Engineering Commons^™

Evaluation Of Polyvinyl Alcohol (Pva) For Electrospinning Utility In The Blood Vessel Mimic (Bvm) Lab, Logan Vandenbroucke

Master's Theses

Electrospinning has provided the opportunity to create extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicking scaffolds for the development of tissue-engineered constructs. Within Professor Kristen Cardinal’s Blood Vessel Mimic (BVM) Lab, at Cal Poly, there exists a constant demand for innovation and the expansion of polymer types and electrospinning capabilities for its BVM model. Along these lines, the BVM Lab has recently acquired two new electrospinning systems: the Spinbox, a commercially graded electrospinning system, and the Learn-By-Doing system, which was part of a recently completed thesis conducted by Jason Provol. Additionally, recently published literature has demonstrated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a viable option for …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Arterial Compliance, Rita M. Grigorian

Biomedical Engineering: Graduate Reports and Projects

As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases continues to exponentially grow in populations across the globe, the necessity of determining underlying factors, effective methods of diagnoses, and universally available preventive measures also grows. Early detection of endothelial dysfunction, a proven precursor of cardiovascular diseases, can be extremely impactful in encouraging preventative measures and early intervention before medical conditions become chronic. In recent years, ice plunging, a form of cryotherapy involving full body immersion in cold water, has gained popularity within circles of fitness and health practitioners, gaining the interest of people of all backgrounds. Certain parallels observed between the human physiological …

Band Motor Crankshaft For Hydrogen Combustion Engine, Lincoln Hofer, Jacqueline Mendoza Cortes, Austin Rhee, Roze Raymond

Mechanical Engineering

This report outlines the steps in which a group of four mechanical engineers at California Polytechnic State University California, San Luis Obispo, addressed an issue brought up by Professor Roger Benham from the Materials Department. The task included developing an automated and modular testing platform for a revolutionary concept crankshaft prototype – meant for a hydrogen combustion engine - developed and produced by the sponsor: Roger Benham. A testing platform is necessary to measure the performance of the shaft design created to eventually implement this subsystem into a complete hydrogen engine design. Values being tested include geometric validation, maximum static …

Slitter Blade Sharpener, Griffin Buchan, Regan Lane, Kinsale Sproule

Mechanical Engineering

Within this document, our team, “Think Sharpener”, will discuss the following work we have completed since the Critical Design Review: material and part procurement, the manufacturing process for our prototype, and a discussion of our results from testing our final Verification Prototype (VP). To summarize our team’s work during the last portion of this project, our design for the slitter blade sharpening mechanism required us to consult the IME department for materials and manufacturing guidance, order pneumatic components from various online hardware companies, and test our VP to verify we met the engineering design specifications. Our slitter blade sharpening mechanism …

Docai, Riley Badnin, Justin Brunings

Computer Science and Software Engineering

DocAI presents a user-friendly platform for recording, transcribing, summarizing, and classifying doctor-patient consultations. The application utilizes AssemblyAI for conversational transcription, and the user interface allows users to either live-record consultations or upload an existing MP3 file. The classification process, powered by 'ml-classify-text,' organizes the consultation transcription into SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan) format – a widely used method of documentation for healthcare providers. The result of this development is a simple yet effective interface that effectively plays the role of a medical scribe. However, the application is still facing challenges of inconsistent summarization from the AssemblyAI backend. Future work …

Effects Of Beet Supplements On Cardiovascular Response Using A Noninvasive Blood Pressure Cuff, Nicholas M. Hughes

Master's Theses

A Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography device was built, tested for verification, and used to experiment on human subjects to measure the cardiovascular response of consuming a beet supplement, specifically looking at arterial compliance and pressure-area curves. Each subject was tested four times. A baseline was measured under normal conditions and after five-minute hyperemia conditions. 10 subjects were given 6 ounces of water mixed with either purple Kool-Aid (control), a SuperBeets supplement, or a SuperBeets Sport supplement and after 45 minutes, measurements were taken undergoing normal and hyperemia conditions once more. The verification testing demonstrated the calibration of the device was effectively …

Hybrid Wall Outlet For Ac Or Dc Power Delivery, Garrett Knoller, Kerr Allan, Greg Perini

Electrical Engineering

The goal of this project is to develop hybrid DC and AC wall outlets for an efficient, flexible power interface. A DC plug standard is also proposed to allow DC devices to be safely powered by the outlet with the correct DC voltage for each device. The primary objective is to create a power outlet compatible with the proposed DC plug as well as NEMA 5-15 AC plugs, enabling the same outlet to power both types of load as needed. The outlet is intended for buildings and systems transitioning to an isolated DC grid to encourage DC development and adoption. …

