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Electronic Theses and Dissertations

2024

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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Community College Engineering Degree Partnerships With 4-Year Universities, Jeffrey Mark Stear Apr 2024

Community College Engineering Degree Partnerships With 4-Year Universities, Jeffrey Mark Stear

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing the number of STEM professionals and reducing inequities in STEM are national priorities. Community colleges are important to address these concerns because they represent a higher percentage of underrepresented minority (URM) and women students. However, students starting 4-year STEM degrees in community college have had a lower completion rate. Partnerships between community colleges and 4-year universities have the potential to improve success for community college students, but more research is necessary. The purpose of this ex post facto, quantitative, correlational study was to determine the relationships among participation in different types of partnerships between community colleges and 4-year universities, …


The Interplay Of Spin, Charge, And Heat: From Metal/Insulator Heterostructures To Perovskite Bilayers, Sam M. Bleser Mar 2024

The Interplay Of Spin, Charge, And Heat: From Metal/Insulator Heterostructures To Perovskite Bilayers, Sam M. Bleser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation begin with an investigation of non-local spin transport in an amorphous germanium (a-Ge) sample via the inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE). In that study we show that commonly used techniques such as differential conductance and delta mode of a paired Keithley 6221/2182a for non-local resistance measurements can lead to false indicators of spin transport. Next, we turn out attention to a thickness dependent study in thermally-evaporated chromium (Cr) thin films on a bulk polycrystalline yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) substrate. This project analyzed the spin transport in the Cr films versus thickness via the longitudinal spin Seebeck effect (LSSE). This …


Quantum-Powered Battery Scheduling In Modern Distribution Grids, Diba Ehsani Mar 2024

Quantum-Powered Battery Scheduling In Modern Distribution Grids, Diba Ehsani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rising need for exploiting a novel and evolved computation is an increasing concern in the power distribution system to address the exponential growth of distribution-connected devices. Scheduling numerous battery energy storage systems in an optimal way is one of the emerging challenges that will be more noticeable as the number of batteries, including residential, community, and vehicle batteries, increases in the grid. This thesis focuses on this topic and offers a necessary component in building the quantum-compatible distribution system of the future. Using a constrained quadratic model (CQM) on D-Wave’s hybrid solver as well as a binary quadratic model …


Data-Driven Approaches For Enhancing Power Grid Reliability, Behrouz Sohrabi Mar 2024

Data-Driven Approaches For Enhancing Power Grid Reliability, Behrouz Sohrabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the transformative potential of data-driven approaches in addressing key operational and reliability issues in power systems. The first part of this thesis addresses a prevalent problem in power distribution networks: the accurate identification of load phases. This study develops a data-driven model leveraging consumption measurements from smart meters and corresponding substation data to reconstruct topology information in low-voltage distribution networks. The proposed model is extensively tested using a dataset with more than 5,000 real load profiles, demonstrating satisfactory performance for large-scale networks. The second part of the thesis pivots to a crucial safety concern: the risk and …


Finite Element Analysis Of Thermal-Mechanical Instabilities In Nonmetallic Friction Composite Material, Joseph-Shaahu Shaahu Mar 2024

Finite Element Analysis Of Thermal-Mechanical Instabilities In Nonmetallic Friction Composite Material, Joseph-Shaahu Shaahu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Thermal-mechanical instability (TMI) has been a research topic of interest as it focuses a lot on transportation systems. Thermal-mechanical instability was first noticed in railway and experimentally studied with a pin-to-pin or pin-to-surface setup of sliding contact. The topic has been extended into brakes and clutches which are two of the most common sliding systems most susceptible to thermal buckling and thermoelastic instability (TEI), where thermal buckling and thermoelastic instability are two sub-categories of thermal-mechanical instability. Thermal-mechanical instability is an ongoing research to better understand the phenomenon and the limits at which such instability occurs. This work delved into the …


Thermal, Electrical, And Spin Transport: Encompassing Low-Damping Ferromagnets And Antiferromagnetic/Ferromagnetic Heterostructures, Matthew Ryan Natale Mar 2024

Thermal, Electrical, And Spin Transport: Encompassing Low-Damping Ferromagnets And Antiferromagnetic/Ferromagnetic Heterostructures, Matthew Ryan Natale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Continuing technological advancements bring forth escalating challenges in global energy consumption and subsequent power dissipation, posing significant economic and environmental concerns. In response to these difficulties, the fields of thermoelectrics, spintronics, and spincaloritronics emerge as contemporary solutions, each presenting unique advantages. Thermoelectric devices, based on the Seebeck effect, other a passive, carbon-free energy generating solution from waste heat. Although current thermoelectric technology encounters hurdles in achieving optimal efficiencies without intricate designs or complex materials engineering, recently research into low-damping metallic ferromagnetic thin films have provided a new method to enhance spin wave lifetimes, thus contributing to thermoelectric voltage improvements. As …


