Engineering Science and Materials Commons^™

Mae Enewsbrief Jan-Mar 2025, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Mae Enewsbrief Oct-Dec 2024, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Comparative Study Of Experimental And Fea Strain Data For Cnt-Coated Fiberglass Sensors, Extensometers, And Metal Foil Strain Gauges, Omar Dwidar

Master's Theses

Material testing is essential across industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction, playing a critical role in verifying material selection, diagnosing failures, and understanding the development of flaws in structures. These insights are key to designing successful, reliable systems. Conventional metal foil strain gauges are low cost and reliable but provide limited sensitivity with a typical gauge factor around 2. Extensometers provide highly sensitive strain measurements with the disadvantage of a bulky form factor. With advanced materials such as carbon nanotubes, it is possible to manufacture a sensor with the sensitivity closer to that of an extensometer with the small …

Understanding The Morphology And Mass Transport Resistance Of Mesoporous Carbon-Supported Pemfc Based On Modeling Analysis, Hao Deng, Jia Liu, Zhong-Jun Hou

Journal of Electrochemistry

Mesoporous carbon supports mitigate Pt sulfonic poisoning through nanopore-confined Pt deposition, yet their morphological impacts on oxygen transport remain unclear. This study integrates carbon support morphology simulation with an enhanced agglomerate model to establish a mathematical framework elucidating pore evolution, Pt utilization, and oxygen transport in catalyst layers. Results demonstrate dominant local mass transport resistance governed by three factors: (1) active site density dictating oxygen flux; (2) ionomer film thickness defining shortest transport path; (3) ionomer-to-Pt surface area ratio modulating practical pathway length. At low ionomer-to-carbon (I/C) ratios, limited active sites elevate resistance (Factor 1 dominant). Higher I/C ratios improve …

Preparation And Modification Of Mxene Composites For Application In Electrochemical Energy Storage, Zhang-Hai You, Ding-Ze Lu, Kiran Kumar Kondamareddy, Wen-Ju Gu, Peng-Fei Cheng, Jing-Xuan Yang, Rui Zheng, Hong-Mei Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

With the acceleration of advanced industrialization and urbanization, the environment is deteriorating rapidly, and non-renewable energy resources are depleted. The gradual advent of potential clean energy storage technologies is particularly urgent. Electrochemical energy storage technologies have been widely used in multiple fields, especially supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries, as vital elements of storing renewable energy. In recent years, two-dimensional material MXene has shown great potential in energy and multiple application fields thanks to its excellent electrical properties, large specific surface area, and tunability. Based on the layered materials of MXene, researchers have successfully achieved the dual functions of energy storage and …

Optimization Of Renewable Energy Systems: Comparative Analysis Of Advanced Algorithms And Photovoltaic-Electrolyzer Performance For Cost Reduction And Efficiency Enhancement, Mohamed-Amine Babay, Mustapha Adar, Ahmed Chebak, Mustapha Mabroukia

Journal of Electrochemistry

The increasing demand for cost-effective and efficient renewable energy solutions presents significant optimization challenges in hybrid energy systems. This paper addresses these challenges by conducting a comparative analysis of three advanced optimization algorithms—Lévy Flight Optimization (LFO), Archimedean Optimization (AO), and Quantum Gorilla Optimization (QGO)—to minimize the Total Net Present Cost (TNPC) and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) in hybrid renewable energy systems. The study integrates critical cost parameters such as Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Operational Expenditure (OPEX), replacement costs, and salvage values into an advanced optimization framework. Three system configurations are evaluated: Wind Turbines and Fuel Cells (WT/FC), Photovoltaic Systems and …

Theoretical Insights Into The Atomic And Electronic Structures Of Polyperyleneimide: On The Origin Of Photocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Activity, Yi-Qing Wang, Zhi Lin, Ming-Tao Li, Shao-Hua Shen

Journal of Electrochemistry

Polymeric perylene diimide (PDI) has been evidenced as a good candidate for photocatalytic water oxidation, yet the origin of the photocatalytic oxygen evolution activity remains unclear and needs further exploration. Herein, with crystal and atomic structures of the self-assembled PDI revealed from the X-ray diffraction pattern, the electronic structure is theoretically illustrated by the first-principles density functional theory calculations, suggesting the suitable band structure and the direct electronic transition for efficient photocatalytic oxygen evolution over PDI. It is confirmed that the carbonyl O atoms on the conjugation structure serve as the active sites for oxygen evolution reaction by the crystal …

