Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Stability Analysis Of A More General Class Of Systems With Delay-Dependent Coefficients, Chi Jin, Keqin Gu, Islam Boussaada, Silviu-Iulian Niculescu

SIUE Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

This paper presents a systematic method to analyse the stability of systems with single delay in which the coefficient polynomials of the characteristic equation depend on the delay. Such systems often arise in, for example, life science and engineering systems. A method to analyze such systems was presented by Beretta and Kuang in a 2002 paper, but with some very restrictive assumptions. This work extends their results to the general case with the exception of some degenerate cases. It is found that a much richer behavior is possible when the restrictive assumptions are removed. The interval of interest for the ...

The Effect Of Flinak Molten Salt Corrosion On The Hardness Of Hastelloy N, David Kok

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) has been identified as a promising candidate to replace aging nuclear reactors around the world. However, a suitable combination of molten salt and container material needs to be found in order to reduce the potential for corrosion in the MSR before it can be considered commercially viable. FLiNaK molten salt and the nickel-based alloy Hastelloy N have been identified as prime candidates for this function, but the severity of FLiNaK corrosion in Hastelloy N requires additional study before this combination can be used in the operation of a MSR. In this study, Hastelloy N samples ...

Shock Compaction Of Graphene Doped Yttria Stabilized Zirconia: An Experimental And Computational Study, Christopher Rueben Johnson

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is a broadly used ceramic due to its impeccable hardness and thermal stability. Limitations of the material, however, subsist within its fracture toughness. Literature indicates that shock consolidation may enable production of composite YSZ and graphene mixtures with improved fracture toughness and other material properties while maintaining the material’s nanostructure dimensionality. Therefore, investigation of the compaction phenomena at non-equilibrium states will provide informative results to be used in the fabrication of bulk graphene-YSZ composites. Computational molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and impact experiments are conducted to explore and characterize the dynamic response of the YSZ variants ...

(Poster) Pneumatically Assisted Autocutter: Providing A Safe Workplace Environment For People With Disabilities, Ryan Kallenberger, Brian Galliher, Laura Johnson, Melanie Moore, Joseph Herzog, Renny Fernandez, Najmus Saqib

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

We present a pneumatic autocutter to help workers with disabilities for reduced operator fatigue, increased efficiency, thereby giving enhanced capabilities when working on a production line without worrying about their ability to effectively do their jobs. We are students in a sophomore level six sigma based course through the R.B. Annis School of Engineering at the University of Indianapolis. The specific process of production being discussed involves cutting bulky cardboard frames with a metallic wire-mesh covering. The current process requires a considerable amount of physical labor from the operator; prolonged work results in gradial operator debility and injury. For ...

(Poster) Automated Media Sweeper For Reducing Media Loss At Yamaha Marine Precision Propeller Facility, Kyla Christmas, Tyler W. Cole, Jevis T. Muluh, Ryan N. Veazie, Paul Talaga, George Ricco, Suranga Dhamarathne, Tyler Cook

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

No abstract provided.

(Poster) Internal Restoration And Modernization Of A 1948 Wwii Era Jukebox, Miles Furr, Cristiana Olarinre, Joel Carpenter, Elijah Knox, George Ricco, Paul Talaga, Suranga Dharmarathne

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

Using Six Sigma guidelines under the sponsorship of The University of Indianapolis in cooperation with the client, Brugh Industrial Engineering, this project is to modernize the functionality and interface of a Rockola Model 1428 Jukebox while maintaining its vintage appeal. The process of modernization includes meeting today's industrial safety standards, incorporating ethernet protocol, and utilizing a programmable logic controller, PLC. The jukebox is a showcase of current automation technology. Lighting has been upgraded from fluorescent and incandescent bulbs to addressable nano pixel LEDs. The amplifier, coin system, and record selection system were revitalized to OEM operation standards. All switches ...

(Poster) Citizens Energy Group: Mobile Water Distribution System For Providing Water And Reducing Plastic Waste, Alex Pruitt, Alysa Epperson, Jonathen Key, Victor Antoñon Rodriguez, Paul Talega, George Ricco, Suranga Dharmarathne, David Olawale, Najmus Saqib, James Emery

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

During the 2017-2018 year, Citizens Energy Group partnered with the R.B. Annis school of engineering to develop a portable system to distribute water to people at outdoor events. During that academic year, initial designs and a small scale, functional prototype were completed. This year we built the full scale version. Throughout this project, we have implemented the Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodology to guide the design process. Within the R.B. Annis School of Engineering, this methodology has been adapted into the DesignSpine process. It’s a gate based process that uses gateways at key points in the ...