Dc To Ac Inverter For A Microgrid-Inspired Power Distribution Architecture For Electric Vehicles, Bryan A. Carrillo Martinez, Eli Blacklock, Paul A. Samson, William S. Holt-Hillis

Electrical Engineering

This project builds upon the prototyping of a microgrid-inspired power distribution architecture for electric vehicles (EVs). The efficacy of this prototype aims to inform a full-scale power distribution system that charges an EV battery, supports the electric grid with important ancillary services, performs peer-to-peer EV charging, and works in conjunction with other AC and DC sources and loads. The scope of this report focuses specifically on the design, construction, and testing of the DC/AC inverter. Future development of this distribution architecture will incorporate synchronous generators, a battery management system, and an Arduino/Raspberry Pi-based communication system to fully simulate an electric …

An Analysis On Wildfire Mitigations Employed By Utilities In California, Evan Luu

Master's Theses

As climate change continues to worsen, environmental effects are felt by many people around the world. In California, some of its most damaging wildfires have been found to be started by utilities. As the state continues to suffer from worsening wildfire conditions, the utilities need to implement a variety of wildfire mitigations to help reduce the risk of wildfires that can affect the state and its residents. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of four mitigations employed across three California utilities and suggests potential ways for the mitigations to be used together. The technologies evaluated are covered conductor, rapid earth fault …

Development Of Load Measurement Technique For Arbitrary Shapes, Quintin J. Cockrell

Master's Theses

Obtaining aerodynamic forces and moments about all three orthogonal axes for arbitrary shapes at arbitrary orientations in a fast manner via a measurement technique specific to Cal Poly’s low-speed wind tunnel to continually obtain the forces and moments under quasi-steady conditions is explored. A Continuous Rotation Technique (CR) uses a 6-DOF load cell and stepper motor to rotate an object about an axis for a complete rotation. The forces and moments acting upon the object pass through the stepper motor and interface plates and recorded by the load cell as the object is rotated continuously a finite number of rotations. …

Brunet: Disruption-Tolerant Tcp And Decentralized Wi-Fi For Small Systems Of Vehicles, Nicholas Brunet

Master's Theses

Reliable wireless communication is essential for small systems of vehicles. However, for small-scale robotics projects where communication is not the primary goal, programmers frequently choose to use TCP with Wi-Fi because of their familiarity with the sockets API and the widespread availability of Wi-Fi hardware. However, neither of these technologies are suitable in their default configurations for highly mobile vehicles that experience frequent, extended disruptions. BRUNET (BRUNET Really Useful NETwork) provides a two-tier software solution that enhances the communication capabilities for Linux-based systems. An ad-hoc Wi-Fi network permits decentralized peer-to-peer and multi-hop connectivity without the need for dedicated network infrastructure. …

Deep Ocean Vehicle Applications And Modifications, Nichole "Nikki" T. Arm

Master's Theses

This project had two primary goals: (1) to explore opportunities to further a deep-ocean vehicle’s reach using alternative pressure spheres, and (2) to implement an existing deep-ocean vehicle (lander) in active scientific research.

I gained a greater understanding of the limitations and design choices made for existing pressure spheres using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). My simplified FEA model predicted sphere failure for the existing 30% Fiber Glass 70% Nylon injection molded spheres at an external pressure of 3,954psi or 2,690m ocean-depth (only a 7.38% error compared to the tested minimum failure depth), so I determined it a valid model. I …

The Tidal Prism, Viable Eelgrass Habitat, And The Effects Of Sea Level Rise In Morro Bay, Kaden A. Caliendo

Master's Theses

The tidal prism, or the volume of water exchanged from the sea to an estuary from mean low to mean high tide, influences system hydrodynamics and ecological functioning. Since 1884, the tidal prism in Morro Bay, California has been estimated to be decreasing over time due to sedimentation from upstream practices. What is the current tidal prism in Morro Bay and how will that change with sea level rise? How will eelgrass respond to rising sea levels?

For this study, inexpensive tidal gauges were deployed at four locations in Morro Bay from March to August 2023 to measure spatially varying …

Decentralized Machine Learning On Blockchain: Developing A Federated Learning Based System, Nikhil Sridhar

Master's Theses

Traditional Machine Learning (ML) methods usually rely on a central server to per-
form ML tasks. However, these methods have problems like security risks, data
storage issues, and high computational demands. Federated Learning (FL), on the
other hand, spreads out the ML process. It trains models on local devices and then
combines them centrally. While FL improves computing and customization, it still
faces the same challenges as centralized ML in security and data storage.

