The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Computational aspects of a three dimensional non-intrusive particle motion tracking system
Author:	Ashok, Avadhani S.
View Online:	njit-etd1992-052 (xi, 84 pages ~ 3.1 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Mechanical Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Dave, Rajesh N. (Committee chair) Fischer, Ian Sanford (Committee member) Rosato, Anthony D. (Committee member)
Date:	1992-05
Keywords:	Bulk solids flow Bulk solids handling Granular materials Particles Powers Electrodynamics
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	Development of a technique for non-intrusive particle motion tracking in three dimensions is considered. This technique is based on the principle of magnetic induction. In particular, the determination of the position and onentation of the particle from the information gathered is the pnncipal focus of this thesis. The development of such a system is motivated by the need to understand the flow patterns of granular material. This is of cntical importance in dealing with problems associated with bulk solids flows which occur in almost all industries and in natural geological events. A study of the current diagnostic techniques reveals the limitations in their ability to track the motion of an individual particle in a mass flow of other particles. These techniques fail when the particle must be tracked in three dimensions in a non-intrusive manner. The diagnostic technique we consider results in an unconstrained minimization problem of an overdetennined system of nonlinear equations. The Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm is used to solve such a system to predict the location of the particle. The viability of this technique is established through simulated and actual expenmental results. Practical problems such as the effect of noise are considered. Directions for future work are provided.