ScholarWorks@UMassAmherst
We are now able to accept submissions directly in ScholarWorks. For submissions that are not doctoral dissertations or masters theses, please log in with your NetID, click the + (plus) in to the top left corner, and select the Submit Research option.
Graduate students: Directions for submissions can be found in this guide. Please email scholarworks@library.umass.edu if you have any questions.
Request forms for campus-only items are functional. If you do not receive a reply to a submitted request, please email scholarworks@library.umass.edu.
This site is still under construction, please see our ScholarWorks guide for updates.
Recent Submissions
Publication Person Publication An Attribute Grammar Approach to the Design of Extruded Sections(1996-09)The attribute grammar formalism in engineering design is a new approach, suggested by Mullins and Rinderle [Mullins-91, Rinderle-91], to develop automated design tools to be used in the preliminary mechanical engineering design phase. This approach is based on the paradigm of gradual refinement of the design alternatives from an abstract form to a concrete design using transformation rules and associated engineering attributes. The characteristics of this approach are studied in the context of mechanical design problems requiring representation of and reasoning with shapes in the preliminary design phase. The design of extruded table legs is chosen as being representative of such design problems. The attribute grammars are found to be useful design and designer assistant tools in this context for various reasons. Attribute grammars provide a systematic and formal methodology to engineering design which is particularly useful in the preliminary design phase. Attribute grammars support a natural integration of the concept generation and selection phases with the detail design phase which have traditionally been treated very differently. Attribute grammars also support a decision making process which naturally combines constraints representing various aspects of design such as performance, manufacturing, geometry etc. The results show that the attribute grammars can can be used to represent and reason about the shapes. However, the specific grammar used to develop the alternatives for the extruded legs does not guarantee the optimality of the solution.Publication Scent Marking Behavior of Beaver (Castor Canadensis)(1980-02)Scent marking activity was monitored at 3 beaver family sites located on Prescott Peninsula, Quabbin Reservation, New Salem, Massachusetts, in 1977 and 1978. A total of 817 scent mounds and 1793 re-marks were recorded at 3 family sites during the 2 year study. Marking activity was highest from March through June, but with wide daily fluctuations. Re-marking of existing mounds became the major marking mode once mounds had been positioned throughout the occupied area. Beaver were opportunistic in choosing both the substrate on which to build a mound and the builidng materials used. Height of the mounds above water appeared to be more critical to beaver than the distance mounds were located from water. Some scent mounds were re-marked over 20 times. Mounds were distributed throughout the occupied area of a family site in an aggregated pattern. The effect of environmental factors on scent marking primarily reflected the seasonal trend in marking. Two major factors, precipitation and a decrease in water level, were identified as modifying this steady seasonal decline, however; both resulted in increased scent marking activity. Castor and anal glands were collected from trapped nuisance beaver. Both glands increased in weight with increasing age and body weight of the beaver and were smaller in females. Anal glands varied in weight during the year, being heaviest in spring and lightest in summer. A theory as to the 'multi-function' of scent marks is presented based on the results of this study and those of previous studies.
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