This thesis introduces a new approach combining Federated Learning and Decen-
tralized Machine Learning (DML), which operates on an Ethereum Virtual Machine
(EVM) compatible blockchain. The …

Road Embedded Traffic Actuated Turbine (Retat), Derek Terry Cedillo, Jairo Fernandez Garcia, Alejandro Samaniego, Yosef Towfique

Mechanical Engineering

The Road Embedded Traffic Actuated Turbine (RETAT) project aims to revolutionize sustainable energy solutions by harnessing the power of passing vehicles to generate electricity. This Final Design Review (FDR) encapsulates the evolution of the project, from conceptualization to the tangible realization of the Verification Prototype created by a team of mechanical engineering students. The RETAT boasts an innovative design, incorporating square steel tubing and a unique linear-to-rotational energy conversion mechanism. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the design, implementation, and testing phases, highlighting achievements, challenges, and areas for refinement. As the RETAT project strives to contribute to a cleaner, …

Interactive Water Vortex Exhibit, Simon Way, Emily Laing, Roqaya Naseri, Makenzie Kan

Mechanical Engineering

The San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum requested an interactive water vortex exhibit to both engage and entertain inquisitive guests, ages two to eight. The goal was to design and manufacture an exhibit that would educate its users on the fluid mechanics behind water vortices. They activate the mechanics by spinning a wheel, which is perceived as the catalyst to manipulate the flow of water to successfully create a whirlpool. Our team has created an interactive display that will enlighten young minds, providing the museum with an educational exhibit which shares a concept not currently taught by any other. Our project …

Tagalong Trail, Sean Wahl, Jason Davis, Quinlan Stephens, Ryan Johnson, Vinh Vo

Mechanical Engineering

The Cal Poly mechanical engineering team working on the Path of Lights and Sounds for the Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast has now completed their project. In the last quarter of their project, they were able to finalize their tile’s structural design while iterating through several electronics board designs. Through this iteration, they were able to create a final electronics board and designed a water-resistant enclosure to house the board. A new team member was added, allowing them to manufacture 28 tile structures and 30 electronics assemblies over the course of two and a half weeks. This proved to …

Maitreya Desalination, Riley Taft, Hudson Kispert, Brendan Dizon

Mechanical Engineering

This document relays the design and manufacture of a dual power input Reverse Osmosis desalination unit. It's power sources are electric drive and human power via recumbent seated cycling. Fresh water outputs range from 4 - 7 GPH for human power inputs of 150 - 280 Watts depending on the selected gearing ratio from the derailleur.

Integrated Actuator, David Hefter, Mathew Smith, Amanda Westmoreland, Akanksha Maddi

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review document outlines the senior project design that we, a team of four mechanical engineering students at California Polytechnic State University, are developing for Charlie Refvem, a lecturer in the mechanical engineering department. The final design has undergone significant modifications since the Critical Design Review, such as a redesigned vertical shaft, material changes, and the incorporation of belt tensioners. These redesigns are thoroughly discussed in the context of testing and assembly error resolution.

The document outlines the detailed steps for the production and testing of the design verification prototype. This includes the procurement and manufacturing of components, …

Cnc Retrofits, Fabian Samano, Murat Askin, Daniel Lonczak, Zane Campise

Mechanical Engineering

The Boxford CNC Lathe is a machine used for educational purposes. The goal of the CNC Retrofits project is to improve the Boxford MT2’s performance and functionality to enable Mr. Lonczak to manufacture customized ballpoint pens. Within this Final Design Review (FDR) document, we present design updates since the CDR and implementation/assembly techniques. This work culminates in a solution to Mr. Lonczak’s needs which is analyzed in three subsystems: main control, spindle position tracking, and user interface. Within this report, we show the results of each subsystem’s verification process. These results prove that the design concept was met by describing …

Improvement Of Rotation Capacity Of Composite Beam-To-Hss Column Connections Using External Horizontal Stiffeners, Mahdi Afshar Arjmand

Master's Theses

Improvement of Rotation Capacity of Composite Beam-to-HSS Column Connections Using External Horizontal Stiffeners

Mahdi Afshar Arjmand

This thesis focuses on the analysis of out-of-plane deformation (OOP) in column flange located in the panel zone of composite beam-to-column steel connection, as a critical aspect of steel structural engineering. This type of connection is an integral component of steel structures, and understanding their behavior is essential for ensuring safety and performance. The investigation involves examining the causes, factors influencing, and potential mitigation strategies for out-of-plane deformation of HSS flange column in these connections. Beam-to-column connections play a vital role in transferring loads …

Discourse Analysis In Engineering: Investigating Patterns In Brainstorming Conversations, Aimee Chiem

Master's Theses

Brainstorming is a critical part of the engineering design process and can have a significant impact on the outcomes of the overall project. While research has studied the outcomes of brainstorming and the ideas that teams generate, the role that language and conversation play in these activities is still relatively underexplored. Observing the different ways people use specific types of discourse can reveal how conversations can affect brainstorming itself. To that end, this research aims to answer the following questions:

1) What are the different kinds of discursive moves that students make during engineering brainstorming activities?

