Stability Analysis Of The Rotary Drill-String, Liangming Pan

Doctoral Dissertations

Oil and natural gas are major energy sources for modern society. A rotary drilling system is the best known technology to extract them from underground. The vibration and stability of drilling systems have been studied for decades to improve drilling efficiency and protect expensive down-hole components. It is well known that severe drill-string vibrations are caused by many different loads: axial loads such as the hook load and the self-weight of the drill-string, end torques applied by the surface motor and restrained at the bit, the inertial load caused by whirling, the fluid drag force, and the contact force between …

Bikeshare Business Model For Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo, Justin Benson, Andrew Neil Gatchalian

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

With the increasing admittance of students into colleges and universities across the nation, the need for alternate modes of transportation is becoming more pressing. College and university campuses, as well as small cities, in which there is a college or university, are being overloaded with student cars. In San Luis Obispo specifically, parking on campus as well as downtown can be extremely difficult to find. Traffic is also getting progressively worse, especially at the hour when class begins/ends and student arrive to or leave campus. Financial reasons are yet another deterrent for students at Cal Poly. Parking permits, gas, and …

Redesign Of Talley Farm's "Fresh Harvest" Produce Program, Nicole Bordwell, John Rivera, Jared Toboni

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Fresh Harvest, a Central Coast Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program run by Talley Farms located in Arroyo Grande, CA, has a rapidly growing customer base. They harvest, package, and deliver boxes of fresh quality produce to almost 3000 subscribers. However, Talley Farms’ space for production and processing is limited and at times required for other aspects of business. This results in a problem where Talley Farms current processing system of produce for the Fresh Harvest program is not suitable for the forecasted growing demand. This report addresses the need to prepare for continued significant growth to the demand for Fresh …

Process Improvements Of Cilantro Harvesting With Ergonomic Considerations, Eric Penningroth, Branden Shimamoto

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The problems presented by Talley Farms to the team were a lower than desired cilantro harvesting capacity and work health pertaining to lower back problems. The project objectives were to address and improve upon both of these objectives. To increase harvesting capacity, a simulation model was created using standard times from time studies. The simulation model helped to compare the different harvesting methods as well as the effect of the utilization of the on-site manager. The throughputs between each of the models were analyzed. To address ergonomic concerns, a work sampling study was conducted and it was determined that kneeling …

Effects Of Patient Factors On Implantation Rates In In Vitro Fertilization, Heidi Richardson, Sofia Soto

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the effects of patient factors and embryo quality on the implantation rate in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). For this report, statistical methods are used to test the significance of several patient and embryo characteristics on embryo implantation rate. This project is an analysis of data collected from over 36,000 patients.

The analysis concluded several findings. There was enough statistical evidence to conclude that age was significant in regards to implantation rate and FSH levels. As the patient ages, the amount of FSH levels found in their blood increases. A patient with high …

Analysis And Improvement Of The Security Building At Pg&E Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Alyssa Carter, Natalie Christa, Phuong Anh Pham Dinh

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

A new Security building was recently designed and built at the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP).This building’s staff and equipment are responsible for performing routine inspections on all personnel entering the facility in order to prevent security-related incidents from occurring at the nuclear power plant. Similar to airport security procedures, the DCPP security building routine inspections include the use of x-ray machines, metal detectors, and explosive detectors.

The Power Plant periodically experiences pre-planned, preventive maintenance outages, that last 4-6 weeks. During an outage, a power plant reactor is shut down for maintenance, repair, and re-fueling. …

Semi-Automated Glass Mat Splice Operation For Asphalt Shingle Line, Justin Bracci, Harry Zhao, Chad Linafelter

Mechanical Engineering

The following report details the senior project sponsored by GAF Materials Corporation, Shafter, CA in regards to semi-automating a glass-mat splicing table for asphalt roofing shingle production. Herein includes details, research, design, and analysis regarding the semi-automation of the gluing processes for the splicing table. A working prototype was manufactured and tested for the future implementation onto GAF’s production line or further senior project involvement.