Development Of A High-Level Discrete Event Simulation Model For The Harvesting Of White Button Mushrooms With Human-Robot Collaboration (Hrc), Ava Recchia Jan 2024

Development Of A High-Level Discrete Event Simulation Model For The Harvesting Of White Button Mushrooms With Human-Robot Collaboration (Hrc), Ava Recchia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Canada is a leading global mushroom producer, with the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) being the most popular type produced. Harvesting activities are labour-intensive, and farms are currently experiencing labour shortages, which are impacting productivity, growth, and overall revenue. Robotic technologies are valid mechanisms for mushroom harvesting and demonstrate a potential to reduce this gap. Examining the performance of a harvesting system with different robotics scenarios, such as manual, robotics automation, and human robot collaboration (HRC) is crucial to realizing this potential. Simulation models are useful tools for testing and assessing systems without making any physical change to the system. …


Dynamic Material Characterization Of Polymeric Foam By Means Of Experimental, Analytical, Phenomenological And Numerical Methods, Foad Rahimidehgolan Jan 2024

Dynamic Material Characterization Of Polymeric Foam By Means Of Experimental, Analytical, Phenomenological And Numerical Methods, Foad Rahimidehgolan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this study was to advance the experimental, numerical, phenomenological and analytical methods of assessing the dynamic compressive response of polymeric foams, especially at an intermediate strain rate range of 50 s-1 to 600 s-1. Different experimental apparatuses and techniques, including the universal compression/tension testing machine (strain rates up to 0.5 s-1), custom-build droptower (a strain rate range of 50 s-1 to 200 s-1) and pneumatic testing apparatus (a strain rate range of 200 s-1 to 600 s-1) were utilized in the macro-mechanical characterization. The microstructure of the investigated polymeric foams was studied by means of Scanning …


Applying Functional Data Analysis To Estimate The Mental Workload Of The Human Driver, David Olorunfemi Eniyandunmo Jan 2024

Applying Functional Data Analysis To Estimate The Mental Workload Of The Human Driver, David Olorunfemi Eniyandunmo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies have focused on accurately estimating mental workload using machine learning algorithms and extracting features from psycho-physiological measures. However, feature extraction leads to the loss of valuable information and often results in binary classifications that lack specificity in the identification of optimum mental workload levels. This study investigates the feasibility of using raw psycho-physiological data (EEG, facial EMG, ECG, EDA, pupillometry) combined with Functional Data Analysis (FDA) to estimate mental workload of human drivers. A driving scenario with five tasks was employed, and subjective ratings were collected using the modified Bedford workload scale. Results demonstrate that the FDA applied …


Dc-Link Capacitor State-Of-Health (Soh) Monitoring And Lifetime Extension For Ev Applications, Cameron Pickersgill Jan 2024

Dc-Link Capacitor State-Of-Health (Soh) Monitoring And Lifetime Extension For Ev Applications, Cameron Pickersgill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electric vehicles offer the benefit of eliminating tailpipe emissions, which emit greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere, lead to diminished air quality, and contribute to global warming. Therefore, plenty of research has gone into the development and improvement of EV technologies to create more effective and reliable vehicles in comparison to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The electric traction drive, or powertrain, is the fundamental system responsible for controlling the output response of the electric motor within an EV. High efficiency and reliability are extremely desirable traits for the electric drive to extend the range of the EV to …


Novel Approaches To Fast Ocv Characterization And Improved Capacity Estimation In Lithium Ion Batteries, James Vu Nguyen Jan 2024

Novel Approaches To Fast Ocv Characterization And Improved Capacity Estimation In Lithium Ion Batteries, James Vu Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis considers the problem of open circuit voltage (OCV) to state of charge (SOC) characterization in li-ion batteries for battery reuse applications. The traditional approach to OCV-SOC characterization is done by collecting voltage and current data through a slow discharge and charge process; this process usually takes about 60 hours. Such OCV-SOC characterization is performed on a few sample batteries because the OCV-SOC characterization is considered to be the same for new batteries coming out of the same manufacturing process. However, the characteristics of a battery may change as it is used for years in different environmental and usage …


Ultrasonic Phased Array Imaging And Data Post Processing With Applications To Resistance Spot Welding, Milos Draskovic Jan 2024

