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.
Entrepreneurship, and more specifically, home-based operations are frequently cited as a new and progressive form of employment that will not only lead to enhanced economic development, but will also improve the quality of life for people employed in this market sector. Some of the main advantages believed to be associated with entrepreneurship include greater flexibility and autonomy in relation to work schedule, greater independence, and increased opportunities for career advancement. Yet, at the same time, the entrepreneur may face challenges obtaining sufficient start-up capital, obtaining financing for expansion of current operations, and developing relationships with clients. Many of these concerns may be exacerbated for women due to traditional gendered ideologies and stereotypes. For example, women continue to retain primary responsibility for childcare and may, therefore, face challenges negotiating family commitments in addition to paid employment. The purpose of this study was to critically examine the experience of entrepreneurship for women and men in home-based businesses, and in particular to explore how these entrepreneurs manage and negotiate the competing life spheres of work, family, and leisure. The study examined the values assigned to work, family and leisure, the extent to which conflicts were experienced between life spheres, and whether the entrepreneurs were able to achieve a sense of balance in their lives. Particular attention was paid to the role of gender and gender relations in determining the daily life experiences of the entrepreneurs. A feminist qualitative methodology was utilized to gather data from 13 entrepreneurs (7 men and 6 women) who owned home-based businesses located in St. John's and Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador. Nine of the businesses were sole-proprietorships and two were partnerships (owned and operated jointly by both spouses), as well, all of the businesses had been in operation for at least two years. The majority of the entrepreneurs were married (n=11) and six single (with one living with an opposite sex partner and the other recently divorced). In-depth interviews were conducted with the entrepreneurs and with five of their life partners. The interviews focused on the daily life experiences of the entrepreneurs, including the time spent on work, family and leisure, as well as the kinds of activities involved, and the experiences and valuations of each life sphere. In addition, reasons for moving into entrepreneurial work were explored. The life partners were asked about their experiences of living with an entrepreneur and about family and leisure activities. The data were analyzed qualitatively, using the constant comparison method, and the Q.S.R. *N.U.D.ist. software programme to search for emergent themes. Validation interviews were conducted, both with the entrepreneurs and with the life partners, to tests these emergent themes. The analysis showed that gender was a primary determinant of the daily life experiences of these entrepreneurs. The men devoted more time to their businesses and were away from home on business-related matters more frequently than the women. As a result the men spent considerably less time than the women in household or family activities, although most of the men did engage in leisure activities outside the home with friends or colleagues. The women's lives represented a combination of paid work and household work. In all of the cases, except one, they retained primary responsibility for the home and family, despite being in two-income households. Participation in leisure activities for the women also sustained this focus upon the family as their involvement centered upon their children, with very few opportunities being experienced for personal leisure. When reflecting upon their negotiations of work, leisure, and family, differential experiences were uncovered for the women and men. The women were more satisfied with their ability to balance work and family, while the men expressed frustration at not being able to spend more time at home. Most of the women had chosen entrepreneurial work so that they could spend time with their children, while the men had more typically been pushed into this form of employment for economic reasons. The findings indicate the centrality of gender in the lives of entrepreneurs. This was evident in their work-related decisions, their division of household labour within the family, and their leisure constraints and opportunities. In addition, the entrepreneurs' negotiations of their daily lives can also be seen as reproducing gender, in that the gendered basis for their decisions reinforced traditional ideologies associated with femininity, masculinity, motherhood and fatherhood. While the women indicated some freedom of choice with regard to their work, this was clearly constrained by their family responsibilities. The men, on the other hand, felt they had less freedom regarding their decision to operate a business, but more freedom in relation to their family and leisure spheres. The Newfoundland culture, which places particular importance on family and family life, also played a significant role in the experiences of the entrepreneurs in this study. This focus upon family produced a sense of pride and satisfaction for the women with their key role in the family unit, but a sense of loss for the men who played a much smaller role in the family. Overall, it was evident that entrepreneurial work does not provide easy solutions to quality of life concerns for employed people. While this form of employment does have some advantages (e.g., greater ability to combine work and family for women, a larger potential income), it also has many disadvantages (e.g., leisure constraints, lack of freedom), and continues to reinforce traditional ideologies of gender.
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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