Cal Poly India Project, Derek Babine, Austen Hibler, Alex Hernandez

Mechanical Engineering

This report documents the research, ideation, and development of a solution, implemented by the Cal Poly India Sanitation Team per the request of Mr. Harish Bhutani, to solve the problem of hazardous human waste management in poor villages in India. The sponsor envisioned a universal design that would give each household in those villages access to a private toilet system because the current solution is open defecation in water sources and farming fields. The initial constraints required the project be low cost, not use of electricity or water, have the ability to cater to an 8-10 person household, and be …

Machine Shop Learning Kits, Samantha Kelley, Ellen Chambers

Mechanical Engineering

Currently in the Cal Poly Machine shops, students are struggling to find ways to fulfill the 10 hours of shop experience required to gain their Yellow Tag certification. Red Tag is the first level of certification students generally achieve their freshman year. It allows them to use basic machine tools such as drills, shears, benders, etc. Then after completing 10 hours of shop experience they can take the Yellow Tag test, which gains them access to use a welder, mill, and lathe. The heads of the machine shop, the shop technicians, and the mechanical engineering students will all have different …

Cold Roll Extrusion Machine Redesign Final Design Report, Foja Bains, Bryan Cyr, David Van Schooten

Mechanical Engineering

This report is a comprehensive review of a redesign of subsystems for a Cold Roll Extrusion Machine, a forging operation, for PCC Rollmet. Three subsystems were addressed in this project: A new Loading system, Feed system, and Lubrication system. The Loading system, and support system during developmental design stages, addressed the timely loading process of pipes onto the forging machine. After two quarters of design iteration, the group decided on a lever arm, hydraulic actuated, loading design. In the final quarter of the project, a quarter scale model of this lever arm was constructed to prove the concept of the …

A Preventive Maintenance Framework In Dairy Production Operations, Maria F. Vargas

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Dairy operations suffer frequent stops. Product shrinkage is a consequence of downtime, which includes losses of packaging material, scraped finish product and capacity. This work proposes a troubleshooting methodology to identify causes of downtime, estimation of waste cost, and minimization of operation disruptions by applying a combination of a cost function to assess waste, and performance measurements. The drinkable yogurt process is evaluated to find the principal areas for wasted bottles and yogurt. In order to make a decision about which of those sources to address, a General Cost Function is used to estimate waste cost which include measurements that …

Team Nathan Suspension, Frankie J. Wiggins, Alex D. Seitz, Justin P. Bautista

Mechanical Engineering

Nathan Cooper is an 8-year old boy with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA has affected Nathan’s muscle development and requires him to use the Standing Dani™ mobility device. The Standing Dani is a motorized standing wheelchair, or Wheelstand. Nathan controls and uses it to get around. Though the Standing Dani performs well for most functions, it has some distinct issues. The primary issue that this project addresses is its lack of suspension and the discomfort that Nathan feels as a result. After talking with our client, we developed several specifications generally related to geometry, safety, vehicle dynamics, and reliability. Many …

Evaluation Of Heat Recovery Options For Improved Energy Efficiency Of A Manufacturing Facility, Allison Chouinard

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Nationwide process heating in the manufacturing sector accounts for 7,815 trillion BTU of energy use annually; this is roughly one-third of the sector's total energy consumption [Energetics Incorporated, 2014]. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that seventy percent of process heating is fueled by the onsite burning of fossil fuels [Energetics Incorporated, 2014]. These fuel-fired process heating applications are prime opportunities for heat recovery projects capable of saving energy and, consequently, reducing operating costs. This thesis evaluates different methods for heat recovery in the Milwaukee manufacturing facility of STRATTEC Security Corporation. As a basis for this work, the overall energy …

Kinetics Of Aluminization And Homogenization In Wrought H-X750 Nickel-Base Superalloy, Sean Reilly

Masters Theses

In sub-millimeter sheets of wrought H-X750 Nickel-base superalloy, aluminum-rich coatings are bonded to matrix with a vapor phase aluminization process. If an appropriate amount of aluminum is bonded to matrix with homogenization treatment, the resulting diffusion couple will diffuse into coherent (g/g’) heterogeneous phases creating matrix that is both precipitation and solid solution strengthened.

