Engineering Commons^™

Exploration Of The Sludge Biodiesel Pathway, Zachary Christman

Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research in Agronomy and Horticulture

Wastewater sludge is an overlooked source of fat, oil, and grease (FOG) that could be converted into biodiesel. The United States produces about 8 million tons of sludge per year. The disposal cost for this amount of sludge is about 2 billion dollars. The widespread availability and low cost of sludge compared to other biodiesel raw materials make it an economical choice for a renewable fuel. Using sludge as a raw material can produce 25 to 30 mg per gram of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME); the main component of biodiesel. Sludge biodiesel has the potential of transforming a portion ...

Device Development For Long-Term Systemic Oral Biologic Drug Delivery, Benjamin Wankum

Mechanical (and Materials) Engineering -- Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A biologic drug is a drug that is produced by a living organism. Biologic drugs are used to treat various medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, or certain forms of cancers due to their high potency and high selectivity of action. Drawbacks of biologics include their poor stability in the gastrointestinal tract and their poor absorption. In effect, this gives the drugs very low bioavailability and short therapeutic half-lives. To combat these obstacles, current delivery methods include subcutaneous injections at home or intravenous or intramuscular injections in a medical facility.

The overall scientific goal of the research was to utilize ...

Atomic Layer Deposition Of Sodium Fluoride Thin Films, Sara Kuraitis, Donghyeon Kang, Anil U. Mane, Hua Zhou, Jake Soares, Jeffrey W. Elam, Elton Graugnard

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The need for advanced energy conversion and storage devices remains a critical challenge amid the growing worldwide demand for renewable energy. Metal fluoride thin films are of great interest for applications in lithium-ion and emerging rechargeable battery technologies, particularly for enhancing the stability of the electrode-electrolyte interface and thereby extending battery cyclability and lifetime. Reported within, sodium fluoride (NaF) thin films were synthesized via atomic layer deposition (ALD). NaF growth experiments were carried out at reactor temperatures between 175 and 250 °C using sodium tert-butoxide and HF-pyridine solution. The optimal deposition temperature range was 175–200 °C, and the ...

Development Of An Intraperitoneal Catheter Placement Device For Use On The Battlefield, Riley Reynolds

Mechanical (and Materials) Engineering -- Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objective of this project was to simplify peritoneal cavity access so an Airforce field medic can safely infuse oxygen microbubbles (OMBs) into the intraperitoneal space for the emergency treatment of hypoxia due to lung damage. To solve this problem, we created an intraperitoneal catheter placement device for use on the battlefield. The three common methods and some of the most common devices for peritoneal cavity access were reviewed. Injury frequencies for each of the three methods were analyzed. The results showed that each of the access techniques gives a similar rate of iatrogenic injury.

The battlefield conditions where the ...

Design And Control Of A Peristaltic Pump To Simulate Left Atrial Pressure In A Conductive Silicone Model, Jeremy Collins

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

According to the CDC, atrial fibrillation is responsible for more than 454,000 hospitalizations and approximately 158,000 deaths per year. A common treatment for atrial fibrillation is catheter ablation, a process in which a long flexible tube is guided through the femoral artery and to the source of arrhythmia in the heart, where it measures the electrical potential at various locations and converts problematic heart tissue to scar tissue via ablation. This paper details the design and control of a low-cost ($400) peristaltic pump system using repetitive control to replicate blood pressure in the left atrium in a conductive ...

Performance And Economics Of Solar Inverters And Module Level Power Electronics In A 1 Mw Photovoltaic System, Maxwell Criswell

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Photovoltaic solar panels convert sunlight to electricity in the form of direct current; therefore, a necessary component of every photovoltaic system is an inverter to convert the electricity to usable alternating current. There are various commercially available inverter technologies manufactured today such as microinverters, string inverters, and central inverters, as well as module level power electronic devices such as DC optimizers that are capable of improving system performance in string and central inverter systems. This thesis compares the performance and economics of five different inverter and module level power electronic systems through model simulation using Helioscope software. The five alternatives ...

