Novel Redox Oxygen Active Materials For Solid Oxide Cells And Thermochemical Hydrogen Production, Jiaxin Lu

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates novel materials designed to significantly enhance the performance and durability of oxygen electrodes for solid oxide cells and redox active materials for thermochemical hydrogen production. The first part of this work evaluates Ta-doped BaCoO₃₋δ (BCT) and its structural analog SrCoO₃₋δ (SCT), focusing on their catalytic performance in oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Among BCT compositions (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5), the BCT10 (x = 0.1) composition exhibited the highest oxygen vacancy concentration, electronic conductivity, and lowest polarization resistance. However, SCT10 surpassed BCT10 in these critical performance parameters and also demonstrated greater stability over extended operational periods. Notably, …

Trustworthiness And Trust: Identifying Factors That Drive Successful Human-Ai Interaction In Nuclear Power Plant Applications, Yusuke Yamani, Austin Jackson, Casey Kovesdi, Jeffrey Joe, Jeremy Mohon

Psychology Faculty Publications

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are rapidly evolving and promising tools for efficient and continued safe operations of the U.S. nuclear power plants (NPPs). Emerging AI techniques like large language models (LLMs) are one such technology that may help personnel at existing NPPs perform work more efficiently. For example, operators may query the current operational status of a power plant via a chat interface, leveraging LLMs to access plant-related information in an interactive manner rather than manually collecting various sensor data for surveillance or work order tasks. This is a fundamental shift in the way …

Numerical Investigation Of Pressurized Oxy-Combustion, Lei Li

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pressurized oxy-combustion (POC) is emerging as a promising and transformative technology for carbon capture, utilization, and storage, offering advantages of low cost, low emissions, and high efficiency. POC operates by burning pulverized coal at elevated pressures in a recycled flue gas environment, typically rich in O₂ and CO₂. This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation into the fundamental behaviors of lab-scale POC reactors, using both two-dimensional (2D) Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations and three-dimensional (3D) Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) with the commercial computational fluidized dynamics (CFD) software package ANSYS Fluent.

The primary focus of this work is to understand flame stabilization and …

Development Of A Mixed Reality Robotics Testing Environment, Haneen Hanoon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Development of a Mixed Reality Robotics Testing Environment

Haneen Hanoon

This research presents the development of a Mixed Reality (MR) robotic framework that integrates real and virtual environments for experimental robotics, education, and visualization. The proposed system combines a motion-capture system, a simulator, and a projector to create a spatially aligned, interactive workspace where physical robots coexist with projected virtual objects. The framework enables real-robot motion to be tracked in real time and mirrored in the simulated environment, allowing projected obstacles, goals, and paths to be precisely aligned with the physical world.

A coordinate transformation and scaling process was implemented …

A Framework For Biomimetic Robot Design Applied To The Development Of A Robotic Model Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Clarissa A. Goldsmith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For decades, the field of biologically inspired robotics has leveraged insights from animal locomotion to improve the walking ability of legged robots. Recently, “biomimetic” robots have been developed to model how specific animals walk. By prioritizing biological accuracy to the target organism rather than the application of general principles from biology, these robots can be used to develop detailed biological hypotheses for animal experiments, ultimately improving our understanding of the biological control of legs while improving technical solutions. Much of this work involves biologically inspired walking controllers informed by the morphology and dynamics of the insect nervous system, which necessitate …

A Study Exploring The Use Of Artificial Ligaments To Enhance The Human-Robot Interface Via Force Distribution Manipulation In Biomimetic Cuff Systems, Adifet Cejovic

Dissertations and Theses

Comfort is among the main priorities when designing a wearable assistive device that needs to be used for long sessions. There is a growing need for wearable systems that provide aid to patients with an injured knee. In addition, there has been an effort to incorporate cable-driven designs rather than rigid attachments. This change in design decreases the overall weight of the system and can allow the cable to adapt to a user’s change in gait patterns. This thesis investigates a cuff system centered around the knee and the design of a testing rig. This system incorporates elements from pre-existing …

Development Of An Quadcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle For Atmospheric Remote Sensing, Omar J. Addasi

Dissertations and Theses

This paper explores the development of a quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, a.k.a. drone) for atmospheric remote sensing of temperature, pressure, humidity, and PM2.5 particulate matter quantities. A 3-D printed drone body is designed and flight tuning is performed. An optimal length for an upward extending mast for the drone body is determined. Low cost, lightweight sensors are compared against higher precision sensors in both static and dynamic conditions. In addition, an initial investigation into the design of a pressure sensor based anemometer is performed.

