text that is the key element informing the designed artifacts that I make as a representation of the sculpted theatrical space in which a performance will take place. For this exhibit the artifacts designed by me and eleven other artists informed the structure that would house them, and the performative journey was open to the interpretation of the audience’s imagination.Item Culture shock : tales from the 21st century intentional community movement(2012-05) Bathurst, Stephanie Marie; Minutaglio, Bill; Darling, Dennis CarlyleIn the wake of the Great Recession of 2008, the ‘new normal’ left many Americans deflated after losing their financial savings and general confidence in the political system. There is a growing movement saying the traditional path to the American Dream is no longer satisfying. From coast to coast families are moving from sleepy towns to so-called ‘intentional communities’ in search of alternatives. They are building new lives in spiritual enclaves, nudist havens, eco-wonderlands and other unorthodox societies while seeking like-minded souls and a better way of making a living. Although they don’t often reflect the traditional lifestyle of most citizens, they do represent the widespread frustration with the status quo. The United States has long been a safe haven for these nonconformists and continues to attract those seeking escape from the mainstream each year. Intentional communities throughout Texas and the U.S. are flourishing despite harsh economic times elsewhere. This report documents daily life in three intentional communities during 2011 and 2012, all focused on achieving their individual goals of environmental protection, building community bonds, and achieving spiritual enlightenment.Item Curvilinearity in architecture: emotional effect of curvilinear forms in interior design(Texas A&M University, 2007-09-17) Madani Nejad, KayvanPeople are becoming more aware of the relationships between the built environment and their physical and psychological well-being. This has encouraged numerous studies in the field of environment and behavior, and effects of architecture, urban design and architectural form on human response. In the realm of architectural form, some professionals, from "signature" architects to environmental and organic designers, are strong advocates of free-flowing curvilinear forms. They assume that the use of curvilinear forms is sympathetic to the body, mind and spirit, although there is little empirical research to confirm this claim. There is also little research on the topic of signature / star architects and their design methods. The purpose of this multi-method study was to investigate the emotional effects of curvilinear forms in interior architectural settings. The research involved qualitative and quantitative methodologies. In the qualitative phase, twelve signature architects, known for their use of curvilinear forms, were interviewed to examine the reasons and processes by which they applied curvature in their work. They were also asked to talk about their design process. In the quantitative phase, two modified interior residential views were ranked on their emotional load by 230 non-architect and 75 architect students in card-sorting tasks. In each view, architectural forms gradually changed from fully rectilinear to fully curvilinear. The data from both phases of the research was analyzed. The dissertation concludes by discussing (a) factors that separate signature architects from others (b) how signature architects design (c) how and why designers utilize curvature in the built environment, and (d) different emotional responses of designers and non-designers in response to curvature in architectural settings. In general, quantitative data indicates that non-architects show significant positive response to curvilinear architectural forms. Nonarchitects found curvilinear forms to be pleasant, elevating and reducing stress. The strongest relationship was recorded between curvature and feminine qualities of architectural space, which was shared by both architects and non-architects.Item Design considerations based on size effects of anchored carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) systems(2016-05) Pudleiner, Douglas Karl; Ghannoum, Wassim M.; Jirsa, James oDue to their high strength, limited architectural impact, and speed of installation, externally applied carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials are gaining use in infrastructure rehabilitation. To be effective, CFRP materials must be adequately anchored to develop their full capacity. Many anchorage materials and systems have been proposed for CFRP strips and laminates. CFRP spike anchors can develop the full tensile strength of CFRP strips and offer several advantages over other anchorage methods. Namely, they are easy to install, flexible, which allows them to overcome geometric complications, and resilient to environmental and corrosive factors. However, only a limited number of studies have been conducted on CFRP strips anchored using CFRP anchors. These studies identified clear size effects that influence the strength of CFRP anchors and strips. However, past research was conducted on relatively small anchor and strip systems that are on the low end of practical sizes for infrastructure retrofit and repair applications. The objectives of this study were to investigate size effects in anchored CFRP systems and provide design guidelines for CFRP anchors. Twelve tests were conducted on concrete beams reinforced in flexure with anchored CFRP strips up to 10-in. wide. The primary parameters investigated were: width of CFRP strip, number of layers of fabric in CFRP strips, number of anchors per strip width, ratio of anchor to strip cross-sections, anchor fan overlap length, and