Three-Dimensional Melamine Carbon Sponge/Nai As Cathode Materials For Sodium-Ion Batteries, Qian-Ying Huang, Yue Liu, Zi-Xin Lin, Shu-Yi Zheng, Ting-Ting Mei, Yu-Ting Tang, Ying-He Zhang, Jun Liu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The sodium-iodine (Na-I) battery exhibits significant potential as an alternative energy storage device to the lithium-ion battery. However, its development is hindered by inadequate electrical and thermal stability, as well as the dissolution and shuttling of polyiodide. In this study, we report a preparation method for melamine carbon sponge (MC) via carbonizing a commercially available kitchen sponge. It was revealed that the as-prepared MC, composed of unique self-growing carbon nanotubes, could provide both physical and chemical adsorption capabilities for intermediate polyiodides to improve the electrochemical performance of NaI. Consequently, the NaI/MC electrode effectively minimized polyiodide dissolution and reduced the electrochemical …

Exploring Bim Capabilities For Life Cycle Assessment In Structural Projects: A Valencian Barraca Case Study For Sustainable Material Choices, Oscar Selfa, Barry Mcauley, Kieran Lakhera O'Shea

Conference Papers

The construction sector significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, resource consumption, and waste generation, with structural materials accounting for up to 40% of embedded carbon. This study investigates the integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools to promote sustainable structural design. Using a BIM model of a Valencian barraca, three scenarios were evaluated: traditional materials (adobe and wood), concrete with steel, and concrete with Cross- Laminated Timber (CLT). Results show that natural materials generate lower impacts, while steel and concrete exhibit higher emissions. This work proposes a workflow integrating BIM, …

Ultimate Limit State Reliability-Based Approach Life Prediction Of An Existing Frame Structure Under Seismic Hazard In Indonesia, Wira Herucakra, Luh Putri Adnyani

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

Life assessment integrated with Structural Integrity Management (SIM) has been implemented in the oil and gas industry for the past decade to maintain the integrity and safety of an in-service structure used to support hydrocarbon exploration, production, and processing activity. Current structural life assessment, as ruled by the American Petroleum Institute (API), uses a fatigue-based approach for offshore structures subjected to wave loading. As the general principle of SIM is not limited to offshore structures, this study offers an alternative life assessment method for onshore structures, especially steel frame structures subjected to earthquake loads. Reliability analysis, combined with the effect …

Data-Driven Dynamic Decision-Making Using Discrete Optimization And Supervised Machine Learning, Navid Rashedi

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

In recent years, the operations research community has developed data-driven optimization techniques to solve complex combinatorial problems with the aid of machine learning. This thesis contributes to these efforts by combining machine learning with optimization to expedite online decision-making, with applications in transportation and healthcare.

In the domain of airline operations recovery, the focus is on the aircraft recovery process—repairing disrupted schedules by minimizing overall disruption costs. Traditional exact methods are too time-consuming, while heuristic approaches often yield poor solution quality and lack generalizability across varying formulations. To address these challenges, this research employs supervised machine learning to identify near-optimal …

Electrodeposition Of Gallium Nitride_Unraveling The Role Of Precursors, Deposition Conditions, And Substrate Effects For Semiconductor Applications, Mauricio Azier Leyva Aranzabal

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a wide-bandgap semiconductor noted for its remarkable optoelectronic and structural characteristics, rendering it a potential material for high-power, high-frequency, and optoelectronic device applications. This dissertation investigates the electrochemical synthesis of GaN thin films by potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrodeposition techniques using aqueous solutions of gallium nitrate (Ga(NO3)3), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and auxiliary agents like potassium nitrate and urea. The main aim is to examine the essential elements affecting nitrogen incorporation and film shape while assessing electrochemical performance on various conductive substrates.A thorough investigation was performed to evaluate the impacts of electrodeposition duration, electrolyte pH, precursor molar concentrations, …

Multi-Domain Machine Learning For Biological Classification: Mallard Classification And Protein Function Prediction, Tolulope Samuel Adeyina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Multi-domain machine learning applications have revolutionized how we understand and predict complex biological phenomena. This dissertation presents novel computational methodologies addressing two critical problems: mallard classification using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and protein function prediction via interpretable topic-aware peptide embeddings. The research focuses on distinguishing mallard populations through SNP data, which are inherently characterized by ultra-high dimensionality. The research uses advanced feature-selection and dimensionality-reduction strategies alongside machine learning classification algorithms to identify minimal, yet highly predictive SNP sets crucial for accurate breed differentiation. This framework demonstrates robust performance with optimal computational efficiency, significantly aiding conservation and breed management efforts. Furthermore, the …

Design And Optimization Of Aquaculture Gear: Development Of A Cage-Integrated Reeling Mechanism For Oyster Farming, Felicity Bryant

Honors Theses

This project encompasses the design, fabrication, and testing of a cage-integrated reeling system aimed at reducing the physical labor required in oyster aquaculture at Bama Bay Oyster Farm, the last operational oyster farm in Mobile Bay. The proposed system includes two primary components: lightweight, modular oyster cages and a dual-winch reeling device for automated retrieval. Three cage prototypes—rectangular, oval, and hexagonal—were evaluated for structural performance and fabrication feasibility. The oval design was ultimately excluded due to practical fabrication limitations. The rectangular and hexagonal designs were fabricated using recycled materials and tested under the most extreme environmental conditions derived from years …

