Applied Mechanics Commons^™

Deciphering And Translating Bioinspired Structures For Engineering Materials Design Via Computational Modeling And Machine Learning, Zhangke Yang

All Dissertations

Nature has evolved extraordinary structural materials—such as nacre, bone, and the mantis shrimp’s dactyl club—that achieve remarkable combinations of strength, toughness, and impact resistance. These properties arise from sophisticated synergies between structure and composition. Inspired by these biological systems, this dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation into bioinspired materials, uncovering fundamental mechanisms and providing guidance on designing materials with superior mechanical properties.

This dissertation begins by examining the "brick-and-mortar" structure of nacre, which informs the design of layered polymer-graphene nanocomposite films. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, I elucidate mechanisms of dynamic wave propagation and energy dissipation in these systems, providing critical …

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 …

Autonomous Control Of A Hybrid Unmanned Aerial Towed System On A Moving Platform, Zachary M. Miller

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

With tethered rotor drones being more popular for aerial surveillance, moving platforms for tethered drones are being researched. However, these systems require constant power to the rotor drones for stabilization. With this difficulty in power consumption, a hybrid drone solution is presented. The hybrid drone is similar to an airplane, with quadcopter motors attached for stabilization and thrust when not moving.

The controller for the hybrid drone was tested and verified in simulation. The simulation of the system was built in Fortran and consists of a driver, a tether, and a hybrid drone. The driver was modeled after a generic …

Cruising On The Beach (Cob), Juan Diego Molina Ii, Ashley Kianna Burga

Biomedical Engineering

This report details the design and development process of Cruising on the Beach (COB), a modular motorized wheelchair intended to improve beach accessibility for high school students with mobility impairments. The project aimed to create an affordable, portable, and sand-capable device using balloon wheels, an adjustable control panel, and a customizable base. Extensive background research, market analysis, design modeling, and test plans were completed. However, final fabrication was not achieved due to financial constraints and limited access to industrial machining tools needed for custom metal components. Despite these setbacks, the project delivered a robust conceptual design and a fully …

Cellulose Recovery From Waste Denim Fabrics Through Indigo Vat Dye Reduction And Spandex Dissolution, Tito N. Venance

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study addresses environmental conservation by tackling end-of-life management for post-consumer denim garments through the recycling of cotton fibres from waste denim. The purification process involved dithionite reduction of vat dyes in the presence of an alkali followed by selective dissolution of spandex using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Optimal conditions for dye removal were determined at 90°C for 120 minutes with sodium hydroxide at 25 g/L, sodium dithionite at 6 g/L and PVP at 4.5 g/L, while spandex extraction was achieved using a 5% DMF solution at 70°C for 4 hours. Ultraviolet (UV)-vis spectrophotometric analysis indicated a significant increase in whiteness (DL*). …

Semi-Autonomous Trash Bot, Ben Leon, Ethan Mashburn, Connor Olivera, Dillon Michael Wood

ATU Scholars Symposium

Title: Semi-Autonomous Trash Robot

Authors: Benjamin Leon, Ethan Mashburn, Connor Olivera, Dillon Wood

Abstract: Environmental pollution is becoming more worrying every day as megatons of human waste persist in vast amounts in our ecosystems. The existing waste collection methodologies, with the labor, time, and cost components combined, make the process cumbersome. A potential solution could be an automated waste collection robot that incorporates AI into a cheap system that autonomously detects trash. This report proposes a machine that may be manufactured to adequate standards in terms of size and cost and deployed in various environments, with the ultimate goal of …

Wind-Resilient Solar: Harnessing Cfd For Enhanced Load Estimation, Aly Mousaad Aly

Faculty Publications

Solar panels are a cornerstone of renewable energy infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in global sustainability efforts. To ensure their resilience and long-term viability, accurate wind load estimations are essential for designing supporting structures, which account for nearly 50% of their total cost. However, traditional building codes lack comprehensive guidance for solar panels, resulting in inconsistent estimations due to discrepancies in scaled wall-bounded wind tunnel testing methodologies. These inaccuracies pose safety risks, increase costs, and hinder adoption. Emerging technologies like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations offer a promising alternative by enabling full-scale analysis under realistic conditions of complete turbulence. This …

Advancing Solar Farm Resilience: Cfd-Driven Wind Load Optimization, Aly Mousaad Aly

