Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Novel Ternary Magnesium-Tin Alloys By Microalloying, Sadegh Behdad

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to explore the possibility of developing novel Magnesium-Tin alloys with improved mechanical properties by micro-alloying. Magnesium is the lightest of all structural metals. It can be machined faster and with almost half the power required for aluminum. There is a limitless supply of magnesium in sea water and it can also be recycled at 5% of initial energy requirements. These properties make magnesium an ideal green alternative to replace metals and polymers in automotive, aerospace, biomedical and defense sectors. The potential weight reduction in the US automotive market alone, leads to 100 billion gallons …

Test Rig Design For Compact Variable Displacement Vane Pump, Pratik Chawla, Ryan Jenkins, Monika Ivantysynova

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Variable displacement vane pumps (VDVP) are one type of positive displacement pumps used in automatic transmission vehicles for lubricating the gears, cooling the transmission and actuating the clutches. Though fixed displacement pumps are widely used, they output a constant effective flow at a given speed. Depending on pump sizing considerations, the pump can be oversized at high speeds because flow demand of the transmission is independent of engine speed. The excess flow returns to the tank through an orifice that causes the oil to heat up, increasing the energy required for cooling and reducing the efficiency of the transmission. A …

The Effects Of Ivc Modulation On Modern Diesel Engines Equipped With Variable Valve Actuation At High Load And Speed, Troy E. Odstrcil, Gregory M. Shaver, Cody M. Allen

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Modern diesel compression engines are known for their increased durability, fuel economy and torque when compared with their spark ignition gasoline counterparts. These are some of the reasons why diesel engines are preferred in heavy duty applications such as trains and semi-trucks. During the Heavy Duty Federal Test Procedure transient drive cycle, or HDFTP, nearly 85% of the total fuel burned is at speeds greater than 2000 revolutions per minute (RPM) for the studied engine. Therefore, it is desirable to increase the fuel economy at these loads and speeds. It is hypothesized that the use of late intake valve close …

Improvement Of Diesel Engines At High Speeds Via Flexible Valve Actuation And Cylinder Deactivation, Dina M. Caicedo Parra, Gregory M. Shaver, Aswin Ramesh

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

In the U.S fuel consumption is expected to increase over 20% from 2010 to 2020 especially in the heavy duty segment. As a consequence of the increase in production of heavy and light duty vehicles, regulations and stricter policies are being applied to the emissions of pollutants, including NOx, and soot. This study outlines strategies for using cylinder deactivation and intake valve closure (IVC) modulation to improve fuel economy and increase the rate at which NOx/soot-mitigating aftertreatment devices reach working temperatures. Effects of opening and squeezing variable geometry turbine (VGT) turbocharger were also analyzed. From the results it was observed …

Why Toyota And Honda Topped The 2002 J.D. Power Quality Study, Susan Lightle, Kenneth Yale Rosenzweig, John Talbott

Kenneth Y. Rosenzweig

Toyota again topped the annual J. D. Power and Associates quality study released in late May of 2002. Toyota scored the highest mark ever with l 07 defects per l 00 vehicles, while Honda came in second with 113 defects. The study was based on responses of approximately 65,000 new car owners queried during their first 90-days of ownership. These results do not surprise us, as we have been fortunate to make numerous sojourns to the Toyota plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, and observe the manufacturing processes. These trips were normally facilitated by a former Japanese student of ours, Minako Yanke, …

Analysis Of A Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Impact Attenuator For A Formula Sae Vehicle Using Finite Element Analysis, John T. Rappolt

Master's Theses

The Hashin failure criteria and damage evolution model for laminated fiber reinforced polymers are explored. A series of tensile coupon finite element analyses are run to characterize the variables in the physical model as well as modeling techniques for using an explicit dynamic solver for a quasi-static problem. An attempt to validate the model on an axial tube crush is presented. It was found that fiber buckling was not occurring at the impactor-tube interface. Results and speculation as to why the failure initiation is incorrect are discussed. Lessons learned from the tube crush are applied successfully to the quasi-static Formula …

The Effect Of Cutting Blade Geometry And Material On Carbon Fiber Severing As Used In High-Volume Production Of Composites, Michael Francis Anthony Adamovsky

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Automotive manufacturers have started to actively look into weight savings options for mass production of vehicles that meet new government regulations. Falling prices of carbon fibers have made carbon fiber composites a promising material to be used. The study has focused on the fiber-severing unit incorporated in a high-volume composite production line in an attempt to better define the impact of blade geometry and material on the wear as experienced while cutting carbon fiber. A method to quantify the effect of usage on the cutting ability of a blade has been developed, as well as methods to measure blade wear. …

A Mechanical Regenerative Brake And Launch Assist Using An Open Differential And Elastic Energy Storage, David H. Myszka, Andrew P. Murray, Kevin Giaier, Vijay Krishna Jayaprakash, Christoph Gillum

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Regenerative brake and launch assist (RBLA) systems are used to capture kinetic energy while a vehicle decelerates and subsequently use that stored energy to assist propulsion. Commercially available hybrid vehicles use generators, batteries and motors to electrically implement RBLA systems. Substantial increases in vehicle efficiency have been widely cited.

