Digital Commons Network^™

Data File For Kaizen Event Research, Jen Schoenherr

Michigan Tech Research Data

Research was performed to determine if Kaizen teams that used Cartooning as one of the lean tools available for problem solving were more successful in achieving the stated Kaizen goals

Construction Project Performance Research: A Bibliometric, Scientometric, And Qualitative Review (1989–2023), Abdelnaser Abdelhameed, Mohamed S. Yamany, Ahmed Abdelaty, Emad Elbeltagi

Faculty Publications

Despite the significant increase in publications on construction project performance (CPP), there is a deficiency of research that rigorously assesses and synthesizes previous studies to delineate the field’s development, themes, and research gaps. This article employs quantitative and qualitative methodologies to critically evaluate studies on CPP published over the last three decades and indexed in the Scopus database. The quantitative approach includes bibliometric searches and scientometric analyses to assess the extent of research interest and achievements. The qualitative methodology aims to conduct thorough content analysis to classify existing material based on prevalent themes. The results demonstrate an exponential growth of …

Biologically-Inspired Multiscale Neuromorphic Architecture, Christian O'Reilly, Ramtin Zand

Publications

This white paper proposes a biologically-inspired multiscale neuromorphic architecture that bridges key gaps between artificial neural networks (ANNs), spiking neural networks (SNNs), and biological neural networks (BNNs). While SNNs offer promising energy efficiency, their broader adoption remains limited by suboptimal performance and the need for novel learning paradigms. To address these challenges, the proposed framework integrates structural and functional principles observed in the brain, including hierarchical organization, sparse and modular connectivity, predictive coding, and diverse neuronal dynamics.

The architecture operates across micro-, meso-, and macro-scales, incorporating neuron-level diversity (e.g., excitatory/inhibitory and principal/support cells), canonical microcircuits (CMCs), and large-scale hierarchical organization. …

After A Wildfire: Considerations For Building Environmental Testing, Andrew J. Whelton, E. Bollens, C. Ferrarezzi

Resilience to Emergencies and Disasters

No abstract provided.

Ice-Templated Zwitterionic Sponge Hydrogels For Stable And Efficient Solar Desalination In High-Salinity Brines, Louis D. Zhang, Yanhui Zhang, Peng Xiao, Chang Zhang

University Research

Solar-driven steam generation (SSG) offers a sustainable pathway for desalination, yet achieving temperature-regulated control over macroporous structures in salt-tolerant hydrogels remains a critical challenge. Here, we report a carbon black-coated PDMAPS sponge hydrogel (PDMAPS-CB-SH) fabricated via an ice-templated polymerization strategy, where the pore size and connectivity are tuned by regulating ice-crystal growth at different prefreezing temperatures. The optimized PDMAPS-CB-SH integrates abundant interconnected pores with the intrinsic antipolyelectrolyte effect of zwitterionic networks, enabling rapid water transport and stable swelling in brines up to 10 wt % NaCl. Upon incorporation of carbon black nanoparticles, the hydrogel evaporator achieves a high evaporation rate …

Data For "Unified Vapor Pressure Correlations For Lanthanide And Actinide Chlorides: An In-Depth Statistical And Thermodynamic Approach", J. Marvin Torrie, Nicolas Marvin Christensen, Kyle Duke, Carlos Mejia, Larry Baxter, Devin Rappleye

ScholarsArchive Data

This submission contains machine readable data (.csv) for all data from the publication "Unified Vapor Pressure Correlations for Lanthanide and Actinide Chlorides: An In-depth Statistical and Thermodynamic Approach". It contains the data contained in all figures in the paper and its supplementary material except for the water vapor pressure data in Figures 1 and 2. In addition, this submission contains all the original vapor pressure measurements (241 sets) from the sources reviewed in the paper.  Sufficient information is provided that readers can identify the original sources of these data sets if needed.

