Digital Commons Network^™

2026 Spring Graduate Recognition Program, Propulsion Research Center, Robert Frederick

PRC Graduate Recognition

This program includes the graduate recognition program for spring 2026. Includes photographs, upcoming events, recent publications, and student profiles.

Development And Validation Of The Ampere Scale: Measuring Adaptive And Maladaptive Perfectionism In Engineering Students, Haleh B. Brotherton

All Dissertations

Perfectionism refers to the inclination to set very high expectations for oneself, which can at times encourage personal development and at other times lead to stress and a sense of pressure. Perfectionism is widely observed among engineering students; however, instruments that distinguish adaptive striving from concern-driven tendencies in the engineering context remain limited. My study is based on the development and validation of the AMPERE (Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism in Engineering) scale through a three-phase process: (I) expert review with two domain experts to establish content validity; (II) cognitive interviews with seven undergraduates to refine wording and interpretability; and (III) …

Generative Ai Of Breast Cancer Progression In Gene Expression Space, Xusheng Ai

All Dissertations

Breast cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers in the world. Although doctors can use gene activity data to better understand different types of breast cancer, it is still difficult to identify the most important genes and to track how the disease changes over time. This is partly because gene data are very large and complex.

This dissertation develops a computer-based framework to study breast cancer using gene expression data. The work focuses on three goals: creating realistic synthetic gene data, identifying important genes linked to cancer, and modeling how breast cancer changes from normal tissue to …

Safe Control Design For Quadruped Locomotion In Unstructured Environments Using Linear Transfer Operators, Sriram Sundar Krishnamoorthy Shankara Narayanan

All Dissertations

Deploying quadruped robots in unstructured, obstacle-rich environments requires control and planning methods that remain safe and reliable despite complex terrain geometry, limited sensing, and inevitable modeling errors. This thesis develops operator-theoretic tools for safe control design of robotic systems using linear transfer operators, with a focus on quadruped locomotion in unstructured environments. The central goal is to develop a unified operator-theoretic framework for safe control design based on the Perron–Frobenius (P–F) and Koopman operators. In particular, the thesis leverages \emph{density functions} to develop safe navigation frameworks in the dual space of densities. In the operator-theoretic perspective, the P–F operator governs …

Baseline Cervical Intervertebral Disc Biomechanics And Implications For Allograft Preservation, Nathan F. Buchweitz

All Dissertations

Neck pain has become an increasingly common orthopaedic healthcare issue. Evidence shows that degeneration of cervical intervertebral discs (the cartilage between the spinal vertebrae in the neck) may be associated. While disc degeneration in the lumbar spine has been extensively studied in relation to low back pain, it has received less attention in the cervical spine. Biomechanically, the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions of the spine differ in function. Lumbar discs resist a greater burden of body weight, whereas cervical discs are adapted for mobility to aid flexible head orientation. Despite these key differences, disc injury and degeneration …

A Machine Learning Framework For Early-Stage Cost Estimation Of Transportation Projects, Pritom Paul

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To address the limitations of traditional planning-level cost estimating methods, such as reliance on statewide averages, heavy reliance on engineering judgment, and high levels of inaccuracy, this study developed two data-driven frameworks and corresponding tools. The first framework focused on resurfacing projects and used treatment-specific simple linear regression based on lane miles and geographic location. The second addressed a broader group of construction projects and used multiple linear regression with project length, route type, and right-of-way cost as key predictors. In both frameworks, the final estimates are computed by aggregating multiple estimates produced by county-, region-, and state-level models. The …

Examining The Effects Of Lateral Loading On Railroad Tapered Roller Bearings, Abel David Sanchez Trinidad

Theses and Dissertations

The loading conditions experienced by freight railcar bearings vary as a function of vehicle operating conditions. Under static conditions, bearings are primarily subjected to radial loads transmitted through the wheelset. During operation, however, track irregularities, braking events, railcar load imbalances, and curving introduce complex impact, longitudinal, and lateral forces in addition to the normal radial loading. These lateral forces increase friction within the bearing raceways, which could accelerate wear and potentially lead to premature spall initiation and propagation. While prior research at the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) has demonstrated that vibration signatures can be used to detect …

