Engineering Commons^™

Comparisons Of Concrete Slender Wall Software With Full-Scale Experiments, Gloriana M.L. Moua

Architectural Engineering

The 1980 slender wall testing was performed by the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) in efforts to analyze behavior of concrete slender walls when lateral and eccentric axial loads are applied. The testing was done with 12 tilt-up wall panels, 3 of each of the four thicknesses: 9 ½”, 7 ¼”, 5 ¾”, and 4 ¾”. What was discovered from testing was that a fixed limitation of height to thickness ratio was not a governing factor and that each case should be analyzed based off the strength and deflection of the wall. It was because of this testing …

Son Care Handicap Ramp And Fence, Brendan T. Mulholland

Construction Management

The purpose of this project was to build a fence on one side of the parking lot and a handicap entrance ramp for the front entrance of the Son Care Foundation in San Luis Obispo, California. This project aims to help limit the edge of the parking lot so that cars are not parked to far into the neighboring field and to make the front office more accessible to customers. The parking lot for The Son Care Foundation is located next to a field that is used for a multitude of tasks. With nothing to separate the two areas from …

Checkerbot, Sean P. Whitty

Electrical Engineering

This product is able to play a game of checkers against the customer at three different preset difficulties. It can process the board on its turn, and displays its next turn to its opponent by updating the board state via the LEDs. It consists of a laptop screen display, and a computer chip with the programmed ability to process the checkers board and decide its next move. It provides the customer with an opponent that can be modified in difficulty so it can provide however much of a challenge as the customer desires, as well as allowing for a 2 …

Break The Ice Challenge, Peter Karkos, Alex Lewis, Eva Kouyate, Vy Han

Mechanical Engineering

The report documents and justifies team LEGION’s senior design project, from research and ideation to prototype manufacturing and testing. It begins by providing some background on the project and outlining the mission scenario given by NASA. This is followed by related literature on excavation of icy regolith on the moon, water transportation, lunar environment, and space law. Next, research is performed into existing products, such as patents and various designs from previous related NASA competitions.

After providing the relevant background information, focused objectives are outlined, with a problem statement, boundary sketch, and engineering specifications. The wants & needs of NASA …

Gaylord Produce Removal Machine, Marcus Takashi Hirose Lee, Jacob Michael Perlman, Carissa Abigail Kamm, Mark Misao Loera

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review Report outlines the senior design project that began Winter Quarter of 2021 at California Polytechnic State University. Our team consists of three mechanical engineers and a general engineer, working together to design, build, and test a product for Alameda County Food Bank. The goal of the final product is to relieve volunteers and employees of tedious manual labor and increase efficiency during the removal of produce from large Gaylord containers. This document describes background research, the objectives of the project, chosen concept design, analysis and initial prototyping of said concept, the final design, and verification prototype …

Gaf Fiberglass Mat Slitter Blade Sharpener, Mark D. Breaux, Bradley M. Smith, Esteban Carrillo, Carlos Espinoza

Mechanical Engineering

This document contains an overview for the offline slitter blade sharpening system created for GAF to sharpen their current cutting tools in a timely and safe manner without hindering the timeline and production of their assembly line. This design was developed by four undergraduate students at from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This document first investigates background information of any patents, current sharpening device, sharpening safety standards, or literature review that may be useful in a sharpening mechanism device. This document also contains our design concept prototype, which consists of three main features, the use of a top guard for …

W22 Landing Gear And Door Uplocks Final Design Review (Fdr), Jason Szeto, Garrett Donovan, Christopher Edward, Kevin Lee

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review report outlines the senior project sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., to design an unmanned aerial vehicle landing gear uplock and door locks. The main goal of the project is to create a proof-of-concept uplock that does not operate on hydraulic power, has minimal moving parts, and can support the weight, vertical acceleration and aerodynamic loads on the landing gear or doors. The document covers the background research, design specifications, design selection process, justifications, manufacturing, and verification of the functional prototype.