2) What patterns or …

Launch Vibration Attenuation For In-Space Assembly Cargo, Jered Bell

Master's Theses

This thesis investigates the implementation of a passive isolator with a pressurized air cushion for spacecraft payloads in mission architectures implementing in-space assembly technologies. A pressurized air bed capable of briefly surviving the space environment for cargo delivery was prototyped and experimentally evaluated for launch vehicle vibration dynamics resulting in a 72%, 93%, and 88% reduction in experienced GRMS loads for the X-Axis, Y-Axis, and Z-Axis, respectively. A preliminary Total Mass Loss evaluation of the Low-Density Polyethylene Film utilized for the air bed resulted in a mass loss of 0.7%, indicating that commercial off-the-shelf films might require minimal modification for …

A Numerical Modeling Analysis Of The San Francisco Bay And Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: Riverine, Tidal, And Wind Processes, Drake A. Abrahamsson

Master's Theses

The primary motivation of this study is to analyze the 1D-2DH hydrodynamic model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (SFBD) outlined in Nederhoff et al. (2021). I compared model water level data to 70 tidal records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC), and from local municipalities throughout the Bay Area to investigate how the model captures water levels and tidal constituent amplitudes. While the Nederhoff et al (2017) model analyzed an extended time period from 1950-2019, I analyzed M2 amplitude and tidal water …

United States Army Corps Of Engineers Info Session At California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Gabriel L. Vesneski

Construction Management

Gabriel Vesneski facilitated an Info Session on Thursday, November 2, at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo for the United States Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District Civil Works. Three guest speakers from the Sacramento District Civil Works office presented their educational background, experience as employees for the Corps of Engineers, occupational benefits, and finally opened a question-and-answer forum for the students attending the Info Session. Upon completion of the Info Session, a survey was provided for attendees, in order to track interest in employment or internship opportunities provided by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Finally, there …

Compressive And Flexural Tensile Strength Impacts Of Aluminum Shavings In Concrete, Ian Smith

Construction Management

Concrete is one of the most utilized construction materials around the world, but new and cutting-edge methods are constantly pushing the envelope for concrete’s applications and feasibility as a construction material. Unfortunately, concrete has a general lack of resistance to bending and stretching. Studies have shown several successful attempts to enhance the mechanical properties of concrete through implementation of various admixtures and methods. Steel is widely considered the primary material capable of reinforcing concrete. This paper evaluates concrete’s change in strength of flexural tension and compression as a result of implementing aluminum as a reinforcing agent. To determine the full …

2nd Annual Girls Build Summer Academy: Logistics And Scheduling, Matteo Cade Cuccaro

Construction Management

This paper discusses the logistics and scheduling involved for Cal Poly construction management department’s second annual Girls Build Summer Academy. The week-long academy was hosted to introduce construction related activities to 19 high school-aged girls so they could learn more about the careers available within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, while learning skills to build individual and team projects. To achieve this goal, a full schedule was developed for each day of the camp, allowing for a variety of activities, including listening to guest speakers, completing building projects, and training to safely use tools. There were many challenges that …

Vegetation And Its Effectiveness In Replacing Traditional Cooling Systems, Bryce Isaiah Trump

Construction Management

This project aimed to analyze if vegetation is effective in replacing traditional cooling systems, when utilized as green roofs and walls. It serves to provide information to the construction industry, designers, architects, and homeowners. Information gathered through a field experiment will be used to give quantitative data on if vegetation is effective and practical in replacing traditional cooling systems in buildings and homes. The basis for the idea of this project stems from two main courses in the Construction Management program, those courses being Principles of Environmental Design, and Sustainability and the Built Environment. The stated courses introduce the idea …

2nd Annual Girls Build Summer Academy: Apprentice Ii Service Project, Angeline Witt

Construction Management

Cal Poly’s construction management department hosted the second annual Girls Build Summer Academy in July 2023. This paper highlights the service work project that the three returning academy participants completed during the week-long day camp. The academy’s goal was to provide high school-aged girls the opportunity to learn about the various career paths in the construction industry while emphasizing skilled trade opportunities including concrete, framing, drywall, electrical, and equipment operators. The girls worked to enrich their construction knowledge and grow their skills with hands-on building activities. By the end of the week, each girl had gained the skills and confidence …

San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum Accessibility Ramp, Noah Atticus Callahan

Construction Management

The San Luis Obispo’s Railroad Museum is a local organization that aims to preserve the history of the Southern Pacific Railroad and educate the community. The mission of this organization is to collect and display various historic artifacts for the public to see. This project serves to aid in the development of a 1923 boxcar into a future exhibit for the museum by creating a ramp that bridges the platform of the station to the boxcar. The ramp was constructed out of pressure treated lumber, angle iron to bind the lumber together, and hinges to allow it to fold. Both …