Detecting Sophisticated Cyberattacks On Public Water Infrastructure, Ayrton Purdy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

In recent years there has been an increasing number of cyberattacks on public water generation and distribution systems. Advanced persistent attackers could usurp sensors and control systems to contaminate public drinking water. In order to conceal their malicious activity, they can manipulate sensor data flows to give the appearance of normal activity. The compromised sensors would report normal chemical levels even though unsafe water is entering the distribution system. In response, this research proposes a multi-sensor, cross-comparison approach to anomaly detection. The proposed approach is designed to detect sophisticated cyberattacks which are not easily detectable using traditional cyber tools. The …

Developing A Framework For Microchip Design Recovery, Eric Diep

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Due to the increase in diverse chip production over the past decade, reverse engineering has become a difficult and daunting task. This research develops a methodology for microchip design recovery, seeking to validate and reproduce prior approaches to physical reverse engineering using low-cost tools and techniques. We used mechanical hardware abrasion tools and techniques to delayer and capture silicon integrated chip (IC) layout. We focused on the Mifare Classic EVl microchip, commonly implemented in public transit/transportation cards, to extract information for design recovery. The research explores limitations and advantages of mechanical abrasion and optical microscopy in context to modem chip …

A Baseline Study Of Artificial Intelligence Use Among Chemical Engineering Undergraduates At The University Of Arkansas, Natalie J. Erickson

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has shifted from a novel innovation to a tool used in daily life, particularly within higher education. While anecdotal evidence suggests high levels of student engagement with AI, empirical data regarding usage patterns remains limited. This baseline study investigates AI integration among undergraduate chemical engineering students at the University of Arkansas. Through an anonymous survey (N=68; comprising 20 freshmen, 14 sophomores, 16 juniors, and 18 seniors), researchers assessed usage frequency, student comfort levels, and their evolving relationship with AI tools. The findings reveal that 75% of respondents utilize AI for coursework at least once …

From Kernel To Carbon Footprint: Using Life Cycle Analysis To Teach Sustainability In Chemical Engineering, Neal Z. Kinney

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many chemical engineering departments in the United States are currently lacking developed sustainability coursework, leaving many students without a developed understanding of topics such as life cycle analysis (LCA). [1] Therefore, there is a need for engaging and flexible educational tools that can be easily incorporated into course frameworks. This study develops an interactive learning module, expanding upon the work from Pollution Prevention Through Popcorn, a study developed by Rowan University. [2] The module combines experimental analysis of popcorn popping methods with life cycle assessment using OpenLCA to evaluate the environmental impacts of common types of popcorn packaging. Results of …

Performance Of Zirconia-Based Catalysts For Cold Plasma-Assisted Dry Methane Reforming, Levi Pile

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study investigates the performance of zirconia-based catalysts in non-thermal plasma (NTP)–assisted dry methane reforming (DMR) for synthesis gas (syngas) production. This work explores an alternative pathway for converting carbon dioxide and methane into valuable products under milder conditions than conventional thermal processes. Experiments were conducted in a radiofrequency plasma reactor to evaluate the effects of plasma power, feed flow rate, and reactant ratios on conversion efficiency. The performance of plasma-only conditions was compared with packed-bed systems using zirconia catalysts. Results show that plasma-only systems achieved modest conversion rates (~16.5% for CH₄ and ~12.0% for CO₂), while …

Cationic Polymer-Grafted Magnetic Nanoparticles For Enhanced Removal Of Anionic Dyes From Wastewater, Joia A. Traver

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Water scarcity and pollution are escalating global challenges, with textile industry wastewater often enriched with toxic dyes posing significant risks to environmental and human health. These contaminants increase turbidity, reduce dissolved oxygen levels, and ultimately impair aquatic ecosystems. This thesis focuses on the remediation of dye-contaminated water using nanoscale polymeric adsorbents. Methyl orange, a common anionic dye widely used in textile and leather industries, was selected as the model contaminant due to its terminal sulfonate group, which enables strong electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions with cationic functional materials.