A Faculty Retreat Model Featuring Collaborative And Active Learning, Yeow Siow, Michael Scott, Houshang Darabi, Farzad Mashayek

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

A workshop-style, active-learning model was recently implemented in a Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) department retreat prior to the start of the Fall 2018 term. The department is currently undergoing a curriculum redesign, and a special committee was created to design the talking points for the retreat. Among the concerns were: meaning of grades, expectation of grade distribution, adoption of teaching pedagogies that align with the department goals, and definition of teaching excellence. Opinions were divided, and many felt strongly about each topic. New and non-tenure-track faculty were initially assigned as scribe or presenter, so as to encourage participation. A ...

Application Of Computational Tools To Spaghetti-Based Truss Bridge Design, Jin Xu, Jiliang Li, Nuri Zeytinoglu, Jinyuan Zhai

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

Application of Computational Tools to Spaghetti-Based Truss Design

Statics and Strength of Materials are two foundational courses for Mechanical/Civil Engineering. In order to assist students in better understanding and applying concepts to a meaningful design task, SolidWorks and theoretical calculation were used for a spaghetti-bridge design contest with the constraints of given maximum weight and allowable support-material weight. As the first step of this iterative designing process, both extrude feature and structural member were introduced to model planar bridge trusses. Then SolidWorks’ Statics module was used to run FEA analysis of the structural performance in efforts to optimize the ...

Design Of A Carburizing Treatment Of Steel Base Gear In The Materials Science Course, Jiliang Li, Jin Xu, Nuri Zeytinoglu, Jinyuan Zhai

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

Diffusion PDE Application to Carburizing Treatment of Steel Base Gear

An introductory materials-science course is required in the mechanical engineering curriculum of many universities. This article describes an example effort to incorporate programming, diffusion transfer, heat treatment process and mechanical-property determination as an integral part of the materials-science course instruction. This effort was undertaken in order to give students additional experience in Fick’s 1^st and 2^nd laws and in-depth understanding of physics and mathematics involved in diffusion analysis. We chose to focus on Fick’s second law because its applications are not restricted to the materials-science field ...

Providing A Meaningful Lab Experience For A Manufacturing Processes Course, Kevin Molyet

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

No abstract provided.

Introducing Concept Maps In Undergraduate Thermodynamics, Jessie Lofton

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

Concept maps, also called mind maps, are a widely utilized educational tool. While numerous studies cite the benefits of concept mapping as a tool for student learning, the use of concept maps is more common in non-engineering disciplines. This study examines student perceptions and academic performance in an undergraduate, introductory Thermodynamics course for students majoring in Mechanical Engineering. The pedagogical approach includes incorporating student-developed concept maps, as well as an interactive study tool for First Law analysis. Qualitative and quantitative results are presented. Results are limited to a single institution and a small sample size of students. Future work will ...

A Critical Look At Mechanical Engineering Curriculum: Assessing The Need, Yeow Siow, Jamison Szwalek, Jonathan Komperda, Houshang Darabi, Farzad Mashayek

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

Since the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act in 1862, the U.S. higher education system has been serving the industrial world, and engineering study is the epitome of this ideal: Serve those who will practice it in the immediate future. The mechanical engineering curricula have long been evolving to meet the demand of the changing economy, and it may soon be due for a major update. This paper aims to present an initial effort to explore the need for a systematic redesign, or reform, of the mechanical engineering curriculum at [Institution X], where curricular changes during the past five decades have ...

Influence Of Linear Reciprocating And Multi-Directional Sliding On Peek Wear Performance And Transfer Film Formation, Kevin A. Laux, Christian J. Schwartz

Christian Schwartz

Because of their light weight, chemical resistance, and self-lubricating properties, polymers are used in applications ranging from biomedical to aerospace. Some polymers exhibit significant differences in wear resistancebased on whether they are in unidirectional or multidirectional sliding. Shear induced polymer chain orientation is believed to be responsible for this behavior. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has excellent wear resistance, but its multidirectional sliding behavior has not been thoroughly investigated. A factorial multidirectional pin-on-plate wear study of PEEK was conducted with a focus on molecular weight and sliding path directionality. These factors were studied for their correlation to over all wear performance. Additionally ...

