Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Engineering Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Contact Dewatering Of Cellulose Nanofibers For Biopolymer Composite Applications, Alexander Collins Aug 2022

Contact Dewatering Of Cellulose Nanofibers For Biopolymer Composite Applications, Alexander Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNFs) are promising materials for reinforcement of polymer matrices attributable to their impressive physical and mechanical properties, as well as their biodegradability. However, the utilization of these materials in composites is made challenging by the water content of CNF slurries, the tendency of CNFs to agglomerate as they dry, and incompatibility between hydrophilic CNFs and hydrophobic polymer matrices. The most commercially viable drying methods to produce small-scale dry CNFs, such as spray drying, are very energy intensive, can only dry the materials down to micron-scale agglomerates, and do not preserve fibrillar aspect ratios. “Contact dewatering,” or the removal …


Finite Element Analysis Of Impact Resistant Composites Inspired By Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Nandati Shrestha Apr 2021

Finite Element Analysis Of Impact Resistant Composites Inspired By Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Nandati Shrestha

Thinking Matters Symposium

The fist-like club of the peacock mantis shrimp, a 5-inch marine crustacean, can strike its prey with speed faster than a .22-caliber bullet with an impact force more than 1,000 times its own weight. Although these creatures punch so fast that it even boils the water, they don’t take any damage. This incredible insusceptibility is due to the arrangement of mineralized fiber layers in which each fibrous layer is laid at a slightly rotated angle to form a helicoidal structure that acts as a shock absorber for the club. The goal is to perform a finite element analysis to investigate …


Adaptive Paddle Board, Alexander Holthaus, Alexander Holthaus, Garrett Holmes, Garett Jones Jun 2019

Adaptive Paddle Board, Alexander Holthaus, Alexander Holthaus, Garrett Holmes, Garett Jones

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review (FDR) document outlines the Adaptive Paddle Board senior project, done by four Mechanical Engineering Students at California Polytechnic State University and provides detail on the project and what the team has accomplished. The goal was to create a universally adaptive paddle board that can be used by the Central California Adaptive Sports Center for a wide range of persons with disabilities. This document highlights current research from patents and existing products, details regarding customer specifications, results from concept generation, the manufacturing and testing that went into the final design, and the process taken to get there. …


Surface Roughness And Diametral Consistency Of Holes Drilled Into Ddgs/Phenolic Resin Blends, J. W. Shanafield, A. W. Otieno, R. A. Tatara, D. J. Schroeder, Kurt A. Rosentrater Jan 2012

Surface Roughness And Diametral Consistency Of Holes Drilled Into Ddgs/Phenolic Resin Blends, J. W. Shanafield, A. W. Otieno, R. A. Tatara, D. J. Schroeder, Kurt A. Rosentrater

Kurt A. Rosentrater

In this study, corn-based distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) has been utilized as a filler and blended with phenolic resin. The blends were compression molded into rectangular test specimens, into which holes have been machined using a standard 9.52 mm (3/8 in) diameter, two-fluted twist drill. A series of tests was then conducted to examine the effects of DDGS content, cutting speed, and feed rate upon the surface finish (roughness) of the interior hole slot, as well as the consistency of the drilled hole diameter. DDGS content was 0, 25, 50, and 75%, by weight. Cutting speed was 17, …


Properties Of Distillers Grains Composites: A Preliminary Investigation, Vanessa Cheesbrough, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Jerry Visser Jan 2008

Properties Of Distillers Grains Composites: A Preliminary Investigation, Vanessa Cheesbrough, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Jerry Visser

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Interest in renewable biofuel sources has intensified in recent years, leading to greatly increased production of ethanol and its primary coproduct, Distillers Dried Grain with Solubles (DDGS). Consequently, the development of new outlets for DDGS has become crucial to maintaining the economic viability of the industry. In light of these developments, this preliminary study aimed to determine the suitability of DDGS for use as a biofiller in low-cost composites that could be produced by rapid prototyping applications. The effects of DDGS content, particle size, curing temperature, and compression on resulting properties, such as flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, water activity, …


Compression Molding Of Phenolic Resin And Corn-Based Ddgs Blends, Kurt A. Rosentrater, R. A. Tatara, S. Suraparaju Apr 2007

Compression Molding Of Phenolic Resin And Corn-Based Ddgs Blends, Kurt A. Rosentrater, R. A. Tatara, S. Suraparaju

Kurt A. Rosentrater

With the rapid growth in the ethanol fuel industry in recent years, considerable research is being devoted to optimizing the use of processing coproducts, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), in livestock diets. Because these residues contain high fiber levels, they may be amendable to incorporation into bio-based composites. Thus, the goal of this study was to demonstrate the viability of using corn-based DDGS as a biofiller with phenolic resin, in order to produce a novel biomaterial. DDGS was blended with phenolic resin at 0, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 90%, by weight, and then compression molded at …


Considerations For Manufacturing Bio-Based Plastic Products, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Andrew W. Otieno Oct 2006

Considerations For Manufacturing Bio-Based Plastic Products, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Andrew W. Otieno

Kurt A. Rosentrater

One engine that drives the United States’ economic growth is an ever-increasing demand for manufactured products, both at home and abroad. This increase has created a major concern for the environment in terms of disposing used goods and ensuring that these products are safe. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increasing attention, especially as industrial ecology and product biodegradability gain importance. Added to this, biological materials are increasingly being utilized to replace traditional materials in manufacturing. To aid both educators as well as researchers, this paper examines several considerations that are essential for manufacturing plastic products that …


Essential Considerations For Manufacturing Products Containing Biological Materials, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Andrew W. Otieno Apr 2005

Essential Considerations For Manufacturing Products Containing Biological Materials, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Andrew W. Otieno

Kurt A. Rosentrater

An engine that drives the United States’ economic growth is an ever-increasing demand for manufactured products, both at home and abroad. As environmental concerns grow, however, renewable resources are gaining increasing attention, especially as industrial ecology and product biodegradability gain in prevalence. Added to this, biological materials are increasingly being utilized to replace traditional materials in manufacturing. To aid both educators as well as researchers, this paper examines several considerations that are essential for manufacturing products that contain biomaterials. These include the selection of materials, the selection of manufacturing processes, manufacturing costs, and the quality of final products. Additionally, several …