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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Top-Down Structure And Device Fabrication Using In Situ Nanomachining, Xiaodong Li, Xinnan Wang, Qihua Xiong, Peter C. Eklund Dec 2005

Top-Down Structure And Device Fabrication Using In Situ Nanomachining, Xiaodong Li, Xinnan Wang, Qihua Xiong, Peter C. Eklund

Faculty Publications

We demonstrate the potential of an alternative tool for the fabrication of nanoscale structures and devices. A nanoindenter integrated with an atomic force microscope is shown to be a powerful machine tool for cutting precise length nanowires or nanobelts and for manipulating the shortened wires. We also demonstrate its utility in cutting grooves and fabricating dents (or periodic arrays of dents) in ZnSnanobelts. This approach permits the direct mechanical machining of nanodevices that are supported on a substrate without the inherent complications of e beam or photolithography.


Fully Compliant Tensural Bistable Micro-Mechanisms (Ftbm), D. L. Wilcox, Larry L. Howell Dec 2005

Fully Compliant Tensural Bistable Micro-Mechanisms (Ftbm), D. L. Wilcox, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

A new class of bistable mechanisms, the fully compliant tensural bistable micromechanism (FTBM) class, is introduced. The class consists of linear bistable micromechanisms that undergo tension loads, in addition to the bending loads present, through their range of motion. Proof-of-concept designs fabricated in two different microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) surface micromachining processes were demonstrated. Three sets of refined designs within the FTBM class were designed using optimization methods linked with nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA), then fabricated and tested. Measured force and displacement performance are compared to values obtained by FEA. On-chip actuation of the bistable mechanisms was achieved using thermomechanical …


Recovery Of The Grain Boundary Character Distribution Through Oblique Double-Sectioning, Brent L. Adams, David T. Fullwood, E. R. Homer Nov 2005

Recovery Of The Grain Boundary Character Distribution Through Oblique Double-Sectioning, Brent L. Adams, David T. Fullwood, E. R. Homer

Faculty Publications

This work was supported primarily by the MRSEC program of the National Science Foundation under DMR-0079996. A method for the retrieval of the complete grain boundary character distribution by oblique double-sectioning is proposed. The method, which is similar to the recovery of the orientation distribution from sets of incomplete pole-figures, is efficient and provides many advantages as compared to calibrated serial sectioning. As compared to standard stereological approaches, the new methodology retains the advantage of direct measurement of the grain boundary inclination parameters. Solutions to the fundamental equation of oblique double-sectioning are provided in the Fourier space, and some specifics …


A Compliant Contact-Aided Revolute Joint, Jessie R. Cannon, Larry L. Howell Nov 2005

A Compliant Contact-Aided Revolute Joint, Jessie R. Cannon, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

This paper presents the compliant contact-aided revolute (CCAR) joint, a planar mechanism capable of performing the functions of a bearing and a spring. The pseudo-rigid-body model is used to predict the behavior of the CCAR joint, and this model is validated through the use of finite element analysis and prototype testing. The CCAR joint is shown to have high maximum rotation and lateral stiffness. A case study is presented, and manufacturing considerations are discussed for the macro, meso, and micro scales.


A Compliant Contact-Aided Revolute Joint, Jessie R. Cannon, Larry L. Howell Nov 2005

A Compliant Contact-Aided Revolute Joint, Jessie R. Cannon, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

This paper presents the compliant contact-aided revolute (CCAR) joint, a planar mechanism capable of performing the functions of a bearing and a spring. The pseudo-rigid-body model is used to predict the behavior of the CCAR joint, and this model is validated through the use of finite element analysis and prototype testing. The CCAR joint is shown to have high maximum rotation and lateral stiffness. A case study is presented, and manufacturing considerations are discussed for the macro, meso, and micro scales.


Static And Dynamic Obstacle Avoidance For Miniature Air Vehicles, Jeffery Brian Saunders, Brandon Call, Andrew Curtis, Randal W. Beard, Timothy W. Mclain Sep 2005

Static And Dynamic Obstacle Avoidance For Miniature Air Vehicles, Jeffery Brian Saunders, Brandon Call, Andrew Curtis, Randal W. Beard, Timothy W. Mclain

Faculty Publications

Small unmanned air vehicles are limited in sensor weight and power such that detection and avoidance of unknown obstacles during flight is difficult. This paper presents a low power low weight method of detection using a laser range finder. In addition, a rapidly-exploring random tree algorithm to generate waypoint paths around obstacles known a priori is presented, and a dynamic geometric algorithm to generate paths around detected obstacles is derived. The algorithms are demonstrated in simulation and in flight tests on a fixed-wing miniature air vehicle (MAV).


