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In-Situ Mechanical Tester, Andrrew Murach, Gustavo Marquez, Kosimo Tonn, Jake Vormbaum

Mechanical Engineering

Over the course of the 2022-23 Cal Poly SLO school year, a small tensile tester device was developed specifically for Dr. Long Wang to test thin film materials under a microscope and generate accurate force versus displacement graphs. A tensile tester was manufactured using purchased and machined components, electronics were consolidated in a separate box and connected, and a program and user interface were written to control the motion, provide custom inputs, and organize useful data for the researcher. Tests were conducted to compare the performance of the device to universal tensile testers available in the Composites lab. The device …

Microfabrication Lab Furnace Upgrade, Brooke Ann Benedict, Benjamin Ozer Fields, Nathaniel David Burtnett, Thomas Mackay Taylor

Mechanical Engineering

This project, undertaken by the Mechanical Engineering Department at California Polytechnic State University, aimed to upgrade the control system, user interface, and control software for Cal Poly's oxidation and diffusion furnaces. The upgrade was designed to enhance the usability of the furnaces for students learning in the microfabrication lab and improve the lab's image for prospective students. The project involved a comprehensive design process, including mechanical design, controls, software, human factors, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, electrical design, integration, and testing. The implementation phase entailed procurement of over 300 distinct components, manufacturing, and assembly.

The project's primary goal was to ensure …

Bespoke Bicycle Enclosure, Thomas Link, Kyle Mcafee, Marc Monier, Hunter Walden

Mechanical Engineering

Brian Higgins is an American veteran with retinitis pigmentosa who relies on cycling for transportation. The motivation for this project is to design and manufacture a refined prototype bicycle attachment to support him while biking in the rain and cold. The attachment will serve to enclose him for optimal protection from inclement weather, while maintaining sufficient mobility for daily cycling. Mr. Higgins’ bicycle is equipped with an attached sensor system which assists his visual impairment by using an ultrasonic sensor. Therefore, the attachment cannot adversely affect the function of the sensor system. The project timeline is set at approximately 7 …

Home Based Business Ordinance For The City Of Reno, Maxwell Hp Johnson

City and Regional Planning

Home based businesses allow for some commercial and business activities to occur within private residences by residents without the need of commercially zoned properties or structures. Home based businesses provide affordable accommodation for less impactful small businesses, but can additionally impact neighbors and communities with negative externalities when not properly regulated. The City of Reno, Nevada currently faces rising land prices and limited availability of commercial properties. Such conditions increase the adoption of home based businesses, and combined with the lack of regulation can create nuisances within communities.

The ordinance proposal analyzes relevant legal cases, case study ordinances, and the …

Frontier - A Bus Rapid Transit System In Frisco, Tx, Matthias Berry

City and Regional Planning

This study explores the increasing inaccessibility produced by reliance and catered infrastructure to mass ownership of personal vehicles. Accessing employment, service, and activity destinations has become extremely difficult for those who cannot possess, afford, or operate personal vehicles; even cyclists have a more difficult time navigating roads due to limited infrastructure and accommodations. Public transit has often become an afterthought within cities, with local routes competing with other cars on the road and adding to overall traffic volume. Bus-Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are an expanding concept within car-centric regions, often being called the "subways, but on wheels", that not only …

A Novel Approach To Extending Music Using Latent Diffusion, Keon Roohparvar, Franz J. Kurfess

Master's Theses

Using deep learning to synthetically generate music is a research domain that has gained more attention from the public in the past few years. A subproblem of music generation is music extension, or the task of taking existing music and extending it. This work proposes the Continuer Pipeline, a novel technique that uses deep learning to take music and extend it in 5 second increments. It does this by treating the musical generation process as an image generation problem; we utilize latent diffusion models (LDMs) to generate spectrograms, which are image representations of music. The Continuer Pipeline is able to …

Graduate Internship Report - Cal Poly Bull Test, Kayla Marie Dubowsky

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

The Cal Poly Bull Test has a long-standing history on the university campus. The program has continued to grow and improve since it was founded in 1956 and with these improvements to the program, the marketing and curriculum need to adapt as well. For this internship, I worked in partnership with Dr. McFarlane on three main projects focusing on rebranding, curriculum development, and the creation of marketing materials. The rebranding consisted of the creation of a new logo and an updated brand guide. The curriculum development consisted of the creation of a marketing module for the enterprise-class that focuses on …

Cal Poly Rodeo Team Event Planning Handbook, Paula W. Cooper

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

As an aspiring leader in Agricultural Education and a dedicated member of the Cal Poly Rodeo team, I was presented with the unique opportunity to organize a fundraiser for Jack's Helping Hand, a non-profit organization aiding children with cancer and special needs. This remarkable experience, coupled with my ongoing academic pursuits, sparked an idea for my master's project: creating a comprehensive handbook for future event planners of the rodeo team.

