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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Development Of A Multiphase Photon Monte Carlo Method For Spray Combustion And Its Application In High-Pressure Conditions, Somesh Roy, Jian Cai, Michael F. Modest Dec 2017

Development Of A Multiphase Photon Monte Carlo Method For Spray Combustion And Its Application In High-Pressure Conditions, Somesh Roy, Jian Cai, Michael F. Modest

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In this work the development of a multiphase photon Monte Carlo (PMC) method with a focus on resolving radiative heat transfer in combustion simulations is presented. The multiphase PMC solver can account for description of participating media in both Lagrangian and Eulerian frameworks. The solver is validated against exact solutions in several one-dimensional configurations. The developed solver is then applied to Diesel spray combustions, where liquid spray droplets are assumed to be cold, nonemitting, large, and isotropically scattering. Several formulations for radiative properties of the Diesel spray are first explored. The PMC solver has then been coupled with the multiphase …


A Comparison Of Sensitivity Metrics For Two-Stage Ignition Behavior In Rapid Compression Machines, David Wilson, Casey Allen Nov 2017

A Comparison Of Sensitivity Metrics For Two-Stage Ignition Behavior In Rapid Compression Machines, David Wilson, Casey Allen

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

A rapid compression machine (RCM) multi-zone model is used to simulate the ignition of primary reference fuel (PRF) mixtures that exhibit two-stage ignition behavior. Sensitivity coefficients for each reaction in the PRF mechanism are calculated from four different metrics: (1) first-stage energy release, (2) first-stage pressure rise, (3) first-stage ignition delay time, and (4) total ignition delay time. The sensitivity coefficients are used to provide four unique rankings, and the rankings are compared using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Special emphasis is given to comparing the rankings based on first-stage energy release and total ignition delay time. The level of agreement …


Performance Analysis Of Constant Speed Local Abstacle Avoidance Controller Using A Mpc Algorithym On Granular Terrain, Nicholas Haraus Oct 2017

Performance Analysis Of Constant Speed Local Abstacle Avoidance Controller Using A Mpc Algorithym On Granular Terrain, Nicholas Haraus

Master's Theses (2009 -)

A Model Predictive Control (MPC) LIDAR-based constant speed local obstacle avoidance algorithm has been implemented on rigid terrain and granular terrain in Chrono to examine the robustness of this control method. Provided LIDAR data as well as a target location, a vehicle can route itself around obstacles as it encounters them and arrive at an end goal via an optimal route. This research is one important step towards eventual implementation of autonomous vehicles capable of navigating on all terrains. Using Chrono, a multibody physics API, this controller has been tested on a complex multibody physics HMMWV model representing the plant …


The Effects Of A Reduced Force Aerial Bucket Control On Upper Extremity Muscular Demands As Assessed With Surface Electromyography, Casey D. Garces Oct 2017

The Effects Of A Reduced Force Aerial Bucket Control On Upper Extremity Muscular Demands As Assessed With Surface Electromyography, Casey D. Garces

Master's Theses (2009 -)

A common control for operating aerial bucket trucks for utility companies in North America is called a pistol grip control. Based upon many anecdotal reports of forearm muscle fatigue from workers using this control, Prof. Richard Marklin began an EPRI-sponsored study in 2016 using EMG to determine muscle fatigue of workers while they used the pistol grip. Muscle activity recorded by EMG is a measure of the magnitude of muscle force under controlled conditions. This study confirmed the reports of muscle fatigue in extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscle in the right forearm. The next phase of the study was to …


Construction And Characterization Of A Single Stage Dual Diaphragm Gas Gun, Nathaniel Steven Helminiak Oct 2017

Construction And Characterization Of A Single Stage Dual Diaphragm Gas Gun, Nathaniel Steven Helminiak

Master's Theses (2009 -)

In the interest of studying the propagation of shock waves, this work sets out to design, construct, and characterize a pneumatic accelerator that performs high-velocity flyer plate impact tests. A single stage gas gun with a dual diaphragm breach allows for a non-volatile, reliable experimental testing platform for shock phenomena. This remotely operated gas gun utilizes compressed nitrogen to launch projectiles down a 14 foot long, 2 inch diameter bore barrel, which subsequently impacts a target material of interest. A dual diaphragm firing mechanism allows the 4.5 liter breech to reach a total pressure differential of 10ksi before accelerating projectiles …