Coilreef™ Wave Energy Dissipation Project, Cole Ramsdale, Josh Sparrow, Kyle Archibald, Fernando Romero

Mechanical Engineering

Within this Final Design Review (FDR) report, the COILReef™ Senior Project concludes with all updates reflecting results after testing. The COILReef™ is a device ideated by Cal Poly Professor Roger Benham. It aims to provide a removeable, low-cost solution to dissipating ocean wave energy, thereby reducing coastal erosion in sensitive areas. Current permanent solutions cost millions of dollars, take years to construct, and sometimes produce undesirable and unintended effects. The work presented in this document provides the foundational research, testing, and steps taken by the team to evaluate the feasibility of the COILReef™ design as a viable solution to reducing …

Automated Mini-Tubular Ceramic Production, Hunter Brooks, Daniel Freeman, Leo Taranta-Slack

Mechanical Engineering

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory need a way to increase the rate of manufacturing of mini-tubular ceramics to be used in testing particulate air filters. This document outlines our process from researching and writing an initial scope of work all the way to fabricating and testing a final prototype. This journey takes us through the background research, ideation process and selection of a final design. We also detail the desired engineering specifications and our concept selection process. We dedicate a significant portion of this report to discussion of our final design. We delve into how it was manufactured as …

Optimized Tip Cooling Using Am Process, Alberto H. Gamez, Lourdes Sarmiento Martinez, Andrew Van Bogelen

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review (FDR) reports on the senior design project undertaken by our team of mechanical engineering seniors at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This project seeks to use the additive manufacturing process to improve the existing design of a Taurus 60 gas turbine injector tip. The current injector tip is owned by Solar Turbines, a designer and manufacturer of gas turbines for electric generation, propulsion, as well as natural resource transportation. The challenge at hand is to design a new injector tip that will be reliable for at least 60,000 hours and provide ease of replacement, …

Chess Piece Detection, Craig Reid Belshe

Electrical Engineering

This project determines the positions of each piece on a physical chessboard, so that a computer can record a game of chess by noting down the piece positions at the end of each turn. It determines each move so that the game can be replayed later without watching actual footage. The project allows for easy viewing of past games. An image of the chessboard is analyzed to detect each square on the board, and each piece's location. This is then done for each turn, so that the system can keep track of an entire game.

Compact In-Rack Dielectric Immersion Cooling System, Salvador Landeros Jr, Joshua M. Hannaman, Marshall D. Reid

Mechanical Engineering

The Compact Dielectric Cooling team consisting of Josh Hannaman, Marshall Reid, and Salvador Landeros worked with Aria Technologies to create a thermal management system for data centers that can easily implement liquid cooling into current infrastructure for high density computing servers. The project was to design, build, and test a compact immersion cooling system for a senior project at California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo. Immersion cooling is a liquid-cooling process that involves the immersion of electrical IT equipment and the removal of heat from the hot IT components using dielectric liquid. The goal was to build a …

Produce Sorting Aid, Annica Navarro, Jessie Boucher, Natalie Roberts, Teng Lee

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review (FDR) document intends to define the details of the Produce Sorting Aid senior project–selected by four mechanical engineering students, working under the team name Team W24. The Alameda County Community Foodbank (ACCFB) sorts bulk produce into bags or boxes for distribution to people in need of food. However, the current process is not ergonomic, time efficient, or safe for the volunteers at the ACCFB. The scope of the senior project is to design a mechanism that is ergonomic, time efficient, and safe for the volunteers to lift heavy produce and distribute the produce into bags ready …

Mug For Veterans With Tremors, Eliot Daniel Briefer, Nicholas Michael Greco, Lucas Paul Martos-Repath, Tiernan Lif Kehoe

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review Report outlines the senior design project completed by a team of mechanical engineering students attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo for the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, VA. The scope of the project was to design, build, and test a device for veterans with tremors that would allow them to enjoy their favorite drinks comfortably and easily, without worrying about spills. The final product must be lightweight, aesthetic, capable of handling various tremor types, and can be operated in multiple planes to allow the veterans full control over the device. This document …

3-In-1 Medical Lancet, Jonathan J. Panella, Gage Vogtlin, Marissa Koski, Benjamin Neyland

Mechanical Engineering

First responders need a quick, sterile, and convenient way to sample blood for glucose testing because glucose levels are a vital metric in assessing time-critical emergency situations. The blood sampling process consists of pre-sterilizing the sample site on the skin with an alcohol pad, pricking the skin with a lancet, and lastly, after sampling, putting a bandage over the prick site. The scope of this project is to design a device which integrates and streamlines the use of the three sub-processes (sterilization, lancing, and bandaging) while upholding the necessary requirements of a single-use medical device and considering other factors which …

On The Mobility Of Small Aperture Telescopes For Initial Orbit Determination And Apparent Magnitude Derivation Of Low Earth Satellites, Jonathan Ian Hernandez

Master's Theses

Maintaining Space Domain Awareness (SDA) of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) requires effective methods of tracking and characterization. Optical measurements of these objects are generally sparse due to limited access intervals and high angular rates. Light pollution and geographic obstructions may also preclude consistent observations. However, a mobile small aperture telescope grants the ability to minimize such environmental effects, thereby increasing capture likelihoods for objects within this regime. By enhancing LEO satellite visibility in this way, extensive orbital and visual data are obtainable.