In this work, magnetic nanoparticles grafted with cationic polymers were synthesized and evaluated …

Demonstration Of The Relationship Between Irwin Spire Quantity And Boundary Layer Depth In The Chemical Hazards Research Center Wind Tunnel, Jace D. Beckwith

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Atmospheric Dispersion Models (ADMs) are computer-based simulations used to model gas releases for enforcing regulatory compliance, designing facilities, and responding to emergencies. Because ADMs rely on complex mathematical models, they require experimental validation to ensure accuracy. Wind tunnels offer a controlled, repeatable method for gathering validation data. The Chemical Hazards Research Center (CHRC) at the University of Arkansas operates an ultra-low speed wind tunnel for this purpose. A key feature of this tunnel is its simulated Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL). The simulated ABL is a turbulent layer in which wind speed increases logarithmically with height from near zero at the …

Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Bike-Share Use In A Small City: A Case Study Of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Brianna L. Buenger

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many small and mid-sized cities in the United States face ongoing transportation challenges due to limited public transit options. This can prevent residents from being able to reach essential destinations. While bikeshare systems have been widely studied in large metropolitan areas, there is limited understanding of how usage patterns vary across space, time, and trip characteristics in small-city contexts. This study addresses this gap by examining spatial and temporal patterns of bikeshare use in a small U.S. city through a case study of the Fort Smith, Arkansas, SMILIES bikeshare program. Using approximately 10,000 trips over three years, the analysis examines …

Design And Reliability Analysis Of A Radiation-Tolerant On-Board Computer System For Martian Surface Missions, Jack Ryan

Master's Theses

Space environments present complex challenges for electronic devices, perhaps most notably in the form of radiation effects; the natural protections provided by Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere are largely absent in deep space and extraterrestrial environments, making single-event effects (SEE) a critical concern. Although radiation-hardened components offer near-immunity to SEE, they possess tremendous drawbacks in both cost and performance. To circumvent such issues, this thesis investigates the feasibility of leveraging a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) device, the AMD KRIA K24 system-on-module (SOM), for use in Martian surface missions.

Detailed models were used to predict SEE rates in the system, and system-level fault tree …

Post-Vote Tampering In Nigerian Elections And The Role Of Blockchain-Enabled Electoral Systems, Ransome Chukwubuikem Enechukwu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Post-vote tampering during the collation and transmission of election results remains a persistent challenge in Nigerian elections, enabling manipulation of already-cast votes and weakening public trust in electoral outcomes. Existing technological interventions, including biometric voter accreditation and digital result transmission systems, improve voter authentication but do not adequately secure the post-vote result collation process. This thesis proposes a blockchain-enabled framework designed to protect the integrity of election results during the collation and transmission stages. Using a Design Science Research methodology, the study develops a permissioned blockchain framework based on Hyperledger Fabric that records polling-unit results as immutable ledger entries and …

Ihelp Foundation 2025 Uganda Medical Mission, Kade Spencer Robison

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Uganda faces significant barriers to health care access, particularly in rural communities, due to physician shortages and limited resources. As a result, care is concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations disproportionately affected by both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

This Honors Capstone project focused on preparing for and supporting the iHelp Foundation’s 2025 Uganda Medical Mission. The iHelp Foundation works to reduce barriers to care in Uganda by partnering with local hospitals to provide short-term rural clinics and specialized surgical care for advanced otolaryngological conditions.