The Design And Construction Of A Radio Telescope, Avery Elizabeth Bunting, Kira Hope Tolman

Architectural Engineering

Two architectural engineering students and an electrical engineering student worked together to design and build a radio telescope that is capable of using hydrogen line astronomy to map the galaxy. The telescope is made entirely out of aluminum, which, combined with small deflection limits, made for an iterative design process that focused primarily on constructability and supporting the desired outcomes of the electrical side.

Polymöbi: Single-Surface Timber Polyshell Shade Structure, Ryan Khieu, Tom Sesin, Gabriel Garfias, Evan Brooks

Architectural Engineering

Overall design process of incorporating Polyshells into a sunshade structure, while addressing client needs, materiality, constructability, and life safety.

The Development Of Sexual Health Educational Canvas Modules For Cal Poly Students, Alexa J. Asson, Dillan Chiewpanich, Amanda Hodges, Tanya Patil

Biological Sciences

Purpose: Sexual health education continues to be a taboo topic underrepresented in young adult health education. Many high school students do not receive the sexual health education they need. One study found that 34% of girls and 42% of boys left high school without education on birth control methods (Wong et al., 2019). Furthermore, students entering college have varying, often inadequate, levels of sexual health knowledge. After examining sexual health data at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), the Cal Poly Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Lab found that students engage in risky sexual behaviors. For example, nearly one quarter …

The Integration Between Housing And Transportation In Contemporary City And Regional Planning: Transit-Oriented Development For The San Luis Obispo Station, Aidan Zachary Clark, Keigo Justin Yamamoto, Owen Deane Troy

City and Regional Planning

This transit-oriented development will help mitigate the housing crisis in California starting with San Luis Obispo at the local level by developing housing for all demographics. The project will be beneficial towards increasing the livability and connectivity of current residents, commuters, and visitors of the San Luis Obispo region. The project will also activate the spaces by providing a walkway and commercial development for people that were previously not present. The proposed development is projected to activate the area, with new amenities, while promoting the site’s existing uses; The existing cafe and restaurant within the project site will not be …

Urban Design On A Global Scale: A Comparison Of Four Cities, Avery Grace Crower, Shane N. Strunk

City and Regional Planning

This senior project encompasses an analysis of urban design on a global scale. The authors chose four cities to analyze using eight different urban design elements. The cities chosen were Los Angeles, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo. Understanding how each city exemplified the urban design elements, assisted the authors in conducting a compare and contrast of the most and least desirable design attributes within each city. The authors were able to conclude with important takeaways and lessons from the analysis and comparison.

The Grand Entrance: A Faculty And Staff Housing Development, Emily M. Ladue, Susana T. Toner

City and Regional Planning

The team chose this project because it is one of many upcoming projects detailed for California Polytechnic State University (University) in the 2035 Master plan. The University has a capacity of over 21,000 students and 3,000 employees, including 1,400 faculty. Many students and faculty from the University live within city limits, with students making up a majority of the rental market in the city. In a typical four-bedroom house, four students with four separate incomes can rent out a house together and pay a much higher rent than a faculty member with one to two incomes could. Additionally, The City …

Advising Communication In Finance, Jordan J. Schumann

Communication Studies

Communication is an important factor in relationships. When it comes to financial advising and the advisors’ relationship with their clients, it is no different. However, the driving factor of what makes a client choose one advisor over another remains in question. As such a question builds: what does an advisor do to maintain a client and promote gaining new ones? This study examines the experiences current advisors have had in their respective careers. To examine this topic, communication theories (Social Cognitive Theory, Source Credibility Theory, and Uncertainty Reduction Theory) are called upon to inform the outcomes of advisors' experiences. The …

Interlaminar Tensile Properties Of Unidirectional And Woven Carbon Fiber Reinforced Toughened Epoxy Laminates, Eric Timothy Casey, Sean Mckalip Thompson

Materials Engineering

This project aims to develop a dataset on interlaminar tensile strength comparing unidirectional and woven thermoset matrix carbon fiber composites keeping ply count, matrix material, and fiber diameter constant. The interlaminar tensile strength is an important property relating to the delamination failure mode. Interlaminar tensile strength is determined using the ASTM D6415 testing standard. This test is a modified four-point bend test using a 90° curved beam test specimen. Laminates were produced by laying up pre-impregnated carbon fiber sheets onto a curved beam tooling. The unidirectional laminate was produced with 20 plies in a [0,0,90,0,0]₄ layup pattern. The woven …