Ultrasonic Phased Array Imaging And Data Post Processing With Applications To Resistance Spot Welding, Milos Draskovic

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resistance spot welding is a widely used metal joining method in the automotive industry due to its low cost, ease of automation and high throughput. Resistance spot welding is a process that joins two or more metal sheets through the application of force and high current in a localized region, or spot. With the average car containing thousands of such spot welds, some of which compose structural and safety components, the evaluation of the quality metrics related to this process is of key interest to the automotive sector. With this in mind, the evaluation of spot weld parameters including, size, …


Triple Current Control Of Transformer-Less Distributed Generators For Optimal Protection Coordination And Power Oscillation Elimination, Johnny Msawbah Jan 2024

Triple Current Control Of Transformer-Less Distributed Generators For Optimal Protection Coordination And Power Oscillation Elimination, Johnny Msawbah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inverter-interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) face issues related to disruptive power oscillations and overcurrent during unbalanced faults. This thesis focuses on a specific type of IIDGs known as the four-wire IIDG, often referred to as a transformer-less (TL)-IIDG. The TL-IIDG stands out as it possesses the unique capability to completely eliminate power oscillations in both active and reactive power. This is made possible by the addition of a fourth wire, which enhances control capabilities. To address these challenges, a triple current control (TCC) strategy is devised. It leverages sequence currents within a synchronous frame of reference, allowing the creation of a …


A Mems Planar Fresnel Lens For Cmut Array, Shivani Nilesh Upadhyay Jan 2024

A Mems Planar Fresnel Lens For Cmut Array, Shivani Nilesh Upadhyay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) planar Fresnel lens for use with a Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) array for high-resolution cardiac diagnostic imaging applications. The research exploited the excellent sound propagation and thermal properties of cross-linked silica aerogel, a nano-porous, nano-networked ultra-light-weight material, to design a planar thinfilm lens that can be easily microfabricated or integrated with a CMUT array. The designed lens, comprised of 32 various width concentric rings, was optimized to operate with a 256 element 6 MHz CMUT array. The 4 µm thick lens was designed to generate a 1.9 mm focal spot at a …


Numerical Analysis Of A Multi-Stage Elastohydrodynamic Seal For Aircraft Engines, Md Wasif Hasan Jan 2024

Numerical Analysis Of A Multi-Stage Elastohydrodynamic Seal For Aircraft Engines, Md Wasif Hasan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At present, both governmental and private aviation enterprises are trying to develop aircraft that are swifter, more lightweight, and more cost-effective in order to maintain competitiveness on both the domestic and global stage. Continuous innovation and sustainability efforts are necessary to achieve advancements in aviation systems, such as fans, compressors, combustors, and turbines, as well as sub-systems, like engine seals. Advanced engine seals exhibit considerable potential in enhancing the engine's pressure ratio and cycle temperatures, leading to reduced engine weight, increased thrust, and improved fuel economy. In this study, a novel multistage seal idea has been proposed for the supercritical …


Applications Of Predictive And Generative Ai Algorithms: Regression Modeling, Customized Large Language Models, And Text-To-Image Generative Diffusion Models, Suhaima Jamal Jan 2024

Applications Of Predictive And Generative Ai Algorithms: Regression Modeling, Customized Large Language Models, And Text-To-Image Generative Diffusion Models, Suhaima Jamal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The integration of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms has radically changed predictive modeling and classification tasks, enhancing a multitude of domains with unprecedented analytical capabilities. Predictive modeling leverages ML and AI to forecast future trends or behaviors based on historical data, while classification tasks categorize data into distinct classes, from email filtering to medical diagnosis. Concurrently, text-to-image generation has emerged as a transformative potential, allowing visual content creation directly from textual descriptions. These advancements are pivotal in design, art, entertainment, and visual communication, as well as enhancing creativity and productivity. This work explores three significant studies in …


Carbon Dioxide Gasification Of Biochar: A Study On Utilizing Captured Co2 To Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emission And Improving Carbon Conversion Efficiency, Nnamdi Ofuani Jan 2024

Carbon Dioxide Gasification Of Biochar: A Study On Utilizing Captured Co2 To Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emission And Improving Carbon Conversion Efficiency, Nnamdi Ofuani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With rapidly growing global economies and world population, fossil fuel continues to play a major role in meeting current energy demands. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have, hence, been implemented to reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. With the implementation of CCS technologies comes the need to utilize the captured CO2. This research, therefore, proposes CO2 gasification of biochar as a viable carbon utilization pathway. With captured CO2 coming at various concentrations, there is a need to understand how CO2 concentration affects biochar conversion to useful products. This study, therefore, evaluates the effects …