Center for High Performance Scientific Computing (CHIPS-Comp)  A Beowulf-type cluster of 20 dual Alpha EV6 833, 750 and 667 MHz workstations with a Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) network accelerates the progression of parallel programming tasks and exchange of information across the processors. This architecture allows for an extremely powerful supercomputing capability that may be used by researchers in diverse fields to process data at rates not achievable with conventional computing systems. The center can support research in materials science, nuclear physics, parallel computing, and can offer know-how as well as consulting services in material science and nuclear physics and access to computational methods development expertise. |
PiezoBiosensor for Detecting Complex Environmental and Chemical Agents  This technology is an apparatus with multiple piezoelectric mass sensors for use in immunochemical detection of diagnostically relevant analytes. The detection is in real time, and each piezoelectric mass sensor comprises a piezoelectric crystal with a receptor surface containing recombinant antibodies that are specific for a particular antigen. The technology measures the binding of antigens to the recombinant antibodies by tracking a change in mass on the receptor surface which is detected as a change in resonant frequency. This technology emerged from a research program oriented toward developing piezobiosensors and electrochemical sensors for detection in complex environmental and clinical samples. The research program is focused on combining the excellent sensitivity of electrochemical and mass sensing with the superb selectivity of biological recognition processes (e.g., protein-protein interactions, DNA-protein interactions, carbohydrate-protein interactions). |
Magnetoelectric Multilayer Composites for Field Conversion This technology is a magnetoelectric multilayer composite comprised of alternate layers of a bimetal ferrite and a piezoelectric material for facilitating conversion of an electric field into a magnetic field, or vice versa. The preferred composites include cobalt, nickel, or lithium zinc ferrite and PZT films that are arranged in a bilayer or in alternating layers, laminated, and sintered at high temperature. The composites are useful in sensors for detection of magnetic fields; sensors for measuring rotation speed, linear speed, or acceleration; read-heads in storage devices by converting bits in magnetic storage devices to electrical signals; magnetoelectric media for storing information; and high frequency devices for electric field control of magnetic devices or magnetic field control of electric devices. |
Two Dimensional Gas Chromatography Instrument At the heart of the technology for gas chromatography (GC) is a valve that accumulates a sample from a primary column for transfer to a secondary column in parallel. The primary column has a smaller fluid flow capacity than the combined fluid capacities of the secondary columns. In this manner, the chromatographic separations of the primary and secondary columns are matched to provide the best available separation of compounds in the sample. This technology relates to gas chromatography in that it provides a method and means to separate VOC’s faster and, more accurately, and potentially cheaper than traditional GC does. As an example, this novel multidimensional gas chromatography system can separate and quantify over one hundred compounds in less than ten minutes. A prototype exists and development of this technology continues through a series of projects that include establishing a retention time database of a wide variety of VOCs, writing improved software for instrument operation and data analysis, and developing theoretical methods to predict retention times from compound structures. |
Depth-of-Focus reduction for digital in-line holography of particle fields  Poor axial precision caused, in part, by large depth-of-focus has been a vexing problem in particle position extraction from digital in-line holograms. Michigan Tech researchers have developed a simpler method to combat the depth-of-focus difficulty. Laboratory tests and simulations proved that the large depth of focus problems believed to be inherent in in –line holograms can be greatly improved by a digital filter to the limit determined only by the pixel size of the detector. This digital filter method relaxes the demands on optical configurations used in in-line holography. It is effective in applications using seeding particles in which the particle size can be uniform with high accuracy, such as particle tracking / image velocimetry. |
Dynamic Indentation Hardness Tester The hardness of materials typically change under events of rapid deformation and the hardness under these conditions has become known as dynamic hardness. Measurement of dynamic hardness of materials is important in applications such as vehicle crashworthiness and other areas where materials are undergoing rapid deformation. This technology allows for the measurement of dynamic hardness with a relatively simple and inexpensive device. Michigan Tech is seeking to license this technology to individual end-users of the device as well as analytical equipment manufacturers who would license the technology to manufacture and sell the device to end-users, as well as. Exclusive licensing rights are available. |
Fiber optic fluid depth sensor A fiber optic sensor for determining the presence and/or measuring the depth of a first substance capable of transmitting light. The fiber optic sensor includes a plurality of light receiving fibers, a plurality of light transmitting fibers surrounding the light receiving fibers and structure for refracting light from the light transmitting fibers at a predetermined angle for total internal reflection of the light from an interface of the first substance with a second substance. |
MTS Algorithm Dr. Subhash has developed a mathematical algorithm for reconstructing partial signals and signal processing in the presence of noise. This algorithm can have general application. It was originally developed as a NVH application for system response. |
Fault Tolerant Computing Dr. Kieckhafer is heading an area focused on fault tolerant distributed computing. The core of this work involves voting algorithms that allow redundant computers to come to agreement by eliminating the most unlikely fault mode. This work has a broad range of relevance. |
Design Optimization and Design Under Uncertainty Technology This research is focused on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and design under uncertainty. One outcome of this reseach is a design optimization tool that has potential application in a number of industry sectors. Although the graphical user interface is at an early stage of development, the algorithm design is sufficiently functional to solve series of complex problems. The research offers the opportunity to provide engineering services to numerous organizations on a consulting basis. |
