Engineering Commons^™

Tuning The Structural Properties Of Cellulose Acetate Thin Films: A Demonstration Of Confinement And Antiplasticization In Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Keegan Reece Parkhurst

Graduate Theses - Chemical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Predicting Joint Mechanics Using Semg And Deep Neural Networks, Heath James Staley Boyea

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Negative-Triangularity Configuration On East: Analysis Of Engineering Limitations On Superconducting, D-Shaped, Target-Diverted Plasmas, David A. Weldon

Graduate Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Thermonuclear fusion is so named because of the high temperature that the majority of the fuel must maintain such that nuclei can overcome the electrostatic force, fuse, and produce energy. However, the ions and electrons (plasma) are so hot that any material used to confine them would be destroyed. To achieve confinement while maintaining the 50,000,000 K temperature needed for self-sustaining fusion, magnetic confinement is needed. As of 2019, the tokamak is the leading candidate for a practical fusion reactor. In recent years, tokamak research has repeatedly shown that the edge magneto-hydrodynamic stability is critical for handling the power to …

Inter-Slice Compression And Reconstruction Of Glioma Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Mri) Data Using Encoder-Decoder Neural Networks, Gavin Michael Karr

Graduate Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of patients with brain tumors are an important source of pre-surgical medical information. These three-dimensional image volumes can be represented as a stack of two-dimensional image slices. The objective of this thesis is to compress the size of these image volumes by removing the odd-numbered slices and reconstruct the image volume using an encoder-decoder convolutional neural network. This neural network architecture is based on a modified form of the U-net segmentation network, which has been adjusted to allow for multiple image inputs and to support a network capable of generating new image slices. A novel …

Characterization Of The 2-Phase Turning Response Of Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Biobots To Antennal Stimulation, Stefanie Jane Panzenhagen

Graduate Theses - Biology & Biomedical Engineering

Biobots are living insects that are controlled via neurostimulation applied through implanted electrodes and have a variety of potential applications such as search and rescue operations. Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (MHCs) are commonly used as biobots; however, their use remains under investigation due to lack of a comprehensive motion profile in response to neurostimulation, which makes consistent control a challenge. MHC biobots often exhibit a 2-phase turning response to antennal stimulation, with an initial turn (primary) in the desired direction followed by a “corrective” turn (secondary) in the undesired direction. The purpose of this research is to characterize the 2-phase turning …

Foot-Controlled Supernumerary Robotic Arm: Foot Interfaces And Human Abilities, Brandon William Rudolph

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

A supernumerary robotic limb (SRL) is a robotic limb that can act as an extra arm or leg for a human user. An unsolved issue with SRLs is how to operate them well. One possibility is to control an SRL with the foot, which offers the benefit of a third arm because the user’s arms remain unoccupied. While hand interfaces are common, foot interfaces are not well understood. Developing a good foot interface is challenging because of differences between feet and hands, such as the larger inertia of the leg. This thesis presents work to determine some design principles for …

The Axisymmetric Harmonic Element Including Gyroscopic Effects: A Complete Derivation, Zachary Charles Glick

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

Various types of finite elements have been used in the prediction of critical speeds of turbomachinery. Among these, axisymmetric harmonic elements provide both accurate natural frequency prediction and computational speed. Yet, a full derivation of such an element including gyroscopic effects is not widely available in the relevant literature. In this work, the finite elements for rotordynamics available in the literature are reviewed. Derivations necessary for the axisymmetric harmonic element mass, gyroscopic damping, and stiffness matrices and the equations of motion are clearly expounded using Hamilton’s principle. The formulation is applied to two model shafts, and the comparison of results …

Field Monitoring Of A Tieback Wall And Comparison To Common Design Methods, Matheus Barbosa Santos De Miranda

Graduate Theses - Civil Engineering

This thesis presents the monitoring of a 28-foot high retaining wall located on the Rose- Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) campus and compares inclinometer and load cell data with common design methods. In addition, it briefly provides discussion regarding how the retaining structure is used to enhance student learning. The wall consists of soldier piles and wood lagging with tiebacks that vary from 22.5 to 40 feet. Construction was completed in 2017. Instrumentation, including load cell and inclinometers were installed to measure deflection, tieback load, and water level. This thesis describes the construction activities and the data gathered to date. …

Solar Tracking Using A Parallel Manipulator Mechanism To Achieve Two-Axis Position Tracking, Joseph Otto Hubach

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

A novel solar tracker is presented that uses a parallel manipulator for the tracking mechanism instead of a traditional serial manipulator. The motivation is to create a solar tracker that displays the advantages of two-axis tracking systems (e.g., increased exposure to incident radiation, and enabling the use of efficient concentrating solar cells) while addressing some of the disadvantages of current two-axis tracking systems (e.g., the difficulties associated with having actuators mounted to moving elements within the mechanism). The mobility of the proposed parallel manipulator is examined using Grübler’s Criterion to establish that the manipulator displays the required two degrees of …

