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Kinematics Of Inextensible Constant Curvature Model For The Design Of Minimally Invasive Surgical Robots
Stander Symposium Projects
Continuum robots are inspired by biological organisms such as snakes, octopus tentacles, and elephant trunks to replicate their flexibility. These robots can navigate complex and confined spaces, enabling them to adapt to changing shapes and surfaces and interact delicately with environments without causing damage. Hence, their inherent flexibility and maneuverability make continuum robots ideal for surgical procedures in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). However, MIS requires exacting precision in both the position of the surgical robot end-effector and the shape of the continuum robot backbone. Additionally, the high flexibility of continuum robots introduces complexity in motion planning and control. To address …
Design Of Smart Magnetic Beads For Water Purification
Design Of Smart Magnetic Beads For Water Purification
Stander Symposium Projects
New technologies are needed to advance current state-of-the-art water purification processes. Sodium alginate, a bio-based polymer made from brown seaweed, is a promising material for this application. Current studies using this biopolymer include applications in water treatment, drug delivery, and food engineering. Over the last two semesters, undergraduate students have explored this polymer along with magnetic nanomaterials in the Nanoscale Engineered Materials Laboratory (NEMLab) at UD as part of their Ethos R&D course. The students not only performed technical research but also participated in outreach activities, including in-person and video demonstrations with the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. In the NEMLab, …
A Topology Optimization Results Spaceframe Interpreter For The Design Of Lightweight Aircraft Structures
Stander Symposium Projects
This poster presents the methodology and theoretical foundation of topology optimization (TO) Results Spaceframe Interpreter, an automatic TO results interpreter that generates a closely associated space frame consisting of welded structural tubing or rectangular bars. TO is a computational technique that uses a finite element (FE) formulation to identify the most weight-efficient structure within a design domain. Density-based TO results in structures that take organic forms and is usually a tedious and cumbersome process to generate a computer-aided-design (CAD) model to manufacture through conventional techniques. The optimal topology frequentlyresembles a space frame, which is well-known as being a rigid, lightweight …
Optimizing Novel High-Speed Mechanical Press Designs For Improved Ram Dwell Subject To Joint Force Considerations
Stander Symposium Projects
This research aims to advance mechanism designs for mechanical presses by targeting desirable ram motion while meeting industry standards for joint forces. Mechanical presses, pivotal in shaping metal parts from pop cans to car fenders, are integral to industry due to their advantages in speed, cost, accuracy, precision, and energy efficiency over alternative forming methods. The prevalent use of mechanical presses has spurred a considerable number of companies to design and manufacture these machines, catering to diverse end-user needs. Given their ubiquity, even minor enhancements can significantly reduce processing times and energy consumption. This study focuses on optimizing five designs …
Improved Thermal Conductivity Of Dlp-Printed H-Bn Composites
Improved Thermal Conductivity Of Dlp-Printed H-Bn Composites
Stander Symposium Projects
The limited thermal conductivity of many polymers has constrained their widespread use,despite their appeal for their resilience, affordability, and lightweight nature. Hexagonal boronnitride (h-BN), the structure analog of graphite, has many applications due to its superbproperties. Owing to its stacking layer structure, h-BN possesses anisotropic thermaltransportation property, exhibiting superior thermal conductivity along its in-plane direction butlower cross-plane thermal conductivity. Developing h-BN composites with controllable BNalignments will enable great potential for making high thermal conductive components for variousapplications. Digital light processing (DLP) is one of the additive manufacturing (AM) techniquesthat can be used to control h-BN plate orientation in a polymer …
Prediction Of Hydrocarbon Density With Machine Learning Models
Prediction Of Hydrocarbon Density With Machine Learning Models
Stander Symposium Projects
The approval procedure for new sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) is a lengthy and costly process as it requires extensive testing. Several physicochemical properties must be measured for a new jet fuel, and their values must fall within specific required ranges. The ability to mitigate actual testing and measurements with predictive models would accelerate the certification process and reduce the associated costs. Machine learning (ML) algorithms are increasingly attractive tools for developing predictive models for the physicochemical properties of jet fuels.This project used machine learning methods to predict the density of hydrocarbon mixtures based on specific molecular descriptors. A dataset comprised …