Use Of Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy In Thickness Gauging Of A Complex-Shaped Lead Shield, Joseph T. Graham, Brian Durtschi, Ashish Avachat, Seth Kilby

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Methods for measuring the thickness of lead shielding based on ⁶⁰Co gamma-ray spectroscopy are presented. In applications where a shield's thickness is multiple mean free paths and the shield has a complex shape (i.e. cannot be approximated as a simple solid such as a slab, sphere, semi-infinite medium, etc.), the necessary buildup factors are not available. Thus, determination of shield thickness by means of the Beer–Lambert law requires separating the counts from uncollided photons from the scattered photon contribution. It is demonstrated how the 1332 keV gamma ray of ⁶⁰Co can be used to precisely quantify lead thicknesses …

Modeling And Characterizing The Electron Backscatter In A Cylindrical Anode-Based Distributed X-Ray Source, Jordan Fox, Seth Kilby, Hyoung Koo Lee, Ayodeji Alajo, Ashish Avachat

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Upcoming advancements in computed tomography architectures warrants the investigation of new X-ray source designs and the impacts that electron backscatter can have on these designs. One such design being investigated is a distributed, cylindrical anode-based X-ray source. For such a distributed X-ray source, we developed a modeling pipeline for simulating electron optics and transport to characterize the quality of the primary X-ray beam and the electron backscatter behavior. We report our results on the energy distributions of the bremsstrahlung spectra; electron backscatter ratio; and spatial, temporal, and energy distributions of backscattered electrons that return to the anode.

Full Core Fuel Burnup Assessment Of The Itu Triga Mark Ii Research Reactor Using Gamma Spectroscopy, Z. Boduroglu, A. Kaya, O. Erbay, I. A. Reyhancan, M. S. Kiziltas, T. Akyurek

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the burnup distribution of fuel elements in the ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor core through gamma spectroscopy using¹³⁷Cs as a burnup indicator. Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) techniques were employed to analyze fuel depletion, utilizing a specialized fuel investigation system installed above the reactor pool. The results indicate that the highest burnup values, exceeding 5 %, were concentrated in the inner core rings (B and C) due to intense neutron flux exposure, while the outer rings (D, E, F) exhibited lower burnup levels. To address this asymmetric distribution, a proposed fuel reshuffling strategy was analyzed, aiming …

Numerical Investigation Of A Dual-Mode Shape Memory Alloy Stent Enabling Secondary Expansion Via Focused Ultrasound: A Potential Strategy For Correcting In-Stent Restenosis, Stephen Asare, Lucinda Duncan, Josiah Owusu-Danquah, Brian L. Davis

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Coronary stent implantation is an invasive procedure performed to correct atherosclerosis. The aftermath of this procedure is identified with neointimal hyperplasia, which contributes to in-stent restenosis (ISR), and thus remains a significant clinical challenge. This study introduces a novel, noninvasive conceptual approach for addressing ISR through the thermal activation of shape memory alloy (SMA) stent using focused ultrasound (FU) in a controlled manner to restore luminal patency. COMSOL Multiphysics and ABAQUS finite element software were employed to perform the numerical modeling to simulate the thermal and mechanical responses of the SMA stent integrated into the arterial wall. After 15 s …

Nondestructive Burnup Evaluation And Gamma Spectroscopy Analysis Of Spent Fuel Elements In The Itu Triga Mark Ii Research Reactor, A. Kaya, O. Erbay, Z. Boduroglu, I. A. Reyhancan, M. S. Kiziltas, T. Akyurek

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study presents a comprehensive burnup analysis of all fuel elements in the ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor core using non-destructive assay (NDA) techniques based on gamma spectroscopy. Two distinct fuel inspection systems were employed to measure the gamma activity, with¹³⁷Cs used as the primary burnup indicator due to its strong correlation with fuel depletion. The results show a clear burnup pattern, with higher values in the inner core rings that gradually decreases toward the outer rings. This asymmetric burnup distribution underscores the need for reactor core reconfiguration, for which an optimized layout is proposed. Additionally, gamma …

Hybrid Data-Driven Cement-Stabilized Soil Design: An Integration Of Machine Learning, Multi-Objective Optimization, And Life Cycle Assessment, Chikezie Chimere Onyekwena, Yunli Li, Ikenna J. Okeke, Ubani Obinna Uzodimma, Monday Uchenna Okoronkwo, Wenping Wu

