Engineering Commons^™

Advances Of Cone Penetration Testing In Earthquake Engineering Applications, Robb E.S. Moss, R. Moffat

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Cone Penetration Test (CPT), because of its precision, accuracy, and utility has been increasingly used in earthquake engineering applications in the last decade. This paper provides a brief survey of recent advances in applying the CPT to; liquefaction triggering, post-liquefaction deformations, cyclic failure of clays, dynamic slope stability, and seismic site response. In granular soils the continuous CPT measurements of tip and sleeve resistance are well correlated with the engineering properties of relative density and friction angle. In clay soils the CPT tip resistance is directly proportional to the undrained shear strength. CPT measurements are ideal for weak or …

Managing Drip Filter Backflush Water, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The paper discusses the principles of backflushing different types of filters, as well as pressure and flow requirements for proper backflushing of various filters. Additionally, it discusses options for what to do with the backflush water. A prototype ITRC design for cleaning and recycling backflush water is presented.

Teaching Consolidation: Case Study Of Preloading With Vertical Drains, Robb Moss, Judd King, Gregg Fiegel

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This paper describes a ground improvement case study where preloading and prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) were used to accelerate foundation settlements. The case study is used in a classroom setting with the learning objective of introducing engineering students to methods for estimating settlement of shallow foundations on compressible soils. The project site was developed for a corporate retail chain planning to open a new facility in San Luis Obispo, California. Up to 2.5 meters of fill were needed across much of the site to raise foundations and improvements above the flood elevation. Loads from the fill and the structure were …

Site Response Analysis Considering Strain Compatible Site Period, Hoss Hayati, Robb E.S. Moss

Civil and Environmental Engineering

In practice it is common to estimate site effects using a single proxy, or single variable such as 30 m shear wave velocity (V_S30) or site period. Many studies have investigated merits of proposed proxies with contradicting recommendations. Yet, most studies indicate the single proxy approach is less than ideal, resulting in large uncertainty. To provide a better understanding of components that drive site response, we performed a parameterized study on 19 shallow soil profiles with V_S ranging from 150 m/s to 400 m/s. We propagated 74 input motions through each soil column using one-dimensional equivalent-linear …

Site Response Analysis Considering Strain Compatible Site Period, Hoss Hayati, Robb E.S. Moss

Civil and Environmental Engineering

In practice it is common to estimate site effects using a single proxy, or single variable such as 30 m shear wave velocity (V_S30) or site period. Many studies have investigated merits of proposed proxies with contradicting recommendations. Yet, most studies indicate the single proxy approach is less than ideal, resulting in large uncertainty. To provide a better understanding of components that drive site response, we performed a parameterized study on 19 shallow soil profiles with V_S ranging from 150 m/s to 400 m/s. We propagated 74 input motions through each soil column using one-dimensional equivalent-linear …

Weights And Balances: Integrating Models For Prevention And Response To Southern California Offshore Oil Spills, Carmen Watts Clayton, Amoret Bunn

STAR Program Research Presentations

Licensing offshore oil and gas reserves in the United States waters are overseen by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Enforcement (BSEE). The licensing application includes planning for any worst-case oil spill scenario between BSEE and the applicant based on lessons learned from historic offshore spills such as the Deepwater Horizon (2010), Exxon Valdez (1989), and the Union Oil Platform Blowout (1969). The process for planning to respond to oil spills involves coordination with multiple agencies, trustees, and stakeholders to ensure that oil spill responses consider multiple factors, including ecologically sensitive species, commercial transportation and fisheries, …

Effect Of Surface Treatment On Liquid Adhesion Inside 3-D Structures, Madani A. Khan, Jeffrey Alston, Andrew Guenthner, Jacob Zavala

STAR Program Research Presentations

This study explores the relationship between chemical surface treatments on the interior of glass tubes and their resistance to fluid flow. By treating the interior of the tubes with functional silanes we can decrease or increase the interaction of the tube walls with the fluid column, which translates to changes in fluid column height for a given pressure differential. Resistance to fluid flow is quantified by using the tubes as integral parts of a barometric pressure column and measuring the changes in column height as the fluid is pulled into the tube by a set pressure differential. The barometric pressure …

