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24 University of Maryland • Inaugural Edition
University of Maryland • Inaugural Edition 25
An Experimental Investigation of
Unsteady Jet Mixing of Non-Newtonian
Fluids in a Waste Tank
Ren Liu
Mentor: Dr. Norman Munroe
Associate Director, Research Development of Applied Research Center
Florida International University
Abstract
Unsteady jet mixing of Non-Newtonian fluids is investigated experimentally in
order to develop a mixing correlation for treatment of stored radioactive waste prior
to disposal. The radioactive waste is simulated by using a carbopol mixture, which
possesses both Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluid rheological characteristics.
Viscosity, shear stress and shear rate are analyzed by a Rheostress meter. Particle
Image Velocimetry (PIV - a non-intrusive measurement technique for studying the
velocity of particles in fluids) is used to track the degree of mixing (fluid consistency
factor, K and fluid behavior index, n) of the fluids under unsteady jet conditions.
The medium is seeded with tracer particles, which are illuminated periodically
by a plane laser beam in order to obtain successive digital images by a charged
coupled device (CCD) camera. These images are then analyzed by a computer,
which determines the velocities of the tracer particles. This information enables a
better understanding of the fluid velocity profile and mixability in the waste tanks.
Information Systems and Information
Technology
Arlene Logan
Mentor: Dr. John Cordes, Director, Science, Discovery,
and the University Academy, University of Maryland, College Park
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify themes and issues in the marketplace of
information systems that may be instrumental in bridging a theorized disconnect
between the research done in information systems, the academic curriculum taught
and the efficient and effectiveness of the usage of information system as a tool of
competitive advantage by manager in the global economy. A content analysis of
Information Week, a weekly magazine was used to identify certain themes that were
prominent from 2004 to 2007. This weekly publication was used because it is one
of the magazines that continuously deal with issues in information systems and their
management in the global economy.
Identifying these issues and themes are important because they bring to light
the topics that manager of information systems in different organization deem as
been important. Also, in keeping these themes and issues in mind, we might be able
to correlate the research done in information systems and the academic curriculum;
which will in turn prepare managers of information systems to be more effective
and efficient when managing the resources of the company to maintain and increase
the business value of their company’s resources.
The results of the content analysis identify certain themes and issues that were
consistently prominent each year for the past 5 years. These themes and issues
were; competitive advantage, innovations, security and information privacy, and
management information systems salary. The result also shows that there were
changes in the volume of articles that deal with the different themes and issues
which could be seen to coincide with the important of these different themes and
issues. In 2004 the highest volume of articles was about competitive advantage,
in 2005, the highest volume of articles discussed innovation. In 2006, the highest
volume of articles discussed the salary of people in information systems. In 2007
the highest volume of articles focused on security issues in information systems. It
is important to note that from 2004-2007 articles discussing competitive advantage
showed a constant decrease while for the same period articles discussing security
issues showed a constant increase.