Design And Fabrication Of A Microstrip Bandpass Filter In Ltcc, Allison Rucker

Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The goal of the project was to design and fabricate a bandpass filter with a center frequency of 25GHz with a 2GHz bandwidth. The first step was to do the calculation to design a bandpass filter to meet these specifications along with the properties of the Dupont^TM GreenTape^TM 9K7. HFSS was then used to verify the results from the initial calculations. There was a significant error between the two results, so more tweaking was done to the calculations to get a better center frequency. After a final design was decided, the fabrication process started. Low-Temperature Co-Fired Ceramics (LLTC ...

Development Of Hybrid Ultra-High Performance Concrete Thermoplastic Composite Panels For Blast And Ballistic Protection, Alyssa M. Libby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has become a material of interest for structures needing resistance to impact and blast loadings. These types of loadings have induced brittle flexural failure in UHPC due to punching shear from the impactor. One way to improve the impact resistance, energy absorption, and ductility of UHPC is by adding fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) skins to the front and rear faces of the concrete, resulting in a sandwich configuration. In this study, E-glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic laminates were bonded to UHPC panels using a heated consolidation process known as stamp thermoforming. The bond between the UHPC ...

Husky Hand: A Low-Cost Electro-Mechanical Prosthetic Arm For The Underprivileged, Adam Robert

Thinking Matters Symposium

A continuation of a low-cost prosthetic upper limb prototype design which was investigated in EGN 301. The prosthetic is specifically designed for the needs and requirements of under privileged individuals in the Dominican Republic with upper limb amputations. The project focuses on the creation of an open-source computer aided prosthetic hand/arm model. The design allows consumer-grade fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3-D printers to be used. The improved design allows for the integration of the PQ-12 linear actuator for grasp and finger control. This simplifies the assembly, while, also reducing the size and mass of the whole unit. Producing a ...

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 ...

Features Of Chloridizing Roasting Of Almalyk Mining Metallurgical Combinate Wastes, Malokhat Atamuratova, Dildora Khakimboeva, Khasan Sharipov, Zuhra Kadirova, Tulkin Shakarov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

With the aim to develop a comprehensive technology for processing Almalyk Mining Metallurgical Combinate (AMMC) wastes, the influence of chloride additives on the copper and zinc chloride volatilization process is considered. The relationship between presence of the calcium, potassium and sodium chlorides chlorinating additive on the copper and zinc chlorides sublimation from the AGMK wastes at roasting temperatures up to 700-1000˚C was established.

Synthesis Of Superabsorbing Hydrogels Based On Starch Copolymers, Baxodir Kholnazarov, Khayit Turaev, Abdulakhat Jalilov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this work is to synthesize highly swellable superabsorbent hydrogels based on starch copolymers. To achieve this goal, mineral-containing superabsorbent hydrogels based on starch, acrylamide, binder and initiator were synthesized. The optimal synthesis conditions were determined and studies were carried out on the influence of the molar ratios of the starting substances on the composition and physicochemical properties of the synthesized superabsorbent hydrogel. In the course of research, the optimum copolymerization temperature was 60 ° C, and the reaction time was 3 hours.

As a result of the study, a superabsorbent hydrogel based on starch, acrylamide and bentonite in ...

Synthesis Of Thiocol Oligomer Based On Sodium Tetrasulphide, Epichlorhydrine And Ammonium Phosphate, Bakhtiyor Normurodov, Khayit Turaev, Abdulakhat Jalilov, Sherzod Kasimov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The purpose of this study is the synthesis and study of thiokol oligomer NEP-12 brand based on sodium tetrasulfide, epichlorohydrin and ammonium phosphate, which is intended for use as a main component of Thiokol sealant. To achieve this goal, a thiokol oligomer based on sodium tetrasulfide, epichlorohydrin, and ammonium phosphate was synthesized and investigated, and the optimal conditions for the synthesis of a thiokol oligomer were determined. Research has been carried out on the influence of the molar ratios of the starting substances on the composition and physicochemical properties of the synthesized thiocol oligomer. The optimum polycondensation temperature was taken ...

