Digitized University of Waterloo Theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10012/21195

The following collection includes theses created by UW graduate students prior to 2010 that have since been digitized. Please note that not all theses written by UW graduate students have been digitized. Current graduate students should only submit their work in the Theses collection.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 690

Directional dependence of phase transition splitting by uniaxial strain: A new test to determine strontium ruthenate superconducting states
(University of Waterloo, 2014-06) Chen, Anffany
Since the discovery of superconductivity in strontium ruthenate, there has been a widespread effort to understand its properties on a phenomenological level. To this date, there is not enough coherent experimental evidence to conclude if the superconducting phase has broken time-reversal symmetry. In this article we propose a new test based on the fact that for a multi-component order parameter, the application of uniaxial stress could cause phase transition splitting. Our analysis shows that such splitting depends on the direction of applied stress, and such directional dependence is different for every predicted superconducting phase. In particular, splitting occurs at all directions if and only if the superconducting phase is the one with broken time-reversal symmetry.
Uniqueness constraints in object-relational databases and description logics
(University of Waterloo, 2000) Khizder, Vitaliy Leonidovich
Modeling the thermal performance of windows using a two-dimensional finite volume model
(University of Waterloo, 1997) De Abreu, Pedro Felipe
The objective of this research is the numerical determination of overall heat transfer coefficients (U-Factor), solar heat gain factors (SHGF), and surface temperature profiles of windows. The program used takes account of the presence of the natural convection, the radiation between panes, and the thermal effects of the frame. Temperature profiles are useful for the calculation of thermal stresses in glazings and the prediction of condensation problems. Results are compared with measurements and the numerical calculation of others. In benchmark solution comparisons errors, are less than 10^-2%. Comparisons with the numerically determined heat flux through a cavity bounded by two sheets of glass and spacer bars, i.e., a simple window, differed by less than 1%. In a comparison between simulated solar heat gain factors and solar calorimeter experimental results very good agreement is obtained for nine samples, with errors of 2.5% or less for seven samples, and errors of 12% and 5% for the other two. From the simulation of more realistic windows, both geometrically and with respect to boundary conditions this work yielded the following observations: In modeling an entire wood frame window the error in U-factor is 0.38% while the maximum surface temperature difference is less than 0.5%; A quantitative comparison with a set of thermographic measurements for a flush mounted insulated glazing unit (IGU) yielded satisfactory results for clear double glazed units with the center glass temperature differing by about 1oC, and very good agreement for the triple glazed units and the double low-E unit with the center glass temperature differing by less than 0.25oC; And, the effects of heat transfer coefficients in flush and recessed mounted IGU's clearly reveal the importance of modeling a locally varying heat transfer coefficient.
The integrated space-time finite volume method
(University of Waterloo, 1999) Zwart, Philip J.
The integrated space-time finite volume method for predicting time-dependent fluid flow problems is developed. By enforcing discrete conservation over space-time control volumes hich fill the space-time domain, this method satisfies global conservation in space-time. Unlike traditional finite volume methods, there is no need to incorporate the Leibnitz Rule or the geometrical conservation law into the discretization. The method is validated using a variety of two-dimensional problems featuring both prescribed and free boundary motion. Advances in other aspects of cell-centered finite volume discretization - most notably in the modelling of diffusion terms and free surface flows - are also described.
Entrepreneurship and the intersection of work, leisure, and family
(University of Waterloo, 2000) Rehman, Laurene A.
Leisure and spiritual well-being, a social scientific exploration
(University of Waterloo, 1999) Heintzman, Paul Alexander.
Fish-benthos correlations and effects on benthos that reflect significant effects on fish communities in southern Ontario streams
(University of Waterloo, 1997) Kilgour, Bruce William
Preparation and synthetic applications of Ã-alkoxystannanes as precursors to Ã-alkoxyorganolithiums
(University of Waterloo, 2001) Nielsen, Nathan Hans
