Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Polymer-Derived Silicon Oxycarbide (Sioc) And Silicon Carbonitride (Sicn) Ceramics For Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications, Saja Al Ajrash, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Preceramic polymers, especially silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) and silicon carbonitride (SiCN) ceramics, have gained significant attention due to their wide range of applications in many fields, particularly in energy storage devices beyond conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This review focuses on the synthesis, structural characteristics, and properties of SiOC and SiCN ceramics as electrodes for battery applications. Furthermore, their promising applications as electrode materials for energy storage systems are explored, along with the most recent advances in the development of such materials and their use in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), and supercapacitors. This review …

The Analytic Hierarchy Process As A Tool For Architectural Quality Assessment: A Case Study On Municipal Facades, Gül Şebnem Tutal, Fatma Demet Aykal

HBRC Journal

This study evaluates the façade quality of three municipal buildings using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify strengths, weaknesses, and improvement priorities in public architecture. Although façade design has been widely studied, quantitative and integrated assessment frameworks for municipal building façades remain limited. To address this gap, the study integrates the Design Quality Indicator (DQI) with AHP within a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) framework, proposing a systematic and replicable evaluation model. The research assesses three main DQI criteria-functionality, building quality, and impact-subdivided into twelve sub-criteria and analyzed through pairwise comparison matrices. Data were collected through structured expert interviews with …

Towards The Integration Of Living Plants In Urban Design For Desert Regions \Fontsize1213\Selectfont\Textcolorblack(A Dynamic Shading Unit Inspired By Plant Movements), Amira Medhat Ibrahim Gouda

HBRC Journal

With the rapid urban expansion of new cities in hot desert climates, the challenge of designing open urban spaces and public squares becomes evident, particularly in providing thermal comfort. These spaces are exposed to intense sunlight and temperatures exceeding 40°C for extended periods, limiting their usability and increasing reliance on traditional, non sustainable shading methods. Addressing this issue, the research explores the potential of bio-dynamic shading units that utilize plants with self-moving responses such as nyctinastic and heliotropic movements as sustainable alternatives that adapt automatically to climatic changes without mechanical systems or energy consumption. The study assumes that integrating plants …

Characterization And Potential Suitability Of Some Egyptian Clays For Ceramic Building Applications, Marwa Askar, Medhat Sobhy El-Mahllawy, Mohamed Hamed Abdel-Aal, Ali Mohamed Ali Abd-Allah, Safia Gaber Al Menoufy

HBRC Journal

This study investigates the suitability of five Egyptian clay deposits—Wadi El-Natrun, Qasr El-Sagha, Kafr Homied, Fayed, and Suez Road—for ceramic building applications. Representative samples were characterized chemically and mineralogically, with grain size distribution and Atterberg limits determined to assess their industrial potential. Mineralogical analysis identified montmorillonite, illite, and kaolinite as the dominant clay minerals. Grain size and plasticity data, plotted on industrial diagrams, revealed that all samples are highly plastic clays with elevated clay fractions and minimal sand content. Such properties, while beneficial for molding, require modification to reduce excessive plasticity. The addition of non-plastic materials is recommended to enhance …

Assessment Of Buildings' Energy-Saving Strategies Resilience To Climate Change: The Case Of Mediterranean Climate, Aya S. Mohamed, Bakr M. Gomaa, Alaa Eldin N. Sarhan

HBRC Journal

The Earth's climate is changing, and projections indicate that global warming will continue throughout this century, leading to increased occurrences of extreme temperatures. This raises critical questions about the performance and resilience of different energy-saving design strategies in buildings under future climatic conditions. To address this, the present study investigates the impact of passive design strategies, including building orientation, window-to-wall ratio, south and east/west shading devices, and thermal insulation on a prototype building's energy performance across four timeframes: 2002, 2020, 2050, and 2080, using validated computer-based thermal simulations. The results indicate that individual strategies vary significantly in their effectiveness, with …

Optimizing Wind Turbine Blades Using Fiber-Reinforced Composites, Rayan A. Akeel

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project explores how fiber-reinforced materials can improve wind turbine blade performance by making them lighter and more durable. It will examine different fiber types, their fabrication methods, and their impact on efficiency and strength.

