Pulse-Width Modulation Spray System Performance And Development Of A Novel System To Optimize Spray Use Efficacy, Prashanta Pokharel

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The overarching objective of this research was to enhance our understanding of pulse width modulation (PWM) based nozzle control system and develop an intelligent nozzle control system for agricultural spray applications. This dissertation focused on measuring and analyzing the transient nozzle pressure characteristics and performance under PWM control. Additionally, it explored the development of an innovative multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) nozzle control system for precise chemical applications in specialty crop systems.

The pressure dynamics of a PWM system were studied by developing an instrumentation system capable of operating a solenoid valve and recording pressure signals. A nozzle body and two manifolds of …

An Application Of Cfd To Support The Development Of Treatment Strategies And Technology For The Management Of Cystic Fibrosis In Pediatric Patients, Morgan L. Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Inhaled medications are a key treatment modality in multiple lung-related diseases and disorders. Considering children with cystic fibrosis (CF), improvements in the delivery of aerosol antibiotics have the potential to better eradicate bacterial lung infections, preserve lung function and thereby further extend lifespans and quality of life. The overall objective of this dissertation was to expand and validate CFD models for predicting the deposition of pharmaceutical aerosols throughout the airways and apply these models to understand the targeted delivery of inhaled antibiotics to children with CF. To accomplish this goal, three contributions were made. First, CFD methodologies for modeling aerosol …

Stanley Black And Decker Slag Removal Design Project, Colt Hemphill, Kyle Stober, Andrew Raymond, Robert Artrip

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My group given the task of designing a system to remove the slag of large metal plates. Removing this slag is an important step in creating the final assembly of a model. Currently we the operators are flipping the plates using a large magnet and crane. The issue that we see with the current method is the risk of injury while having the plate suspended in the air. These plates can reach upwards of 600lbs and poses a serious threat to the operators if the magnet is not secured correctly. Our new system for removing the slag is designed to …

Development Of A Solidworks Api, Andrew Magyar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With the current advancements in CAD software, and precision of modern motors, we believe that a new way to communicate from hardware to software is possible. This report details the steps we have taken to attempt just that. The essential idea behind this is that modern controls for robotics are not as user friendly as they can be. The general action taken is to create an API for SolidWorks that connects it to the other necessary controller software and makes it so that a robot, and its exact current position, can be changed simply and intuitively from SolidWorks. Furthermore, the …

Battery Dunnage, Paul Hirsch, Alex Cox, Ben Strubbe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Schaeffler is launching a new assembly line for a battery in 2025. As part of the project, it is necessary to design and fabricate a reusable dunnage (packaging) specialized for the battery, meant for safe domestic transportation in the United States. Through an iterative process, the team developed a final dunnage design out of steel components that had a maximum footprint of 62 in X 43.5 in X 29.25 in and a weight of 821.682 lbs. The dunnage is stackable on itself up to two high, weighing a total of 4,918.724 lbs. when loaded with four batteries. The design was …

3d Printed Drone (Body And Controls), Michael Dick, Hayden Pinkelman, Tanner Henderson, Logan Prince

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective is to build a scaled down model of a 3D printed drone capable of carrying a payload scalable to 50 lbs. for a wide array of applications. Some applications of the drone could include delivering support materials during natural disasters, such as foam to put out fire or medical aid packs to provide aid to injured people, food or package delivery, or military applications. The project has been split up into two groups. One group will be focusing on the propulsion aspect of the project, such as the electric motors and airfoil. Simultaneously, this group will design the …

Zips Racing Electric Brakes Design, Zachary Koneval, Andrew Thompson, Cory Baczkowski

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Zips electric racing team is a collegiate team full of engineering students to make a formula electric car that competes against other universities and their cars. But before the cars make it to competition they go through a series of tests to make sure the car is able to perform in all of the actual competition stages. One of the tests for the cars is the brakes test. Where the car has to lock up all four wheels at once and stop in a square that is on the ground. So in this report we have detailed out our …