Studying The Effects Of Serpentine Soil On Adapted And Non-Adapted Species Using Arduino Technology, Kiana Saniee, Edward Himelblau, Brian Paavo

STAR Program Research Presentations

Abstract: Serpentine soils are formed from ultramafic rocks and are represent an extreme environment for plants. Serpentine soils are unique in that they carry high concentrations of heavy metals, are nutrient deficient, particularly in calcium, and have poor water retention capabilities. Although these soils constitute harsh conditions for plant growth, there are a number of species that are adapted and even endemic to serpentine soil. Water retention by commercial potting mix was compared with serpentine soil. Also, serpentine adapted and non-adapted species were grown in both soil treatments and physiological data were collected. We used the Arduino electronic platform to …

Optimizing The Telescope Assembly Alignment Simulator For Sofia, Zoe E. Sharp, Alex Quyenvo, Jennifer Briggs, Brian Eney

STAR Program Research Presentations

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) conducts research on a modified Boeing 747sp aircraft. By using a variety of infrared science instruments mounted on a 2.7 meter telescope, researchers can make discoveries about the galactic center, star formation, and various topics associated with a deeper understanding of our universe. To efficiently collect data through the SOFIA instruments, the instruments must be tested and prepared prior to being placed on the aircraft. Therefore, with the use of the Telescope Assembly Alignment Simulator (TAAS), researchers can design and construct improvements needed for these instruments to efficiently perform while in flight. The …

Nonparametric Liquefaction Triggering And Postliquefaction Deformations, J. S. Yazdi, Robb Moss

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This study evaluates granular liquefaction triggering case-history data using a nonparametric approach. This approach assumes no functional form in the relationship between liquefied and nonliquefied cases as measured using cone penetration test (CPT) data. From a statistical perspective, this allows for an estimate of the threshold of liquefaction triggering unbiased by prior functional forms, and also provides a platform for testing existing published methods for accuracy and precision. The resulting threshold exhibits some unique trends, which are then interpreted based on postliquefaction deformation behavior. The range of postliquefaction deformations are differentiated into three zones: (1) large deformations associated with metastable …

Gc Verification Of The Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor, Jessica S. Castro, Richard D. Kidd, Jeffrey D. Hein

STAR Program Research Presentations

International Space Station crew members face the unique challenge of maintaining air quality due to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have the potential to accumulate at unsafe levels. The Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor (SAM) is a miniature gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GCMS) designed to measure major constituents (such as N₂, O₂ and CO₂) and trace VOCs within the cabin of the spacecraft. The gas chromatograph is responsible for separating the sample into its components in order to be characterized. The oven of the gas chromatograph must reach a temperature of 150°C in order to heat constituents …

Variety And Volume Dynamic Management For Value Creation In Changeable Manufacturing Systems, Ahmed M. Deif, Hoda A. Elmaraghy

Industrial Technology and Packaging

In today’s uncertain market and continuously evolving technology, managing manufacturing systems are more complex than ever. This paper studies the dynamics of managing variety and volume to enhance value creation in manufacturers implementing system-level advanced and automated manufacturing technology (AAMT). The demand is composed of heterogeneous customers who make purchasing decisions depending on the variety levels and lead times of the firm’s product offerings. The cost structure adopted calculates profit as the difference between customer value creation rate (VCR) and costs associated with the process of creating this value. Reported results contribute to the variety and volume management literature by …

Variety And Volume Dynamic Management For Value Creation In Changeable Manufacturing Systems, Ahmed Deif, Hoda A. Elmaraghy

Industrial Technology and Packaging

In today’s uncertain market and continuously evolving technology, managing manufacturing systems are more complex than ever. This paper studies the dynamics of managing variety and volume to enhance value creation in manufacturers implementing system-level advanced and automated manufacturing technology (AAMT). The demand is composed of heterogeneous customers who make purchasing decisions depending on the variety levels and lead times of the firm’s product offerings. The cost structure adopted calculates profit as the difference between customer value creation rate (VCR) and costs associated with the process of creating this value. Reported results contribute to the variety and volume management literature by …

Mechanisms And Solutions To The Brittle Solder Joint In Electroless Ni Plating, Xuan Wang, C. Key Chung