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 …

Estimating Pedestrian Crossing Times At Scramble Crossings Via Machine Learning And Agent-Based Modeling, Sho Takami

CURE Proceedings

Scramble crosswalks differ from conventional crosswalks in their ability for pedestrians to cross diagonally. This research compares the average crossing times and investigates the walking behaviors that pedestrians adopt to produce the speediest times in the two crosswalk configurations. Identification of the most efficient set of walking behaviors is done through an agent-based model, whereas producing polynomials relating crossing times to the most prominent walking behaviors is done through regression algorithms in machine learning. With the combination of these two approaches, it is revealed that pedestrians must adopt a relaxed walking style to make each crosswalk configuration efficient. Additionally, between …

Morphing Shape Metastructures Using The Hybrid Position Feedback Control And Bistable Structural Elements, Mehmet Simsek, Thomas E. Alberts, Onur Bilgen

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This research introduces a new multi-degree-of-freedom metastructure concept utilizing a hybrid position feedback controller. An arbitrary number of bistable segments, or structural elements, are connected serially or in parallel to form a distributed bistable structure, or a so-called metastructure. The hybrid controller, an unstable-then-stable second-order single-degree-of-freedom system, leverages the resonant mode of a bistable system to destabilize it and dynamically induce snap-through between equilibria. The metastructure inherits multiple bistable positions, maintaining equilibrium shapes without consuming power and enabling many equilibrium configurations. Two geometric configurations are proposed and analyzed using a modified hybrid feedback control approach, which rejects forces from neighboring …

Nebraska Test #2301: Claas Xerion 12.650, 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 #2297: John Deere 9rx 770, 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 #2298: John Deere 9rx 830, 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 Summary #1291: Fendt 614 Vario, 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 …

Designing Robust Quasi-2d Perovskites Thin Films For Stable Light-Emitting Applications, Sharmistha Khan, Reshna Shrestha, Mengru Jin, Doyun Kim, Guan Lin Chen, Ruipeng Li, Yijia Gu, Qing Tu, Namyoung Ahn, Wanyi Nie

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Quasi-2D perovskite made with organic spacers co-crystallized with inorganic cesium lead bromide inorganics is demonstrated for near unity photoluminescence quantum yield at room temperature. However, light emitting diodes made with quasi-2D perovskites rapidly degrade which remains a major bottleneck in this field. In this work, It is shown that the bright emission originates from finely tuned multi-component 2D nano-crystalline phases that are thermodynamically unstable. The bright emission is extremely sensitive to external stimuli and the emission quickly dims away upon heating. After a detailed analysis of their optical and morphological properties, the degradation is attributed to 2D phase redistribution associated …

Design Of A Spacecraft Power System Experiment, Jay Bakulkumar Kamdar

Masters Theses

This research delves into the design, implementation, and analysis of a controlled experimental framework for photovoltaic cell characterization and its application in spacecraft power systems. Such a system was simulated and validated by benchmarking characteristics of a photovoltaic module and implementing them in a system design simulation yielding performance data for comparative analysis. A hardware setup was developed to perform IV characterization tests under steady state thermal conditions. Experiments conducted across various thermal regulation profiles helped quantify the effects of temperature on the photovoltaic performance parameters. Active cooling reduced the steady state cell temperature by 17.9% and improved the cell …

Investigation Of Arm Stiffness Modulation During Overground Physical Human-Human Interaction, Henry Tien