Optimization And Energy Efficiency Analysis Of An Automatic Feed Mixer With A Rotating Drum Mechanism, Kris Witono, Talifatim Machfuroh, Nurlia Pramita Sari, Lisa Agustriyana, Aini Lostari

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Energy-efficient feed mixer machines are important for improving the productivity and sustainability of small and medium-scale livestock farms. Previous studies primarily focused on either structural performance or mixing efficiency, with limited studies integrating both aspects. Therefore, this study evaluated an automatic rotating-drum feed mixer by combining Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis and energy modeling. The study used FEM simulations for different materials, namely A36 steel alloy, stainless steel 304, aluminium 6061, and galvanized steel, with thicknesses of 3 mm and 4 mm, as well as different drum systems. The FEM results showed that all evaluated materials met the minimum safety …

Influence Of Gas Atmosphere And Deposition Time On Si/Mno₂ Thin Films Properties Deposited By Magnetron Sputtering For Supercapacitor Application, Tansya Trisnatika Dewi, Boon Tong Goh, Reza Akbar Pahlevi, Ishmah Luthfiyah, Markus Diantoro

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Thin films of MnO₂ were successfully deposited onto Si substrates using the magnetron sputtering technique in various gas atmospheres and deposition times to study their influence on the structural, morphological, electrical, and electrochemical properties for application as supercapacitor electrodes. Structural analysis using XRD showed that deposition under an Ar+O₂ gas atmosphere increased the crystallite size and crystallinity of the Si/MnO₂ films, while shorter deposition times reduced the crystallite size and lowered the crystallinity. Surface morphology observation using SEM showed that the film deposited in an Ar+O₂ gas atmosphere had smaller, more uniform, evenly distributed, and closely …

Influence Of Fiber Loading And Cu/Sio₂ Fillers On Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Sugarcane Bagasse Epoxy Composites, Ansor Salim Siregar, Indra Indra, Agung Fauzi Hanafi, Sunny Ineza Putri

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The rising worldwide need for lightweight, high-strength, and eco-friendly materials has driven considerable investigation into natural fiber composites. This research offers an extensive examination of the creation and characterization of a new hybrid composite designed for high-performance sports equipment. The composite structure consists of an epoxy matrix strengthened with sugarcane bagasse fibers and synergistic blend of copper and silicon dioxide hybrid particulate fillers. Three unique composite variations were created, with systematically adjusted weight fractions of sugarcane bagasse fiber (35%, 31%, 27%) and hybrid fillers. A thorough assessment of mechanical and physical properties was carried out following ASTM standards. The results …

An Analytical Framework For Quantifying Urban And Community Resilience To Natural Hazards From Cell-Phone Gps-Location And Traffic-Flow Data, Georgios Chatzikyriakidis

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Urban areas are increasingly exposed to natural hazards while accommodating a growing share of the global population, yet a consistent science-based framework for quantifying urban and community resilience remains lacking. This dissertation develops a physics-based analytical framework grounded in statistical mechanics and the quantitative theory of Brownian motion. A city is conceptualized as a complex medium in which citizens move analogously to Brownian particles within a viscoelastic environment, influenced by socioeconomic interactions and infrastructure functionality.

A central premise is that urban resilience, interpreted as engineering resilience (an outcome), can be quantified through a single metric: the mean-square displacement MSD=⟨r²(t)⟩, of …

2025, Significant Natural Disasters And Global Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage—Annual Progress Report, Shangli Shi, Yun Hang Hu

Michigan Tech Publications

This annual review summarizes the progress of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies in 2025. During this year, the growth rate of atmospheric CO2 concentrations slowed, yet anthropogenic CO2 emissions continued to rise. At the same time, the increasing frequency of severe natural disasters underscored the urgency of climate action and further intensified global efforts to advance CCUS deployment. Scientific interest in CCUS expanded markedly, with the annual number of related publications increasing by 18.5% compared with 2024, reaching 63935. Meanwhile, the total number of operational commercial CCUS facilities worldwide grew by 54%, accompanied by an approximate 25% increase …

Development And Characterization Of Sulfur-Based Concrete From Industrial Waste By-Products, Vasilia Numan Rabah Alkhaldi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Portland cement (PC) is a significant player in the construction industry, which is one of the largest global carbon footprint sectors, contributing approximately 8% of total anthropogenic CO₂ emissions worldwide. In arid and developing countries such as the UAE, the negative impacts of PC are amplified by the piling of industrial wastes, and hence there is an urgent need to develop efficient and cost-effective waste management solutions. This dissertation reports on the design and characterization of a novel sulfur-based concrete made from locally available industrial waste materials, with an emphasis on improving the performance and durability of the material as …

Sorption And Thermal Conductivity Of Concrete Containing Aggregates Of E-Waste, Rakesh Kumar Saini, Praveen Kumar

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

In many parts of the world, substantial energy is used to maintain comfortable temperatures in inner parts of the buildings for living and working. Construction materials with low thermal conductivity, if used in the exterior walls and façade etc. in such structures can be useful in lowering the energy demand. On the other hand, moisture ingress through sorption is a common factor contributing in degradation of concrete structures with time. Constituents of concrete may be engineered to some extent to get both the desired attributes, lower thermal conductivity and sorption than normal concrete. The rapid increase in electronic waste, or …

Effects Of Niobium On The Mechanical And Oxidation Properties Of Additively Manufactured Tungsten, Alexander Lesieur, Cayla Eckley, Ryan A. Kemnitz