Modeling Degradation In Li-Ion Batteries: Analyzing Single-Cell Degradation And Applying It To Customized Pack-Level, Mohannad Y. Alkhalil

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The rapid expansion of lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery applications in areas such as electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, and portable electronics has drawn attention to the need for improving their performance, safety, and longevity. As Li-ion batteries become essential across technologies, understanding degradation mechanisms is critical for optimizing design and ensuring reliable operation. This work provides a detailed overview of modeling degradation in Li-ion batteries, focusing on single-cell behavior and its implications for pack-level performance.

The PyBaMM (Python Battery Mathematical Modeling) package, an open-source battery simulation tool written in Python, is used for single-cell simulations. Liionpack, another Python-based library, is …

Development Of Porous Separators For Lithium-Ion Batteries Via 3d Printing And Thermally Induced Phase Separation, Abraham Enchinton

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing processes allow the development of custom-shape rechargeable batteries, but research in custom filaments for fused deposition modeling (FDM) of battery separators has remained limited until now. This study discusses the development and optimization of a composite thermoplastic filament feedstock to 3D print separator membranes. A number of post-processing steps - leveraging the thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) of the composite filament - are introduced in tandem with FDM to promote microporosity formation through the removal of the sacrificial diluent phase within 3D printed samples. Three distinct compositions of varying polymer/diluent ratios were developed and thoroughly investigated through thermogravimetric …

Tailoring Functional And Sensing Properties Of Polymer-Ceramic Composites Via 3d Printing, Alexis Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Section 1.1. Abstract This chapter investigates the use of direct ink write (DIW) additive manufacturing to control grain orientation in non-toxic barium titanate (BTO) ceramics by blending spherical and platelet-shaped particles in the ink. A series of inks containing 0–40 wt.% BTO platelets were formulated with poly(vinyl alcohol), polyethylene glycol, poly(acrylic acid-co-maleic acid), and ammonium hydroxide to ensure printability and homogeneous dispersion. Cylindrical specimens (20 mm × 3 mm) were printed using a Hyrel 30M DIW system and subjected to de-binding (650 °C, 2 h) followed by a two-step sintering schedule (T₁: 1200–1350 °C; T₂: 700–850 °C; 24 h dwell). …

Mechanistic Insights Into Polymer-Assisted Graphene Exfoliation: The Roles Of Velocity, Adhesion, Cohesion, Temperature, Peeling Mode, And Edge Defect Via Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics, Linjiale Dai

All Theses

Graphene exfoliation is a critical step in the fabrication of high-quality graphene

layers. However, the underlying fracture mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this

work, I employed coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to

investigate how factors such as interfacial binding energy, substrate cohesion, temperature,

peeling mode, and edge defects influence the outcome of the exfoliation process. To model

polymer-assisted mechanical exfoliation, I used a finite-size system in which multilayer

graphene (MLG) is sandwiched between two thin polymer films. Leveraging the

spatiotemporal efficiency of the CG model, I performed fifty simulation iterations per

parameter set and analyzed the results from a …

Characteristics Of Carbonaceous Materials Synthesized From Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunch Waste Using Ferrocene Catalyst, Ahmad Nabil Shahab, Adinda Izzatul Islam, Afif Wardana, Ilham Nur Dimas Yahya, Ary Yanuar Tri Amalia, Nofrijon Sofyan, Donanta Dhaneswara

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

The synthesis of carbonaceous materials for reduced graphene oxide (rGO) precursors using oil palm empty fruit bunches waste as a carbon source offers a sustainable solution for waste management in the palm oil industry while delivering high-performance materials. The oil palm empty fruit bunches were carbonized, followed by acid washing, pyrolysis with ferrocene (8%, 12%, and 16% variations), and ultrasonication to produce rGO. The structural, electronic, and morphological properties of the rGO were analyzed using various characterization techniques. The band gap values decreased with increasing ferrocene concentration, from 1.14 eV (8%) to 1.06 (16%), indicating enhanced electronic conductivity. XRD analysis …

Experimental And Theoretical Fracture Analysis Of Additively Manufactured Orthotropic V-Notches, Venkata Siva Sainath Bavapuram

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the fracture behavior of additively manufactured orthotropic V-notched components made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) material. The research integrates both theoretical and finite element approaches to evaluate stress intensity factors (SIFs) in Modes-I and II, which are fundamental in characterizing stress field distributions around notches under applied loading conditions. Unlike isotropic materials, where stress fields depend only on geometry of the component, the anisotropic nature of 3D-printed ABS introduces a dependency on material properties that necessitate different approaches to include anisotropy of the material.

Tensile specimens are 3D-printed with specific material orientations to …