Synthesis And Structure Of The Coordination Complex Of Copper Ion With Collagen, Dildorа Sadikova, Adham Rafikov, Oybek Tursunqulov, Dilnoza Soyibova

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this work is to synthesize, determine the composition and microstructure of complexes of copper (II) sulfate with collagen for use as a dye for textile material. Coordination complexes of copper (II) sulfate with collagen synthesized at different ratios of the initial substances by the interaction of solutions of different concentrations of copper sulfate and collagen of raw skin. With an increase in the salt content, the yield of the reaction product increases. With an excess of collagen, some of it does not bind into a complex and precipitates. With an excess of salt, almost the weight of ...

Synthesis Of Sodium Ammonium Hydrophosphate And Sodium Dihydrophosphate Based On Extraction Phosphoric Acid From Central Kyzylkum Phosphorites, Kamola Arifdjanova, Kholtura Mirzakulov, Sherzod Khujamberdiev, Melikulova Gavkhar

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of the research is the synthesis of sodium ammonium hydrogen phosphate and sodium dihydrogen phosphate based on purified extraction phosphoric acid.

The acid was purified from accompanying impurities by precipitation methods using sodium carbonate and metasilicate, washed burnt phosphoconcentrate, barium carbonate, acid neutralization with gaseous ammonia. Pre-neutralization of the purified solution of monoammonium phosphate with sodium carbonate to the ratio Na₂O:P₂O₅ = 0.44 and subsequent drying at a temperature of 50 °С allows to obtain sodium ammonium hydrogen phosphate tetrahydrate, and at 100 °С sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate.

The individuality and purity ...

Physico-Chemical Properties And Structural Transformations In The Synthesis Of Boroalumosilicate Glass-Crystal Materials, Julia Yeganyan

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this work is to study the areas of glass formation and metastable liquation of the pseudo-ternary system (MgO·Al₂O₃)-B₂O₃-SiO₂, and study of the crystallization process of glasses of cordierite composition. The crystallization process of glasses of cordierite composition containing B₂O₃ by a single-stage heat treatment at 1000 ^oC and 1200 ^oC, the nature of crystallization, the thermal properties of glasses and glass crystalline materials of the system (MgO·A_l2O₃)-B₂O₃-SiO₂ were studied. It revealed that ...

Simulation Of Optical Properties Of Dielectric Layers From Visible To Near Infrared Spectral Range, Andrew Cochran, Cory Conkel

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Optical properties of dielectrics play a critical role in various applications including the design and manufacture of optical components & devices such as detectors, filters, imagers, lenses, optical coatings, photonic crystals, sensors and waveguides, and solar cells. Radiative properties of varying thicknesses of different dielectrics such as Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3), Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2) and Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) have been simulated and compared in the range of visible to near infrared by mathematical modelling using MATLAB simulations. The results of the evolution of the radiative properties, as a function of dielectric material thickness, on silicon ...

Polymers And Solvents Used In Membrane Fabrication: A Review Focusing On Sustainable Membrane Development, Xiaobo Dong, David Lu, Tequila A. L. Harris, Isabel C. Escobar

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

(1) Different methods have been applied to fabricate polymeric membranes with non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) being one of the mostly widely used. In NIPS, a solvent or solvent blend is required to dissolve a polymer or polymer blend. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethylformamide (DMF) and other petroleum-derived solvents are commonly used to dissolve some petroleum-based polymers. However, these components may have negative impacts on the environment and human health. Therefore, using greener and less toxic components is of great interest for increasing membrane fabrication sustainability. The chemical structure of membranes is not affected by the use of different solvents ...

Discontinuous Fiber Vacuum Assisted Compression Molding, Bennet Heidenreich

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Discontinuous short fiber carbon reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites were manufactured, and tested to demonstrate feasibility, and to document material properties. Different variations of manufacturing techniques were tested including continuous fiber reinforcement, metal inserts, and randomization of the dry fibers before processing. The process produced parts with strength to weight ratios similar to 6061-T6 aluminum without continuous fiber reinforcement, and 53% higher when small volumes of continuous reinforcement are added. Randomization of fibers produced no significant change in strength of the material, but did increase compression stiffness of the mixture while molding, increasing tool deflection. A pin joint was tested, and ...