Decentralized Perimeter Surveillance Using A Team Of Uavs, Timothy Mclain, Randal W. Beard, Derek Kingston, Ryan S. Holt, David W. Casbeer Aug 2005

Decentralized Perimeter Surveillance Using A Team Of Uavs, Timothy Mclain, Randal W. Beard, Derek Kingston, Ryan S. Holt, David W. Casbeer

Faculty Publications

This paper poses the cooperative perimeter-surveillance problem and offers a decentralized solution that accounts for perimeter growth (expanding or contracting) and insertion/deletion of team members. By identifying and sharing the critical coordination information and by exploiting the known communication topology, only a small communication range is required for accurate performance. Simulation and hardware results are presented that demonstrate the applicability of the solution.


Design And Characterization Of A Dual-Stage, Thermally Actuated Nanopositioner, Neal B. Hubbard, Larry L. Howell Aug 2005

Design And Characterization Of A Dual-Stage, Thermally Actuated Nanopositioner, Neal B. Hubbard, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

A nanopositioner is presented that has two stages for independent coarse and fine position control. Thermal microactuators operate both stages. The first stage includes a bistable mechanism: it travels 52 micrometers between two discrete positions. The second stage is mounted on the first stage and moves continuously through an additional 8 micrometers in the same direction as the first stage. Three approaches to the control of the second stage were evaluated in terms of accuracy and manufacturability, and one was selected for the design of the nanopositioner. The device was surface micromachined in a two-layer polysilicon process. Experiments were performed …


Mechanics Of Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon Deposits From Electron-Beam-Induced Deposition Of Paraffin Precursor, W. Ding, D. A. Dikin, X. Chen, R. D. Piner, R. S. Ruoff, E. Zussman, X. Wang, Xiaodong Li Jul 2005

Mechanics Of Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon Deposits From Electron-Beam-Induced Deposition Of Paraffin Precursor, W. Ding, D. A. Dikin, X. Chen, R. D. Piner, R. S. Ruoff, E. Zussman, X. Wang, Xiaodong Li

Faculty Publications

Many experiments on the mechanics of nanostructures require the creation of rigid clamps at specific locations. In this work, electron-beam-induced deposition(EBID) has been used to depositcarbonfilms that are similar to those that have recently been used for clamping nanostructures. The film deposition rate was accelerated by placing a paraffin source of hydrocarbon near the area where the EBIDdeposits were made. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron-energy-loss spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, secondary-ion-mass spectrometry, and nanoindentation were used to characterize the chemical composition and the mechanics of the carbonaceous deposits. The typical EBIDdeposit was found to be hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) having …


Two-Dimensional Grain Boundary Percolation In Alloy 304 Stainless Steel, Brent L. Adams, John A. Basinger, David T. Fullwood, E. R. Homer Jun 2005

Two-Dimensional Grain Boundary Percolation In Alloy 304 Stainless Steel, Brent L. Adams, John A. Basinger, David T. Fullwood, E. R. Homer

Faculty Publications

This work was supported by the MRSEC program of the National Science Foundation under Award Number DMR-0079996. An experimentally-obtained percolation threshold for high-angle random grain boundary networks in alloy 304 stainless steel is compared to thresholds predicted by percolation theory. A discrepancy occurs in the two values (0.46 experimental and 0.65 theoretical). Possible reasons for the discrepancy are explored. The grain boundary network appears to be composed of two distinct sub-networks, with the 'outer' network acting as the dominant contributor to the percolating paths.


