Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Integrated Passive Design Strategies For Enhancing Energy Performance Of Hotel Buildings In Hot-Arid Climates: A Simulation-Based Study, Esraa Ebrahiem Abu-Elenain

HBRC Journal

Sustainable architectural design strategies offer effective solutions for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing operational costs in energy-intensive buildings, such as hotels in hot-arid climates. However, limited research has addressed the integrated application of multiple passive design strategies within hotel buildings using a unified simulation-based framework. This study investigates the combined application of wind catchers (Malqaf), adaptive mashrabiya shading systems, and high-performance glazing on a proposed hotel floor in Ras Sedr, Egypt. The design was modeled in Autodesk Revit and analyzed through dynamic simulation using EnergyPlus. A comparative approach was adopted, including a baseline scenario and an improved design scenario. The …

Enhancing Social Activity Through Climate-Adaptive Design In Hot-Humid Campus Open-Spaces: A Case Study Of The University Of Basrah In Iraq, Noor A. Almansor, Farah Ahmed Thiab, Riyam Rajab Fenjan

HBRC Journal

Outdoor open spaces between university buildings support students' community interactions and academic achievements. However, in hot-humid climate zones, some of these spaces lack activity and experience social withdrawal due to thermal discomfort. This is seen on the University of Basrah campus. To address this, the study aimed to identify the most suitable climate-adaptive design pattern to improve thermal comfort and, in turn, enhance students' social presence in the University of Basrah's neglected, peripheral outdoor campus spaces. A convergent mixed-method case study was applied. First, measurable environmental and social factors were identified from related studies. Next, two open spaces in the …

The Impact Of Climate Change On Glass Facades: A Bibliometric Analysis, Pelin Akın, Güneş Mutlu Avinç

HBRC Journal

Climate change has direct impacts on the design and performance of building envelopes, necessitating new approaches in the discipline of architecture. In this study, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to understand the effects of climate change on glass façade systems. The 612 academic publications obtained from the Web of Science database were analyzed through R Studio Biblioshiny. Within the scope of the study, publication trends, key themes, prominent authors, institutions and geographical distributions were evaluated in detail. According to the findings of the research, it was indicated that research has gained momentum especially after 2016, focusing on themes such as …

Influence Of Polyvinyl Alcohol Content On Starch-Based Bioplastic Reinforced With Chitosan And Microcrystalline Cellulose, Bagus Kharisma Putra, Andoko Andoko, Mochamad Viky Afandy, Muhammad Faizullah Pasha, Riduwan Prasetya

Chimica et Natura Acta

Starch-based bioplastics are promising sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics; however, their limited mechanical strength and stability restrict broader packaging applications. This study investigates the influence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) content on the structural and functional properties of starch-based bioplastic films reinforced with chitosan and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Films prepared by solution casting with varying PVA compositions were characterized in terms of density, mechanical properties, thermal stability, biodegradation behavior, antibacterial activity, and structural features. Increasing PVA content produced denser film structures with improved tensile strength and thermal stability, while elongation at break reached its maximum at the intermediate formulation, indicating a …

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 …

Machine Learning Assisted Development Of Al0.2cufemnni High Entropy Alloy Through Selective Laser Melting, Hareharen K Mr

Theses and Dissertations

High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) are an emerging class of advanced materials that have gained significant attention due to their exceptional mechanical strength, thermal stability, and structural performance. Unlike conventional alloys based on a single principal element, HEAs are composed of multiple elements in a near-equiatomic ratio. Despite these advantages, designing HEAs with tailored properties is difficult because of the enormous number of possible combinations and the limitations of traditional trial-and-error methods. To overcome these challenges, this study presents a machine learning (ML) based approach to accelerate the design and development of an HEA.

In this work, a newly designed composition, …

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 …

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 …