Other Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Ioto: Never Open A Stiff Lid Again, Gabriel Portugal

Libraries Award for Undergraduate Scholarship

Background: From baby food to pickles, food jars are a common find in American homes. Unfortunately,  the task of opening a stiff jar lid can be very difficult for consumers with lower grip strength, parkinsons,  or arthritis. While there are a variety of products on the market to help make this easier, there exist few jar  openers that can be used by these consumers. Objective: This project aimed to research and develop  (R&D) an improved hands-free jar opener that is accessible for consumers with the most advanced  cases of limited arm strength. Methods: R&D followed a Design Thinking approach with …

Scaling Investigations Of Wall-Bounded Turbulent Flow, Nikolay Gustenyov

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

This dissertation investigates the scaling behavior, structural organization, and modeling of turbulence in wall-bounded flows across a wide range of Reynolds numbers and surface conditions. Through high-resolution experimental studies in zero-pressure- gradient turbulent boundary layers and pipe flows (2000 < Reτ < 38 200), the wall- dependence of turbulent length scales is examined with a focus on both small-scale dissipative motions and large-scale structures. When external intermittency is properly accounted for, dissipative motions are shown to obey inner scaling even in outer- scaled regions, while large-scale motions exhibit outer scaling behavior deep into the inner region. These findings are consistent across internal (pipe) and external (boundary layer) flows and are reflected in distinct features of the longitudinal wavenumber spectrum.

The dissertation also explores the development of a turbulent boundary layer transitioning from a smooth solid wall to a liquid surface. An internal boundary layer forms in response to stochastic surface waves, resulting in increased turbulence intensity and displaced momentum relative to solid-wall cases. Near the liquid surface, turbulence generation aligns with wavenumbers corresponding to the surface waves, introducing distinct small-scale …

High-Altitude Balloon-Launched Uncrewed Aircraft System Measurements Of Atmospheric Turbulence And Qualitative Comparison With Infrasound Microphone Response, Anisa Haghighi

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

This study explores the use of a balloon-launched uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to measure atmospheric turbulence in the troposphere and lower stratosphere using both wind velocity measurements and infrasonic acoustic energy. The UAS, a glider configured for autonomous descent along a predefined trajectory, had on board, in situ sensors to capture thermodynamic and kinematic atmospheric parameters. Additionally, it carried an infrasonic microphone to evaluate its potential for remotely detecting clear-air turbulence by capturing infrasonic waves. The system’s performance was assessed over the course of three test flights conducted in New Mexico, USA, in 2021. The descent enabled high-resolution profiling, with …

Nebraska Test #2302: Claas Xerion 12.650 Terra Trac, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Nebraska Test #2300: Claas Xerion 12.590 Terra Trac, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Nebraska Test #2268: Case Ih Steiger 595, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Effect Of Build Orientation On Tensile Properties And Fractography Of Additive Manufactured Inconel 718 Alloy, Ajay Kumar Maurya, Amit Kumar, Swarnambuj Suman

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The additive manufacturing (AM) technique “Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)” is used to create 3D objects directly from 3D design data. A lightweight and complexity-free part without any expensive tooling can be fabricated easily using this method, but it is still challenging to achieve the desired mechanical strength from AM parts, as the mechanical properties of AM-produced parts vary with orientation, scan strategy, and process parameters. Inconel 718 alloy is most commonly utilized in the aerospace and automotive industries, because of its high resistance to corrosion and excellent mechanical qualities. This work presents a study to investigate the orientation-based mechanical …

A Finite Volume-Based Approach For Modeling Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Healing Chronic Wounds, Cade M. Layser

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The current number of people in America with diabetes is approximately 38.4 million, that population is expected to rise to 54.9 million by 2030. Chronic wounds, which are characterized by impaired or stalled healing, are commonly associated with diabetes. These wounds if not treated properly can cause significant complications such as sepsis, infection, and gangrene which can lead to limb amputation or death of the patient. Limb amputations can be a large financial burden and significantly reduce the patient’s quality of life. The timely and efficient treatment of chronic wounds is essential to prevent adverse patient outcomes. Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy …

Cost-Effective Brake Rotor Resurfacing Tool, Raider Morgan, Benjamin Vaughan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Brake rotors can develop uneven spots over time, causing vibration and poor braking performance. Commercial brake lathes are effective but often too expensive or complicated for at-home mechanics. This project aimed to create a low-cost tool, around $200–$300, to resurface four rotors in under two hours. We explored two main designs: a pad file system and a motorized endmill powered by a handheld drill. Calculations ultimately showed that the pad file was not viable, so the final prototype produced was the endmill-based design. Our testing showed we were limited by poor stiffness in the endmill and unforeseen loading. Although the …

Zips Baja Chassis Manufacturing Design, Alex Love, David Scruppi

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Society of Automotive (SAE) annually organizes collegiate design team competitions for university organizations nationwide. Baja SAE tasks teams comprised entirely of students with developing, iterating, manufacturing, testing, and competing with an offroad race buggy in accordance with all SAE regulations. Teams are responsible for producing a tech compliant vehicle for each competition season, travelling across the United States to put their designs to the test. In the 2022-2023 competition season, SAE introduced ruleset clarifications on the chassis manufacturing process, essentially mandating the production of all vehicle frames to be manufactured entirely in house with no external assistance. A chassis …

Dual Rotating Mount For Forward Facing Sonar, Javid Miller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to create a mount for forward facing sonar (FFS) that will allow anglers to be able to rotate their sonar transducer manually, or in unison with their trolling motor. When in use with the trolling motor, the rotation will be transferred using a belt and pulley assembly. This assembly will be able to be disengaged to allow for manual rotation. This device is designed for use with the Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor.

Design And Development Of A Rapid Tensile Quench Rig, Tyler Jewell, Justin Naylor

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report outlines the design process and implantation of a tensile quenching rig that incorporated forced convection and a frequency generator. When any metal is quenched, a vapor barrier forms around it. When this happens, it limits the heat flux that may occur until the barrier turns into just nucleate boiling. The vapor barrier acts as an insulator and causes the heat flux to fluctuate, causing uneven hardening which would limit the use of some materials. To combat this effect, we are trying to use forced convection, and something new, which is adding high frequency waves into the quenching process. …

Measuring Occupant Controlled Ventilation And Cooking Frequency To Aid In Modeling Energy Performance Of Northern Michigan Homes, Jacob J. Chizek

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research investigates the real-world interplay between energy efficiency and indoor air quality. We explore how home ventilation strategies, heating systems, and weatherization levels in rural homes interact. As part of a larger study on air quality, 17 homes participated in the study. Specifically, this research shows the results and methods for monitoring cooking frequency, kitchen range hood use, and bathroom fan use over two, month-long study periods to build accurate energy and contaminant transport models of homes that were studied. Energy audits to document home characteristics were conducted, including blower door testing and detailed qualitative data regarding the homes’ …

Linking Molecular Structure Evolution To Mechanical Degradation During Environmental Aging In Conventional And Recyclable Epoxy Systems, Ben T. Jewell

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The long-term performance of polymeric materials in extreme environments is governed by complex chemical and physical aging processes that alter their molecular structure and mechanical integrity. Conventional thermoset epoxies, while widely used in structural applications, are particularly susceptible to oxidative degradation at elevated temperatures, leading to embrittlement and loss of structural integrity. In the first part of this work, diffusion-limited oxidation (DLO) in a bulk structural epoxy was systematically investigated to establish the link between heterogeneous microstructural evolution and macroscopic mechanical degradation. High-temperature oxidation experiments were conducted in a controlled environmental chamber, and the resulting chemical, thermal, and mechanical changes …

Bio-Inspired Airfoil Design Based On The Aerodynamic Analysis Of A Bird Feather Microstructure, Jack C. Ihm