Plastic collapse of circumferential surface defects in pipeline materials
(University of Waterloo, 1997) Choi, Jae-Boong
Pairwise balanced designs and related codes
(University of Waterloo, 1997) Ling, Chi H. A.
A comparison of 2D and 3D interfaces for editing surfaces reconstructed from contours
(University of Waterloo, 1997) Waterhouse, Julie Frances
Image sensor pixel integration for large area imaging
(University of Waterloo, 2001) Park, Byung-kyu
The spectrum of lipid particles in Phaseolus vulgaris seeds
(University of Waterloo, 1999) Froese, Carol D.
Discretionary capitalisation of R&D expenditures in Canada and Australia
(University of Waterloo, 1999) Smith, Dean Travis
Development and modelling of a new catalytic distillation process
(University of Waterloo, 1997) Podrebarac, Gary
Formation of polymer coatings by electropolymerization
(University of Waterloo, 1998) Ling, Xiaoping
Applications of orthonormal bases of wavelets to deconvolution
(University of Waterloo, 1997) Corbett, Norman Christopher
Convolution integral equations arise frequently in many areas of science and engineering. If the kernel of such an equation is well behaved, say integrable, then the task of solving a convolution equation is ill-posed. Indeed, if the kernel is integrable, then the Riemann-Lebesgue Lemma implies that the recovery of high frequency information pertaining to the unknown function will be difficult, if not impossible. Orthonormal wavelet bases are bases generated by translating and dilating a single function, known as the mother wavelet. One key advantage of these bases is that the mother wavelet can be selected to have fast decay in both the time and frequency domains. This property suggests that wavelet bases may be useful when attempting to solve a convolution equation. In this thesis, we investigate the applicability of orthonormal wavelet bases with regard to solving convolution equations. In particular, we concentrate on the construction of approximations to the unknown function belonging to scaling function subspaces. We also briefly consider regularization algorithms which are based on the multiresolution analysis, a structure defined by the scaling function association with the mother wavelet.
Making babies, representations of the infant in 20th century Canadian fiction
(University of Waterloo, 2001) Sabatini, Sandra
Experimental investigation of large spring-supported thrust bearings used in hydroelectric generators
(University of Waterloo, 2000) Yuan, John Haojiang
Large spring-supported thrust berings are key components in hydroelectric generators and have not been considered in much detail in the academic literature. The present thesis describes the application of a comprehensive commercial software package (GENMAT) to provide numerical predictions of spring-supported thrust bearing performance. A minor study of the accuracy of the pad deflection model in the software package was performed with a finite element analysis but the issues of accuracy were not resolved. GE Hydro's unique test facility for large thrust bearings was commissioned and extensive experimental measurements of film thickness, pad temperatures and film pressures were collected and compared with numerical predictions of GENMAT. The agreement was good for the temperatures and the shape of the pad but somewhat erratic for film thickness and poor for pressures. The film thicknesses had been measured with effy current displacement probes and their output voltage relationships to target distance, temperature, pressure and target material were characterized in subsequent laboratory experiments. Although probe calibration was implicated in the accuracy of the film thickness measurements, other unknown factors also contributed. An argument was made for accepting GENMAT predictions of film thickness for a given case, provided the temperatures and pad shapes showed good agreement. The neglect of rotor crowning was suggested as an explanation for the poor agreement of the pressures. A combination of theoretical and experimental investigation was performed on a large number of cases. It was found that minimum film thicknesses were always about 15-20 um despite considerable variation in geometry, lubricant viscosity, loads and rotor speeds. Temperature was influenced more readily by these variations, thus suggesting that energy efficiency which depended to a large extent on lubricant temperatures could be improved while maintaining adequate film thickness. Recommendations were made for more extensive application of the GENMAT package to the design of better spring-supported thrust bearings.
Integrating passive microwave remotely sensed imagery and gridded atmospheric data, a study of North American Prairie snow cover
(University of Waterloo, 2001) Derksen, Christopher Peter

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