An 8-inch Meade LX200GPS telescope equipped with a Lumenera SKYnyx2-0M CCD camera comprises the system that …

A Design Build Company’S Pain Points For Field Staff Working Outside Of A Company’S Home Area, Mason Barber

Construction Management

Design-Build is the project-delivery system of the future but is not without pain points. The Design-Build system is an efficient form of project delivery that has a strong focus on relationships and can begin the construction phase while the design phase is still active. This study aims to identify and analyze the additional challenges or pain points that arise when Design-Build construction is taking place in an unfamiliar location and distant from the company office. The pain points are identified with field staff feedback through the form of survey responses. This study uses The Neenan Company as an example because …

Granulated Blast Furnace Slag And Its Effects On Concrete Mixes, Adam Jacobson

Construction Management

This paper explores what place slag, or granulated blast furnace slag has in our changing environment and evaluates how it compares to Portland cement. The purpose of this research is to discern how slag will be applicable in the future of construction and find what place it will have in concrete mixes. Slag is a Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) that is being utilized in more and more concrete applications due to its desirable properties and low environmental impact. Slag also reduces the amount of CO2 released that is produced in manufacturing and placing concrete. In this research, compressive strength of …

Attractive Features For San Luis Obispo's Collegiate Rental Market, Ava Bednarek

Construction Management

The purpose of this study is to analyze what college students would like to see in their rental units and would potentially pay more for if they had the option. It attempts to identify key features that would make valuable investments for rental unit owners. Data collection consisted of an anonymous online survey. Student respondents in the construction management major at California Polytechnic State University were asked questions regarding their current rental housing unit conditions and monthly rental costs. In addition, respondents were asked to further analyze the importance of a set list of features that could be added to …

Ac/Dc Led Light Bulb Adaptor With Internal Rechargeable Batteries, Esteban A. Rubio, Matthew R. Delaby

Electrical Engineering

To make a sustainable product and provide a temporary source of lights on during emergencies, this project aims to create a small unit that can be attached to a light bulb of any variety and connect it to a socket. Within the device is a rechargeable battery that, when the device is not connected to an 120V AC, 240V AC, or 48V DC power source, will power the light for a short period of time. The battery can be charged during the standard operation of the device and can be powered by the US and EU standard outlet voltages as …

An Analysis Of Camera Configurations And Depth Estimation Algorithms For Triple-Camera Computer Vision Systems, Jared Peter-Contesse

Master's Theses

The ability to accurately map and localize relevant objects surrounding a vehicle is an important task for autonomous vehicle systems. Currently, many of the environmental mapping approaches rely on the expensive LiDAR sensor. Researchers have been attempting to transition to cheaper sensors like the camera, but so far, the mapping accuracy of single-camera and dual-camera systems has not matched the accuracy of LiDAR systems. This thesis examines depth estimation algorithms and camera configurations of a triple-camera system to determine if sensor data from an additional perspective will improve the accuracy of camera-based systems. Using a synthetic dataset, the performance of …

Development Of A Topics Course For Construction Law, Julia C. Hoever

Construction Management

The Cal Poly Construction Management program is designed to prepare students heading into the construction industry for daily management tasks. With construction comes many legal aspects integrated into a project’s operations. Though the curriculum includes a contract law course, a gap exists with a minimal number of classes that address the array of legal matters the construction industry must be versed in. Working with faculty member, Thomas Kommer, J.D., there is a need for a course that expands on these varying legal topics. In order to determine the specific topics that would impactfully benefit and educate Cal Poly Construction Management …

Protecting The Caed Shop Equipment Yard, Chloe K. Stevens

Construction Management

Anytime a construction project is considered, there is a lengthy process that happens before breaking ground. It is important to consider the environment around the project, the intended purpose and use of the space, and the materials, time, and budget needed to develop it. If you do not take these things into consideration correctly, it will negatively impact the functionality and the efficiency of both the use and the construction process. This project consists of creating a pre-construction plan for building out a weather protective and space efficient enclosure at the College of Architectural and Environmental Design Shop Yard. The …