Modeling And Characterization Of A Ring-Resonator Based Silicon Photonic Sensor On Silicon-On-Insulator (Soi), Gwangho Choi

Graduate Theses - Physics and Optical Engineering

The purpose of this work is to build silicon photonic devices and verify their functionalities. In particular, the structure of a ring resonator (RR) is analyzed and applied to various silicon photonic application in sensing. Silicon waveguides, grating couplers, directional couplers, and RRs are fabricated on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. Geometrical parameters and optical properties of the silicon devices are studied and also applied to the design of the aforementioned devices. The waveguide dimensions and, optical properties of the silicon waveguide such as dispersion and effective-index are examined. The RRs are made of a series of straight and bent waveguides …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of Multilayer Hyperbolic Metamaterials, James Dilts

Graduate Theses - Physics and Optical Engineering

Hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) show extreme anisotropy, acting as metals and dielectrics along orthogonal directions. They are designed using the effective medium theory (EMT) and can be fabricated using standard semiconductor processing techniques. Current techniques used to characterize the optical behavior of HMMs have a high complexity or are unable to robustly determine the complex permittivity tensor. We describe the details of a procedure to obtain a very low mean-squared-error (MSE) for extraction of permittivity from hyperbolic metamaterials using spectroscopic ellipsometry. We have verified our procedure by fabricating three different samples of various materials and fill factors designed to have a …

Design Of Vibration Class Laboratory Assignments: Focusing On Broader Application, Ethan Wayne Cating

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

Courses in vibration taught at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology are designed to blend classroom discussion of the science of vibration with practical, hands-on applications. The laboratory portion of the undergraduate course in vibration focuses on two areas: (1) system identification for single- and multi-degree-of-freedom systems in the frequency domain through sine-sweep shake testing; and (2) identifying natural frequencies and mode shapes for continuous systems via experimental modal analysis using frequency response data collected through a roving hammer test. Modal analysis is performed using an in-house MATLAB-based program known as Easy Modal Analysis Program (EMAP). The goals of this thesis are …

Hybrid Optical Integrator Based On Silicon-On-Insulator Platform, Taewon Huh

Graduate Theses - Physics and Optical Engineering

A hybrid optical integrator is a recirculating loop that performs oversampling typically for analog input, using the cross-gain modulation (XGM) in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The modulated input signal changes the gain of the loop through XGM and thus modifies the loop accumulation. This thesis presents hybrid optical integrator for an all-optical analog-to-digital converter based on a silicon photonics platform. The device consists of silicon waveguides of dimension 220 × 500 nm (thick × width) and approximately 5 m optical loop length including fiber length, input and output grating couplers for 1550 nm signal, directional couplers, and external components …

Decolorization Of Reactive Blue 4 Dye By Fenton Process Using Heterogeneous Fe/Sba-15 Catalyst, John C. Overton

Graduate Theses - Chemical Engineering

Remediation of textile wastewater, particularly concerning dyes, has been a longstanding concern. With the rise of more stringent regulations, the study of advanced methods of waste treatment is becoming necessary. The objective of this study was to synthesize and observe the use of a heterogeneous catalyst in a Fenton reaction by doping an SBA-15 catalyst support with iron. The catalyst was successfully synthesized, was easily filterable, exhibited resistance to acidic environments, and showed thermal stability. When used in a Fenton’s Reagent reaction setup, the single trial use of the catalyst achieved a final dye conversion of 86.8% at the optimal …

Application Of A Light Switchable System In Redirecting Escherichia Coli Metabolic Fluxes, Xintong Xia

Graduate Theses - Chemical Engineering

Optogenetics has gained increasing attention for enabling reversible and non-invasive control in biochemical engineering. The purpose of this project is to investigate the application of a genetically engineered light-switchable system, Cph8-OmpR, for controlling the accumulation of the useful central metabolite glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) in Escherichia coli. This could be accomplished by linking expression of an adaptor protein, SspB, which increases enzyme phosphofructokinase (Pfk) degradation, with different light intensities. Pfk is the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of fructose-6-phosphate (F6P), an isomer of G6P from an equilibrium reaction, to fructose 1,6-biphosphate for downstream metabolism. This step is considered the major control point …

Accuracy Improvement Of Pedestrian Trajectory Prediction By An Extended Kalman Filter And Pedestrian Behavior Classification, Jiayu Guo

