Digital Commons Network^™

A Hypergraph Approach To Deep Learning Based Routing In Software-Defined Vehicular Networks, Ankur Nahar, Nishit Bhardwaj, Debasis Das, Sajal K. Das

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Software-Defined Vehicular Networks (SDVNs) revolutionize modern transportation by enabling dynamic and adaptable communication infrastructures. However, accurately capturing the dynamic communication patterns in vehicular networks, characterized by intricate spatio-temporal dynamics, remains a challenge with traditional graph-Based models. Hypergraphs, due to their ability to represent multi-way relationships, provide a more nuanced representation of these dynamics. Building on this hypergraph foundation, we introduce a novel hypergraph-Based routing algorithm. We jointly train a model that incorporates Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Gated Recurrent Units (GRU) using a Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) approach. This model carefully extracts spatial and temporal traffic matrices, capturing elements …

Warmonger Attack: A Novel Attack Vector In Serverless Computing, Junjie Xiong, Mingkui Wei, Zhuo Lu, Yao Liu

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

We debut the Warmonger attack, a novel attack vector that can cause denial-of-service between a serverless computing platform and an external content server. The Warmonger attack exploits the fact that a serverless computing platform shares the same set of egress IPs among all serverless functions, which belong to different users, to access an external content server. As a result, a malicious user on this platform can purposefully misbehave and cause these egress IPs to be blocked by the content server, resulting in a platform-wide denial of service. To validate the effectiveness of the Warmonger attack, we conducted extensive experiments over …

Secure Location-Based Authenticated Key Establishment Scheme For Maritime Communication, Saurabh Agrawal, Anusha Vangala, Ashok Kumar Das, Neeraj Kumar, Sachin Shetty, Sajal K. Das

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Maritime communication helps vessels and ports plan their movements, exchange environmental information, and communicate among themselves. The vessels' movement and changing location are critical to keep them secure from data interception and data tampering by unauthorized parties during transmission. To secure maritime communication, we propose a novel lightweight authentication scheme sensitive to the current ship location. We assess the effectiveness of the proposed protocol in defending against a range of security threats while keeping communication and computation costs low and meeting the desired security and functional requirements of anonymity and untraceability. The detailed security analysis using the widely accepted Scyther …

Hoodies In The Halls Of Power: A Rhetorical Materialist Critique Of Professional Decorum In The United States Senate, Ryan Cheek, Samuel T. Allen

English and Technical Communication Faculty Research & Creative Works

This brief paper explores the controversy surrounding Senator John Fetterman's sartorial choices of casual attire in the hyper-professionalized space of the United States Senate. Fetterman's clothing choices transcend mere fashion; they embody a statement of class identity and challenge the established power dynamics within the Senate. His attire reflects Pittsburgh's industrial and labor-oriented history, in contrast to the conventional, affluent image most associated with politicians. Although controversial, Fetterman's white male privilege minimized the consequences of his indecorous behavior. The reactions to Fetterman's attire highlight the debate over what constitutes appropriate professional decorum, unveiling the underlying biases and demonstrating how something …

Dig Limits Optimization Using Binary Integer Linear Programming Method In Open Pit Mines, Hussam Naif Altalhi

Masters Theses

"Dig limits optimization is the process for classifying different materials (e.g., ore, stockpile material, and waste) into appropriately sized contiguous zones for open pit mining. The efficient determination of dig-limits is crucial for profitable and sustainable resource extraction in mining. Previous research has focused on defining dig-limits manually or using optimization approaches, but these methods are limited to only handling two material destinations (ore and waste). Thus, there is a need for operations research methods that consider the selectivity of mining equipment and can optimize dig-limits for metal mining operations with more than two material destinations. Consequently, the objective of …

The Influence Of Surfactants' Ionicity On The Performance Of Coal Dust Suppression, Zidong Zhao, Ping Chang, Apurna Ghosh, Guang Xu, Yanwei Liu, Ramakrishna Morla

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Coal dust is a significant health hazard for coal workers, as prolonged inhalation can lead to severe diseases such as Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis. Water spray with surfactants is commonly used as a pre-control strategy to control coal dust in underground mines. The zeta potential test is a widely used static test to evaluate surfactants with different ionicities. However, there are still some arguments about the evaluation criteria of zeta potential on surfactant performance between different researchers. Moreover, whether zeta potential can be used as an index to evaluate the surfactant suppression performance is inconclusive. To address these problems, this study …

Development Of A Particulate Matter Sensor Network For Air Quality Monitoring In Indoor Settings And In Mines, Abdulrahman Bani

Masters Theses

"The importance of indoor air quality (IAQ), especially concerning particulate matter (PM), has become increasingly recognized due to its substantial impact on public health. Individuals spend a significant portion of their time indoors, where PM concentrations can exceed that of outdoors, leading to potential adverse health effects ranging from immediate irritation to long-term respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The dynamic nature of indoor environments, combined with the diversity of PM sources, presents considerable challenges for effective IAQ monitoring and management. Traditional approaches to IAQ assessment often fall short, lacking the granularity and immediacy required to address these challenges adequately.