Multi-Scale Technologies Institute (MuSTI) Multi-scale technologies are those that bring together functional elements to form systems where the relative size of components within the system spans from the nano through the micro and into the macro domain. The systems-focus of MuSTI emphasizes the challenges associated with integrating technologies that have relative feature sizes orders of magnitude apart and operating characteristics that are size dependent. This presents many problems that must be addressed by interdisciplinary teams of researchers using specialized equipment. Research focuses on engineered systems and components such as nanoelectronics, nanosensors and systems, and associated materials. |
Reliability-Based Design This program of research is focused on design under engineering uncertainties, which deteriorate product reliability and quality. With a basic understanding of uncertainties in manufacturing and operational processes, product design is optimized by meeting its performances, by enhancing a target reliability, and simultaneously by maximizing quality. Other topics under investigation include possibility-/evidence-based design, statistical information technology (SIT), design sensitivity analysis, and biomechanics. Recent work has produced insights to both the enriched Performance Measure Approach (PMA+) and the Hybrid Analysis Method for reliability-based design optimization. |
Control System Design and Nonlinear Models An emerging area of research is the utilization of interspacecraft Coulomb forces for both position and attitude control. This has applications from spacecraft formation flying to active “virtual” structures that are highly reconfigurable and robust to individual spacecraft failure. Spacecraft force coupling and the nonlinear electrostatic force behavior provide a variety of interesting technical challenges from nonlinear control to optimal formation design. Similar research topic areas such as, nonlinear control, system simulation, nonlinear system parameter identification and optimization, are present in most of his ongoing projects. Examples include active control of diesel engine aftertreatment systems, at-sea ship crane control, and hydraulic system parameter identification. Another research area is focused on increasing robot-based, flexible material throughput for manufacturing
applications. The system dynamics of the part are exploited, in conjunction with vision-based trajectory optimization, to minimize maneuver time. |
Robotic Control and Nonlinear Systems Analysis This research program has yielded outcomes in a number of interrelated domains including development of robot kinematic, dynamic formulations and control systems by geometric and topologic methods; a new robotic model for simplification of robotic control algorithms and its real-time realization;an optimal design criterion for robotic manipulators; a redundant robot arm with seven joints and designed its controller, hardware, interface and software with applications to automation.
Related research has resulted in development of two classes of intelligent control strategies. The first is based on linguistics and automata technique with translation schemata, and rule-based systems The second is based on the applications of learning control, supervisory control schemes, neural networks, fuzzy logic and hierarchical intelligent control systems.
Finally, this research program has focused on properties and characteristics of nonlinear systems, stability and stabilization, differential geometry methods for nonlinear control systems analysis and applications. |
Stable Set Polytopes and Interconnection Networks The major focus of this research program is on interconnection networks—the architecture underlying parallel processing. Specifically, the work is designed to investigate the structural properties of these networks including connectivity problems, routing algorithms and vulnerability issues. |
Spin Wave Spectrum in Micro-sized Arrays of Magnetic Wires and Dots This program of research emerged from an investigation of the linear and nonlinear dynamics of magnetic excitation in magnetic films, multilayers and finite-size samples—spin waves, solitons and parametric instabilities. The program is designed to yield applications of linear and nonlinear spin waves to microwave signal processing as well as data relevant to a variety of problems including bright and dark spin envelope solitons in magnetic films. |
Ionic Liquid Chemical Sensing Devices This technology emerged from a long-term effort devoted to developing piezobiosensors and electrochemical sensors for detection in complex environments. The technology is designed to detect chemicals using novel ionic liquid technology. Critical features of the technology include: (1) methods to immobilize ionic liquids on solid supports, (2) capabilities for characterizing and elucidating the physicochemical properties of immobilized ionic liquids, (3) new ionic liquids incorporating functional groups capable of acting as anchors or tags for surface immobilization, and (4) ionic liquid thin films for array-based gas sensing and high-temperature gas sensing. |
Structural Roles of Water in Bone Observed by Solid-State NMR Vibrational spectroscopy is used to solve problems dealing with molecular structure. Nearly any type of sample can be analyzed by Raman spectroscopy because of the flexibility of using a focused laser beam as the light source. The current focus is on apatite, a form of calcium phosphate, which is the major constituent of bone and is also found as a natural mineral in rocks. The lab creates apatite substituted with ions typically found in bone in order to support Raman analysis of bone tissue. A silane hydrolysis process also is being explored, to develop a Raman detection method and study the kinetics of the process. The materials studied are diverse and have also included proteins containing the heme group (hemoglobin and cytochrome oxidase), inorganic glasses (germanium diselenide doped with metals) and polymers (azoazromatic polyethers). Modern computational modeling of molecular structure and conformation augments experimental studies. |
Weather Trackers for Inquiry-Based Learning To provide undergraduates with stronger inquiry-based field experiences involving hypothesis testing and data collection, this project will revise existing curricula to include weather data gathering projects using 80 hand-held weather trackers, instruments that have cable hookups permitting the easy transfer of weather data to computer files for statistical manipulation. Faculty from geography/earth science, biology, and engineering departments are using the weather trackers in a variety of introductory and advanced classes. Students are exploring spatial and temporal variations of weather variables in classrooms, on campus grounds, at local forests, and at local elementary and middle schools, where pre-service teachers taking these courses regularly work with K-8 students. Examples of specific projects include students measuring temperature and dew point variations within buildings, testing for the existence of an urban heat island, and correlating changes in barometric pressure with associated changes in wind speed and air moisture.
