Adsorption and Electrokinetics at Silica-Electrolyte Interfaces: A Molecular Simulation Study

Experimentally investigating the nanoscale behavior at oxide-electrolyte interfaces has proven to be extremely challenging. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations have arisen as a potential computational alternative to gain atomic level insights at these interfaces. But how accurately do these simulations represent the physics and chemistry at the...

The Architecture of CubeSats and PocketQubes: Towards a Lean and Reliable Implementation of Subsystems and Their Interfaces

This thesis provides an innovative architecture for CubeSats and PocketQubes to improve their performance and reliability. CubeSats and PocketQubes are standard satellite form factors composed of one or more cubic units of 10 cm and 5 cm respectively. It is found that the current modular subsystem approach and the electrical interfaces are not...

Behavior of reinforcing steel and reinforced concrete undergoing stray current

Currents flowing along paths not being elements of a purpose-built electric circuit, are called stray currents. Various types of reinforced concrete structures (such as viaducts, bridges and tunnels) in the neighborhoods of railways may be subjected to stray current leaking from the rails. In these cases the concrete pore solution acts as an...

Interfacial interactions and mass transfer at the interfacial region of bituminous hydrocarbon mixtures

The adhesion between bitumen and aggregate is a complex process with numerous of variables. To improve the understanding of the bond between bitumen and aggregates in road applications, this research focuses on preferential adsorption, which is one aspect of bitumen-aggregate adhesion. The main objective is to find out whether there is...

Assisting Driver Sovereignty: A Fail-Safe Design Approach to Driver Distraction

This thesis investigates the potential of a fail-safe approach to driver distraction through novel interface concepts for integrated Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Traffic accidents are a negative side effect of the universal and economical desire for mobility. The year 2009 saw the alarming numbers of 34.817 fatalities and 1.565.151...

A Low-Cost Universal Integrated Interface for Capacitive Sensors

This thesis reports the results of research on features, options and limitations of low-cost, high-performance, universal integrated interface for capacitive sensors. It concerns development-driven research, where the objectives of the research focus upon possible realization and application of the interface with optimum results at the level of...

Scaling-Up Eutectic Freeze Crystallization

A novel crystallization technology, Eutectic Freeze Crystallization (EFC) has been investigated and further developed in this thesis work. EFC operates around the eutectic temperature and composition of aqueous solutions and can be used for recovery of (valuable) dissolved salts (and/or or acids) and water from a wide variety of aqueous process...

A mesoscopic approach to the study of thin protective coatings by Positron Beam Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy

The study of thin protective coatings is one of the major research topics in the industry. Among the many questions in this wide topic, the aim of this thesis has been to contribute to the understanding of two of them: the problem of the adhesion and the role of porosity in thin films. The thin films studied in this work were mainly...

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