Faculty Publications

This study investigates wind load design methods for ground-mounted solar panels and arrays by comparing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with design standards. A case study of a solar farm impacted by Hurricane Maria examines the effects of elevation height, tilt angle, and variations in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standards on wind loads and structural failure. Turbulence models, including Reynolds Stress Model, k–ε Model, and Large Eddy Simulation (LES), are used to analyze wind pressures, lift, drag, and peak pressures. Results show Phase 1 experienced higher wind loads than Phase 2 due to design differences. A cost-benefit …

Helical Products Parts Display Stand, Binh Nguyen, Emily Yuan Mendyke, Zoe Porter

Mechanical Engineering

Helical Products needs a new product display stand that will demonstrate their custom springs, couplings, and u-joints. Their current display stand, a marble run contraption, is large, loud, and difficult to transport, so they would like the new stand to remedy these issues. The goal of this senior project is to create a display stand that captures the attention of their customers with dynamic product demonstrations while addressing the issues outlined above.

The new display stand is also a marble run contraption, but instead of being almost 4 feet tall and 3 feet long, it is 23” tall, 26.25” long, …

The Effect Of Hot Machining Of Difficult-To-Machine Materials On The Form Accuracy In The Turning Process, Ahmed Yehia Kamal, Samy F. M. Assal, Ahmed M. El-Kassas, Ahmed A. Hawam

Journal of Engineering Research

Form accuracy of machined parts is crucial to the interchangeability in production as well as the function of the part and its expected useful life. Numerous studies investigated the form accuracy in traditional machining operations but none of them considered this issue in hot machining. In this technique, a difficult-to-machine workpiece is preheated to soften its material and reduce the cutting force. In this paper, the form accuracy represented in roundness, tape, and straightness of hot turned AISI 304L parts are investigated. The results showed that the hot condition has a minimal effect on the form accuracy which confirms the …

Intelligent Turning Cyber-Physical Systems Modeling Using Sysml, Prithbey Raj Dey, David Lee Enke, Mario F. Buchely

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) support industrial automation that incorporates people, hardware, signal, computation, and control using networking to achieve desired results. The complex automated CPS design demands a standard and comprehensive approach to appropriately identify the system requirements, define the architecture, and model the relationships among the software and hardware components. Systems Modeling Language (SysML) provides the capability for a comprehensive modeling to capture the desired design requirements in the systems architecture. SysML enables performance estimation of the model by analyzing constraints while identifying interactions among the components through various behavioral diagrams. In this paper, SysML is applied to the design …

Collaborative Ai: Oer Materials For Exploring Ai As A Partner Rather Than A Tool, David Smith

Open Educational Resources

The Collaborative AI Open Educational Resource (OER) explores how artificial intelligence can act as a creative and analytical collaborator rather than a tool. Centered on the Balanced Blended Space (BBS) framework and the philosophy of the Center for Holistic Integration (CHI), the OER includes curriculum materials, theoretical models, and live research environments. It offers an interesting approach to blending physical, virtual, and conceptual spaces through shared human–AI agency and invites ongoing participation in interdisciplinary meta-projects.

Development Of Planetary Drive System For Formula Sae Electric Race Car, Brian Wong, Bradley Maruoka, Joshua Charles Fine, Madison Kai

Mechanical Engineering

Hub motors are compact electric motors mounted directly on each outboard wheel hub. Utilized in Formula SAE and Formula Student vehicles, this configuration offers several advantages over traditional drivetrains, including packaging optimization within the chassis, vehicle traction, and improved efficiency. Although hub motors are not yet common in 4WD vehicles, they are being explored for use in EVs and may become more common in the future. Every year, Cal Poly Racing FSAE designs and builds a formula-style race car. To improve drivetrain performance, the team is investigating the achievability of a hub motor 4WD drivetrain, requiring extensive research, development, and …

Improving The Viability Of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials In Extreme Temperature Applications And Additive Manufacturing, Ryan A. Warren

Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum Presentations

Presentation slides for a presentation given at the 1st annual Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum at the University of South Alabama.