In this project, I contributed to mission preparation by training volunteers and coordinating physician licensing. …

Automating Building Feature Recognition In Digital Twin Models Using Computer Vision, Jaron Harbison

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Standard 3D scans treat all surfaces as generic geometry, but Wi-Fi signals don't. A signal drops by a different magnitude through a wooden door than a concrete wall. Without labeling these materials, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) cannot accurately predict "dead zones". This project addresses that gap by creating a machine learning model that identifies structural and architectural features. This includes features such as walls, doors, windows, and columns directly from RGB-D (Red, Green, Blue, Depth) point cloud data. 

I constructed the model on a custom U-Net architecture featuring a symmetric encoder-decoder structure with skip connections, trained on the StructScan3D dataset …

Ngc - Torch Test Ablation Stand Improvements And Upgrades, Sarah Nelson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This capstone project is sponsored by Northrop Grumman (NGC). The goal of the project is to redesign an ablation torch testing system to improve usability, safety, and versatility. Northrop Grumman relies on their ablation torch testing system to conduct quantitative evaluations of materials and high stress and high temperature conditions. The system provides essential data that supports product development, safety validation, and compliance with performance standards. By improving usability, safety, and versatility, NGC will be able to streamline testing operations, increase accuracy of results, and reduce operator risk. The system must allow testing using both a bent and straight torch …

Mitigating Clay Contamination In Field Sands To Prevent Early Age Failure In Asphalt Mixtures, Suhail Rashid Vaid

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Field sands are commonly incorporated into hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements due to their availability and cost-effectiveness compared to crushed aggregates, primarily to enhance workability. Their usage, however, is generally restricted to no more than 10% of the total aggregate content because of concerns regarding their potential negative influence on pavement performance. A major concern is the presence of deleterious clay particles, which can substantially affect the behavior of asphalt concrete (AC). This research explored how clay minerals influence AC performance by examining Superpave mixtures and characterizing both clay and sand properties. The methylene blue value (MBV) was employed to …

Effective Prediction Of Martensite Start Temperature By Hybrid Machine Learning And Ethical A.I. In Materials Science, Agniprava Banerjee

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The martensite start temperature Ms governs heat treatment design and mechanical property development in martensitic steel alloys. Accurate prediction of Ms from chemical composition alone would accelerate alloy development, yet existing empirical equations lack accuracy for multi-component steels and purely data-driven models provide no physically principled behavior outside their training domain. This dissertation develops a hybrid machine learning-physics framework for predicting Ms in steel alloys from composition. The MAP Cambridge dataset (1,020 cleaned records, 15 alloying elements) is processed through a five-stage cleaning pipeline and a 21-feature physics augmented representation, including the Ghosh-Olson Ms thermodynamic prediction as an explicit feature. …

Development Of A Simulation-Driven Evaluation System For Foreign Objects In Aircraft Structures, Daniela Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates the use of simulation-driven methods to evaluate the behavior and potential impact of foreign objects within aircraft structures. Foreign Object Damage (FOD) remains a major concern in aerospace safety, as small components unintentionally left inside aircraft compartments can create uncertainty regarding their effect during flight. Although current inspection methods can detect the presence of foreign objects (FOs), they often cannot determine whether these objects pose a significant structural risk, leading to conservative maintenance decisions. To address this limitation, this work develops a simulation-based framework that integrates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to evaluate …

An Approach To Incorporate Skid Resistance Into Balanced Asphalt Mix Design Framework, Sandeep Reddy Gottam

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Balanced Mix Design (BMD) process aims to achieve an economical blend of aggregates, binder, and additives for satisfactory performance against rutting and cracking-related distresses, compared to volumetric design methods. Although the BMD process improves the structural performance of pavements, functional performance is essential for the comfort and safety of road users. Road user comfort is influenced by pavement distresses, while road user safety is largely determined by the skid resistance (frictional resistance) of the pavement. The aim of this dissertation was to incorporate skid resistance into the BMD framework through an approach. To develop an approach that integrates with …

Quantifying Spatiotemporal Ev In-Motion Load Dynamics For Flexible Distribution Grid Operations, Travis Newbolt

