Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Improved Techniques For Manufacturing Layered Laminate Composite Materials, Michael D. Grabber

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

An increasingly important class of engineering materials are known as fiber reinforced composite materials. They offer outstanding mechanical properties, unique flexibility in design, and ease of fabrication. Because of this, fiber reinforced composites are being found more and more in such diverse applications as aircraft, space vehicles, automobiles, sporting goods, and appliances.

The main objective of this research project was to develop a procedure for which high quality composite plates could be manufactured. The procedure needed to be able to accommodate materials of various thicknesses as well as various sizes. We also wanted the procedure to be versatile enough to …

Automation Of The Electrostatic Aerosol Classifier And The Continuous Flow Cloud Diffusion Chamber, Daron W. Dryer

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

Analyzing cloud condensation nuclei through the use of a Continuous Flow Thermal Diffusion Cloud Chamber (CFD) and an Electrostatic Aerosol Classifier (EAC) can be very time consuming. An alternative to manually monitoring these devices is to automate the equipment, thus freeing personnel for other research as well increasing CCN data collection.

Automation of the EAC will be carried out by digital command through the use of a Quick Basic program. This program will be run from an IBM personal computer outfitted with a digital input/output board.

RS-485 Standard will also be incorporated into the Quick Basic program in order to …

Fabrication Of Composite Laminates With Embedded Pizo-Ceramic Sensors And Actuators, Todd Nelson Kelsheimer

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The purpose of the research project is to investigate the methods for embedding pizo-ceramic sensors and actuators in a composite ( a fiber reinforced epoxy matrix). The importance of these sensors and actuators is vital in controlling the vibration and excessive strain on a structure causing fatigue or failure. With the control of these instabilities by the actuator, proper performance of the structure is achieved. Most sensors and actuators are surface mounted because (1) The sensor can pick up the greatest strain on the surface of a structure. (2) The actuator can create a stronger moment to counter balance the …

A Computer Graphic Teaching Aid For The Synthesis Of Four-Bar Linkages, Sew K. Woon

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

This project involves developing software for the use as a teaching tool in the classroom. The "four-bar linkage mechanism", often used in kinematic movement, is the main subject

The software provides a working environment to perform a graphical synthesis of a four- bar linkage to move one of the links through three specified positions in the plane. The construction process is facilitated by the built in kinematic intelligence so that the student can quickly and easily visualize the process. The construction lines are dynamically updated as the free parameters in the design are modified. This is particularly beneficial because it …