Investigating Cost-Effective And Time-Efficient Ways To Speed Up Transit, Joe Yin Jo Tam

City and Regional Planning

With the emphasis on cities worldwide prioritizing more environmentally friendly forms of transportation, along with a new focus on equity to ensure that underserved and disadvantaged communities are served equitably and receive services that enable economic opportunity, access to recreation opportunities, and social services, equitable and sustainable forms of transportation are required. This study explores potential methods for enhancing and strengthening transit as a reliable and sustainable means of transportation. This study evaluates cost-effective methods for achieving significant gains in improving transit reliability and speed.

Three Rivers: Plan Analysis And Recommendations Including An Environmental Justice Addendum, Gerardo Arregui

City and Regional Planning

This document examines the existing Three Rivers Community Plan in order to find shortcomings, missing information and to recommend appropriate format and content for future iterations. The final section of this document has been designed to be a model for the Environmental Justice section for the Three River’s future community plan update because the current plan is silent on this topic.

Bike Share: A Discussion And Case Study Analysis Including Recommendations For Cal Poly And The City Of San Luis Obispo, Gabrielle N. Delavallade

City and Regional Planning

Since 2015, micromobility has swiftly expanded to new cities across the United States. Micromobility is defined as a category of transportation services that are shared-use, lightweight, and personal use such as electric scooters (escooters), shared bicycles, and electric bicycles (e-bikes). Micromobility vehicles can be person powered, electrically powered, or a combination of the two (CRCOG, 2022; BTS, 2022). One form of micromobility that is gaining popularity is known as bicycle share. In 2020, the North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA) 2020 State of the Industry Report found that an estimated 83.4 million trips were taken in North America alone …

The Development Of Sexual Health Educational Canvas Modules For Cal Poly Students, Alexa Jordan Asson, Dillan Isabella Chiewpanich, Amanda Hodges, Tanya Patil

Kinesiology and Public Health

Purpose: Sexual health education continues to be a taboo topic underrepresented in young adult health education. Many high school students do not receive the sexual health education they need. One study found that 34% of girls and 42% of boys left high school without education on birth control methods (Wong et al., 2019). Furthermore, students entering college have varying, often inadequate, levels of sexual health knowledge. After examining sexual health data at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), the Cal Poly Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Lab found that students engage in risky sexual behaviors. For example, nearly one quarter …

Filters For Fiji: A Modified Cracker Box Biosand Filter For Rural Fiji, Geneva Newell, Cameron Lowrey, Thomas Burt, Lexie Caterine

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Water quality remains a major issue throughout rural Fiji, as current solutions rely on outside organizations providing money or technology. The goal of Filters for Fiji’s research was to develop a sustainable water filtration method for the people of rural Fiji, through ethnographic and biological research. In order to be sustainable, the filter had to be inexpensive (less than USD$15), simply built and maintained, and suitable for the end-user. The driving question of the research was: can a plastic, modified biosand filter be constructed from materials that could be sourced locally in rural Fijian communities? To answer this question, feedback …

The Effects Of Dissolved Hydrogen On The Mechanical Properties And Fracture Behavior Of Se508 Nitinol Wire For Biomedical Components, Kathryn Linn Meany, Ryan Zhao Thompson

Materials Engineering

Superelastic nitinol is competitive in the medical device industry due to its unique properties. Typical processing methods, such as electropolishing and etching, can introduce hydrogen into nitinol’s microstructure, which is known to affect its tensile properties. Due to the lack of information about hydrogen content in processed nitinol, an experiment was designed to find a relationship between hydrogen content and SE508 nitinol wire’s tensile strength, permanent set, ductility, and mode-of-failure of the fracture surface. Using a 50% sulfuric acid to mimic industry practices, five wire samples were exposed to the acid solution at seven different time intervals (ranging from 0 …

Effect Of Environmental And Ultraviolet Degradation On The Albedo Of Polyethylene Sheet Materials For Improved Energy Harvesting By Bifacial Photovoltaic Power Plants, William A. Jang, Roxy H. Jackson-Gain

Materials Engineering

Solar energy farms typically utilize monofacial photovoltaic (mPV) cells in their arrays to capture direct sunlight to produce renewable energy. However, the efficiency of these farms can be increased by 2 – 6% through the implementation of bifacial photovoltaic cells (bPV). These bPV cells function by capturing incident ultraviolet (UV) light energy that is reflected off the surface to increase its overall energy production. The amount of UV energy that is reflected is dependent on the albedo value of surface, which is a measure of energy reflectance. In this study, samples of unreinforced polyethylene (PE), scrim-reinforced polyethylene (SR-PE), and woven …