Numerical Simulation Of Airflow Properties Of The Naca 6420 Airfoil Using The Transition Rans K-Ε Model, Oluwaseyi O. Alabi, Saidat A. Salisu, Oyeyemi T. Aforolagba -Balogun, Temitope A. Ladigbolu, Ayotunde O. Fasina, Anas Bala

Al-Bahir

This study investigates the airflow properties around the airfoil using numerical simulation, addressing the longstanding challenge of accurately predicting transition phenomena in turbulent flows. The importance of this research lies in its potential to improve the design and performance of airfoils in various engineering applications, such as wind turbines, and aircraft. A custom 2-dimensional airfoil model was created using Airfoil instruments, featuring a 6% maximum curvature, 40% curvature position, and 20% thickness. COMSOL Multiphysics software performed computations at a velocity of over 19 hours, with data analyzed at 60-minute intervals. The Transition turbulent model was employed to simulate the airflow …

Effects Of Thermal Shock Protection Methods On Pressure Measurements In A Rapid Compression Machine, Myeji Materego

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The study investigates the impact of thermal shock protection methods on pressure measurements in Rapid Compression Machines (RCMs). It focuses on the performance of various pressure transducers, specifically 601A, 701A, 6061B, and 7005, under atmospheric initial conditions. The research emphasizes the importance of mounting techniques and coatings, revealing their significant effects on pressure trace accuracy. Special mounting adaptors for the pressure transducers were designed and manufactured, this enabled simultaneous measurements for all transducers to be made in a single compression stroke. Instantaneous pressure within combustion chamber was measured when air was compressed in RCM from initial pressure and temperatures of …

Development Of A Drive-Rod Unified Variable Pitch Control Mechanism For Small-Scale Horizontal Wind Turbines, Ayman I. Bakry, Mohamed Elfouly, Omar Mehrez

Journal of Engineering Research

Typically, small-scale wind turbines use either a breaking equipment or stall control methods once the wind speed exceeds its rated value. This is to limit the power extracted from the wind turbines which largely depends on the blades' shape and pitch angle. Most of small-scale wind turbines are of fixed pitch angle to avoid complexity and cost. In this work, a novel drive-rod unified variable pitch drive mechanism is proposed for blades pitch control for small-scale horizontal wind turbines. The mechanism is powered by a DC motor coupled with a lead screw which in turn is connected to the pitch …

Pd Controller Design For Automotive Magnetorheological Semi-Active Suspension System, Ayman I. Bakry, Emad M. S. El-Said, Ahmed Shehata Gad, Ahmed Abd Almoez, Omar Mehrez

Journal of Engineering Research

Recently, there is a tendency towards the utilization of magnetorheological (MR) dampers in electrical vehicles (EV) due to its adaptability of active control devices with lower requirement of large power sources compared to the active damping systems. This paper investigates the performance of the most used control technique for MR dampers used in EV, the PID controller, under different road conditions. In this investigation, the Dynamic-Damper-Motor System (ADM-EV) is used as the EV suspension system model. Meanwhile, modified Bouc-Wen model is used as the MR damper model. The design procedure for the optimum design of the system controller parameters is …

A Structural Evaluation And Design Optimization Of A Tow Bar For Disabled Snowmobiles, David M. Pevic

Masters Theses

Snowmobile tow bars are devices used to rigidly connect two snowmobiles, such that a disabled snowmobile can be recovered from a remote location with a working snowmobile. These devices, however, are not widely used or readily available. An existing tow bar design was evaluated and redesigned to improve its structural capacity and performance. This evaluation provided a baseline to quantify improvement and included Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (DFMEA), and Design for Assembly analysis (DFA). A review of existing snowmobile tow bar patents was also performed. An updated design was then fabricated and similarly evaluated. …

Feasibility Study Of A Smart Insole With Triboelectric Energy Harvesters For Early Flatfoot Detection, Mohammad Alghamaz

Mechanical Engineering Theses

This study introduces a self-powered smart insole system designed for real-time monitoring of foot health, with a specific focus on detecting flatfoot conditions. The insole integrates multiple triboelectric energy harvesters strategically positioned to capture electrical signals generated from ground reaction forces during daily activities such as walking, jogging, and running. Proof-of-concept testing was conducted on a single participant under two conditions: a healthy foot and a simulated flatfoot created by reducing the medial arch height by approximately 70\. In the healthy foot trials, the system demonstrated consistent and reliable performance, with negligible electrical output from the medial arch sensor, as …