Applied Mechanics Commons^™

Experimental Investigation On Recovery Of Micro Hydropower Dump Load Through Oil Heating System, Joseph H. Kihedu Dr.

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Micro hydropower power generates electrical energy to meet connected electrical demand, that normally fluctuates causing imbalances. Electronic load controller is then used to balance power system by diverting surplus generated power to the dump load commonly resistive load such as bulk water heater. This study investigated use of oil heating system as a replacement for conventional resistive dump load. In comparison to water, oil has high thermal retention therefore can serve as good thermal media. Dump load range ranged between 17 kW to 78 kW. A 6-kW electrical heater was used for laboratory oil heating system from which heated oil …

Headlamp/Bike Light Damping System, Ethan Reece Clark, Alec Stonehouse, Omeed Ostry, Mitchel Anderson

Mechanical Engineering

The task for this project is to design a headlamp and/or bike light that absorbs the impact shocks from the user’s actions. The user that the system is being designed for may be riding a bike or running on a trail in the evening or early in the morning where the light needs to be stabilized and their path must be illuminated. This report presents the final design chosen after months of prototyping and design iteration. It encompasses the system design, design verification through testing, implementation, future recommendations, and lessons learned throughout the process. The chosen design utilizes a fully …

Disc Golf Throwing Robot, Nevada S. Schultz, Sydney M. Lewis, Erick Edmundo Daza, Rachel Alysse Greenberg, Peter M. Kean

Mechanical Engineering

Disc golf companies need better methods to test disc flight. The scope of this project is to create a disc throwing robot that can throw a disc golf driver 450-500 feet, with control over the speed, spin, and release angle. Research shows that multiple disc-throwing products exist; however, none meet the full requirements of this project. The Cal Poly senior project design team created a proof-of-concept machine. This prototype started as a two-wheel mechanism. Eventually, a third wheel was added, allowing for complete control over disc spin. The three-wheel prototype reached 62 mph when perfectly calibrated. The prototype is accurate, …

Mechanics Desktop Lab Equipment, Dante Azpilcueta, Quentin F. Mormann, Arfan Ansar

Mechanical Engineering

This paper overviews the design, implementation and testing of a senior project designed to fix the issue of there being no lab equipment or space for content pertaining to mechanic of materials topics. This is of concern as Cal Poly is reorganizing content as it switches to the semester system and is in need of labs for this material. The solution found was to create a portable miniature universal test machine that could be carted into non-lab classrooms. The goal was to create a device that was low-cost, modifiable, durable, easy to manufacture and repair as these were the qualities …

Valve Efficiency Testing Device, Jake Robert Rydberg, Andrew Keith Willardson, Jake Ben Jezier, Emily Marie Wannenmacher

Mechanical Engineering

This document serves as the official Final Design Review (FDR) for the mechanical engineering team on the Valve Efficiency Testing Device project for the Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery. The team attends California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The project involved designing and building a valve efficiency testing device. The goal was to create a finished test device that can be used in the Phillips 66 Rodeo Refinery machine shop to test reciprocating compressor valves before they are installed. The purpose of this document is to describe the manufacturing and design verification activities that have been completed since Critical Design …

Turbine Integrated Pitching System, Elizabeth Costley, Josephine Maiorano, Jeff Larson, Cameron Jackson

Mechanical Engineering

The Cal Poly Wind Power Club (CPWP) tasked this senior project to design, manufacture, test, and deliver a mechanism to pitch the blades for their small-scale horizontal axis wind turbine. CPWP competes in the Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) against schools across the country, and as such it was critical to comply with the provided competition rules in addition to the design requirement from CPWP. The purpose of the pitching mechanism is to improve the performance and efficiency of the wind turbine by allowing the blades to adjust angles with different wind speeds. Specifically, this project aimed to minimize hub size, …

Programmable Vibration Table Retrofit With Eagle Medical, Jonathan Ilagan, Madhav Asok, Max Lewter

Biomedical Engineering

This project aimed to repair and upgrade a vibration table used for package testing for the sponsor, Eagle Medical - a medical packaging and sterilization company based in Paso Robles, California. The current vibration table is not programmable and lacks circuit diagrams, making it difficult to repair. In addition, it is not functional due to internal circuitry issues and power requirements. To address these issues, the team will implement several upgrades to improve the product and allow for better random cyclic vibration testing. A full assessment of the existing vibration table will be conducted to ensure the viability of these …

