Engineering Commons^™

Lead In Residential Water Heaters: An Analysis Of Lead Dissolution Kinetics In Non-Ideal Aquatic Environments, Kelsey Vought, Inez Hua, Amisha D. Shah, Nadezhda N. Zyaykina, Mackenzie Davies

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Lead dioxide, a lead corrosion product, is an important contributor to residential drinking water contamination. A neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor, lead poses serious human health concerns. Despite previous research on water distribution pipes, lead in water heating and softening systems is unexplored. Standard tank water heaters and water softeners have significantly different aquatic environments compared to distribution pipes, due to increased temperature and ion concentration levels. This research verifies the iodometric method for lead dioxide detection and quantifies total lead and dissolved lead(IV) ions over time in simulated water heater and softener environments. Initial experiments confirmed the iodometric method ...

Improving Biomanufacturing Production With Novel Elp-Based Transcriptional Regulators, Juya Jeon, Logan R. Readnour, Kevin V. Solomon

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Microbes can be used to produce valuable drugs, chemicals, and biofuels, but their potential has not been fully realized due to low production yields. To improve biomanufacturing processes and yield, we are developing novel, transcriptional regulators using biosynthesis technology in order to improve cellular health and overall production. Our regulator contains elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), which make ideal sensors since they exhibit a sharp, inverse phase transition to indicators of cell health such as intracellular pH and ionic strength, and external stimuli such as temperature. We hypothesize that ELP can be fused to transcription factors to control expression of target genes ...

Efvs Effects On Pilot Performance, Michael Campbell, Nsikak Udo-Imeh, Steven J. Landry

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Flight tests have been conducted at Purdue University using a computer-based flying simulator in an attempt to determine and measure the effects of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) on the performance of pilots during landing. Knowledge of these effects could help guide future design and implementation of EFVS in modern commercial aircraft, and further increase pilots’ ability to control the aircraft in low-visibility conditions. The problem that has faced researchers in the past has revolved around the difficulty in interpreting the data which is generated by these tests. The difficulty in making a generalized conclusion based on the large amount ...

A Case Study Of Engineering Students’ Experiences With The Co-Op Application Process, Laura F. Long, Xinrui Xu, Joyce B. Main

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Engineering faculty and advisors emphasize the importance of obtaining industry experience in addition to academic learning. One way universities encourage their students to obtain hands-on work experiences is through cooperative education (co-op) programs. Previous studies have examined the advantages and disadvantages of co-op participation, but the application process for students has not been closely examined. Studying this process will show how academic institutions and companies can potentially enhance the student experience of applying for a co-op position. This study examines student experiences with the co-op application process based on interviews with engineering students at a research-intensive university in the Midwestern ...

Investigation Of The Effects Of Solid-State Treatments On The Structure And Mobility Of Copper In Zeolites, Jiayang Wu, Laura Wilcox, Rajamani Gounder

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Zeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate catalysts that play an important role in industrial applications as well as studies for the fundamental understanding of catalysts for emerging reactions of interest. The introduction of aluminum into the zeolite lattice introduces a negative charge on the framework that can be balanced with extra-framework cations. The control of the aluminum distribution and the choice of charge balancing cations allows for the ability to tailor the active sites to facilitate a desired reaction. This research focuses on studying copper active sites in zeolites. Copper oxide was used as a copper precursor to introduce copper ions in ...

Rapid Sample Processing Of Foodborne Pathogens Using Cross-Flow Microfiltration, Casey Bomrad, Michael R. Ladisch, Linda Liu, Jessica Lynn Zuponcic, Eduardo Ximenes

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Foodborne illnesses are a prominent issue, causing 48 million illnesses annually. The Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak in romaine lettuce is a recent example. The source of the pathogen was contaminated irrigation water. The most common methods for detecting foodborne pathogens involve cultivation and enrichment of food samples. The enrichment steps are time-consuming, taking 24 to 72 hours to complete. Our study aims to accelerate irrigation water sample preparation for pathogenic microorganism fast detection through cross-flow microfiltration. This is accomplished by a device called a continuous cell concentration and recovery device (C3D). The C3D uses cross-flow microfiltration in a hollow ...