Design Of A Passive Ankle Prosthesis With Energy Return That Increases With Increasing Walking Velocity, Alexander J. Folz Oct 2017

Design Of A Passive Ankle Prosthesis With Energy Return That Increases With Increasing Walking Velocity, Alexander J. Folz

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Patients who undergo a transtibial (below the knee) amputation are often met with a difficult decision: selection of a prosthesis. Limitations of currently available prostheses motivate work on a new solution, the EaSY Walk, a passive device that mimics two key aspects of the natural ankle: non-linear rotational stiffness through implementation of a stiffening flexure mechanism and rotational work output that varies as a function of walking velocity to propel the user forward. To achieve the latter, a strategy to convert the maximum available translational energy acquired from deflection along the leg into rotational energy about the ankle joint through …


Hip Joint Function In People With Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome, Philip Malloy Oct 2017

Hip Joint Function In People With Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome, Philip Malloy

Dissertations (1934 -)

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is a clinical hip disorder that represents symptomatic contact between the proximal femur and rim of the acetabulum during normal hip range of motion. FAIS has been described as a precursor to hip joint osteoarthritis (OA), and results in physical impairments and functional limitations in young individuals and active adults. Despite tremendous growth in arthroscopic hip surgery for FAIS, little is known about how this disorder affects dynamic hip joint function. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate hip joint function, during clinical and functional activities, both before and after arthroscopic hip surgery for FAIS. …


A Bayesian Estimation Model For Transient Engine Exhaust Characterization Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, David Wilson, Casey Allen Sep 2017

A Bayesian Estimation Model For Transient Engine Exhaust Characterization Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, David Wilson, Casey Allen

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Comprehensive emissions models extensively use engine exhaust data from vehicle experiments to represent the relationship between fuel composition and pollutants. However, the predicted emissions from these models often neglect the effects of transients and speed-load history. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a high frequency measurement technique capable of comprehensive speciation. However, due to long residence times of exhaust within a FTIR spectrometer gas cell, FTIR measurements are contaminated by the effects of historical emissions, precluding the attainment of time-resolved engine exhaust data. This work presents a Bayesian estimation model for processing FTIR measurements to obtain accurate estimations of instantaneous …


Run-Out Based Crossed Roller Bearing Life Prediction By Utilization Of Accelerated Testing Approach And Fe Numerical Models, Luca Quagliato, Dongwook Kim, Nara Lee, Soyoung Hwang, Joseph P. Domblesky, Naksoo Kim Sep 2017

Run-Out Based Crossed Roller Bearing Life Prediction By Utilization Of Accelerated Testing Approach And Fe Numerical Models, Luca Quagliato, Dongwook Kim, Nara Lee, Soyoung Hwang, Joseph P. Domblesky, Naksoo Kim

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Surface wear and spalling phenomena are the most important factors affecting roller bearing performance and operational lifetime, in terms of number of cycles the bearing can operate. Although bearing life has been traditionally defined by the onset of spalling, as specified by international standard ISO 281, this definition does not always reflect the real operational conditions, since bearing wear can also represent a failure criterion when excessive run-out occurs. In such cases, bearing life needs to be predicted according to the amount of bearing run-out resulting from wear due to load and number of cycles. In the current study, the …


Applied Force And Semg Muscle Activity Required To Operate Pistol Grip Control In An Electric Utility Aerial Bucket, Richard W. Marklin Jr., Jonathaon E. Slightam, Mark L. Nagurka, Trent M. Wolff, Casey D. Garces, Lovely Krishen Sep 2017

Applied Force And Semg Muscle Activity Required To Operate Pistol Grip Control In An Electric Utility Aerial Bucket, Richard W. Marklin Jr., Jonathaon E. Slightam, Mark L. Nagurka, Trent M. Wolff, Casey D. Garces, Lovely Krishen