Graduate Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering

The objective of this thesis is to improve the accuracy of predicting motion trajectory, i.e., speed and direction, of a pedestrian in front of an Ego Vehicle which has a Mobileye camera with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). The Ego Vehicle captures and records videos of pedestrians in front of it, and these videos are analyzed to predict a pedestrian trajectory from instantaneous, random actions of a pedestrian. Instant actions include, but are not limited to, walking at a constant speed, sudden accelerations/decelerations, sudden dodging from the Ego Vehicle, sudden advancements to the Ego Vehicle, sudden withdrawals or sudden …

Verification And Validation Of Forces From Hippotherapy Rein Simulator, Sonia Sanchez

Graduate Theses - Biology & Biomedical Engineering

The thesis describes the redevelopment, testing, and validation of a rein training device intended to help riders learn to guide a horse during hippotherapy sessions. The thesis aims to validate and verify that the forces read by the redeveloped rein simulator were operant within ± 150 grams of the actual weight applied, as well as to investigate the effect of temperature on the system. The simulator focuses on the use of the English style of riding that uses direct force from the reins to guide a horse to turn or stop. Data was collected by hanging weights from the load …

Harmonic Detection And Selectively Focusing Electromagnetic Waves Onto Nonlinear Targets Using Time-Reversal, Joseph Michael Faia

Graduate Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Ultra-wide band radar is a growing interest for the enhanced capability of ranging, imaging, and multipath propagation. An ultra-wide band pulse imposed on a system provides a near impulse like response and is, therefore, more descriptive than a conventional monotonic pulse. Combining pulse inversion with ultra-wide band DORT (a French acronym for the decomposition of the time reversal operator) is a technique which could be used to for greater visibility of nonlinear targets via harmonic detection in the presence of larger linear scatterers. Energy can be selectively focused onto nonlinear scatterers in complex, inhomogeneous environments. This thesis1, will expand upon …

Long-Range Indoor Emitter Localization From 433mhz And 2.4ghz Wlan Received Signal Strengths, Hang Du

Graduate Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering

An improved search method for localizing a radio emitter in a building from its signal strength is proposed and implemented. It starts from floor level determination, which samples the signal strength on each floor and determines the floor level of the emitter. Then the search is conducted iteratively on a specific floor. For each round of search, one-dimensional (1-D) or two-dimensional (2-D) signal strength is collected according to the actual structure of the floor. The signal strength data are processed to fit a 1-D curve or a 2-D surface with regression models to establish an indicator or trend, which can …

New Broadband Common-Mode Filtering Structures Embedded In Differential Coplanar Waveguides For Dc To 40 Ghz Signal Transmission, Yujie He

Graduate Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Coplanar waveguides (CPWs) provide effective transmission with low dispersion into the millimeter-wave frequencies. For high-speed signaling, differential transmission lines display an enhanced immunity to outside interference and are less likely to interfere with other signals, when compared to single-ended transmission lines. Common-mode (CM) conversion from the differential-mode (DM) signal energy can produce unintentional radiation as well as degraded board-level electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and signal integrity SI environments. Due to the negative effects of CM signals, filtering structures are often used to suppress the propagation of these signals. The filtering structures introduced in this project all implement the same CM filter …

Differential Launch Structures And Common Mode Filters For Planar Transmission Lines, Zachary Thomas Bergstedt

Graduate Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Increases in signal speeds and decreases in dimensions pose increasing threats to signal integrity (SI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in differential interconnects due to the enhanced risk of common mode (CM) conversion. This thesis examines CM filtering solutions for multiple transmission topologies that mitigate CM noise, reducing the threat to SI and EMC. These topologies include microstrip and stripline, which are the most commonly used transmission line architecture in printed circuit boards (PCB), and broadside coupled coplanar waveguides (BC-CPW). Stripline and BC-CPW transmission lines have lower dispersion and attenuation than the commonly used microstrip but have added complexity in introducing …

Investigation Of Gender Bias Among Students And Faculty At A Small, Private Stem College, Olivia Katherine Ottone

Graduate Theses - Engineering Management

Current research on gender bias in STEM education indicates that non-male students are more likely to experience unfavorable gendered biases from their peers and faculty than male students. Much of this research primarily focuses on large, research institutions or data from national surveys. The intent of this research is to study gender bias, the perception of it among students, and its manifestations among students and faculty, in the context of a small, private STEM college. Additionally, this study examines possible strategies to minimize students’ experiences with gender bias. Research was conducted at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) during the 2017-2018 …

Gait Modeling Using Genetic Algorithm Optimized Four-Bar Linkages, Hazen James Hamather