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The emergence of novel in-motion Electric Vehicle (EV) charging through Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology is enabling the transformation of traditional roadway infrastructures into fully integrated Electrified Transportation Networks (ETNs) by the direct coupling of roadways with electric power grids. This paradigm has the potential to improve charging safety, extend driving ranges, reduce EV manufacturing costs through smaller battery sizes, and shift EV charging demand to periods when Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are more readily available. In addition, the transition to ETNs can improve air quality and reduce noise pollution by displacing fossil fuel consumption from vehicles to centralized …

A Systems Engineering-Based Method For Enabling Digital Transformation In A Binational Small Healthcare Enterprise, Manuel Adrian Alvarez Ramirez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The year 2020, often described as "the great accelerator" for emerging technologies, marked a period of significant transformation in lifestyles, work patterns, and business strategies. For instance, online meetings have become more convenient than in-person interactions, even with colleagues in neighboring offices. For small businesses, rapid regulatory and technological changes required swift adaptation, including the acquisition of new technologies, tools, and software to ensure survival. This transition also necessitated adopting indirect engagement, revising communication protocols, and digitally transforming information. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in essential service sectors face also a fundamental paradox: their dependence on the skills, relationships, and …

Design And Optimization To Advance Silicon Carbide Modules For Medium Voltage High Power Applications, Ahmed Ismail

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The commercial availability of the first 10 kV silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET removes the principal semiconductor barrier to medium-voltage power conversion, enabling converter topologies that are structurally inaccessible to silicon IGBT solutions at this voltage class. This dissertation presents the characterization infrastructure, device-level data, and preliminary system-level validation needed to advance the deployment of the third-generation 10 kV SiC MOSFET in converter applications. A custom-built 10 kV double-pulse test platform is developed with a fully documented component-sizing methodology, custom medium-voltage magnetics, and a measurement infrastructure capable of high bandwidth waveform capture at kilovolt common-mode potentials. On this platform, the third-generation …

Asynchronous Polymorphic Logic Locking, Kelby Haulmark

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work presents Asynchronous Polymorphic Logic Locking (APLL), a logic locking methodology that integrates polymorphic logic within the Multi-Threshold NULL Convention Logic (MTNCL) paradigm. APLL achieves Boolean satisfiability-attack resilience through a fault-based logic stripping approach followed by logic restoration, while leveraging the analog, dual-functionality of polymorphic gates to impede reverse engineering and removal attacks. In contrast to comparable SAT-resistant logic locking techniques, APLL provides inherent resistance to reverse engineering, reducing the viability of a broad class of attacks that rely on access to the locked netlist. A complete automated design flow is developed, enabling the transformation of combinational circuits into …

Development And Characterization Of 1200v And 1700v Sic Schottky Barrier Diode For Power Electronics Applications, Nur-E-Afra Anika

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The growing demand for energy-efficient, high performance power electronics in applications such as renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, industrial motor drives, and aerospace has accelerated the development of wide bandgap semiconductors like Silicon Carbide (SiC). This thesis focuses on the development and characterization of 1200V and 1700V SiC Schottky Barrier Diodes (SBDs), focusing on their performance optimization for power electronics applications. The key parameters and figure of merits for SiC Schottky barrier diode (SBD) is discussed. Commercially available 1200V and 1700V SBDs are characterized and key design parameters like drift region length, active area, and carrier concentration are extracted. The …

Recovery And Evaluation Of A Germanium Infrared Camera, Michael Paszek

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Short-wave infrared imagers made of germanium are a promising way to extend silicon-compatible imaging beyond the visible spectrum. They also use mature CMOS fabrication and readout electronics. This thesis details the recovery, initialization, and evaluation of a germanium focal plane array (FPA) infrared camera system using both a sealed TriWave camera and a modular prototype platform. Functionality was restored to this legacy hardware, and repeatable testing workflows were established for evaluating packaged infrared imagers under controlled indoor and outdoor conditions. The prototype used a custom software interface named Merlott for evaluation, and it followed a standard sequence that included checking …