Handling And Manipulation Of Water- And Air- Borne Biological Samples Using Liquid-Infused Surfaces, Daniel P. Regan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on novel materials to handling water- and airborne samples for biological threats analysis is in great demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Work conducted on a new field of material science, called liquid-infused surfaces, demonstrate strong potential for the handling and manipulation of biological samples. As a result of the field’s infancy, only a limited number of studies have explored how liquid-infused surfaces can apply droplet manipulation strategies to address real-world problems. Presented in this dissertation are two platforms that leverage liquid-infused surfaces to address the challenges associated with handling water- and airborne biological samples. When dealing with ...

Growth And Characterization Of Molecular Ferroelectric Thin Films, Yifan Yuan

Mechanical (and Materials) Engineering -- Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Compared with inorganic ferroelectrics, organic ferroelectrics have advantages of low cost and low toxicity, are in increasing demand in capacitors, piezoelectric, and memory devices to reduce the environmental load. This work focuses on two types of organic molecular ferroelectric materials, croconic acid (CA) and 2-methylbenzimidazole (MBI). The work here introduces several origins of ferroelectricity in typical organics and their switching mechanism. We then investigated the nucleation, growth, and ferroelectric measurements of CA thin films. We explored the effect of substrate temperature and an external electric field on the nucleation and growth processes. The results can be used to improve the ...

The Role Of Rejuvenators In Embedded Damage Healing For Asphalt Pavement, Shi Xu, Xueyan Liu, Amir Tabakovic, P Lin, Y Zhang, S Nahar, B J. Lommerts, Erik Schlangen

Articles

Rejuvenator encapsulation technique showed great potential for extrinsic asphalt pavement damage healing. Once the capsules are embedded within asphalt pavement, the healing is activated on-demand via progressing microcrack. When the microcrack encounters the capsule, the fracture energy at the tip opens the capsule and releases the rejuvenator. Then the released rejuvenator wets the crack surfaces, diffuses into and softens the aged bitumen, allowing two broken edges to come in the contact, preventing further asphalt pavement deterioration. The quality and speed of the damage repair process strongly depend on the quality of rejuvenator, thus it is important to choose a proper ...

In-Service Performance Evaluation And Installation Recommendations For Cable Median Barriers On Non-Continuously Shielded, Divided-Median Kansas Freeways, Nathan Dowler

Mechanical (and Materials) Engineering -- Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) installed 7.95 miles of cable median barrier (CMB) along K-10, K-96, and US-75 freeways in 2011 and 2012. In January 2020, KDOT funded a study to determine the in-service performance of its CMBs. In addition, KDOT sought to determine if it was cost-effective to modify guidelines for installing median barriers, which were based on annual daily traffic and median width.

Researchers reviewed every crash within approximately ¼ mile of a CMB installation and extracted crashes which involved a CMB impact. Researchers analyzed the critical details of each CMB crash, with particular emphasis on ...

Statistical Study Of The Effect Of Implementing An Airveyor System On The Warpage Of Injection Molded Closures, Charles Wesley Bozarth

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Berry Global in Bowling Green, Kentucky produces predominantly polypropylene container closures. One variant, the 83mm lined jar closure, is produced by first being injection molded, placed in work-in-progress (WIP) hold for 24 hours to cool, and then finished through the auxiliary liner operation into a final product. While this process is an effective method to produce a quality large-diameter closure and allows the polypropylene adequate time to cool without warping out of shape, the 24-hour WIP time and the manpower needed to accomplish this can negatively impact several business metrics as well as employee safety.

The purpose of this thesis ...

An Injectable Thermosensitive Hydrogel Potentially Used For Wound Dressing With Self-Adhesive Properties, Yunxiu Qiu

Engineering and Applied Science Theses & Dissertations

Wound healing is a complex process, and different kinds of materials are tried to achieve rapid healing. Among them, hydrogel is one of the best candidates for would dressing due to its distinctive properties, such as high biocompatibility, flexibility, and sensitivity to physiological environments. Injectable hydrogels can be facilely delivered in vivo without massive impairment to the body, as no surgical incision is needed for hydrogel embedment. This is highly consistent with the need of minimal invasion on human body. Multiple stimuli could be applied to achieve its injectability, including pH, temperature, light, ions in body fluids. Thermosensitive hydrogel is ...