Masters Theses

The vision of advancing robots capable of direct physical engagement with humans begins with an understanding of how humans interact with each other. Even rudimentary interactive tasks, such as shaking hands, provides tremendous challenges for modern robotics and current research into the biomechanics of such interactions is limited. Thus, further analysis of physical Human-Human Interaction (pHHI) will bolster efforts to enhance collaborative robot capabilities. To this end, a custom Force Perturbation Handle (FPH) was developed, including the requisite mechanical, electrical, and software systems, to investigate the unique role of arm stiffness modulation in haptic communication between humans. The novel device …

Aerodynamic Design Workflow Optimization For Fsae: Advanced Cfd And Hpc Automation, Kyle Maynor

Masters Theses

This research identifies and resolves inefficiencies in the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) workflow of the Missouri S&T Racing Formula SAE Team’s aerodynamic development. Key bottlenecks were found in simulation runtime, laborious simulation preparation, an overly manual simulation submission process, and unchecked mesh quality. A fully reimagined workflow was implemented with simulation parameters to adjust vehicle attitudes. From this, an automated design sweep could be executed to generate aero maps of the developing vehicle using the Design Manager Project. A Python-based submission app handles the terminal interfacing and macro editing that significantly slowed the job submission process before. Using a university …

Design Of Real-Time And Energy-Efficient Driver Assist Systems Using Electroencephalogram And Neuromorphic Computing, Nathan Alan Lutes

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite the technological breakthroughs in advanced driver assist systems, distracted driving persists as a major challenge to roadway safety. This investigation advances the body of knowledge towards a solution by developing an individualized driver-state detection method using electroencephalogram (EEG) and neuromorphic computing to provide a less invasive and more energy efficient ADAS solution. It furthermore explores the changes in brain functional connectivity under distracted conditions to better understand brain state information that could be used for neuro-feedback intervention systems. The first contribution introduces the concept of using Convolutional Spiking Neural Networks (CSNNs) for recognition of patterns with movement-intention predictive power …

Experimental Study Of Defects In Coaxial Wire-Based Laser Metal Deposition, Remy Mathenia

Doctoral Dissertations

This work seeks to improve the usability and capability of coaxial wire-based laser metal deposition (LMD) through the experimental study of process parameters on output geometry, directional effects, and defect formation. Wire-based LMD is a directed energy deposition (DED) strategy that uses a focused laser heat source to melt and fuse metal wire as it is deposited. This process is used to build parts layer-by-layer until a desired geometry is accomplished. LMD enables the creation of complex components at a high build rate with low material and energy waste. This work focuses on the deposition of titanium wire in the …

Sensor Embedding And Thermal Monitoring Strategies For Laser-Foil-Printing Additive Manufacturing, Tunay Turk

Doctoral Dissertations

"This work investigates Laser Foil Printing (LFP), a novel metal additive manufacturing (AM) process that fabricates parts layer-by-layer using metal foils. To enhance LFP productivity, the process steps were optimized, and an 88.1% reduction in processing duration was achieved. A unique aspect of this study was the introduction of laser polishing as an edge polishing technique within the LFP process. This innovative approach, employing an overlapping spiral pattern, leverages selective laser remelting and erosion to effectively suppress elevated edges. To stabilize the molten melt pool, a discrete spot scanning strategy was implemented. The fabricated parts were subjected to detailed analysis, …

Advancing Wind Turbine Blade Longevity Through Innovative Trailing Edge Reinforcement Using Auxetic Tpu Structures, Gianluca Provvisiero

Open Access Master's Theses

The trailing edge of wind turbine blades represents one of the most failure prone regions due to local buckling phenomena and repeated mechanical stresses. This thesis explores a specific reinforcement strategy aimed at extending blade longevity by integrating Re-entrant honeycomb structures made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) within the trailing edge. By numerically identifying and targeting high stress zones, the insertion of lightweight auxetic TPU foam enhances local stiffness and mitigates premature failure without compromising aerodynamic performance. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach when compared to blades models without any internal reinforcement. The methodology of this …

Development Of An Autonomous Lab-On-Paper Device For Enzymatic Activity Assays- Proof Of Concept, Cameron Hahn