Effects Of Contact Pressure, Molecular Weight, And Supplier On The Wear Behavior And Transfer Film Of Polyetheretherketone (Peek), Kevin A. Laux, Christian J. Schwartz

Christian Schwartz

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a designation given to materials of the polyaryletherketone family having a characteristic distribution of ether and ketone groups in the polymer backbone. PEEK materials have high strength and chemical resistance as well as very high melting points and glass transition temperatures. Because of this combination of properties, PEEK materials find use for wear application in extreme environments where they provide a light-weight and corrosion resistant bearing material that often does not require lubrication. This study focused on determining the effects of supplier and molecular weight on the wear of particular PEEK materials, in addition to the effect ...

Surface Layer Plastic Deformation As A Mechanism For Uhmwpe Wear, And Its Role In Debris Size., Kevin G. Plumlee, Christian J. Schwartz

Christian Schwartz

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) remains the primary bearing material for use in artificial joints, but the longevity of these implants is still hindered by an osteolytic immune system response initiated by sub-micron sized wear debris released from the UHMWPE bulk component. Studies have shown that the severity of the immune system response is linked to particle size. Current treatments for reducing this effect focus on reducing the total volume of wear, but do not directly address particle size due to a limited understanding of the mechanisms involved in producing such small debris. Directly observing these mechanisms is inherently challenging ...

Numerical Investigation Of Inclination On The Thermal Performance Of Porous Fin Heatsink Using Pseudospectral Collocation Method, George Oguntala, Gbeminiyi Sobamowo, Raed Abd-Alhameed, James Noras

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Numerical investigation of inclination effect on the thermal performance of a porous fin heat sink is presented. The developed thermal model is solved using pseudo-spectral collocation method (PSCM). Parametric studies are carried out using PSCM, and the thermal characterization of heat sink with the inclined porous fin of rectangular geometry is presented. Results show that heat sink of inclined porous fin exhibits higher thermal performance than heat sink of vertical porous fin operating under the same thermal conditions with the same geometrical configurations. Performance of inclined or tilted fin increases with decrease in length-thickness aspect ratio. However, increase in the ...

Analysis Of Dynamic Behaviour Of A Tensioned Carbon Nanotube In Thermal And Pressurized Environments, Ahmed Yinusa, Gbeminiyi Sobamowo

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this paper, the dynamic behaviour of a tensioned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) in thermal and pressurized environments is investigated analytically. With the applications of Bernoulli-Euler and thermal elasticity mechanics theories, the governing equation of motion are developed and solved using Laplace and Fourier transforms. The results of the close form solution in this work are in excellent agreements with past results in literature. From the parametric studies, it is established that as the magnitude of the pressure distribution at the surface increases, the deflection associated with the nanotube increases at any mode of vibration. However, a corresponding increase in ...

Placenta‐On‐A‐Chip: In Vitro Study Of Caffeine Transport Across Placental Barrier Using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, Rajeendra L. Pemathilaka, Jeremy D. Caplin, Saurabh S. Aykar, Reza Montazami, Nicole N. Hashemi

Nicole N. Hashemi

Due to the particular structure and functionality of the placenta, most current human placenta drug testing methods are limited to animal models, conventional cell testing, and cohort/controlled testing. Previous studies have produced inconsistent results due to physiological differences between humans and animals and limited availability of human and/or animal models for controlled testing. To overcome these challenges, a placenta‐on‐a‐chip system is developed for studying the exchange of substances to and from the placenta. Caffeine transport across the placental barrier is studied because caffeine is a xenobiotic widely consumed on a daily basis. Since a fetus ...

Skin Tribology Phenomena Associated With Reading Braille Print: The Influence Of Cell Patterns And Skin Behavior On Coefficient Of Friction, Matthew A. Darden, Christian J. Schwartz

Christian Schwartz

Efficient transmission of tactile information is vital for individuals who rely on their sense of touch to interact with and navigate their surroundings, including visually impaired persons. Somatosensory phenomena have been investigated with respect to surface topologies and neuron sensitivities in the skin, but there is little knowledge of the specific skin tribology when reading tactual-coded information such as braille. Braille is a tactual code that employs raised dome-shaped dots in six-position cells (2 columns by 3 rows per cell), with various dot patterns representing individual text characters, punctuation or mathematical operators. Due to the hypothesized significance of friction on ...