Integrative Analyses Of Genomic And Metabolomic Data Reveal Molecular Mechanisms Associated With Uterine Disease Traits In Transitioning Dairy Cattle, Leanna C. Sanchez, Mohammed Abo-Ismail, Daniel Peterson, Fernando Campos-Chillon

Master's Theses

The metritis complex (MC), characterizing post-partum uterine diseases in dairy cattle has negative implications on animal welfare, production efficiency, and the economic stability of the dairy industry. The studies in this thesis aimed to investigate the genetic architecture of the metritis complex and identify genomic regions and metabolites associated with the development of MC. Thereby enhancing our understanding of the biological pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of MC during the transition period in Jersey and Holstein dairy cattle.

Chapter 2 sheds light on the previous work done on MC. The goals of this review were to (1) …

Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris Nereis) Fur Morphology, Thermal Function, And Buoyancy Across Ontogeny, Kate Riordan

Master's Theses

Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) have the densest fur of any animal, and the hairs function to trap a layer of air that is used for insulation. When a sea otter is born, it has a natal pelage (baby fur), and sea otters eventually molt that fur and replace it with a pelt resembling the adult fur. Sea otter fur is composed of 3 types of hairs: underhairs, intermediate hairs, and guard hairs. Sea otters are more susceptible to the negative effects of oiling from oil spills compared to other marine mammal species because they solely rely on fur …

Construction Panel Discussion At San Luis Obispo High School, Morgan P. Conway

Construction Management

Jake Ornellas and Morgan Conway conducted a panel discussion during the “tutorial” session on Monday, May 22, 2023, in the San Luis Obispo High School theater with three guest speakers, asking them questions about their respective organizations, then opening the floor for students to ask questions. Jake Ornellas and Morgan Conway also distributed flyers to students which included information about the organizations discussed and a survey to gauge student interest. This project was designed to expose high school students to opportunities they have in the construction industry as well as to create a connection between Cal Poly Construction Management and …

Utilization Of Agtek In Construction Management Classes, Ryan C. Dougher

Construction Management

AGTEK Sitework 4D is a building information modeling program designed to conduct takeoff and estimating procedures for earthwork purposes. This program provides an opportunity for the construction management department to implement a building information modeling (BIM) program related to heavy civil construction. Nearly seventy percent of construction management students agree that the BIM programs that they have learned during their time at Cal Poly have been directed toward residential and commercial construction. AGTEK can provide students an opportunity to learn site planning, earthwork estimating, as well as cut and fill diagrams all through a new BIM experience geared toward heavy …

Safety First Means Safety Fits- An Awareness Campaign For Inclusive Ppe Designed For Women, Reagan Kellen Tonda

Construction Management

The construction industry has long overlooked the unique needs of women in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE), leading to discomfort and safety risks. This paper presents the "Safety First Means Safety Fits" social media awareness campaign, which aims to increase awareness about the importance of size-inclusive PPE for women and the progress being made in the industry. The campaign utilized social media, specifically Instagram, as a platform for dialogue and information distribution. The campaign involved the creation of an Instagram account (@safetyfits_CP) and the development of six posts addressing various aspects of women's PPE. The posts were promoted through …

Distributed Control Of Servicing Satellite Fleet Using Horizon Simulation Framework, Scott Plantenga

Master's Theses

On-orbit satellite servicing is critical to maximizing space utilization and sustainability and is of growing interest for commercial, civil, and defense applications. Reliance on astronauts or anchored robotic arms for the servicing of next-generation large, complex space structures operating beyond Low Earth Orbit is impractical. Substantial literature has investigated the mission design and analysis of robotic servicing missions that utilize a single servicing satellite to approach and service a single target satellite. This motivates the present research to investigate a fleet of servicing satellites performing several operations for a large, central space structure.

This research leverages a distributed control approach, …

The Sonoma Developmental Center Redevelopment Project: A Stakeholder Salience And Conflict Analysis Case Study, Leo Dickson

Construction Management

This analytical case study is an experimental exploration into the utilization of stakeholder salience research to analyze land redevelopment projects from a managerial perspective. The study attempted to develop and apply a simple and approachable research model to a real redevelopment project. The research design is derived from an existing mathematical model designed to quantitatively measure stakeholder salience. Stakeholder salience theory and Pawlak’s conflict theory are the fundamental concepts used to create the research design model. The objective of this research was to assess its effectiveness when applied to a rural land redevelopment setting in the United States. The Sonoma …