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Soil stabilization is crucial in geotechnical engineering, yet conventional methods are often time-consuming, resource-intensive, and environmentally unsustainable. Despite growing interest in Machine Learning (ML) and optimization tools for mix design, few studies integrate these methods with decision-making techniques and environmental assessment to support practical implementation. This study proposes a hybrid data-driven framework for predicting strength, optimizing mix compositions, and evaluating environmental impacts via life cycle assessment of cement-stabilized soft soils. Six ML models were evaluated, and the top-performing eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model was further improved using the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO). The optimized XGB-GWO model, integrated with a polynomial …

Nanocatalytic Enhancement Of Local Heat Transfer In Continuous-Flow Thermal Reactors, Nasser Zouli, Nujud Maslamani, Ayman Yousef, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the thermal conductivity (TC) and local heat-transfer coefficients (LHTCs) of nanofluids containing alumina (Al₂O₃), hematite (Fe₂O₃), and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles dispersed in deionized water. A newly developed non-invasive LHTC probe was integrated into the inner wall of the test section to enable direct quantification of interfacial heat-transfer performance. The measurements were conducted under laminar and turbulent flow conditons across Reynolds numbers ranging from 1000 to 10,000. The selected nanoparticles were chosen based on their high intrinsic thermal conductivity, cost effectiveness, and, in the case …

Generative Artificial Intelligence In Aircraft Design Optimization, Xiaosong Du

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Aircraft design optimization is essential for improving aircraft performance (such as reduced fuel consumption and lowered noise), which leads to more efficient, sustainable, and affordable aircraft. Conventional aircraft design adopts physics-based simulation models, but iteratively evaluating simulation models is computationally intensive, or even practically impossible. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a revolutionary game changer in the modern engineering industry, including aircraft design optimization. Generative AI (genAI), one of the groundbreaking AI methods, has been advancing aircraft design optimization from various aspects, including intelligent parameterization, predictive modeling, training facilitation, and constraints handling. However, there is a lack of a review …

Advances And Challenges In Nano-Modified Cementitious Composites: Mechanisms, Dispersion Strategies, And Impact On Mechanical Properties, Fatemeh Mohammadi Ghahsareh, Pengwei Guo, Nusrath Jaha, Yi Bao, Kamal H. Khayat, Weina Meng

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nanomaterials are increasingly utilized to enhance the mechanical properties, durability, and functionality of concrete materials but face challenges such as agglomeration and uneven dispersion in cementitious systems, which can offset the intended improvements. This paper reviews the advances and challenges associated with nano-modified cementitious composites, elucidating fundamental mechanisms and highlighting strategies for overcoming the challenges through experimental and computing techniques. The reviewed contents include (1) the classification of nanomaterials commonly used in cementitious systems and the mechanisms through which they enhance the mechanical properties of cementitious composites; (2) challenges of nanomaterials such as agglomeration in water, re-agglomeration in cementitious systems, …

Fiscal Year 2023 Fhwa-536 Report For The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Doug Kreis, Candice Wallace, Bryan Gibson, Sarah Mccormack

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Every other year, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires that states submit a Local Highway Finance Report (FHWA-536) to the agency. This report summarizes data on local highway finances and is used by FHWA to evaluate relationships between and changes in revenues, expenditures and investment patterns, and financial trends. This report presents information submitted by Kentucky in its fiscal year (FY) 2023 FHWA-536. Total receipts from local, state, and federal sources used for road and street infrastructure equaled approximately $1.11 billion. Local sources of funding accounted for the largest share of total receipts (47%), followed by state government sources (45%), …

Kytc Digital Project Delivery Phase 1 Summary, Rachel Catchings

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) launched its Digital Project Delivery (DPD) Initiative in September 2020 with the goal of expanding the use of digitally formatted plan and project information throughout the transportation asset life cycle, from project delivery through asset management. KYTC retained Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) staff with expertise in construction and design to facilitate DPD implementation. This document summarizes DPD-related efforts undertaken by the Cabinet over the past five years. Key activities completed during this period include a survey of Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors members to document their perspectives on design file usage and preferences, coordinating multiple …