Silver Corrosion: Substitution Reactions Within The Corrosion Product
Silver Corrosion: Substitution Reactions Within The Corrosion Product
Stander Symposium Projects
Corrosion is a form of material degradation that causes billions of dollars of damage per year. Silver is often used as an indicator in atmospheric corrosion studies to better understand the effect of environmental chemistry on corrosion severity. The chemical composition of silver corrosion product films is commonly analyzed in atmospheric corrosion studies; however, changes in these films after initial formation are currently unaccounted for and poorly understood. This study utilized electrochemical coulometric techniques and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to characterize the composition of lab-grown silver corrosion product films. Silver corrosion product films were grown by electrochemical deposition in either …
Experimental Investigation Of A Novel Morphing Wing Design
Experimental Investigation Of A Novel Morphing Wing Design
Stander Symposium Projects
The aerodynamic performance of a novel Fishbone Skin-Actuated-Camber (SAC) morphing wing design, which actuates its skin to change its effective camber, was studied both experimentally and numerically. Force-based experiments were conducted at the University of Dayton Low Speed Wind Tunnel (UD-LSWT) to compare the performance of four morphing wing designs with different hinge locations, two ideal trailing edge flap wings, and one conventional trailing edge flap wing. All test articles have an Eppler 479 airfoil, an effective aspect ratio of four, and were tested within an angle of attack range of -15° and 15 °. The novel design achieved effective …
Ethos Guatemala Breakout - Photovoltaic Systems
Ethos Guatemala Breakout - Photovoltaic Systems
Stander Symposium Projects
A team of undergraduate engineering students developed and installed photovoltaic systems for low income families in El Jocotillo, Guatemala who did not have access to electricity. The students used a systems thinking approach as part of a design thinking process for this project. During a 10-day immersion in Guatemala, they learned from and worked with local photovoltaic experts and members of the community to install photovoltaic systems that are sustainable and appropriate for the families. This project is part of the Ethos Center within the UD School of Engineering.
Fatigue Limiting Behavior Of Lpbf Parts (Am Process Improvement)
Fatigue Limiting Behavior Of Lpbf Parts (Am Process Improvement)
Stander Symposium Projects
This study investigates the fatigue limiting behavior in aerospace alloys, focusing on the role of Critical Resolved Shear Stress (CRSS) in determining fatigue limits. Initially targeting Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) for four-point bending fatigue bars using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), challenges with contaminated Ti64 powder led to a shift to martensitic 17-4PH stainless steel (17-4 stainless). The research explores the impact of CRSS on fatigue limits, emphasizing its importance over slip systems per Mlikota's findings. Surface roughness analysis of the 17-4 stainless bars revealed a consistently higher average roughness, sharpness of peaks and valleys, and most importantly depth of valleys on …
Spectral Control In Bandpass Filters Using Dispersion Relations In Metallo-Dielectric Structures
Spectral Control In Bandpass Filters Using Dispersion Relations In Metallo-Dielectric Structures
Stander Symposium Projects
In previous work, we introduced an analytical approach that utilizes the dispersion relation within an infinite periodic multilayer structure to predict the performance of finite multilayer structures. We validated the accuracy of our predictions by demonstrating numerical agreement with other established simulation methods, such as the transfer matrix method, and through experimental confirmation using fabricated multilayer metallo-dielectric structures. In this work, we employ dispersion relations to illustrate that metallo-dielectric (MD) structures, as opposed to a multilayer dielectric-dielectric (DD) structures, efficiently yields a sharp-edge transmittance spectrum profiles, and provides convenient control over both sides of the bandpass cut-off edges. Our approach …
Doors, Trikes And Folding Wings: Advancing Concepts For Machines Using Motiongen
Doors, Trikes And Folding Wings: Advancing Concepts For Machines Using Motiongen
Stander Symposium Projects
MotionGen, a kinematic analysis and synthesis tool, helps to readily develop working kinematic models of mechanisms, planar robotic systems, and heavy machinery like backhoes and bulldozers. By using MotionGen, these systems can be readily synthesized and animated. A team of DIMLab (Design of Innovative Machines Lab) students has been busy this semester learning MotionGen and using it to create novel yet practical designs. We have utilized MotionGen to model recumbent tricycles for people with disabilities who pedal with FES, to investigate novel architectures for mechanical presses, to ideate on a novel swinging door, and to assess the motion of a …