Design Of An Experimental Solid Rocket Motor, Johnathan Bettes, Andrew Fuller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project utilizes mechanical and chemical principles to characterize propellant grains and to manufacture a custom nozzle to create experimental Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) with a propellant called Angry Listerine. For the propellant grains, one major non-chemical factor that determines its thrust performance is the grain geometry, or the core of the grains for which hot gases flow through the propellant and out of the nozzle to further react with exposed chemical surfaces. The two kinds of grain geometries analyzed and tested in this report are called MoonBurner, an offset circular core, and Finocyl, a gear-shaped core. The nozzle for …

Schaeffler E-Axle Value Engineering, Andrew Powers

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to design a manufacturable E-Axle end housing that improves system performance while reducing cost. The project is focused on utilizing Schaeffler's manufacturing competencies to achieve a simple assembly with a significant reduction in cost per part, while using existing machines or processes within the company. The design development process will follow the conceptual design stage through Finite Element Analysis and classical engineering calculations. Cross-functional design reviews will be conducted to ensure that agreement can be reached on the manufacturing feasibility of the design. Concepts will be entered in a decision analysis sheet to identify the best one …

Tympanostomy Tube Efficiency Study, Reem Ghumrawi, Kristi Weir

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The ventilation of the middle ear, crucial for maintaining optimal ear health, is often impeded by factors such as swelling, inflammation, and mucus in the eustachian tubes, particularly during upper respiratory infections or allergies. This issue, prevalent in children due to their narrow and horizontal eustachian tubes, prompts the insertion of tympanostomy tubes by ENT surgeons to establish an alternative airway for pressure equalization and fluid drainage. Despite the common belief in the effectiveness of these tubes, there is a notable dearth of research validating their optimal functionality. This study aims to address this gap by systematically comparing the efficiency …

Railroad Condition Monitoring Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing And Deep Learning Techniques, Md Arifur Rahman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Proper condition monitoring has been a major issue among railroad administrations since it might cause catastrophic dilemmas that lead to fatalities or damage to the infrastructure. Although various aspects of train safety have been conducted by scholars, in-motion monitoring detection of defect occurrence, cause, and severity is still a big concern. Hence extensive studies are still required to enhance the accuracy of inspection methods for railroad condition monitoring (CM). Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has been recognized as a promising method because of its sensing capabilities over long distances and for massive structures. As DAS produces large datasets, algorithms for precise …

Experimentatal And Numerical Investigation Of Turbojet Engine Performance, Emissions, And Noise/Vibrations Using Jet-A And F24 Fuel, John W. Mcafee Jr

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Drastic improvement in cost effectiveness of high-power computing resources has generated a great interest numerical simulation to reduce the overhead cost of engine manufacturing, maintenance, and environmental concerns of engine testing. To accomplish this goal, this research presents the differences between military F24 fuel and commercial aviation fuel Jet-A from a thermochemical and engine performance perspective. This experimental data was used to create and validate a numerical model of the engine used in the experiments fueled with both Jet-A and F24 fuels. The experimental data was collected using a research based single stage turbojet engine outfitted with many sensors for …

Machine Learning-Assisted Multiscale Simulation And Design Optimization Of Composite Jackets Under Low-Velocity Impacts, Masoud Mohammadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research presents the development of a data-driven machine learning-assisted approach to simulate and optimize the design of composite materials subjected to low-velocity impacts. It focuses on a specific type of hybrid composite comprised of fiberglass and Kevlar fabrics stitched with Kevlar threads. The study begins by creating a multiscale finite element simulation for the composite under a low-velocity impact, which operates across three scales: microscale, mesoscale, and macroscale. This simulation accepts various inputs, such as different layer configurations and orientations, and provides impact outputs including maximum load and energy absorption capacity and displacement at failure.

Python and MATLAB scripts …

Life Cycle Cost Model For Transit Bus Fleets, Connor Andrew Jack

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Life Cycle Cost Model for Transit Buses

Connor Jack

Transit agencies battle with reducing emissions while trying to be cost effective. In 2009, the Transit Cooperative Research Program Report (TCRP) 132 presented a life cycle cost model to aid in procurement evaluation [1]. The model is a life cycle cost analysis tool to estimate the overall costs of procurement and compare alternative technologies [2]. The model concentrates on pre-2007 conventional diesel, diesel hybrid with first generation diesel particulate filters, gasoline hybrid, and compressed natural gas transit buses.