The intellectual merit of this project lies in the promotion of an inquiry-based approach for learning about weather in series of existing science courses in earth science, biology, and engineering. Non-majors, pre-service teachers, and K-8 students are collecting and analyzing their own field data. Students who might ordinarily not gain such abilities learn technical and analytical skills that are useful in the workplace, a significant broader impact. With the needs of pre-service teachers in mind, the project's inquiry based approaches are aligned with state and national science standards. |
Backward Analysis of Logic Programs This three-year US-UK cooperative research project in computer programming involves Lunjin Lu and his students at Oakland University and Andy King of the University of Kent in Canterbury, United Kingdom. NSF financial support will cover the costs of annual visits by the US investigator and his students to the United Kingdom to implement the joint research. The investigators propose to develop a new framework for logic program analysis. The research focuses on (1) designing, implementing and evaluating backward logic program analyses and (2) developing program analyses that provide useful information in program debugging and compilation. The US principal investigator and his British colleague have worked together previously on backward analyses for logic programs. In continuing their efforts, they propose to demonstrate the framework's applicability to new programming environments.
The US investigator brings to the collaboration expertise in the fields of logic programming and semantic-based program manipulation. This is complemented by Dr. King's expertise in theoretical computer science, in particular programming language research. Their findings will help improve software development environments for logic programming. |
The Least-Squares Meshfree Particle Finite Element Method Although the finite element method has been astonishingly successful in solving various problems in engineering and science, it has significant drawbacks: mesh generation and remeshing are very difficult and time-consuming. Meshfree methods may avoid these difficulties by constructing approximation functions entirely in terms of a set of nodes. Most meshfree methods are based on the Galerkin principle and employ moving least-squares approximation for the construction of shape functions. Although there is no need for an explicit mesh in the construction of moving least-squares shape functions, a separate background mesh is required to integrate the weak form, so they are not truly meshfree methods. Due to the non-interpolative character of the moving least-squares approximation, the enforcement of essential boundary conditions in the Galerkin formulation is quite awkward. Moreover, the moving least-squares approximation is more expensive computationally than the finite element interpolation. In the proposed research, we will develop a least-squares meshfree particle finite element method which combines the features of the least-squares finite element method and the meshfree particle method. The least-squares finite element method (LSFEM), based on minimization of the L2 norm of the residuals of a first-order system of differential equations, is a simple, efficient and robust technique, and can solve almost any kind of partial differential equation with the same mathematical/computational formulation. Since the least-squares method doesn't make use of the integration by parts for converting domain integration into boundary integration, and the meshfree particle method employs the usual finite element interpolations based on particles, all troubles that plague the Garlerkin-based meshfree methods disappear. The least-squares meshfree particle finite element method always leads to a symmetric positive definite system of linear algebraic equations. The matrix-free particle-by-particle conjugate gradient method can be used to solve very large problems on parallel computers, and the implementation is straightforward..
The purpose of this project is to develop a new computer method to simulate complicated engineering designs and sophisticated multi-physical processes with much greater accuracy and efficiency. Achievements of this project would enable numerical simulations beyond current capabilities in many important applications of national interest, including car crash safety analysis, noise reduction of cars, energy efficiency in full cells, heat reduction in semiconductor devices, etc. |
home | about us | contact us
Powered by IEI © 2006 - 2010 | All rights reserved.