Zirconium And Hafnium Interdiffusion Study In Zrb2–Hfb2 System, Yue Zhou, Ana C. Feltrin, William G. Fahrenholtz, Gregory E. Hilmas

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Interdiffusion of Zr and Hf in the diboride system was investigated. High-purity zirconium diboride (ZrB₂) and hafnium diboride (HfB₂) were prepared by a combination of boro-/carbothermal reduction synthesis and densification by spark plasma sintering. The bulk ceramics had relative densities of 99.3% for ZrB₂ and 99.7% for HfB₂, and both ceramics were phase-pure by x-ray diffraction analysis. Diffusion couples of ZrB₂ and HfB₂ were annealed at temperatures ranging from 2000°C to 2200°C for times from 4 to 12 h. Zr and Hf elemental concentration profiles were measured using energy dispersive spectroscopy …

Hold Paramount The Health, Safety, And Welfare Of The Public And The Planet, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Tip Penetration Test For Rapid In-Line Assessment Of Static Yield Stress During 3d Concrete Printing Process, Ali Fasihi, Nicolas A. Libre

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The static yield stress of printable cementitious materials is a critical parameter governing the shape stability and buildability of 3D printed concrete structures. Among various testing techniques, the penetration test has emerged as a promising method for in-situ measurement of static yield stress during printing process. However, the applicability of the penetration test for in-line monitoring of static yield stress remains limited due to the necessity for substantial material thickness. To address this challenge, this study proposes a novel tip penetration test, which enables static yield stress determination without the requirement for full cone submergence, thereby facilitating assessment of thin …

Rheological And Micro Properties Of High-Viscosity Binder-Incorporated Polyphosphoric Acid And Rock Asphalt, Feng Ma, Xinye Jiang, Zhen Fu, Chongxin Zhu, Jenny Liu, Ke Shi, Yalu Wen, Yao Zhang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

To enhance the performance of high-viscosity modified asphalt (HVMA), polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and North American rock asphalt (NA-RA) were incorporated into styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)/crumb rubber (CR) composite modified asphalt, resulting in two distinct types of HVMA. The two HVMA types were evaluated at various dosages using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), bending beam rheometer (BBR), fluorescence microscope (FM), and Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) tests. These tests provided both macroscopic and microscopic insights into their properties. The findings indicated that both PPA and NA-RA modify the asphalt's internal structure, enhancing its temperature resistance. PPA primarily improved high-Temperature performance, while NA-RA enhanced low-Temperature …

A Rapid Field Moisture Measurement Unit For Compaction Acceptance Of Unbound Materials, Chuanjun Liu, Xiong Zhang, Jenny Liu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The moisture content (MC) was a critical parameter that needed to be monitored in geomaterial compaction. Nuclear density gauges (NDGs) had been the practice in MC and density measurement for decades but had become less desirable due to cost, regulatory, and safety concerns. Meanwhile, lightweight deflectometers (LWDs), proposed as an alternative to NDGs, did not have a function of MC measurement. This study aimed to identify a rapid field moisture analyzer to work with LWDs for evaluating the compaction acceptance of unbound materials in situ. The study started with evaluating the effectiveness and practicability of two existing moisture analyzers recommended …

Influence Of Wicking Geotextile Installation On Moisture Migration In Silt Under Rainfall Infiltration, Yipeng Guo, Dahao Zou, Min Hu, Xiong Zhang, Fang Xu, Yongjie Zhang, Jiejing Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Silt is widely used in subgrade construction in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River in China due to limited availability of high-quality fill. However, its high moisture sensitivity and low strength often lead to pumping, settlement, and deformation. This study investigates the hydraulic performance of a wicking geotextile in silt under simulated rainfall infiltration using one-dimensional soil column experiments. Three installation configurations were evaluated: (i) a control sample (CS) without geotextile, (ii) an embedded sample (ES) with the geotextile fully installed as a capillary barrier, and (iii) a surface-exposed sample (SES) with the geotextile extended to the …

Afit By The Numbers, Fy25, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

AFIT’s mission is to educate defense professionals to innovatively accomplish the deterrence and warfighting missions of the USAF and USSF. AFIT’s vision of leading defense-focused education, research and consultation to accelerate military superiority across all domains is accomplished through operationally relevant advanced academic education, research, and professional continuing education.