This paper presents the development of a mechanical RBLA that stores energy in an elastic medium. An open differential is coupled with a variable transmission to store and release energy to an axle that principally rotates in a single direction. The concept applies regenerative braking technology to conventional automobiles equipped with …

Designing A Heat Sink For Lithium-Ion Battery Packs In Electric Vehicles, Dylan Irvine, Evan Foreman, Christopher B. Remington, Aaron Jackson, Sam Endrizzi

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report addresses the concepts and implementation of fluid cooled heat sink designs for an electric or hybrid vehicle battery. To determine the battery’s temperature and heat flux profile, testing was performed by measuring these values at multiple locations on a lithium-ion pouch battery using heat flux sensors and thermocouples during the charge and discharge cycles of the battery. Once the data was collected and analyzed, trendlines were fit to the heat flux data then used to create equations for the heat flux profile during the discharging stage. Each equation represented a specific region on the battery geometry. Four heat …

Inkjet Printing: Facing Challenges And Its New Applications In Coating Industry, Sadegh Poozesh

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical Engineering

This study is devoted to some of the most important issues for advancing inkjet printing for possible application in the coating industry with a focus on piezoelectric droplet on demand (DOD) inkjet technology. Current problems, as embodied in liquid filament breakup along with satellite droplet formation and reduction in droplet sizes, are discussed and then potential solutions identified. For satellite droplets, it is shown that liquid filament break-up behavior can be predicted by using a combination of two pi-numbers, including the Weber number, We and the Ohnesorge number, Oh, or the Reynolds number, Re, and the Weber number, …

Binder Jet Additive Manufacturing Of Stainless Steel-Hydroxyapatite Bio-Composite, Don Suranga Dhanushka Uduwage

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study was conducted to create a bio-composite with a porous structure using the binder-jet printing additive manufacturing process. The samples were printed by changing the parameters such as layer thickness, roller speed, sintering time and sintering temperature of the X1-Lab binder jet additive manufacturing printer. The samples were printed 80% stainless steel 316 mixed with 20% Calcium Phosphate Tribasic by volume. Eight experiments were attempted to print according to the fractional factorial design of experiment. The effects of changing parameters on the mechanical properties of the new bio-composite was tested using ASTM E-09 compressive strength standards. The compression testing …

Air Flow And Rain Water Penetration Analysis On Generator Enclosures Using Cfd Simulations, Sasanka Andawatta Kankanamge

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Rain water penetration testing on power generator units requires a number of complicated procedures, requiring many resources. As such, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool, "FloEFD for Creo" is used to study the water penetration behavior on a OM924 diesel power generator enclosure in a computational environment. First, the three governing equations in fluid dynamics are derived and explained using simple methods. Next, behavior of rain water droplets upon impact is briefly discussed. Air velocity, volumetric flow rate and static pressure drop were measured physically in the OM924 generator enclosure. Then, a CFD model for the OM924 enclosure was developed …

Design Of The University Of Akron's 2015 Fsae Electric Vehicle Braking System, Nicholas D. Galbincea

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The following report encompasses the design of the 2015 University of Akron’s FSAE formula electric braking system. The system is one based on hydraulic braking and designed for a one man performance racing vehicle. The objective of the system is to convert the kinetic energy of the vehicle into thermal energy, allowing the vehicle to decelerate optimally and safely. The design includes three major categories: calculation and evaluation of the hydraulic system in order to select calipers and master cylinders, the design of the pedal box, and the design of the rotors.

The results and findings of the proceeding report …

Designing A Heat Sink For Lithium-Ion Battery Packs In Electric Vehicles, Evan Foreman, Dylan Irvine, Aaron Jackson, Christopher Brandon Remington, Sam Endrizzi

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report addresses the concepts and implementation of fluid cooled heat sink designs for an electric or hybrid vehicle battery. To determine the battery’s temperature and heat flux profile, testing was performed by measuring these values at multiple locations on a lithium-ion pouch battery using heat flux sensors and thermocouples during the charge and discharge cycles of the battery. Once the data was collected and analyzed, trendlines were fit to the heat flux data then used to create equations for the heat flux profile during the discharging stage. Each equation represented a specific region on the battery geometry. Four heat …

Composite Tie Rod Research, Design And Testing For Sae Baja, Amanda M. Nauman

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Composite materials have become increasing popular in recent years. For the Baja SAE team, composites are typically only used for body panels. To grow as a team and to earn additional points in design competition, it was decided to explore composite use in mechanical applications, specifically for the tie rods. Research was conducted, looking into composite materials basics, types, and material properties. Additionally, manufacturing was explored, including a few projects separate from the tie rod application. 3D models were created after the materials were selected, and FEA analysis was conducted on the parts. Once theoretical testing was finished, the physical …

Addressing New Skills Needed For The Automotive Industry Through A Motorsports Educational Pathway, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Mileta M. Tomovic, Alok K. Verma, Nathan Luetke, Steve Branch

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The automotive industry has higher-skilled positions available that need engineers and engineering technologists qualified and capable to work in a high-paced, advanced manufacturing sector. Various educational programs across the country offer programs related to the motorsports area at the Associate of Science level. There are also various articu-lation agreements that enable students to continue their education to the baccalaureate level. These programs try to fill in the gap related to the skills shortage in systems and new design methods and processes. The main strength of such educational pathways is that students, who are trained to work as technicians with an …

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling Of The Effects Of Water Injection In A Diesel Engine, Rabun Z. Wallace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Water injection has been used in internal combustion engines for many years. It has been used to cool combustion temperatures, reduce emissions, and in some instances clean carbon buildup from the cylinder. Research has shown that the water to fuel mass ratio is most effective between 20-30%, so the upper and lower limit were used for simulations in Converge CFD. To validate the CFD model, a case without water injection was compared to experimental data from Sandia National Laboratory. The predicted in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate showed good agreement with the experimental data. Cases were run with the injection …