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

Important in diagnosing gait abnormalities and pathologies is knowing the position of the leg at various points throughout the gait cycle. This is currently done with motion capture technology but the demand for Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) based navigation and position tracking has been on the rise. A required component of this alternative is a gait model that can accurately predict the position of points of interest. In this thesis, a Kalman Filter is constructed using a contrived model to test if, given an accurate gait model, the filter can converge to an accurate and true position solution. Also presented …

Aquaponic System Design And Modeling Ammonia Production: An Overview Of Aquaponics, Spencer Davis Wright

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

The study of aquaponics in academia has been slowly gaining momentum, but the majority of the research and testing performed is done in an informal, backyard setting. This publication seeks to collate the widespread information into a singular location, as well as to outline various methods by which the necessary tasks can be accomplished. The ammonia production rate of the aquatic life in the system, whether living or deceased, was also explored in order that a more accurate model of the ammonia and nitrate levels of the system may be created. It was found that 20 tilapia produced approximately 3,300 …

Increasing Food Sharing In A Prek-8 School Cafeteria With Six Sigma, Sanukta Mylandla

Graduate Theses - Engineering Management

Six Sigma, a statistics-based methodology developed by Motorola in the mid-1980’s to help reduce defects, is a tool commonly applied across various industries to improve their processes by reducing variation. The statistical nature of Six Sigma makes process improvement a quantitative study garnering potential real savings to an organization. This project’s goal was to apply Six Sigma methodology to a PreK-8 school cafeteria in order to measure the daily levels of food waste and convert it into meaningful data to be used to promote food rescue and reuse at local elementary schools.

Utilizing Analytics In American Football To Improve Decision Making On Fourth Down, Daniel David Reid Ferguson

Graduate Theses - Engineering Management

The purpose of this paper was to investigate what advantages, if any, an analytical approach using historical data could have in guiding critical game decisions in order to maximize a team’s chances of winning. The analytical approach described in this paper involves using expected point values that correspond to an offensive team’s location on the field and historical first down conversion rates. From this information a decision is made that chooses the fourth-down option that yields the highest amount of expected points. Using historical, data a fourth-down Strategy Sheet was developed based upon expected point values. The Strategy Sheet was …

Process Safety Management: Optimized Models Influenced By Organization Culture, Taehoon Lee

Graduate Theses - Engineering Management

Companies focus on Process Safety Management (PSM) in order to protect employees and facilities from an accidents, such as explosion and fire. The most elements of PSM are closely related to employees, which determine the organizational culture, and organizational culture directly affects safety culture. Companies put an effort to have a strong safety culture, which is behaviors and responses in regard to emergency and abnormal situation. In this paper, definition and essential theories of PSM were reviewed first, and safety culture in PSM and the safety culture of Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL) were discussed. A method used in IPL …

Developing And Validating A New Product For Gripping And Pulling Cable, Tyler Miller

Graduate Theses - Engineering Management

During on-site visits, it was discovered that the process of setting up cable for installation in conduit takes approximately 15 man-minutes of labor, costing contractors approximately $300 a day in labor costs. This integrated project examined the validity of a new product which would save labor costs by decreasing the preparation time for installing cable in conduit.

Marketing strategies were examined as well as business models. The design of the product consisted of 3D modeling, rapidly-manufactured prototypes, design space selection, testing, and refinement.

In time trials, the final product cut preparation time from 15 minutes to 1 minute, saving contractors …

Current State Of The Assets In The Chemical Engineering Laboratory At Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology And Their Use In The Undergraduate Laboratory Course Sequence, Matthew Adams

Graduate Theses - Chemical Engineering

The Chemical Engineering Laboratory, also referred to as the Unit Operations (UO) Laboratory, is integral to any undergraduate Chemical Engineering curriculum as it provides students with the opportunity to gain practical and hands-on experience with processes that are commonplace throughout industry. The Chemical Engineering Department at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology prides itself in providing its students with a practical education that will allow for an easy transition into industry as well as continued success throughout the students’ careers; as such, the assets in the Chemical Engineering Laboratory space and their use are paramount to this objective. The Chemical Engineering Department …

Nanoscale Tilt Measurement Using A Cyclic Interferometer With Phase Stepping And Multiple Reflections, Tahereh Naderishahab

Graduate Theses - Physics and Optical Engineering

High accuracy tilt or roll angle measurement is required for a variety of engineering and scientific applications. Optical interferometry is normally used because it is non-contact and can measure tilt with a very high degree of accuracy. In this thesis, a cyclic interferometer has been developed with four mirrors to measure tilt angles as small as a few nanoradians. To measure the phase, a novel and simple method of phase shift by polarization was developed to enhance measurement sensitivity and accuracy. Since the cyclic interferometer is insensitive to external vibrations and turbulences, polarization phase step was accomplished with relative ease. …