Open Access Master's Theses

This work aims to build on URI’s autonomous Lab on Paper (LoP) platform technology, which was used to conduct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), to conducting enzymatic activity assays. This requires new optimizations and designs to accommodate the test. In this work we use alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme as the model analyte for the proof-of-concept. To accompany the new device, new MATLAB analytical tools were written and tested, to aid in robust colorimetric signal analysis. The test fixture was designed to be reusable, when a new paper circuit and reagent vials are supplied, however, it was assumed that an eventual final …

Tracking Control Of A String Actuated Soft Trunk Robot Using State-Space Modeling, Jacob Trivisonno

Open Access Master's Theses

Soft robots, primarily composed of compliant materials, exhibit highly complex and nonlinear dynamics, making precise control a significant challenge. Traditional control methods often struggle with these complexities, requiring more advanced and data-driven methods. In our previous work, “Automatic Control of a Soft Trunk Robot Actuated by Strings” [1], a proportional controller was developed to drive the steady-state tracking error to zero. While this method was effective, it required time-consuming manual tuning and was not easily adaptable to physical modifications of the robot.

To address these limitations, this research implements gain-scheduled feedback control with state-space models calculated through a multiple linear …

Determination And Limitations Of Blocked Forces In Industrial Settings, Matthew Smither

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Transfer path analysis methods have been used for decades to determine noise and vibration paths emanating from machinery. In its advent, the machinery source had to be disconnected from the receiver it was attached to in order to gain useful information about each. Further advances in methodology allowed for determining machinery input forces without decoupling them from the structures they were attached to. However, these methods were limited in that the machinery and structures were required to be treated as a system. Thus, any force data obtain was only useful in the configuration it was measured in. Finally, a method …

Numerical Investigation Of Wind Disturbance Around A Multirotor Uav In Crosswind And Vertical Flight, Garrison Page

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly utilized in a wide range of research applications, especially in meteorology. This is due to such factors as their ease of use, maneuverability compared to other forms of data collection, and for rotor- craft, the ability to hover. However, the rotorwash generated by UAVs can introduce significant disturbances, potentially affecting measurement accuracy from sensors. While several studies have investigated the rotorwash of individual UAVs utilizing Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), there is limited exploration into how different rotor configurations and external wind conditions influence regions of turbulent flow around …

Acoustic Characterization Of A Quadcopter Using A Test Stand, Jared Schmal

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with multirotor propulsion and control, commonly called drones or multicopters, generate a complex acoustic field that is not entirely understood. Many components and their interactions contribute to the overall noise level and behavior of the acoustic field. However, performing acoustic measurements on a multicopter in a confined space, such as a small anechoic chamber, can be an extremely difficult and time-consuming process. A test stand was developed to allow for rapid and safe acoustic measurements in a controlled environment. The design, development, and initial measurements are discussed. The performance and acoustic response are assessed to examine …

Analysis Of Closed-Loop Dynamical Systems Using Relu Nns, Pouya Samanipour

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

This thesis develops a framework for analyzing the stability and invariance properties of closed-loop dynamical systems whose dynamics are derived from neural networks with rectified linear units (ReLUs). The ReLU neural network defines continuous piecewise affine (PWA) functions, which makes them ideal for analysis using polyhedral geometry and optimization techniques. To begin, we introduce two exact algorithms for enumerating polytopic regions of affine behavior induced by ReLU networks: a half-space-based method that checks the feasibility of activation patterns and a geometric vertex-based method. Using these methods, we are able to perform precise region-wise analysis, and these methods serve as the …

Engineering A Novel Solvent Regenerator That Leverages Electrochemically Induced Ph Swings For Direct Air Capture And Hydrogen Generation, Emmanuel Aluhunmile Ohiomoba

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is considered to be a key component for achieving global net-negative emissions. However, to capture CO₂ at the low concentrations in the atmosphere requires materials with high affinity for CO₂. This makes the solvent-based chemical approach for DAC more applicable compared to physical approaches. Nonetheless, regenerating the capture solvent presents a significant challenge due to high heat requirements for thermal decomposition of carbonates. Leveraging electrochemical principles provides an opportunity to simplify the regeneration process, thus, this work focuses on engineering an electrochemical solvent regenerator for recovering alkaline solvents for DAC, with co-production of …