Pv Orientation Optimization For Residential & Commercial Buildings Considering Fixed & Bi-Annual Orientation With A Constant Or Varying Tariff
Stander Symposium Projects
Optimizing photovoltaic (PV) panels beyond the use of additional technology is one method that many have analyzed to make PV panels as valuable as possible. It often comes in the form of orienting the tilt and azimuth of a panel for the most energy collected. This does improve the value of PV panels, but there are other considerations for the optimum orientation, as having the most energy collected does not guarantee the greatest value. This has culminated in a great amount of analysis of the optimum orientation for revenue over the past decade. The goal of this study was to …
A Numerical Study On The Effects Of Varying Types And Spacing Of Reinforcement Elements In Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls (Msew)
Stander Symposium Projects
Mechanically stabilized earth walls (MSEWs) are an increasingly popular type of retention structure being constructed in the United States. According to the Federal Highway Association, it is estimated that over 9,000,000 square feet of MSEWs are constructed in the United States each year. These types of structures make use of a reinforced soil mass to support the retained soil or backfill. There are two primary categories of reinforcement used in mechanically stabilized earth walls: inextensible and extensible reinforcement. However, in each of these categories there are various types of reinforcement that can be utilized in the design. With all the …
Research On The Biocompatibility Of Nanofibers For Microneedles
Research On The Biocompatibility Of Nanofibers For Microneedles
Stander Symposium Projects
Electrospun nanofibers are extensively studied materials in tissue engineering for both in vivo and in vitro applications. Despite their potential, the delicate and friable nature of nanofibers poses challenges in handling and utilizing them for cell culture substrates. To address this, we investigated the feasibility of 3D printing circular frames using a UV curable resin onto chitosan nanofiber mats Our aim was to evaluate the adhesion and proliferation of cultured cells on variously positioned nanofibers, including rings and coins, and orientations both upwards and downwards, to assess their biocompatibility over time. To evaluate the confluency and proliferation, we utilized a …
Soft Robotic End-Effector Design: A Potential For Cost-Effective Maintenance In Aerospace Inspection And Pipe Investigation
Stander Symposium Projects
This research presents investigations into the cost-effective design of a soft robotic end-effector, engineered to perform tasks with dexterity and precision. The end-effector is being considered for performing manipulations either at the end of a continuum robot or as a stand-alone mechanism. The combination of continuum robot and end-effector is expected to provide a high degree of flexibility and safety. Such a soft robotic manipulator exhibits potential across applications in the realm of aerospace maintenance, particularly for jet engines during repairs. A similar concept could be considered for a soft-robot designed to navigate a pipe. Additionally, the soft aspect of …
Handheld Packaged Photonic Sensor For Chem-Bio Sensing
Handheld Packaged Photonic Sensor For Chem-Bio Sensing
Stander Symposium Projects
Silicon semiconductor chips utilizing label-free optical methods can achieve multiplexed sensing of multiple biomarkers of several potential cancers, infections and diseases in a single measurement in real time with a few microliters of sample fluid. However, commercial benchtop optical instruments are often prohibitively expensive, hindering global adoption. The sensors offer high specificity detection down to sub-nanogram levels, enabling early diagnosis of cancers, infectious diseases, and pollutants. Combined with affordable instruments and silicon photonic chips, they could transform global rapid testing, even in remote, low-resource settings. To further facilitate its global application, this project has been focused on designing a compact, …
Ethos Guatemala Breakout - Aquaponic Systems
Ethos Guatemala Breakout - Aquaponic Systems
Stander Symposium Projects
A team of undergraduate engineering students developed and installed an aquaponic system at a school for children from low income families in Zaragoza, Guatemala. The students used a systems thinking approach as part of a design thinking process for this project. During a 10-day immersion in Guatemala, they learned from and worked with local aquaponic experts and members of the community to install a system that is sustainable and appropriate for the school. This project is part of the Ethos Center within the UD School of Engineering.