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Brittle solder joints in Electroless Ni electroless Pd immersion Au (ENEPIG) surface finishes are one of the key reliability issues in electronics assembly. Previous characterization of the reflow process has indicated that interfacial voids formed after solder reflow are responsible for the decreases in solder joint strength. However, the mechanisms behind the formation of these voids in the ENEPIG process remain unclear. In this paper, the interaction between various aspects of the ENEPIG process and solder joint strength were investigated. Surface roughness, morphology, and nano-pitting at the interface between electroless Pd and Ni-P were characterized. The size and density of …

Using In Situ Liquid Single Photon Ionization Mass Spectrometry (Spi-Ms) To Probe Lithium Polysulfide Electrolyte In Motion, Aala M. Al Hasan, Jiachao Yu, Juan Yao, Vijayakumar Murugesan, Manjula Nandasiri, Xiao-Ying Yu

STAR Program Research Presentations

The solid-liquid (s-l) interface is the most common interface encountered in electrochemical systems. The s-l interface has wide applications in energy storage, catalysis, and material sciences. In situ studies of chemical reactions taking place on the s-l interfaces can further our understanding of electron transfer and link to real-world device functions under challenging conditions. Direct probing of the solid electrode and liquid electrolyte interface has been realized using a vacuum compatible electrochemical microfluidic reactor, system for analysis at the liquid vacuum interface (SALVI) with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Most recently, the electrochemical version of SALVI was integrated to …

Three-Dimensional Adult Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Promotes Maturation Of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes, Ahsley H. Fong, Mónica Romero-López, Christopher M. Heylman, Mark Keating, David Tran, Agua Sobrino, Anh Q. Tran, Hiep H. Pham, Cristhian Fimbres, Paul D. Gershon, Elliot L. Botvinick, Steven C. George, Christopher C.W. Hughes

Biomedical Engineering

Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) have great potential in the development of new therapies for cardiovascular disease. In particular, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may prove especially advantageous due to their pluripotency, their self-renewal potential, and their ability to create patient-specific cell lines. Unfortunately, pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs are immature, with characteristics more closely resembling fetal CMs than adult CMs, and this immaturity has limited their use in drug screening and cell-based therapies. Extracellular matrix (ECM) influences cellular behavior and maturation, as does the geometry of the environment—twodimensional (2D) versus three-dimensional (3D). We therefore tested the hypothesis that native …

Cyber Security Training Tools For The Nuclear Energy Sector, Vu A. Pham

STAR Program Research Presentations

Nowadays, cyber security should be a priority for everyone when they connect their laptop to the internet; however, not many internet users have sufficient knowledge about cyber security. A cyberattack on an individual’s computer could result in the loss of personal information, financial information, or other resources. The damage from a cyberattack on a nuclear facility or other critical infrastructure could have much greater consequences. The attackers could impact the confidentiality of data, the availability of key systems, or the integrity of those safety or operating systems. Therefore, the National Nuclear Security Administration has tasked Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with …

Heat Management Strategies For Msw Landfills, Nazli Yesiller, James L. Hanson, Kevin B. Kopp, Emma H. Yee

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Heat is a primary byproduct of landfilling of municipal solid waste. Long-term elevated temperatures have been reported for MSW landfills under different operational conditions and climatic regions around the world. A conceptual framework is presented for management of the heat generated in MSW landfills. Three main strategies are outlined: extraction, regulation, and supplementation. Heat extraction allows for beneficial use of the excess landfill heat as an alternative energy source. Two approaches are provided for the extraction strategy: extracting all of the excess heat above baseline equilibrium conditions in a landfill and extracting only a part of the excess heat above …

Suppressing Restricted Shock Separation In A Subscale Rocket Nozzle Using Contour Geometry, K. Schomberg, J. Olsen, A. J. Neely, Graham Doig

Aerospace Engineering

The use of a thrust-optimized contour (TOC) for the supersonic nozzle in a rocket engine will inherently maximize the propulsive efficiency and payload capacity of the entire launch system. A TOC can be approximated using a skewed parabola, commonly referred to as a thrust-optimized parabola (TOP), and the TOP contour can be manipulated to avoid undesirable flow separation during low-altitude operation by increasing the static wall pressure at the expense of thrust (approximately 0.1 0.2%). For this reason, a TOP design is often used in nozzles with a high area ratio, such as those used in the Vulcain and Vulcain …