The diffusional mechanisms for solid solution mass transport involved with the growth and dispersion of bonded aluminum-rich coatings in the aluminization process only differ from the no external mass flow homogenization process with annealing treatment in that the boundary conditions are different. In each case these …

A Decision Support Model For Process Planning In Remanufacturing Using Fuzzy Set Theory And Genetic Algorithm, Juan C. Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The environmental awareness and resources preservation has boosted the use of remanufacturing processes. Many important studies have been made in this area, but there are still pitfalls and opportunities that have not been explored yet. Specifically, the cleaning processes play a critical role in remanufacturing. It is among the top of most costly processes and it plays a key step in remanufacturing because delivers a free of contaminant product ready for reprocessing. Understanding and selecting the best processes to meet the need and goals of remanufacturers are important for effective and efficient remanufacturing. Due to variables and high uncertainty associated …

A Study Comparing The Pedagogical Effectiveness Of Virtual Worlds And Of Traditional Training Methods, Benjamin Peters

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This experiment tests whether a virtual world is a more suitable alternative to classical paper and pen case studies for teaching people how to disarm improvised explosive devices (IED). Following preliminary training, the subjects are separated into a group of 32 and one of 33. The odd-numbered subjects receive case studies while the even-numbered subjects receive training in the virtual world, Second Life. After their training, each subject is put into a simulated test where they attempt to properly disarm a mock IED attached to a victim played by an actor/actress. The results of the experiment show no significant difference …

Stress Analysis For Chip Scale Packages With Embedded Active Devices Under Thermal Cycling, Hyunwook Yeo

Dissertations and Theses

One of the main challenges in the electronics manufacturing and packaging development is how to integrate more functions inside the same or even smaller size. To meet the demand for higher integration, the interest toward passive and active component embedding has been increasing during the past few years. One of the main reasons for the growing interest toward embedded active components, in addition to demand for higher packaging density, is the need for better electrical performance of the component assemblies. However, it is little known how embedded IC and passives affect the reliability of IC packaging.

Solder joints have been …

Cnc Torch, Steven Chiu

Computer Engineering

This CNC Torch cuts steel plate. It can cut up to a maximum area of 3x3 feet. The user builds a cut list on the touchscreen from a selection of predefined shapes and enters the parameters need for each shape. When the user is ready, the cut list is sent to an Arduino that will move each motors accordingly to the shapes desired.

2d Wireform Process Improvement, Katy Conlin, Carlo Ebora, Jordan Gamble

Mechanical Engineering

The body of this work has been created for Edwards Lifesciences in conjunction with senior project requirements. As such, the information produced and contained within is under a non‐disclosure agreement. As per request by sponsor, the body of the work will not be submitted to any outside parties, and the title page will serve as proof of completion.

Modification Of A Draw Bar Type Arena Harrow To Three Point Mounted Type Harrow, Clayton Alan Brown

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project will be the design, and construction of a three point hitch to be attached to a draw bar type spike tooth harrow. Currently used by the Cal Poly Rodeo Team to cultivate their arena before performances, and practices.

The attachment will allow the harrow to be pulled in both directions to create different types of soil affects.

Also the fabrications has a minimal budget so the majority of the materials will be scrap material already in position of the rodeo team or donated to the project.

Final Design Report Bull Outdoor Products Tailgating/Backyard Barbecue, Kyle Van Allen, David Mei, Nicholas James Marquez

Mechanical Engineering

Bull Outdoor Products, Inc. is a specialty company whose main products are high end barbecues for use in outdoor kitchens. They desire a more portable barbecue stand(s) that can be used for tailgating. This is to be achieved by creating a dual-purpose stand/frame that allows for the barbecue head to be used on a trailer hitch or as rolling stand that can be used without a trailer hitch.

Semi-Automated Method Of Assembly For Physio Ii Ring, Cameron Anderson Deines, Kelsey Jean Engel, Christopher Kiuyen Wong

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

St. Jude Medical - R&D Robot For Sensor Testing, Andrew Chanul Kim, Stanley Logan Laszczyk, Edgar Nava, Nathan Gall

Electrical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Formula Sae Hybrid Carbon Fiber Monocoque / Steel Tube Frame Chassis, Matthew Hagan, John Rappolt, John Waldrop