From Blue-Gray To Blue-Green: Facilitating The Transition To Non-Plastic, Natural Material Use Within The Coastal Zone Economy
Stander Symposium Projects
Funded by NOAA and in collaboration with the Baruch Marine Field Institute, this project addresses the environmental impact of non-biodegradable plastics in coastal South Carolina. It explores the mechanical and economic viability of natural materials like coir, jute, and hemp to replace plastics in critical coastal sectors that experience harsh environmental conditions. The first class of products studied was natural fiber geotextiles due to their current prominence in coastal environments. Before studying the impacts of weathering on mechanical properties, the virgin, unweathered properties must be measured and the impact of water absorption on the mechanical properties must be understood. An …
Designing Spherical Mechanisms, From Wrist Orthotics To Mechanical Novelties
Designing Spherical Mechanisms, From Wrist Orthotics To Mechanical Novelties
Stander Symposium Projects
This research explores a spherical mechanism designed as a component in a wrist orthotic. A spherical mechanism, a little used class of mechanical device, allows the limitations commonly associated with conventional wrist orthoses to be effectively addressed. With a theoretical model of the wrist orthotic and its component spherical mechanism developed in previous work, several questions remain. These questions include addressing the mechanical design issues to realize a working orthotic prototype, and exploring the spherical mechanism fundamental to the orthotic to explore its unique properties. The spherical mechanism is classified as a drag-link device, meaning it is capable of large …
Thermal 3d Point Cloud Generation And Model Reconstruction For Energy Auditing
Thermal 3d Point Cloud Generation And Model Reconstruction For Energy Auditing
Stander Symposium Projects
Maintaining efficient energy usage in buildings or infrastructure is vital to the sustainable development program. The infrared (IR) thermography technique is widely used in thermoelastic behavior analysis and contactless temperature detection. However, the current thermal information is restricted in 2D space (i.e., image), depth and geometric information of the construction is missing. Geometric information and thermodynamics in the 3D space of building or infrastructure are essential for building energy auditing and infrastructure defect inspection. Though LiDAR is a possible solution, its costs, portability, and difficulty in merging additional data may bring more challenges to users. The aim of this project …
Surface Reinforcement Strategies For Polymer-Based 3d Printing With Industrial Robotic Arm
Surface Reinforcement Strategies For Polymer-Based 3d Printing With Industrial Robotic Arm
Stander Symposium Projects
Additive manufacturing (AM) technology is rapidly advancing across diverse fields. For instance, the use of robotic arms in various AM processes has led to significant gains in printing flexibility and manufacturing scalability. However, despite these advancements, there remains a notable research gap concerning the mechanical properties of parts 3D-printed with robotic arms. This study focuses on developing a robotic fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D-printing process with a layer resolution of 50 μm to 200 μm. We propose a novel planar tool path strategy that can vary contour layer thickness within an infill layer to improve mechanical strength by minimizing air …
Predicting Weather Dependent Energy Savings For Low-Income Residential Buildings For Specific Upgrades With Limited Building Data
Stander Symposium Projects
The pathway to sustainability is challenging. Multiple paths exist, but the key will be to achieve carbon reduction with the least cost. This could be achieved through large scale deployment of renewable energy; however, many studies have shown how important it is to reduce demand first. This study employs machine learning to analyze detailed energy profiles from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), estimating potential energy savings for natural gas heating, electric heating, and electric cooling through modifications such as insulation improvements, setpoint changes, infiltration reduction, or system efficiency enhancements. By comparing these building models with actual building data from …
Stitt Scholars: Turtle Up/Olean Project
Stitt Scholars: Turtle Up/Olean Project
Stander Symposium Projects
No abstract provided.