Kentucky Cdl Adjudication Pilot And Compliance Needs Study, Jeeyen Koo, Andrew Martin, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report examines trends in how Kentucky District Courts have adjudicated charges related to commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Using court data, researchers evaluated historical patterns in charge filing volumes as well as conviction, dismissal, amendment, and diversion rates. Between 2002 and 2024, conviction rates declined and dismissals increased. Convictions peaked in the mid-70% range in the early 2000s, but fell to the mid-50% range by 2024. Speeding and other serious traffic violations — many of which are advanceable offenses — were dismissed or amended at rates that could have substantively affected the integrity of CDL …

Fiscal Year 2024 Fhwa-536 Report For The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Doug Kreis, Candice Wallace, Bryan Gibson, Sarah Mccormack

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Every other year, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires that states submit a Local Highway Finance Report (FHWA-536) to the agency. This report summarizes data on local highway finances and is used by FHWA to evaluate relationships between and changes in revenues, expenditures and investment patterns, and financial trends. This report presents information submitted by Kentucky in its fiscal year (FY) 2024 FHWA-536. Total receipts from local, state, and federal sources used for road and street infrastructure equaled approximately $1.27 billion. Local sources of funding accounted for the largest share of total receipts (50%), followed by state government sources (41%), …

Machine Learning In Peak Demand Forecasting: Foundations, Trends, And Insights, Shuang Dai, Fanlin Meng, Hongsheng Dai, Qian Wang, Xizhong Chen, Wenlei Bai, Peizhi Shi, Richard Allmendinger, Yuchen Zhang, Jian Liu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Peak demand forecasting involves predicting the maximum electricity demand within a specific period, which plays a key role in maintaining the efficiency and stability of power systems. The rapid evolution of power systems, driven by advanced metering infrastructure, local energy applications such as electric vehicles, and the increasing adoption of intermittent renewable energy, has introduced greater randomness and reduced predictability in peak demand. Given the pressing need to address more diverse implementation requirements across different contexts, accurate and reliable peak demand forecasting has become increasingly important. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to provide a …

Manufacturing And Material Property Verification Of Short Fiber Particle Reinforced Composites, Megan Elise Howell

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

This thesis investigates the manufacturing, testing, and material property verification of short fiber and particle reinforced polymer composites intended for use in flywheel energy storage systems. Composite tensile specimens were fabricated using controlled mold geometries and autoclave-assisted curing to improve consolidation quality and reduce void content. Short carbon fibers and particulate reinforcements were selected to balance mechanical performance, manufacturability, and isotropy for high-speed rotor applications. Tensile testing was performed using a tensile testing machine, and machine compliance effects were quantified and removed to obtain accurate elastic moduli. Experimental results were compared against analytical micromechanics predictions to evaluate stiffness trends and …

Coe Annual Technical Review 2025, Jianshun Zhang, Bing Dong

SyracuseCoE

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Spatial Abilities In Stem Learning And The Influence Of Individual Differences, Styliani Malkogeorgou

Masters

Students’ decisions to pursue education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are shaped by an interplay of cognitive, social, and motivational factors. Spatial ability is among the most reliable predictors of STEM success, yet less is known about how it relates to students’ STEM attitudes and aspirations, and whether visuospatial working memory (VSWM) explains this relationship. This study tested the hypotheses that (a) stronger spatial abilities and VSWM would be associated with more positive STEM attitudes and stronger STEM aspirations, and (b) VSWM would mediate the relationship between spatial abilities and STEM attitudes/aspirations, while examining the influence …