Mechanical Engineering

The Cal Poly Formula SAE Team created this project in order to design and fabricate a high-performance chassis which would be competitive at 2013 FSAE Lincoln, and to document the process so that future teams could more easily create a chassis. One of the main goals was to reduce weight from the 143- lb 2012 chassis subsystem. A weight of 95 lb was achieved, with 82 lb in the chassis structure itself and a predicted torsional stiffness of 1700 lb*ft/deg. Composite materials design and manufacturing techniques were developed during the project. Design, testing, and manufacturing processes are detailed, and results …

Handloaded Rifle Ammunition: A Look Into The Assembly Process, Load Development Methods, And Its Comparison To Factory Ammunition, Jeffrey Dalton Snyder

Senior Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to educate the reader on the appeal of assembling firearm ammunition from its individual components, a process known as “handloading,” in comparison to factory assembled ammunition. This is accomplished by providing the reader with the benefits of handloading with an overview of the handloading process. Then, an example of a handload development method (Ladder Test) is discussed and performed. The results from the test are then analyzed and explained. Finally, the handloaded ammunition from the test is compared by function and price to factory ammunition from three different market segments.

The project portion of …

Design And Construction Of A Chemical Engineering (Cheme) Car Using Thermoelectrics, Timothy Barnhill, Sara Davino, Spencer Faltin, Lauryn Jamison, Christina Papadimitrio, Mccall Rogers

Senior Theses

Six chemical engineering undergraduates at the University of South Carolina formed a team to compete in the 2014 AIChE Chem-E-Car competition at the Southern Regional Student Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March. In the Chem-E-Car competition, students must design and build a vehicle powered by an unconventional form of chemical energy to carry a specified weight over a given distance (1). The group used knowledge gained through undergraduate study to construct a small-scale vehicle that is powered by a set of thermoelectric generators utilizing a heat gradient between boiling water and an ethanol-dry ice mixture (2). An iodine …

Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School Solar Panel Project, Dulce Arroyo Martinez, Henrik Lee, Moises Quiroz, Timothy Iafrate

Mechanical Engineering

This project covers the design, manufacture, and installation of solar panel frames on a charter school in Avila Beach, CA. Through preliminary research regarding important factors (such as solar movement, ideal panel angle, and site-specific factors), a frame that meets the standards set forth in the California Building Codes was designed. After approval by presiding authorities, parts specified in the design were ordered, inspected upon arrival, and manufactured to the design as necessary. Much of the challenge was related to the installation aspect of the project—coordination with the proper authorities and correct submission of applications was integral to the success …

Redesigning The Walker: A More Durable & Dignified Device, Gianna M. Curcio

Honors Capstone Projects - All

Aging and Rehabilitation Engineering is a prominent field with ample room for development of and improvement upon existing options. Surveying city sidewalks, family gatherings, hospital waiting rooms it becomes apparent that the need for mobility aids is abundant. My proposal for Capstone is to redesign the walker from both my mechanical engineering and sculptural perspectives. A walker is meant to improve the quality of life for those who are unable to walk unassisted, but should not come at the cost of the user’s dignity. The way we carry ourselves says a lot about us (i.e. character, will, and level of …

A Decision Support System To Measure Product Suitability For Additive Manufacturing Processes, Cynthia De Vasconcellos Barros

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies started arising around 1980’s and they are currently considered to be the third industrial revolution. With improvements in computers, materials, and automated machines, manufacturers across several types of industries are becoming more familiar with AM processes, and it has become more common to see products that are being fabricated by using this new technology. However, there are still questions regarding when it is suitable to use Additive Manufacturing or conventional manufacturing processes depending on different factors. The purpose of this thesis is to create a Decision Support System (DSS) that will help users measure product suitability …

Simulation Of An Intake Manifold Pre-Heater For Cold Diesel Engine Startup, Patrick K. Kreun

Masters Theses

Ensuring consistent, reliable diesel engine startups in cold temperatures is of utmost importance in a number of applications. Under extreme temperatures, the use of glow plugs is complemented by intake manifold heaters. In these, the energy released from combustion increases the intake air temperature before the air enters the main combustion chamber. Since the process also alters the stoichiometry of the fuel-air mixture at the intake ports, the preheater operation must be optimized in order to guarantee successful and reliable in-cylinder combustion during engine startups. This paper describes the development of an intake manifold model incorporating an air pre-heater for …