Pund Behavior Of An Hzo Device
Pund Behavior Of An Hzo Device
Stander Symposium Projects
Ferroelectric materials form the backbone of silicon electronic memristor devices in silicon electronics and are gradually becoming more prevalent in silicon photonics for optical memory applications. In this context, hafnium zirconium oxide (HZO), an established material in the silicon electronics foundry, is making inroads in silicon photonics aided by its nearly zero absorption at near-infrared wavelengths that makes it compatible for integration with silicon photonic waveguides and resonators. A fundamental measurement technique to characterize ferroelectric material behavior is PUND. The acronym stands for positive up negative down. A PUND measurement is a series of five pulses based around the values …
Analysis Of Power System Resilience Subject To Extreme Events
Analysis Of Power System Resilience Subject To Extreme Events
Stander Symposium Projects
This study aims to increase the understanding of power system resilience through pattern recognition of disaster induced system disruption. This study consists of analyzing power system failure and recovery patterns in a post extreme event environment to determine relevant pattern characteristics relating to power system resilience in statistical terms. Specifically, the methodology of this progressive study consists of (1) collecting and processing data from power system failures induced by natural disasters categorized by power companies, states, counties, and natural disaster occurrence, (2) developing failure and recovery curves for the collected data, (3) investigating and establishing a distribution model that correlates …
Numerical Analysis Of Tapered Optical Fiber Sensors Utilizing Beam Propagation Methods
Numerical Analysis Of Tapered Optical Fiber Sensors Utilizing Beam Propagation Methods
Stander Symposium Projects
Tapered Optical Fibers Sensors (TOFSs) have gained attention as sensors due to their elevated sensitivity, real-time specimen analysis, and practical measuring capabilities. By reducing the waist of the optical fiber, the optical field transmitted inside is permitted to extend beyond the fiber, enabling the detection of subtle changes in the refractive index near the sensitive(tapered) region. This can be efficiently used for bio-sensing and other sensing applications. An FFT-BPM is used to model optical propagation through fibers with different core and cladding thicknesses aimed at modeling a tapered fiber. The refractive index profile was suitably modified from a standard step-index …
Monitoring Air Quality Using A Visibility Meter
Monitoring Air Quality Using A Visibility Meter
Stander Symposium Projects
Atmospheric aerosols constitute most of the air during non-ideal weather conditions such as fog, haze, and mist. These aerosols cause light to be attenuated while propagating through the atmosphere leading to reduction in effective visibility. Visibility is the distance at which an observer can view an object clearly. The atmospheric extinction coefficient is related to the visibility and can be measured from designing a visibility meter. The overall goal of this project is to understand how to measure visibility in non-ideal weather conditions by built in the visibility meter. The visibility meter built in this project is cheaper than commercial …
Using Motiongen To Help Teach Concepts From Machine Theory
Using Motiongen To Help Teach Concepts From Machine Theory
Stander Symposium Projects
Researchers in Mechanical Engineering at SUNY Stony Brook have recently developed a free-access, online tool called MotionGen which enables users to virtually synthesize and assemble 2-dimensional mechanisms. Designers can then animate the mechanisms and observe the motion to assess performance. The course MEE 321 Theory of Machines, a requirement in the University of Dayton Mechanical Engineering curriculum, focuses on the analysis and use of these systems. MotionGen provides a new resource for bringing the static images from that course's content to life via animations. MotionGen assists students in gaining exposure to functioning mechanisms by helping visualize how linkages move, thus …
Mechanical Design Of An Aircraft With A Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage
Mechanical Design Of An Aircraft With A Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage
Stander Symposium Projects
An aircraft without a vertical stabilizer and using a novel rotating empennage is currently under study at the Air Force Research Lab. The project aims to produce a highly maneuverable tailless fighter aircraft that is inspired by the flight of hunting birds. Flying creatures do not have a vertical stabilizer and exhibit remarkable maneuverability by rotating their tail feathers for lateral stability and pitch control. In the tailless bio-inspired aircraft, lateral control is gained by providing the empennage with an additional degree of freedom. The bio-inspired rotating empennage (BIRE) concept aircraft has the capability to rotate the empennage about the …