Browsing by Author "Liu, Chang"

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    An Automatic Solution to Checking Compatibility between Routing Metrics and Protocols
    Liu, Chang (Virginia Tech, 2016-01-19)
    Routing metrics are important mechanisms to adjust routing protocols' path selection according to the needs of a network system. However, if a routing metric design does not correctly match a particular routing protocol, the protocol may not be able to find an optimal path; routing loops can be produced as well. Thus, the compatibility between routing metrics and routing protocols is increasingly significant with the widespread deployment of wired and wireless networks. However, it is usually difficult to tell whether a routing metric can be perfectly applied to a particular routing protocol. Manually enumerating all possible test cases is very challenging and often infeasible. Therefore, it is highly desirable to have an automatic solution so that one can avoid putting an incompatible combination of routing metric and protocol into use. In this thesis, the above issue has been addressed by developing two automated checking systems for examining the compatibility between real world routing metric and protocol implementations. The automatic routing protocol checking system assumes that some properties of routing metrics are given and the system's job is to check if a new routing protocol is able to achieve optimal, consistent and loop- free routing when it is combined with metrics that hold the given metric properties. In contrast to the protocol checking system, the automatic routing metric checking system assumes that a routing protocol is given and the checking system needs to verify if a new metric implementation will be able to work with this protocol. Experiments have been conducted to verify the correctness of both protocol and metric checking systems.
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    Controlled Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticle Dissolution: Surface Coating, Size and Temperature Effects
    Liu, Chang (Virginia Tech, 2020-03-30)
    The environmental fate and transport of engineered nanomaterials have been broadly investigated and evaluated in many published studies. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) represent one of the most widely manufactured nanomaterials. They are currently being incorporated into a wide range of consumer products due to their purported antimicrobial properties. However, either the AgNPs themselves or dissolved Ag+ ions has a significant potential for the environmental release. The safety issues for nanoparticles are continuously being tested because of their potential danger to the environment and human health. Studies have explored the toxicity of AgNPs to a variety of organisms and have shown such toxicity is primarily driven by Ag+ ion release. Dissolution of nanoparticles is an important process that alters their properties and is a critical step in determining their safety. Therefore, studying nanoparticles' dissolution can help in the current move towards safer design and application of nanoparticles. This research endeavor sought to acquire comprehensive kinetic data of AgNP dissolution to aid in the development of quantitative risk assessments of AgNP fate. To evaluate the dissolution process in the absence of nanoparticle aggregation, AgNP arrays were produced on glass substrates using nanosphere lithography (NSL). Changes in the size and shape of the prepared AgNP arrays were monitored during the dissolution process by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The dissolution of AgNP is affected by both internal and external factors. First, surface coating effects were investigated by using three different coating agents (BSA, PEG1000, and PEG5000). Capping agent effects nanoparticle transformation rate by blocking reactants from the nanoparticle surface. Coatings prevented dissolution to different extents due to the various way they were attached to the AgNP surface. Evidence for the existence of bonds between the coating agents and the AgNPs was obtained by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, to study the size effects on AgNP dissolution, small, medium, and large sized AgNPs were used. The surrounding medium and temperature were the two variables that were included in the size effects study. Relationships were established between medium concentration and dissolution rate for three different sized AgNP samples. By using the Arrhenius equation to plot the reaction constant vs. reaction temperature, the activation energy of AgNPs of different sizes were obtained and compared.
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    Influence of Temperature on the Natural Vibration Characteristics of Simply Supported Reinforced Concrete Beam
    Cai, Yanxia; Zhang, Kai; Ye, Zhoujing; Liu, Chang; Lu, Kaiji; Wang, Linbing (MDPI, 2021-06-21)
    Natural vibration characteristics serve as one of the crucial references for bridge monitoring. However, temperature-induced changes in the natural vibration characteristics of bridge structures may exceed the impact of structural damage, thus causing some interference in damage identification. This study analyzed the influence of temperature on the natural vibration characteristics of simply supported beams, which is the most widely used bridge structure. The theoretical formula for the variation of the natural frequency of simply supported beams with temperature was proposed. The elastic modulus of simply supported beams in the range of −40 °C to 60 °C was acquired by means of the falling ball test and the theoretical formula and was compared with the elastic modulus obtained by the three-point bending test at room temperature (20 °C). In addition, the Midas/Civil finite-element simulation was carried out for the natural frequency of simply supported beams at different temperatures. The results showed that temperature was the main factor causing the variation of the natural frequency of simply supported beams. The linear negative correlation between the natural frequency of simply supported beams and their temperature were observed. The natural frequency of simply supported beams decreased by 0.148% for every 1 °C increase. This research contributed to the further understanding of the natural vibration characteristics of simply supported beams under the influence of temperature so as to provide references for natural frequency monitoring and damage identification of beam bridges.
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    Optimization of Embedded Sensor Packaging Used in Rollpave Pavement Based on Test and Simulation
    Ye, Zhoujing; Cai, Yanxia; Liu, Chang; Lu, Kaiji; Ildefonzo, Dylan G.; Wang, Linbing (MDPI, 2022-03-19)
    Rollpave pavement, as a rollable prefabricated asphalt pavement technology, can effectively reduce the overall road closure time required for pavement construction and maintenance. Sensors can be integrated into Rollpave pavement, thereby avoiding sensor damage that may otherwise result from high temperatures and compactive forces during the rolling process, as well as pavement structural damage resulting from cutting and drilling. However, the embedment of sensors into Rollpave pavement still presents certain challenges, namely poor interfacial synergy between the embedded sensor and the asphalt mixture. To solve this problem, three-point bending tests and dynamic response FEM simulations were used to optimize the embedded sensor’s packaging. The influence of sensor embedment on Rollpave pavement under different working conditions was analyzed. Results of these analyses show that low temperature and the epoxy resin negatively affect the bending performance of specimens, and that packaging with cylindrical shape, flat design, and consisting of a material with modulus similar to that of the asphalt mixture should be preferred. This study is conducive to improve the intellectual level and service life of road infrastructure.