Faculty Publications

Although additive manufacturing presents a novel and customizable approach to fabricating tungsten (W) alloys, the layer-by-layer production technique presents a unique set of processing challenges which are further exacerbated by the metal’s refractory properties. In this study, additions of niobium (Nb) were found to improve the mechanical properties and oxidation resistance of additively manufactured W. Microstructural investigation revealed the effect of Nb on the cracking, grain size, and texture in the as-built material. Mechanical compression testing showed significant improvement in ductility with increasing Nb content. The low concentrations of Nb used did not induce large changes in the yield strength …

A Review Of Magnesium-Based Stents: Manufacturing Strategies And Future Trends, Amir Motaharinia, Amir Sanati Nezhad, Jeremy Goldman, H. R. Bakhsheshi-Rad, J. Drelich

Michigan Tech Publications

Coronary artery disease is often treated with vascular stents to restore the blood flow. Recently, there has been growing interest in biodegradable metal stents, especially those made from magnesium (Mg). This review starts by explaining the complex pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and the current treatment options. It then discusses stents, including their potential benefits, capabilities, and limitations, as they represent the gold standard for percutaneous coronary intervention in treating atherosclerosis. Given the vital role of stents, we provide a thorough review of the manufacturing techniques involved, such as wire forming, subtractive manufacturing, and additive manufacturing, with a specific focus on stents …

Thermal Transient Analysis Of Mahogany Wood Biomass Pyrolysis: The Role Of Zeolite Catalyst Variations On Temperature Distribution, Yusri Yusri, Widya Wijayanti, Mega Nur Sasongko

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Biomass pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste into fuel. The use of zeolite catalysts can enhance efficiency by accelerating biomass decomposition. To demonstrate its effect, thermal simulations were conducted using ANSYS Thermal Transient to analyze temperature distribution, reaction rates, and catalyst effectiveness in the pyrolysis process. This study aims to improve thermal efficiency and temperature uniformity by analyzing the effect of 10% and 20% zeolite mixtures on heat distribution and heating rates at input temperatures of 650 K, 750 K, and 850 K, using the 2D axial symmetry method. The simulation was performed under specific boundary conditions: input …

Plastic Material Analysis And Bonding In Small Aquatic Vessels, Andrew R. Orr

Honors College Theses

This project presents the design and development of a suitable vessel for small-scale aquatic applications. The developed project is used for a remote-controlled duck hunting system, and the parameters of the design are based on the requirements for the system as a whole. Traditionally, plastics are fabricated using blow molding to create a single seamless form. However, for small-scale prototyping with limited resources, this method of fabrication is unsustainable for short-term, non-industrial design applications. As a result, an existing longer hull is selected and shortened to meet the required project length. The project evaluates multiple initial hull designs, ultimately selecting …

Ballistics Characterization Of Micro-Truss Reinforced Lunar-Inspired Geopolymer Concrete For Space Construction, Phoebe G. Johnson

Honors Theses

This research investigates the ballistics response and compressive strength of a Fly Ash/ Lunar Regolith hybrid geopolymer concrete developed for space construction. The study aimed firstly to optimize the Fly Ash/ Regolith mix ratio for maximum mechanical performance and secondly, to evaluate the effectiveness of carbon-fiber micro-truss reinforcement, produced by 3D printing, in mitigating damage from high-velocity impacts. Concrete specimens with varying Fly Ash-to-Regolith ratios (100-50% Fly Ash) were fabricated and tested under compression and ballistic loading. Compressive strength tests followed ASTM C109 using a 110 Kip 810-MTS testing apparatus on both unreinforced and reinforced 2” cubes. For unreinforced samples, …

Energy Materials Health Monitoring With Interpretable Machine Learning, Osumanu Musah Mohammed

Honors Theses

Reliability and the lifecycle of energy materials have become key concerns for sustainable, decarbonized power systems [1]. More recent reports on photovoltaic (PV) device technologies, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, and novel composite materials have indicated that material deterioration is a constraint on large-scale exploitation and cost-effectiveness, rather than on energy conversion efficiency [2], [3]. The energy infrastructure of tomorrow needs to be smart and efficient; however, more to the point, it needs to be self-aware, self-diagnostic, and able to overcome any form of degradation before breaking down [4]. The US dilemma is also directly related to federal concerns. That is …

Recovering Sn From Ultrafine Tails At Mina San Rafael, Peru, Angelica Plenge

Honors Theses

San Rafael is currently the only mine producing tin (Sn) in Peru, operating two concentrators. In the first, called the San Rafael plant, tin concentrate is produced through gravity separation circuits consisting of jigs, spirals, and Mozley tables, followed by reverse flotation, where sulfides are floated while cassiterite (78.77% theoretical tin content) is depressed. Material containing tin values is then directed to a desliming circuit, where the pulp density is adjusted prior to sulfide reverse flotation. The tailings from this stage are subsequently processed through another flotation circuit but, in this case, the Sn is floated. Cycloning is applied throughout …