Characterization And Modeling Of Discontinuous Fiber Composites, Kenneth M. Serrano Rodriguez, Imad Hanhan, Ronald F. Agyei, Michael Sangid

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Composite materials, which are light and strong, are of great interest to engineers in the aerospace industry. Specifically in this work, a discontinuous short fiber reinforced polymer composite whose matrix is Polypropylene and fibers are Electric-glass oriented in different directions was studied. The performance of this material is highly dependent on its microstructure, and therefore the objective of this research is to non-destructively characterize the microstructure of the composite material. This includes characterization of its fiber orientation and length, fiber volume fraction, and void volume fraction. To do this, X-ray micro-computed tomography has been used, providing two dimensional cross-sectional images ...

Spice Based Compact Model For Electrical Switching Of Antiferromagnet, Xe Jin Chan, Jan Kaiser, Pramey Upadhyaya

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

A simulation framework that can model the behavior of antiferromagnets (AFMs) is essential to building novel high-speed devices. The electrical switching of AFMs allows for high performance memory applications. With new phenomena in spintronics being discovered, there is a need for flexible and expandable models. With that in mind, we developed a model for AFMs which can be used to simulate AFM switching behavior in SPICE. This approach can be modified for adding modules, keeping pace with new developments. The proposed AFM switching model is based on the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation (LLG). LLG along with an exchange coupling module is implemented ...

Impact Of Trace Element Ions And Fe2+ On Anaerobic Food Waste Digestion, Andisheh Yazdanpanah

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In Canada, about $31 billion worth of food is wasted annually. This amount of food waste (FW) ends up in landfills where it is naturally broken down by bacteria and releases methane to the atmosphere, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG) which is 21 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide (CO₂). This process can also be done in a controlled environment at wastewater treatment plants, in a process known as anaerobic digestion (AD). Diverting food waste from landfills to wastewater treatment facilities allows for the capture of the methane, which can be used as an energy source ...

Developable Compliant-Aided Rolling-Contact Mechanisms, Todd G. Nelson, Just L. Herder

All Student Publications

Rolling-contact mechanisms can provide low-friction motion with unique kinematic paths. We show that developable surfaces can be used as a design tool for rolling-contact mechanisms joined with compliant bands. These mechanisms can exhibit 3D motion paths, couple rotational and translational motions into a single degree of freedom, and can be designed to exhibit various tailored kinetic responses. We set forth developable surface parametrizations well suited to the creation of rolling contacts. We highlight how the geodesic and principal curvatures of the non-ruling principal curves of a developable surface are meaningful design quantities for rolling contacts. We provide kinematic and kinetic ...

A Non-Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics Study Of The Effects Of Helium Bubbles On The Thermal Conductivity Of Zrc, Tate Shorthill

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports

Zirconium carbide (ZrC) has been proposed as a potential improvement to nuclear fuel cladding. As such, it is important to characterize its physical properties, particularly those relating to thermal energy transport. Reactor conditions are known to damage fuel microstructure over time. While research has been conducted on undamaged and damaged ZrC, some areas of interest remain. Fission products, such as helium, can accumulate in pores within the fuel microstructure. Such a case has yet to be characterized in ZrC fuel cladding.

A non-equilibrium molecular dynamics model was developed to characterize the thermal properties of ZrC. Fourier’s Law allows the ...

Ultraviolet Diffraction Assisted Image Correlation (Uv-Daic) For Single-Camera 3d Strain Measurement At Extreme Temperatures, Ethan K. Nickerson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a technique which uses images taken before and after deformation to determine displacement and strain data over the surface of the sample. In order to obtain this data for both in-plane as well as out-of-plane direction, multiple views of the sample are required. Typically, this is accomplished using multiple cameras, but it is possible to use diffraction gratings to bend the light coming from the specimen in order to allow a single camera to capture multiple views. This technique is referred to as Diffraction Assisted Image Correlation (DAIC) and has been previously demonstrated at room ...

On Thermal Bowing Of Concrete Sandwich Wall Panels With Flexible Shear Connectors, Fray Pozo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Thermal bowing, often referred as bulging or out-of-plane wall deflection, is a common issue on sandwich panel walls caused by a temperature differential between a building interior temperature and the environment. The stresses caused by temperature changes in concrete members are widely known in the practice of bridge design, but not on sandwich wall panels. For sandwich wall panel applications, it is common to have non-composite panels when the designer expects a high temperature gradient, what yields a less economical design, but reduces the bowing.

This project aimed to validate current assumptions regarding the heat flow in sandwich wall panels ...

