In this thesis, we conduct research toward understanding coupled physics-biology processes in ocean straits. Our focus is on new analytical studies and higher-order simulations of idealized dynamics that are relevant to ...

A model was developed to study engine oil vaporization and oil vapor transport in the piston ring pack of internal combustion engines. With the assumption that the multi-grade oil can be modeled as a compound of several ...

Experiments were performed using commercially available, self-contained, multilayer polypyrrole (PPy) actuators to develop low-order lumped parameter models of actuator electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical behavior. ...

A thermoelectric generator is a solid-state device that converts a heat flux into electrical power via the Seebeck effect. When a thermoelectric generator is inserted between a solar-absorbing surface and a heat sink, a ...

A detailed model was developed for an ionic electro-active polymer (EAP) actuator. The electrical and chemical domains of the system were modeled using a simple electrical circuit. Ionic charge storage within the polymer ...

Torrefaction is a thermal pretreatment process which improves the energy density, storage, grinding, and handling characteristics of raw biomass. Research efforts to date have focused on empirical measurements of the fuel ...

In the process of designing internal combustion engine, piston ring plays an important role in fulfilling the requirements of camber gas sealing, friction reduction and lubrication oil consumption. The goal of this thesis ...