Introduction To Product Design And Innovation: A Cross Disciplinary Mini Curriculum, Patricia Backer, Seth Bates Jun 2005

Introduction To Product Design And Innovation: A Cross Disciplinary Mini Curriculum, Patricia Backer, Seth Bates

Faculty Publications

For the past two years, faculty at San Jose State University (SJSU) have implemented a three- semester minicurriculum in Product Design and Manufacturing. The project follows the Project- Based Learning (PBL) model and is central to the Certificate Program in Product Design in the Mechanical Engineering Department, the Manufacturing Systems concentration in the Department of Aviation and Technology, and the Industrial Design Program in the School of Art and Design. Students in the three courses in the minicurriculum face design challenges while being instructed about the constraints of manufacturability. In each course, students develop three to four products. All products …


Experimental Nonlinear Tracking Control For Nonholonomic Mobile Robots With Input Constraints, Timothy Mclain, Randal W. Beard, Wei Ren, Ji-Sang Sun Jun 2005

Experimental Nonlinear Tracking Control For Nonholonomic Mobile Robots With Input Constraints, Timothy Mclain, Randal W. Beard, Wei Ren, Ji-Sang Sun

Faculty Publications

This paper presents experimental results of nonlinear trajectory tracking controllers for nonholonomic mobile robots with fixed-wing UAV-like input constraints. Programmed to emulate an unmanned air vehicle flying at constant altitude, a nonholonomic mobile robot is assigned to follow a desired trajectory to transition through a sequence of targets in the presence of static and dynamic threats. Two velocity controllers with input constraints are proposed for tracking control. Hardware results using these two velocity controllers are compared to simulation results of dynamic controllers based on nonsmooth backstepping to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.


Forest Fire Monitoring With Multiple Small Uavs, David W. Casbeer, Randal W. Beard, Timothy W. Mclain, Sai-Ming Li, Raman K. Mehra Jun 2005

Forest Fire Monitoring With Multiple Small Uavs, David W. Casbeer, Randal W. Beard, Timothy W. Mclain, Sai-Ming Li, Raman K. Mehra

Faculty Publications

Frequent and detailed updates of the development of a forest fire are essential for effective and safe fire fighting. Since a forest fire is typically inaccessible by ground vehicles due to mountainous terrain, small Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as a promising solution to the problem of monitoring large forest fires. In this paper we present an effective path planning algorithm for a UAV utilizing infrared images that are collected on-board in realtime. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of our path planning algorithm in realistic scenarios, we implemented the forest fire propagation model EMBYR to simulate the time …


Nanomechanical Characterization Of Cavity Growth And Rupture In Hydrogen-Implanted Single-Crystal Batio3., Young-Bae Park, Patrick Nardi, Xiaodong Li, Harry A. Atwater Apr 2005

Nanomechanical Characterization Of Cavity Growth And Rupture In Hydrogen-Implanted Single-Crystal Batio3., Young-Bae Park, Patrick Nardi, Xiaodong Li, Harry A. Atwater

Faculty Publications

A thermodynamic model of cavitynucleation and growth in ion-implanted single-crystal BaTiO3 layer is proposed, and cavity formation is related to the measured mechanical properties to better understand hydrogen implantation-induced layer transfer processes for ferroelectric thin films. The critical radius for cavitynucleation was determined experimentally from blistering experiments performed under isochronal anneal conditions and was calculated using continuum mechanical models for deformation and fracture, together with thermodynamic models. Based on thermodynamic modeling, we suggest that cavitiesgrow toward the cracking criteria at a critical blister size whereupon gas is emitted from ruptured cavities. The main driving force for layer splitting is …


Finite Approximations To The Second-Order Properties Closure In Single Phase Polycrystals, Brent L. Adams, Xiang Gao, Surya R. Kalidindi Mar 2005

Finite Approximations To The Second-Order Properties Closure In Single Phase Polycrystals, Brent L. Adams, Xiang Gao, Surya R. Kalidindi

Faculty Publications

This work was supported at Brigham Young University and Drexel University by a grant from the US Army Research Office, through the Metallurgy Program headed by Dr. David Stepp. Extension of the first-order theory of microstructure design to considerations of morphological texture is addressed in this paper. The main challenges include the r-interdependence of the 2-point correlation functions of lattice orientation, construction of the corresponding microstructure hull, and its corresponding properties closure(s). It is shown that the correlation functions can be expressed in terms of an intermediate construct, called the texture function; the correlation functions have quadratic dependence in the …


Effect Of Tensile Offset Angles On Micro/Nanoscale Tensile Testing, Xiaodong Li, Xinnan Wang, Wei-Che Chang, Yuh-Jin Chao, Ming Chang Mar 2005

Effect Of Tensile Offset Angles On Micro/Nanoscale Tensile Testing, Xiaodong Li, Xinnan Wang, Wei-Che Chang, Yuh-Jin Chao, Ming Chang