The Causes Of Electrical Labor Shortages Within Central California, Madeline S. Brogno

Construction Management

Labor shortages within various trades in the construction industry have become a prominent issue throughout the world for decades. The negative effects due to lack of manpower affect construction personnel ranging from general contractors to manufacturers who are finding themselves struggling as many subcontractors are having to turn down work, which in turn affects general contractors timelines in projects- extending durations, and increasing costs. There has been general research done that has provided some insight, suggesting the root cause be attributed to the baby-boomer generation retiring, or a general lack of interest in the industry. This research paper on labor …

Campus Improvement Cm460 Manual To Improve Project Based Success, John C. Palmer

Construction Management

This Senior project research will critically assess the process for campus improvement on the Cal Poly Campus. The purpose of this research is providing a final deliverable that is a usable document for future students with the intention of creating a campus improvement project. The project includes the necessary resources such as campus facility contacts, permitting process explanation, the documentation process for preconstruction, funding opportunities and the expected delays to create a realistic plan. The document is created as a manual for Construction Management undergraduates in hopes of encouraging future students to create a project-based campus-improvement plan that is more …

Optimizing A Virtual Human Platform For Depression/Suicide Ideation Identification For The American Soldier, Christina M. Monahan

Master's Theses

Suicide surpassed homicide to be the second leading cause of death among people 10-24 years old in the United States \cite{1}. This statistic is alarming especially when combined with the more than eight distinctly different types of clinical depression among society today \cite{2}. To further complicate this health crisis, let’s consider the current worldwide isolating pandemic often referred to as COVID-19 that has spanned 12 months. It is more important than ever to consider how we can get ahead of the crisis by identifying the symptoms as they set in and more importantly ahead of the decision to commit suicide. …

Characterizing Direction Specific Ganglion Cell Receptor Activation Using A Perturbation Based Decomposition Method, Camila Paola Monchini Moline

Master's Theses

Characterizing postsynaptic current signals in the retina by neuroreceptor activation frequency is important for studying the mechanism of action behind phototransduction of varied visual stimuli. A better understanding could in turn lead to the creation of methods for early detection and prevention of debilitating optical neuropathies, such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. More recent in-vitro and in-vivo studies have aimed to differentiate the effects of various neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, GABA, and glutamate, on receiving and processing different types of visual stimuli from the retina into the visual cortex.

The focus of this work will be to …

Assessing The Effects Of Oxaliplatin On An In Vitro Three-Dimensional Human Colorectal Cancer Model, Sabrina Nelson

Master's Theses

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States with a 5-year late-stage survival rate of only 14%. Due to the lack of translation between animal models and clinical trials as well as the inefficacy of many chemotherapeutics in initial clinical trials, researchers are turning to in vitro drug screening models in an effort to mimic the conditions in vivo. This research project aimed to validate an in vitro tumor culture model within a microfluidic device using a clinically relevant chemotherapy drug. The first experiment consisted of a cell density and drug concentration study to determine …

Performance Loss Rate And Temperature Modeling In Predictive Energy Yield Programs For Utility-Scale Solar Power Plants, Katelynn M. Dinius

Master's Theses

The Gold Tree Solar Farm, designed by REC Solar, has a rated output power of 4.5 MW and began operation in 2018 to provide electricity to Cal Poly’s campus. Gold Tree Solar Farm site terrain consists of rolling hills and uneven slopes. The uneven typography results in interrow shading, requiring a modified tracking control algorithm to maximize power production. Predicting a utility solar field’s lifetime energy yield is a critical step in assessing project feasibility and calculating project revenue. The MATLAB-based predictive power model developed for this field overpredicted power in the middle of the day. The purpose of this …

Analyzing The Gender Gap In Field Positions On Commercial Construction Projects, Adriana L. Frazier

Construction Management

The percentage of women working in the construction industry is on the rise. However, most women working in the construction industry often fill administrative roles, office positions, and project management roles rather than field positions such as tradeswomen, foremen, or superintendents. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2020, women constitute 10.9 percent of the entire construction industry. Specifically, 86.7 percent of those women are in office positions with only 3.5 percent of women in trade positions. Those numbers signify that the construction industry is not benefitting from women in field positions. That is due to …