The objectives of this work are to implement battery electric technology into …

Depressurization Characteristics Of Steam-Based Reciprocating Vacuum Pump, Hongling Deng

Dissertations

This dissertation introduces a novel vacuum technology that leverages low-pressure saturated steam and cooling-controlled condensation, offering an efficient way to utilize low-grade thermal energy sources like waste heat, steam, or solar energy. At the heart of this technology is a unique duo-chamber vacuum pump system, featuring a reciprocating piston and a heat-conductive wall, designed to generate a vacuum through steam-condensation and cooling processes.

The core of this research lies in developing and validating mechanistic models for the steam-condensation depressurization process, a complex phenomenon involving phase change and transport mechanisms. Prior to this work, these mechanisms were not sufficiently modeled or …

Stochastic Simulation Of Construction Methods For Multi-Purpose Utility Tunnels, Shayan Jorjam, Mohammed Mawlana, Amin Hammad

College of Architecture and the Built Environment Faculty Papers

The traditional method of installing underground utilities (e.g., water, sewer, gas pipes, electrical cables) by burying them under roads has been used for decades. However, the repeated excavations related to this method cause problems, such as traffic congestion and business disruption, which can significantly increase financial and social costs. Multi-purpose Utility Tunnels (MUTs) are a good alternative for buried utilities. Although the initial cost of MUTs is higher than that of the traditional method, social cost savings make them more feasible, especially in dense urban areas. Different factors, such as the specifications of utilities, the location of the MUTs, and …

Modeling Of Asphalt Concrete For Cross-Anisotropic Visco-Elasticity And Heterogeneity, Zafrul Hakim Khan

Civil Engineering ETDs

Asphalt Concrete (AC) is a cross-anisotropic viscoelastic material. This study has developed a methodology to backcalculate the cross-anisotropic properties of the AC layer from the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) sensor and pavement response data from embedded sensors inside a pavement section. This study has also developed a two-way coupled Multiscale Finite Element Model (MsFEM) with Phase Field Fracture (PFF) to study the microstructural heterogeneity and damage of the AC layer based on the actual field loadings. A Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) and Machine learning-based backcalculation algorithm were developed to determine the layer thickness and dielectric constant from air-coupled Ground …

Mechanical Characterization Of Functionally Graded M300 Maraging Steel Cellular Structures, Bradley Jay Sampson

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional methods for increasing the energy absorption of a structure involve using a stronger material or increasing the volume of the structure, resulting in a higher cost or additional weight. Additive manufacturing (AM) can be used to maximize the energy absorption of materials with the ability to create complex geometries such as cellular structures. Previous work has shown that the energy absorption of additively manufactured parts can be improved through functionally graded cellular structures; however, this strategy has not been applied to ultra-high strength steel materials. This work characterizes the effect of multiple functional-grading strategies (e.g. uniform, rod-graded, size-graded) on …

Code To Combustion: Cnc Rotor Replication Using Cam, Luis Luna

Publications and Research

In the current landscape, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer numerical control (CNC) technologies have greatly enhanced manufacturing processes, allowing rapid and high-precision production. This project will focus on recreating a Wankel engine rotor, using SolidWorks for design and Mastercam for Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) simulations. The process begins with SolidWorks, which is used for a template of a high-precision rotor model. Mastercam is then utilized for the CAM programming, allowing for the creation of intricate tool paths and tool usage simulations. This approach is vital for complex objects like the Wankel engine rotor, which demands high precision. The primary objective of …

4d Printing Of Pla And Pla-Based Composites For Load-Bearing Applications, Phaniteja Nagaraju

ETD Archive

This research investigates the deformation recovery of 3D-printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) shape memory polymers (SMPs). The study delves into the influence of Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) parameters, such as nozzle temperature, layer thickness, and printing speed, on the thermomechanical behavior of PLA SMP honeycomb structures. The research identifies optimal printing conditions using the Taguchi approach and explores the cyclic shape memory recovery behavior of the optimized PLA SMP under compression loads.

Additionally, the research includes a chapter on the extrusion and printing of uniform-diameter polylactic acid carbon fiber (CFR-PLA) composite filaments. The synthesis of CFR-PLA involves planetary ball milling for …