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of a bio-inspired airfoil design based on the microstructure of a secondary feather from a female wood duck. The research hypothesized that incorporating barbs and barbules into an airfoil design would modify boundary layer behavior by introducing localized flow disturbances. To test this, a bio-inspired airfoil was developed by integrating the microstructure into a NACA 0012 airfoil and analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations at angles of attack of 0°, 5°, 10°, and 15°. The results showed that the bio-inspired airfoil influenced boundary layer behavior, producing localized flow disturbances near x/c = 0.7 …

Ease Of Product Disassembly Through A Systematic Structured Time-Based Design For Disassembly Methodology, Emeka S. Igwe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This research introduces a systematic time-based design for disassembly (DfD) framework aimed at optimizing product disassembly by addressing important features like liaisons between components in product, component accessibility and the overall modularity of the product. This study specifically covers electromechanical and mechatronic systems in both household and industrial setup, identifying their disassembly challenges and high value pointers for improvement. The methodology involves using a design for disassembly framework called LeanDfD in carrying out a holistic disassembly process and evaluating quantitative metrics like disassembly time and complexity and suggesting further redesign strategies to minimize disassembly time and cost. Adopting this systematic …

Dynamically Scaling Biomimetic Robots Through Parallel Viscoelastic Actuators, Foster Olaf Holmquist

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Robots provide a unique proving ground for testing scientists’ understanding of neuromuscular systems. Synergistically, mimicking biological control laws and mechanics could offer robotics the robust and adaptive locomotion of animals. Previous work has utilized the wealth of research on insect biomechanics to develop scaled robotic models but doing so presented a problem: while these robots’ larger scale has simplified manufacturing, the scale has also shifted its mechanics from those of the modeled organisms. While animals walk, forces are generated that describe their mechanics and influence motor control. The musculoskeletal structure and stretch of muscles result in viscous and elastic forces, …

Characterization Of Properties And Defects Of Alternative Matrix Materials For 3d Printed Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites, Noah Darren Osborne

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, has the potential to transform the production of end-use parts by facilitating the creation of complex shaped, low-volume components that are expensive to manufacture using traditional methods. However, thermoplastic polymer matrices currently utilized in 3D printing of carbon fiber composites, often lack the mechanical properties needed for aerospace applications. To address this issue, researchers have developed fiber-reinforced 3D-printed composites using an innovative two-step process which involves printing 3D preforms using fused deposition modeling, followed by compression molding. However, most previous work involves the use of nylon-based polymer matrices while there are a number …

Multi-Objective Monitoring Of Cvd Diamond Micro-Grinding Tools Using Acoustic Emission And Force Signals With Neural Network Optimization, Ahmed Elkaseer, Jianfei Jia, Bianbian Meng, Bing Guo, Jun Qin, Guicheng Wu, Huan Zhao, Zhenfei Guo, Qingyu Meng, Qingliang Zhao, Honghui Yao, Amr Monier

Mechanical Engineering

Micro-grinding has been widely used in aerospace and other industry, and its application was mainly the asymmetric microstructure. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) diamond has drawn attention for its good wear resistance. However, the small diameter and high spindle speed may cause difficulties on the monitoring of the micro-grinding processes. In order to solve the mentioned problem, a novel multi-objective monitoring method of structured CVD diamond micro-grinding tool based on acoustic emission (AE) and force signals is presented in this study to achieve the high efficiency of the tool condition and grinding quality. The relationship between the grinding quality, tool condition, …

An Investigation Into Energy Consumption And V2g Potential Of An Electric School Bus Fleet, Rupesh Dahal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The transition towards sustainable public transportation demands detailed evaluation of alternative fuel technologies. This thesis presents a comprehensive energy assessment and comparative analysis of diesel and electric school buses (ESBs) operating within the Monongalia County school district, its Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) potential, and efficiency analysis of charging system. Utilizing real-world operational data collected from buses running identical routes, the study quantifies and compares their mileage specific energy consumption. The analysis reveals an average fuel economy of approximately 6.17 miles per gallon (MPG) for the conventional diesel school bus, contrasted with an average energy consumption rate of 0.46 miles per kilowatt-hour (miles/kWh) …