Faculty Publications

For one-dimensional (1D) structures such as tubes, wires, and beams, tensile testing is a simple and reliable methodology for measuring their mechanical properties. The tensile offset angle effect on mechanical property measurement has long been ignored. In this study, theoretical and finite-element analysis(FEA) models for analyzing the tensile offset angle effect have been established. It is found that longitudinal stress decreases with increasing offset angles. The theoretically calculated elastic modulus relative errors reach 4.45% at the offset angle of 10°, whereas the experimentally measured elastic modulus relative errors are 45.4% at the offset angle of 15°. The difference in elastic …


Fabrication Of Hollow Waveguides With Sacrificial Aluminum Cores, John P. Barber, Donald B. Conkey, Jeffrey Ryan Lee, Neal B. Hubbard, Larry L. Howell, Aaron R. Hawkins, Gongliang Yin, Holger Schmidt Feb 2005

Fabrication Of Hollow Waveguides With Sacrificial Aluminum Cores, John P. Barber, Donald B. Conkey, Jeffrey Ryan Lee, Neal B. Hubbard, Larry L. Howell, Aaron R. Hawkins, Gongliang Yin, Holger Schmidt

Faculty Publications

We have developed a process to fabricate dielectric waveguide structures with long hollow cores formed by etching a sacrificial core material. The process is compatible with other planar silicon fabrication techniques. Using aluminum as the sacrificial material, we have investigated fabrication limits and design parameters that determine mechanical integrity of the waveguides. Internal pressure due to the production of gaseous compounds during the core removal process was identified as the yield-limiting factor. A mechanical model based on finite element analysis and confirmed by experiment, predicts ultimate pressures sustainable by these structures. Waveguides less than 10 m wide with 2- m-thick …


Laser Induced Fluorescence Photobleaching Anemometer For Microfluidic Devices, Guiren Wang Jan 2005

Laser Induced Fluorescence Photobleaching Anemometer For Microfluidic Devices, Guiren Wang

Faculty Publications

We have developed a novel, non-intrusive fluid velocity measurement method based on photobleaching of a fluorescent dye for microfluidic devices. The residence time of thefluorescent dye in a laser beam depends on the flow velocity and approximately corresponds to the decaying time of the photobleaching of the dye in the laser beam. The residence time is inversely proportional to the flow velocity. The fluorescence intensity increases with the flow velocity due to the decrease of the residence time. A calibration curve between fluorescence intensity and known flow velocity should be obtained first. The calibration relationship is then used to calculate …


Mechanics Of Composite Materials In Fuel Cell Systems, Kenneth Reifsnider, Xinyu Huang, G. Ju, Matthew Feshler, K. An Jan 2005

Mechanics Of Composite Materials In Fuel Cell Systems, Kenneth Reifsnider, Xinyu Huang, G. Ju, Matthew Feshler, K. An

Faculty Publications

The science and technology that are fundamental to the concept of composite materials are also the foundation for the construction and function of fuel cells and fuel cell systems. The present paper outlines this relationship in the context of the physics and chemistry that are enabled by the specific selection and arrangement of constituents of the “functional composite” fuel cell. General principles of operation are described, and fundamental issues are defined that must be addressed by the composites community if the fuel cell science and engineering is to advance. Examples of several types of functional composite fuel cells are presented, …


Autonomous Vehicle Technologies For Small Fixed-Wing Uavs, Randal Beard, Derek Kingston, Morgan Quigley, Deryl Snyder, Reed Christiansen, Walt Johnson, Timothy Mclain, Michael A. Goodrich Jan 2005

Autonomous Vehicle Technologies For Small Fixed-Wing Uavs, Randal Beard, Derek Kingston, Morgan Quigley, Deryl Snyder, Reed Christiansen, Walt Johnson, Timothy Mclain, Michael A. Goodrich

Faculty Publications

The objective of this paper is to describe the design and implementation of a small semi-autonomous fixed-wing unmanned air vehicle. In particular we describe the hardware and software architectures used in the design. We also describe a low weight, low cost autopilot developed at Brigham Young University and the algorithms associated with the autopilot. Novel PDA and voice interfaces to the UAV are described. In addition, we overview our approach to real-time path planning, trajectory generation, and trajectory tracking. The paper is augmented with movie files that demonstrate the functionality of the UAV and its control software.