Conformal Inkjet Printed Antennas For Small Spacecraft, Muhammadeziz Tursunniyaz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although small spacecraft are small in size and light in weight compared to the conventional satellites, they can offer lots of possibilities for space exploration, scientific observation, data collection and telecommunication. Also, they cost a lot less money than the conventional satellites, and the scientific missions can be planned in a relatively short period of time by using the COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) materials. However, there is a big challenge for the small spacecraft that is the limited surface area of the small spacecraft and the outnumbered components to be mounted on the surface of the small spacecraft. The most obvious ...

An Experimental Comparison Of Student Motivation Between Two Computational Thinking-Based Stem Activities: Vex-Based Automation And Robotics And A Quadcopter Activity, Cory J. Ortiz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare student motivation between two junior high level computational thinking based STEM curricular activities. These two activities were a newly developed quadcopter based curriculum and a VEX based curricular activity developed for Project Lead the Way’s Gateway to Technology – Automation and Robotics course. Student motivation was assessed using an assessment called My Class Activities which broke motivation into four constructs: interest, challenge, choice, and enjoyment.

This study assessed students in three schools in a northern Utah school district. Students were assessed after receiving each curriculum. Assessment responses were then coded and analyzed ...

Scaling Up An Infrastructure For Controlled Experimentation With Testing Techniques, Wayne D. Motycka

Computer Science and Engineering: Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research

Software testing research often involves reproducing previous experimental results. Previous work created a repository infrastructure for containment and dissemination of testable research subjects using a private centralized storage mechanism for hosting these test subject archives. While this is a good way to store these subjects it can be inefficient when the size of subjects increases or the number of versions of the subject’s source code is large. The delivery of these large subjects from a centralized repository can be quite large and on occasion may not succeed requiring the user to repeat the download request. Coupled with the limited ...

Tackling Choke Point Induced Performance Bottlenecks In A Near-Threshold Gpgpu, Tahmoures Shabanian

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the last decade, General Purpose Graphics Processing Units (GPGPUs) have garnered a substantial attention in the research community due to their extensive thread-level parallelism. GPGPUs provide a remarkable performance improvement over Central Processing Units (CPUs), for highly parallel applications. However, GPGPUs typically achieve this extensive thread-level parallelism at the cost of a large power consumption. Consequently, Near-Threshold Computing (NTC) provides a promising opportunity for designing energy-efficient GPGPUs (NTC-GPUs). However, NTC-GPUs suffer from a crucial Process Variation (PV)-inflicted performance bottleneck, which is called Choke Point. Choke Point is defined as one or small group of gates which is affected ...

Quantifying Dominant Heat Fluxes In An Arctic Alaskan River With Mechanistic River Temperature Modeling, Tyler V. King

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Temperatures strongly affect physical, chemical, and biological processes in rivers and streams. The processes that influence river temperatures are known across most geographic regions, but the relative importance varies significantly. Little is known about what controls water temperature Arctic rivers, limiting our ability to understand the impacts of climate change. This dissertation addresses this knowledge gap by incorporating field measurements with river temperature modeling to estimate the relative importance of key factors that affect Arctic river temperatures. Results indicate that shortwave radiation (e.g., sunlight) and net longwave radiation are significant throughout an Arctic watershed in all flow conditions. In ...

Membrane-Based Separation Processes For Treating High Salinity Produced Waters, Kamyar Sardari

Theses and Dissertations

Produced waters (PW) generated in the oil and gas industry within the United States often contain extreme levels of total dissolved solids (TDS). These high TDS waste streams need to be treated cost-effectively as the costs associated with the current management techniques can exceed 15 USD per barrel of discharged PW. Thermally and osmotically-driven membrane separation technologies can show promising potential for treating high TDS waste streams, as onsite low-grade waste heat may be used for their operation. In this dissertation, the application of membrane distillation (MD), forward osmosis (FO) and a hybrid FO-MD process for treating synthetic and actual ...

Geophysical Assessment Of Subsurface Soil Conditions Using Capacitively Coupled Resistivity, Folaseye Coker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to explore the applicability of Capacitively-Coupled Resistivity (CCR) as an improvement on traditional drilling and sampling methods for subsurface soil investigations. The CCR method could be used to identify critical locations for drilling and sampling such as expansive clay layers and anomalies (sinkholes, unknown landfills, etc.) rather than uniformly sampling across a site. CCR surveys were performed at Alpena, Arkansas along a highway expansion project changing US 62 from a two lane to four lane highway, and at Alton, Illinois along the Mel Price Levee, a 5.2 mile levee along a portion of ...