Synthesis Of Nanoporous Carbohydrate Metal-Organic Framework And Encapsulation Of Acetaldehyde, Saleh Al-Ghamdi, Ajay Kathuria, Mohamad G. Abiad, Rafael Auras

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Gamma cyclodextrin (γ-CD) metal organic frameworks (CDMOFs) were synthesized by coordinating γ-CDs with potassium hydroxide (KOH), referred hereafter as CDMOF-a, and potassium benzoate (C₇H₅KO₂), denoted as CDMOF-b. The obtained CDMOF structures were characterized using nitrogen sorption isotherm, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). High surface areas were achieved by the γ-CD based MOF structures where the Langmuir specific surface areas (SSA) of CDMOF-a and CDMOF-b were determined as 1376 m² g⁻¹ and 607 m² g⁻¹; respectively. The dehydrated CDMOF structures demonstrated good thermal stability …

The Aerodynamic Effects On A Cornering Ahmed Body, James Keogh, Tracie Barber, Sammy Diasinos, Graham Doig

Aerospace Engineering

As a vehicle travels through a corner, the flowfield observed from the vehicle׳s frame of reference becomes curved. This condition results in the relative flow angle and freestream velocity changing both across the width and along the length of the body. Wall-resolved Large Eddy Simulations were used to simulate a simple vehicle shape through three different radii corners. The variable flow angle and acceleration affected the pressure distribution along either side of the body and caused an increase in the size of the outboard C-pillar vortex, and an inboard decrease. Furthermore, an outboard extension of the separation bubble at the …

All Active All The Time? What Are The Implications Of Teaching A Traditional Content-Rich Machine Components/Mechanical Systems Design Course Using Active Learning?, James M. Widdmann, Peter Schuster

Mechanical Engineering

This paper examines the use of research-proven Active Learning techniques to transform the teaching of a traditional Machine Components/Mechanical Systems Design class. We know from research in Active learning that use of these methods can often lead to greater conceptual understanding and greater engagement of the students with engineering course materials, yet a common concern among engineering faculty is that the adoption of Active learning techniques will not allow the full breadth and depth of traditional content coverage. In this work, the authors reimagined one of the most content-heavy courses in a traditional Mechanical Engineering curriculum by including many Active …

Crp 463: University Area Multi-Modal Access Plan June 2016, William Riggs, Sam Anderson, Spencer Johnson, Garrett Wank, Alex Hunt, Lauren Leedeman, Roberto Contreras, Mark Manha, Emma Petersen, Rebecca Wysong, Shannon Boston, Augustus Grochau, Matthew Wiswell, Jerome Wu, Crp 463 Senior Project Professional Practice

City and Regional Planning Studios and Projects

This study outlines work completed as a part of the CRP 463 senior capstone class outlining a new, comprehensive approach to active transportation on the Cal Poly campus. Led by Dr. William Riggs the project assessed the current conditions, identified opportunities and constraints and then developed conceptual options for a campus active transportation plan. In addition to this process the plan involved completion of a draft Bicycle Friendly University application for the Cal Poly campus (included as a supplemental file) and envisioned conceptual design options for various locations on the campus. Key locations evaluated included the Perimeter Road / University …

Instructables.Com As A Tool To Improve Student Outcomes And Promote Community Engagement (Work-In-Progress), Andrew Danowitz

Electrical Engineering

Project-based Learning (PBL) has become a popular pedagogical tool in Engineering. Projects force students to put theory learned in lecture into practice, exposes students to some of the nonidealities of real systems (imperfect instruments, uncooperative systems, etc.) that are difficult to convey in lecture or homework, and ideally motivates students by showing how course material is related real-world engineering problems. This work discusses my preliminary and ongoing research into using Instructables.com—a user-content generated website of “Do It Yourself” tutorials—as a tool to help amplify the benefits students derive from PBL. Specifically, I require students to document their projects in an …