chamfer radius of the anchor hole. The full distribution of strains at the surface of the anchored CFRP strips was monitored using an optical measurement system. These measurements helped evaluate the effectiveness of various anchor details in distributing strains across strips. The experimental program confirmed the size effects uncovered in previous studies. CFRP anchors were able to fracture CFRP strips at stresses above the expected and design stresses provided by the manufacturer. However, the larger the CFRP strip area developed per anchor, the lower the stress at fracture of that strip. In addition, the anchor-hole chamfer radius was found to influence both anchor strength and the strain distribution in CFRP strips. Guidelines for designing and detailing CFRP anchors are given based on experimental results.Item Design of a solar energy harvesting system for structural health monitoring systems(2012-08) Inamdar, Sumedh Anand; Crawford, Richard H.; Wood, Kristin L.The work described in this thesis discusses the design of a solar energy harvesting system to support a structural health monitoring system. The objective was to design a photovoltaic system capable of powering a wireless gateway and cellular modem, a static DC 14W load, while meeting certain functional and energy requirements for deployment on a bridge. A literature review of the application, technologies, components, and latest innovations in solar energy technology was completed. A methodology for designing a system for attaching energy harvesting systems onto bridges while meeting design requirements is presented as a tool for engineers and students. The use of the tool was demonstrated through a study which revealed that the methodology aided in producing concepts that were higher in quality, quantity, and better met design requirements. A PV array performance model was used to determine the proper PV module size, battery bank size, panel orientation, the usefulness of a solar tracker and MPPT charge controller, and whether the use of two separate PV modules with independent geometric orientations provide better performance as compared to a single larger panel. It was found from the study that the optimal PV system design specifications were a 120W Polycrystalline PV panel, a 120 A-hr LiFePO4 battery bank, a 45 degree tilt and 0 degrees solar azimuth angle (south), and an MPPT controller. The results from the analytical model also showed that the maximum energy produced with two independent panels would be at a solar azimuth angle of 0 degrees (south) and tilt angles of 45 and 50 degrees respectively. However, these energy gains were insignificant compared to simply increasing the size of the PV module. This result was verified by physical experiments. The physical embodiment of the solar energy harvester with these characteristics, including the mount to the bridge and the panel, was conceptualized, refined, analyzed for structural integrity, and prototyped.Item Design of an embedded Ethernet card(2009-12) Chang, Henry, 1980-; Abraham, Jacob A.; McDermott, MarkThe design, test and implementation of a custom Ethernet card for embedded microcontrollers is described. The development of this Ethernet card is an educational effort to understand the various intricacies involved in constructing an Ethernet solution for embedded microcontrollers. The secondary motivation is to research the areas of the design can be ruggedized for high temperature and pressure applications. This report covers in detail the overall effort to which Henry Chang contributed.Item Design of bioaerosol sampling inlets(Texas A&M University, 2007-09-17) Nene, Rohit RavindraAn experimental investigation involving the design, fabrication, and testing of an ambient sampling inlet and two additional Stokes-scaled inlets is presented here. Testing of each inlet was conducted at wind speeds of 2, 8, and 24 km/h (0.55, 2.22, and 6.67 m/s), and characterized for particle sizes between 5 and 20 ????m AD. The base-line ambient sampling inlet, which operates at 100 L/min, was developed to interface with a Circumferential Slot Virtual Impactor aerosol concentrator. The inlet displays wind-speed independent characteristics with a penetration above 90% for a nominal particle size of 10 ????m AD for all wind speeds. Particles up to 11.5 ????m AD are sampled through this inlet with a penetration above 80% at all wind speeds. In an effort to test the validity of Stokes scaling to assist in the design of inlets, two additional inlets were designed to accommodate design flow rates of 400 L/min and 800 L/min, with the 100 L/min unit as the base inlet. Scaling was achieved by applying a Stokes scaling factor to selective parameters, such as inlet aspiration gap, annular gap, window height, and the rise which is the vertical distance extending from the lower flange to the base of the window. The scaled inlets display wind independent penetration characteristics close to 95% for a nominal particle size of 10 ????m AD. The scaled inlets also have the ability to sample particles up to a size of 13 ????m AD with a penetration in excess of 80% at all wind speeds. Observations from the plots of penetration against the Stokes number based on the free stream velocity suggest that it is insufficient to use only Stokes-scaling for inlet design. A modified velocity ratio defined for omnidirectional inlets was incorporated into a summary of results obtained for all combinations of BSI units and wind speeds. Also, a correlation equation based on the Stokes number and a modified velocity ratio was developed as a model for predicting performance among the BSI family of inlets. This correlation used in unison with Stokes-scaling provides promise for predicting performance and improving the overall design process of inlets.