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Electric utility line workers report high levels of fatigue in forearm muscles when operating a conventional pistol grip control in aerial buckets. This study measured the applied force and surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals from four upper extremity muscles required to operate the pistol grip control in two tasks. The first task was movement of the pistol grip in six directions (up/down, forward/rearward, clockwise/counter-clockwise), and the second task was movement of the bucket from its resting position on the truck bed to an overhead conductor on top of a 40 ft tall pole. The force applied to the pistol grip was …


Effect Of Multiphase Radiation On Coal Combustion In A Pulverized Coal Jet Flame, Bifen Wu, Somesh Roy, Xinyu Zhao, Michael F. Modest Aug 2017

Effect Of Multiphase Radiation On Coal Combustion In A Pulverized Coal Jet Flame, Bifen Wu, Somesh Roy, Xinyu Zhao, Michael F. Modest

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The accurate modeling of coal combustion requires detailed radiative heat transfer models for both gaseous combustion products and solid coal particles. A multiphase Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT) radiation solver is developed in this work to simulate a laboratory-scale pulverized coal flame. The MCRT solver considers radiative interactions between coal particles and three major combustion products (CO2, H2O, and CO). A line-by-line spectral database for the gas phase and a size-dependent nongray correlation for the solid phase are employed to account for the nongray effects. The flame structure is significantly altered by considering nongray radiation and …


Pore Resolved Simulations Of Char Particle Gasification, Greg Hingwah Fong Jul 2017

Pore Resolved Simulations Of Char Particle Gasification, Greg Hingwah Fong

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Coal is a significant source of energy in today’s world and many studies have been conducted in order to better understand and optimize its use. To address greenhouse effects associated with coal combustion, cleaner methods for harnessing its energy are being explored. One such method is gasification, a process which converts coal into syngas, a mixture consisting primarily of H2 and CO. Syngas can be used to generate electricity or to produce hydrocarbons that can be used as fuels. To better understand and optimize the process, simulations can be used to study the gasification of individual porous char particles that …


A Parametric Investigation And Optimization Of A Cylindrical Explosive Charge, Logan Ellsworth Beaver Jul 2017

A Parametric Investigation And Optimization Of A Cylindrical Explosive Charge, Logan Ellsworth Beaver

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Explosive device design has a wide impact in the space, manufacturing, military, and mining industries. As a step toward computer assisted design of explosives, an optimization framework was developed using the Design Analysis Kit for Optimization and Terrascale Applications (Dakota). This software was coupled with the hydrocode CTH. This framework was applied to three exploding cylinder models, two in 1D and one in 2D. Gradient descent, dividing rectangles, and a genetic algorithm were each applied to the one-dimensional models. Parametric studies were performed as a basis for comparison with the optimization algorithms, as well as qualifying the 1D model's accuracy. …


X-Ray Tube Anode Balance Analysis And Vacuum Balancer Parameter Optimization, Matthew Malak Jul 2017

X-Ray Tube Anode Balance Analysis And Vacuum Balancer Parameter Optimization, Matthew Malak

Master's Theses (2009 -)

A manufacturing facility is introducing the company's first straddle mount liquid metal spiral groove bearing (SGB) on a rotating anode x-ray tube. In a manufacturing environment, it is critical that processes are robust and timely to drive down costs while also responding to market demand for improvement. There is currently a lot of variation in the anode balance process. Furthermore, there are repeatability questions surrounding the new balancing system that is used in this anode balance process. To better understand the characteristics of the new liquid metal SGB anode and the effects of measurement system variation, the measurement system will …


Adaptive Control Of Joystick Steering In Recreational Boats, John Bayless Jul 2017

Adaptive Control Of Joystick Steering In Recreational Boats, John Bayless

Master's Theses (2009 -)

This thesis addresses the challenge of commissioning recreational boats with joystick control when the boat’s physical parameters are not known. The research was conducted by following a model-based, systems engineering approach which leveraged MATLAB simulations and scale-model physical testing. The outcome of the research is a working methodology using L1 Adaptive Control which provides fast adaption in a way that could reduce the cost of commissioning recreational boats with joystick control, improve the robustness of the final design, and potentially expand the accessible market to new boat types.