Densification Of W-Ni-Fe Powders Using Laser Sintering, Xuan Wang, Matthew Wraith, Stephen Burke, Howard Rathbun, Kyle Devlugt

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

In this paper, Laser Sintering (LS) of 90%W–7%Ni–3%Fe (wt.%) powders have been investigated, with the goal to understand the influence of final density by laser power, scanning speed, laser trace width, and the number of scanning passes. The results suggest that the laser power and scanning speed are the most important factors influencing density; the influence of trace width and number of scanning passes are not significant. With the increase of laser power and decrease of scanning speed, higher density can be achieved. The microstructure analysis indicated that the porosity changed from open porosity to closed porosity with higher laser …

Calpoly 2015 Transportation Survey Report, William Riggs

City and Regional Planning Studios and Projects

In the spring of 2015, City & Regional Planning faculty conducted a campus-wide transportation survey as part of work on the campus Climate Action Plan. The survey represented spring 2014 commutes and was issued to a sample of full and part-time CalPoly faculty, staff, students and auxiliaries with assistance from Facilities Services and the Vice President for Administration and Finance.

The total number of responses was 3,961, roughly 17% of the entire campus population of roughly 23,000. Unsurprisingly, the majority of respondents were students, totaling 68.6%, while the rest were made up of faculty, staff, and visitors. Results are significant …

Design And Development Of The Sunswift Eve Solar Vehicle: World's Fastest Long-Range Electric Car, Sam Paterson, Pujith Vijayaratnam, Charith Perera, Graham Doig

Aerospace Engineering

The Sunswift project of the University of New South Wales, Australia, exists to provide university students with a multi-disciplinary engineering challenge, enhancing the true educational value of their degree with a unique hands-on real-world experience of creating solar–electric hybrid vehicles. The design and development of the low-drag ‘solar supercar’ Sunswift eVe car are described here, detailing the student-led process from initial concept sketches to the completed performance vehicle. eVe was designed to demonstrate the potential of effective solar integration into a practical passenger-carrying vehicle. It is a two-seater vehicle with an on-body solar array area of 4 m² and …

A New Type Of Wind Tunnel For The Evaluation Of Curved Motion, James Keogh, Tracie Barber, Sammy Diasinos, Graham Doig

Aerospace Engineering

While aerodynamic analysis of the flow conditions during cornering can be an important design parameter for applications such as automobiles, vessels, and highly maneuverable aircraft, it can be difficult to simulate. This type of motion requires controlled and repeatable flow curvature, relative to the model. A new design to allow experimental testing for this condition has been developed, and by testing in a non-inertial reference frame, flow curvature is achieved in the absence of a static pressure gradient. Initial results have demonstrated the ability of the concept to produce the correct flowfield and the new design offers potential for new …

Interactions Of Shock Tube Exhaust Flows With Laminar And Turbulent Flames, Joel E.C. Chan, Paul M. Giannuzzi, Kaveh R. Kabir, Michael J. Hargather, Graham Doig

Aerospace Engineering

The interactions of flow features emitting from open-ended shock tubes with free-standing propane flames have been investigated using high-speed schlieren imaging and high-frequency pressure measurements, with additional data from validated numerical modeling. Both compressed air-driven interactions with non-pre-mixed laminar diffusion flames (small-scale) and explosively-driven interactions with turbulent non-pre-mixed turbulent flames (large-scale) were tested for various flame locations and shock tube stagnation pressures (and therefore Mach numbers). In the small-scale tests it was observed that the flames were not significantly influenced by the passage of either the initial shock if placed close to the tube exit, or the weaker pressure waves …

Label-Free Imaging Of Metabolism And Oxidative Stress In Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes, Rupsa Datta, Christopher M. Heylman, Steven C. George, Enrico Gratton

Biomedical Engineering

In this work we demonstrate a label-free optical imaging technique to assess metabolic status and oxidative stress in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes by two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging of endogenous fluorophores. Our results show the sensitivity of this method to detect shifts in metabolism and oxidative stress in the cardiomyocytes upon pathological stimuli of hypoxia and cardiotoxic drugs. This non-invasive imaging technique could prove beneficial for drug development and screening, especially for in vitro cardiac models created from stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and to study the pathogenesis of cardiac diseases and therapy.