Comparative Design Space For Bistable Composites: An Integrated Framework Of Optimization, Finite Element Analysis, And Experimental Testing, Jonathan Bolanos

All Theses

Bistable composites are a class of advanced materials that can actuate between two stable shapes, making them attractive for a wide range of engineering applications. However, designing these composites to achieve optimal performance remains a challenging task. To address the challenge, this research develops an integrated framework that combines a genetic algorithm optimization technique, finite element analysis in Abaqus, and experimental testing to explore the design comparative space for square bistable composites composed of DA 409 carbon fibers. This leads to the study of generating an optimization algorithm to account for the relationship between the chances of a successful maximum …

A Predictive Analysis Of The Influence Of Thickness And Length On The Curvature Of Square Bistable Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite Laminates, Stephan Terry

All Theses

This thesis presents a predictive analysis of the stability of square bistable carbon fiber reinforced composite laminates under various loading conditions. The stability of these laminates is essential to their performance and longevity and is influenced by factors such as thickness and length. Analytical and numerical techniques are used to model the behavior of these laminates, and experimental tests are conducted to validate the models. The findings of this research have implications for the design and optimization of square bistable carbon fiber reinforced composites.

The study investigates the relationships between the side length and thickness of square laminates for bistability. …

Engineering 3d Architected Metamaterials For Enhanced Mechanical Properties And Functionalities., Huan Jiang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Compared with conventional materials, architected metamaterials have shown unprecedented mechanical properties and functionalities applications. Featured with controlled introduction of porosity and different composition, architected metamaterials have demonstrated unprecedent properties not found in natural materials. Such design strategies enable researchers to tailor materials and structures with multifunctionalies and satisfy conflicting design requirements, such as high stiffness and toughness; high strength with vibration mitigation properties, etc. Furthermore, with the booming advancement of 3D printing technologies, architected materials with precisely defined complex topologies can be fabricated effortlessly, which in turn promotes the research significantly. The research objectives of this dissertation are to achieve …

Molecular Dynamics Simulation On Molybdenum Disulfide: Thermal-Mechanical Properties And Phase Transitions Under External Loading, Mahabubur Rahman

All Dissertations

Due to their remarkable properties, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have received much scientific interest throughout the past decade. Two layers of chalcogen atoms (S, Se, Te) sandwich a layer of transition metal atoms (Mo, W, Ta) to form the three-atom thick unit cell in TMDs. The interaction between TMD "single layers" is mediated by neighboring chalcogen planes and bonded by Van der Waals forces. Due to this weak out-of-plane interaction, bulk samples can be thinned down to a single layer by exfoliation. Among the TMDs, Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS₂) shows promise in the field of electronics, optics, and sensing …

Implementation Of Static Rfid Landmarks In Slam For Planogram Compliance, Brennan L. Drake

Honors College Theses

Autonomous robotic systems are becoming increasingly prevalent in everyday life and exhibit robust solutions in a wide range of applications. They face many obstacles with the foremost of which being SLAM, or Simultaneous Localization and Mapping, that encompasses both creation of the map of an unknown environment and localization of the robot in said environment. In this experiment, researchers propose the use of RFID tags in a semi-dynamic commercial environment to provide concrete landmarks for localization and mapping in pursuit of increased locational certainty. With this obtained, the ultimate goal of the research is to construct a robotics platform for …

A High-Strength Precipitation Hardened Cobalt-Free High-Entropy Alloy, Matthew Luebbe, Jiaqi Duan, Fan Zhang, Jonathan Poplawsky, Hans Pommeranke, Maalavan Arivu, Andrew Hoffman, Mario Buchely, Haiming Wen

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent studies on precipitation-hardened high-entropy alloys (HEAs) demonstrate their high strength and thermal stability, making them promising materials for high-temperature structural applications such as nuclear reactors. However, many existing HEAs contain cobalt (Co), which is unsuitable for nuclear applications because of the long-term activation issue of Co. Co is also expensive and considered a critical material for other applications. Therefore, it is desired to exclude Co from the composition. a Co-free (Fe0.3Ni0.3Mn0.3Cr0.1)88Ti4Al8 HEA was developed and studied in this work. in contrast to previous Co-free HEAs, this alloy is close to Equi atomic in its composition and promises a more …

Mechanical Metamaterials, Brent A. Peluso, Oliver T. Parker

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical metamaterials are an emerging design strategy aimed at tailoring lattice structures to achieve specific properties such as negative Poisson’s ratios and guiding wave propagation. These metamaterials have received increasing attention from various application domains, including medical devices, aerospace, automobile, and infrastructure. The scope of this project is to vary a single lattice parameter and quantify its effect on the structural properties of the given 3D lattice.