An Analysis Of Testing Variables In Rapid Compression Machine Experiments, Jenna Ezzell Jul 2017

An Analysis Of Testing Variables In Rapid Compression Machine Experiments, Jenna Ezzell

Master's Theses (2009 -)

There have been discrepancies noted with regards to experimental data from rapid compression machines (RCM). When data is compared from different RCM facilities, the ignition delay times are inconsistent when inspecting any particular temperature. Currently in publications, if these datasets are compared, the discrepancy is said to be due to heat loss, however this issue has yet to be examined more thoroughly. To determine what the root cause of this discrepancy is, four different fake RCM facilities were created and simulated. There were also different sets of initial conditions used to determine how this may affect the data. They were …


Development Of An Optimal Controller And Validation Test Stand For Fuel Efficient Engine Operation, Jack G. Rehn Iii Jul 2017

Development Of An Optimal Controller And Validation Test Stand For Fuel Efficient Engine Operation, Jack G. Rehn Iii

Master's Theses (2009 -)

There are numerous motivations for improvements in automotive fuel efficiency. As concerns over the environment grow at a rate unmatched by hybrid and electric automotive technologies, the need for reductions in fuel consumed by current road vehicles has never been more present. Studies have shown that a major cause of poor fuel consumption in automobiles is improper driving behavior, which cannot be mitigated by purely technological means. The emergence of autonomous driving technologies has provided an opportunity to alleviate this inefficiency by removing the necessity of a driver. Before autonomous technology can be relied upon to reduce gasoline consumption on …


Investigation Of The Scanning Microarc Oxidation Process, Linqin Xia, Jianmin Han, Joseph P. Domblesky, Zhiyong Yang, Weijing Li Jun 2017

Investigation Of The Scanning Microarc Oxidation Process, Linqin Xia, Jianmin Han, Joseph P. Domblesky, Zhiyong Yang, Weijing Li

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Scanning microarc oxidation (SMAO) is a coating process which is based on conventional microarc oxidation (MAO). The key difference is that deposition in SMAO is achieved by using a stainless steel nozzle to spray an electrolyte stream on the substrate surface as opposed to immersing the workpiece in an electrolyzer. In the present study, SMAO discharge characteristics, coating morphology, and properties are analyzed and compared to results obtained from MAO under similar conditions. Results show that MAO and SMAO have comparable spark and microarc lifetimes and sizes, though significant differences in incubation time and discharge distribution were evident. Results also …


Characterization Of The Shock Wave Structure In Water, Emilie Teitz Apr 2017

Characterization Of The Shock Wave Structure In Water, Emilie Teitz

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The scientific community is interested in furthering the understanding of shock wave structures in water, given its implications in a wide range of applications; from researching how shock waves penetrate unwanted body tissues to studying how humans respond to blast waves. Shock wave research on water has existed for over five decades. Previous studies have investigated the shock response of water at pressures ranging from 1 to 70 GPa using flyer plate experiments. This report differs from previously published experiments in that the water was loaded to shock pressures ranging from 0.36 to 0.70 GPa. The experiment also utilized tap …


Developing A Low-Cost Force Treadmill Via Dynamic Modeling, Chih-Yuan Hong, Lan-Yuen Guo, Rong Song, Mark L. Nagurka, Jia-Li Sung, Chen-Wen Yen Jan 2017

Developing A Low-Cost Force Treadmill Via Dynamic Modeling, Chih-Yuan Hong, Lan-Yuen Guo, Rong Song, Mark L. Nagurka, Jia-Li Sung, Chen-Wen Yen

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

By incorporating force transducers into treadmills, force platform-instrumented treadmills (commonly called force treadmills) can collect large amounts of gait data and enable the ground reaction force (GRF) to be calculated. However, the high cost of force treadmills has limited their adoption. This paper proposes a low-cost force treadmill system with force sensors installed underneath a standard exercise treadmill. It identifies and compensates for the force transmission dynamics from the actual GRF applied on the treadmill track surface to the force transmitted to the force sensors underneath the treadmill body. This study also proposes a testing procedure to assess the GRF …