Non-Linear Effects Of Solution Parameters And Gamma Radiation On Nickel Oxidation Dynamics, Razieh Karimihaghighi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Nickel is the main component in nickel-based superalloys which are known for their superior corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. These alloys are used in nuclear power plants, mainly for thin-walled heat exchanger tubing where these materials are exposed to a continuous flux of ionizing radiation. The long-term corrosion behaviour of these alloys at high temperatures and in the presence of gamma-radiation is not well understood. Moreover, the mechanism by which nickel improves the corrosion resistance of these alloys is also not known. Therefore, a mechanistic understanding of the nickel oxidation process is required to develop a predictive corrosion model for ...

Origin Of Magnetism In Γ-Fesi 2 /Si(111) Nanostructures, Liwei D. Geng, Sahil Dhoka, Ilan Goldfarb, Ranjit Pati, Yongmei M. Jin

Michigan Tech Publications

Magnetism has recently been observed in nominally nonmagnetic iron disilicide in the form of epitaxial γ-FeSi2 nanostructures on Si(111) substrate. To explore the origin of the magnetism in γ-FeSi2/Si(111) nanostructures, we performed a systematic first-principles study based on density functional theory. Several possible factors, such as epitaxial strain, free surface, interface, and edge, were examined. The calculations show that among these factors, only the edge can lead to the magnetism in γ-FeSi2/Si(111) nanostructures. It is shown that magnetism exhibits a strong dependency on the local atomic structure of the edge. Furthermore, magnetism can be enhanced ...

Influence Of Parameters Of Non-Standard Modes Of Heat Treatment On Increasing The Wear Resistance Of Steel Products, Dorob Murotovich Berdiyev Dsn, Abdulaziz Abdullajanovich Yusupov Head Teacher, Ravshan Kobilovich Tashmatov Doctoral Student, Tuychi Nemat Ogli Ibodullayev Assistant, Kabira Erkinovna Qurbonova Head Teacher

Scientific-technical journal

The use of non-standard modes of heat treatment increases the density of dislocations in the crystal structure of the α-phase and increases the wear resistance of carbon, low-alloy steels under various friction conditions, which is comparable to the results when heated to a standard temperature (Ac₃+30÷50 °C). The preliminary extreme heating temperature is determined. After re-quenching at standard temperature and low tempering, the wear resistance of steels under various types of friction increases by up to 40 % compared to standard quenching.

Bio-Inspired Metasurface Skin To Enhance The Performance Of Blue Energy Harvesting, Saman Farhangdoust, Gary Georgeson, Jeong-Beom Ihn, Simon Laflamme

Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Conference Presentations and Proceedings

Interest in blue energy harvesting systems is rapidly growing and becoming widespread given its promise as a renewable and clean energy source. Blue energy harvesting from raindrop impact would allow low-power systems to operate in remote areas without the need for battery replacement and related maintenance. Insufficient power output is the most critical limitation that makes the conventional types of rain energy harvester (REH) typically unusable or/and infeasible. To overcome this limitation, a bio-inspired metasurface skin is proposed in this paper to serve as the membrane for a piezoelectric type of REHs. The proposed metasurface membrane is comprised of ...

Experimental Validation Of Textured Sensing Skin For Fatigue Crack Monitoring, Han Liu, Simon Laflamme, Jian Li, Caroline Bennett, William Collins, Austin Downey, Hongki Jo

Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Conference Presentations and Proceedings

Automatic fatigue crack detection using commercial sensing technologies is difficult due to the highly localized nature of crack monitoring sensors and the randomness of crack initiation and propagation. The authors have previously proposed and demonstrated a novel sensing skin capable of fatigue crack detection, localization, and quantification. The technology is based on soft elastomeric capacitors (SECs) that constitute thin-film flexible strain sensors transducing strain into a measurable change in capacitance. Deployed in an array configuration, the SECs mimic biological skin, where local damage can be diagnosed over large surfaces. Recently, the authors have proposed a significantly improved version of the ...