Extraction And Characterization Of Collagen From Cattle Horns For Potential Wound Healing, Yeriko Halson

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The need for bandages and gauze for wound dressing and healing is inevitable due to the high increase in accidents. Most of the material used for the production of bandages and gauzes for wound healing are from non-renewable synthetic material. The sustainability of non renewable resources is at jeopardy due to the health and associated environmental impact. Consequently, the use of naturally occurring and biodegradable material is a promising solution to the sustainability challenges of synthetic material. In this paper, the extraction of collagen films from cattle horns for potential wound healing is reported. Collagen was extracted from cattle horns …

Studying Dielectric Losses Of Serially Combined Silicone Rubber And Epoxy Resin, Aviti Thadei Mushi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

High voltage outdoor insulation systems are conventionally ceramics and glass with several advantages, such as proven in the field, excellent dielectric properties, durability, and long life. However, they are heavy, attract vandals and break easily, and they can lose their dielectric properties easily when subjected to high voltage transients, arcing, and surges. To curb this, polymer insulators are used because they have excellent dielectric properties, such as those of ceramics and glass, with the added advantages that they do not break easily and recover their lost dielectric properties after any electrical transients. Therefore, this paper investigates the dielectric properties of …

Sensible Heat Bean Cooker, Casiana Lwiwa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Alternative cooking energy to replace wood fuels is needed in the African context. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is a solution but is still based on burning fossil fuel. Electrical cookers can be an alternative as well. However, for off-grid systems this means electrical batteries are required, as the solar electricity from Photovoltaic (PV) panels is intermittent, and as cooking is also to be made after sunset. Heat storage technologies can provide solutions where available energy is stored in the form of heat for cooking when needed. The challenge is then to develop systems which are robust, safe, and technically simple. …

Preparation And Characterization Of Microporous Cellulose Membranes As Potential Pathogen Filters, Peresi M. Bulemo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Growth and development in the textile and fashion industry have resulted in the generation of large amounts of industrial pre consumer textile wastes. It is estimated that 10 to 20% of textile fabrics are wasted during garment manufacturing, with most of the wastes being burned or landfilled. Reusing pre-consumer fabric wastes is therefore considered a viable approach to alleviate environmental impacts associated with their disposal. To achieve a higher porosity membrane, pre-consumer cotton fabrics were partially dissolved in a solution of dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) and lithium chloride (LiCl), and the resulting fibre suspension was utilized to prepare a microporous cellulose …

Cellulose-Keratin Supramolecular Composite: Conformation By Combined Fourier Transform Spectroscopy And Partial Least Square Regression Coefficient, Ngesa Ezekiel Mushi Dr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Keratin and cellulose are important nano components with excellent mechanical and biological properties. However, the preparation route through dissolution in organic solvents to make manmade materials is challenging because of their intensive bonding interaction characteristics. Structural modification of the natural attributes is difficult to maintain after polymer regeneration. A new technique by a green route was devised to dissolve keratin from wool, hair, and feather with cellulose in situ using 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIm] + Cl- ionic liquid as a solvent. The mixture of keratin and cellulose homogeneously and synergistically resulted in a supramolecular composite film through non-derivatized mechanochemical interactions. The …

Comparison Of On-Line Partial Discharge Detection Techniques For High Voltage Power Cable Joints And Terminations, Aviti Thadei Mushi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Cable joints and terminations play a vital role in providing dependable electrical connection, mechanical support and physical safeguard. These provide electrical stress control to shielded power cables. Despite their usefulness, they suffer from partial discharges (PD) because of enhanced voltage stress, moisture ingress and poor workmanship (during installation). Therefore, it is necessary to undertake on-line PD detection to determine their state. Some of these techniques are capacitive coupler (CC); acoustic emission (AE); and high frequency current transducer (HFCT). This article presents a literature review of these techniques based on the cost, availability, and applicability. The comparative analysis is also provided …