This abstract …

A Concept Of Producing Aluminum In-Situ On The Moon Through Molten Salt Electrolysis, Jacob N. Ortega, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William Schonberg, Daniel Stutts, Daoru Han

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a concept of producing aluminum in-situ on the lunar surface, namely, the Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production through Molten Salt Electrolysis (LISAP-MSE) method developed at Missouri University of Science and Technology. This paper aims to demonstrate the use of electro-deoxidation to reduce aluminum oxide (i.e., alumina) into aluminum and oxygen gas via electrolysis in a molten salt bath for the production of aluminum on the Moon. It is shown that with a steady supply of hydrogen chloride, this in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) method could supply several necessary materials consumed in the electro-deoxidation process except hydrogen chloride to produce …

Descriptive Statistical Analysis Of Experimental Data For Wettability Alteration With Smart Water Flooding In Carbonate Reservoirs, Muhammad Ali Buriro, Mingzhen Wei, Baojun Bai, Ya Yao

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Smart water flooding is a promising eco-friendly method for enhancing oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs. the optimal salinity and ionic composition of the injected water play a critical role in the success of this method. This study advances the field by employing machine learning and data analytics to streamline the determination of these critical parameters, which are traditionally reliant on time-intensive laboratory work. the primary objectives are to utilize data analytics to examine how smart water flooding influences wettability modification, identify key parameter ranges that notably alter the contact angle, and formulate guidelines and screening criteria for successful lab design. …

Progress Of Lisap-Mse: A Concept Of Producing Aluminum In-Situ On The Moon Through Molten Salt Electrolysis, Jacob N. Ortega, David Bayless, Daniel Stutts, Daoru Han, Todd P. Sander, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, William Schonberg

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a concept of producing aluminum in-situ on the lunar surface, namely, the Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production through Molten Salt Electrolysis (LISAP-MSE) method developed at Missouri University of Science and Technology. This paper aims to demonstrate the use of electro-deoxidation to reduce aluminum oxide (i.e., alumina) into aluminum and oxygen gas via electrolysis in a molten salt bath for the production of aluminum on the Moon. It is shown that with a steady supply of hydrogen chloride, this in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) method could supply several necessary materials consumed in the electro-deoxidation process except hydrogen chloride to produce …

Low-Shrinkage Fiber-Reinforced Concrete For Infrastructure Construction And Rehabilitation, Jingjie Wei

Doctoral Dissertations

"The aim of this study is to develop two classes of low-shrinkage high-performance concrete (HPC): fiber-reinforced super workable concrete (FR-SWC) for infrastructure construction and fiber-reinforced self-consolidating concrete (FR-SCC) for repair applications. HPC with excess content of shrinkage mitigation materials (SMMs), including shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA), superabsorbent polymer (SAP), and expansive agent (EA) has a detrimental effect on mechanical performance. These classes of HPC were optimized to reduce shrinkage, enhance mechanical properties, and improve durability. The effect of fiber type (macro synthetic fiber, MSF; 5D steel fiber, 5D; 80% 3D + 20% short steel fibers; STST), SMMs, and plastic viscosity on bond …

Advanced Mass Spectrometry Method Development And Applications For Assessment Of Traumatic Brain Injury And Legionella Pneumophila Dissinfection With Copper, Austin Chase Sigler

Doctoral Dissertations

"Pathological processes often involve complex biochemical changes which can be assessed using advanced mass spectrometry. In this present dissertation, two fields were studied: traumatic brain injury (TBI), and water contamination by L. pneumophilia. TBI is a pressing public health concern for which current clinical tools remain inadequate. We present newly developed mass spectrometric methods to access metabolites associated with blast induced TBI. We applied these methods to the biofluids of soldiers conducting explosives training. Significant changes in several metabolites were observed between pre- and post-blast specimens, including changes that increased with repeated exposure. These changes point to the possibility of …

Prediction Of Carbonation Capacity Of Scms Using Ensemble Learning Method, Kangyi Cai, Jian Liu, Edward Mwanza, Mahelet G. Fikru, Hongyan Ma, Donald C. Wunsch

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The utilization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) subjected to carbonation processing represents a viable strategy to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂ emissions associated with concrete production, potentially contributing to the achievement of carbon neutrality. However, existing studies have limitations in effectively predicting the varying carbonation capacities of different SCMs, a gap that this research aims to address. Recent research efforts focused on the carbonation of waste-material-sourced SCMs are reviewed, along with a comparative discussion on diverse carbonation methods. A detailed data set encapsulating the properties of SCMs, and carbonation configurations was compiled. At the same time, six ensemble learning models were …

Defects Detection Of Concrete Bridge Decks Using Uav-Based Infrared Thermography, H. B. Zhang, Z. Zhou, G. Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Concrete bridges are vulnerable to both natural and man-made disasters, as well as aging and deterioration processes throughout their lifespan. Timely detection of defects in concrete structures is crucial for repair and decision-making purposes. However, traditional methods like visual inspection are time-consuming and expensive. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with infrared thermography (IRT) offer an efficient and cost-effective solution for detecting defects in concrete structures. This study presents passive and active IRT techniques for detecting common concrete defects, such as delamination and cracks. Principle and methods for quantifying these defects and evaluating the extent of damage are introduced. Experiments are …

Method For Continuous Fabrication Of Multi-Functional Nanogels, Hu Yang, Da Huang

Patents

Nanogels and methods of synthesizing and using these nanogels are provided. The nanogels are formed by mixing a building block (e.g., polymer), crosslinker, preferably a target (e.g., biomedical compound or molecule), and a solvent in a multi-inlet vortex mixer, so as to cause the polymer and crosslinker to react and form a chemically crosslinked polymer network. In embodiments including a target, the target will be interspersed in and among that network and can be physically embedded and/or chemically bound therein.

Three-Dimensional Laser-Assisted Printing Of Structures From Nanoparticles, Heng Pan, Chinmoy Podder, Wan Shou, Xiaowei Yu

Patents

A method for manufacturing a component comprising bombarding nanoparticles in a dispersion with a laser to transform the ligand and cause the nanoparticles to drop out of the dispersion and deposit onto a substrate; and bombarding additional nanoparticles in the dispersion with the laser to transform the ligand and cause the nanoparticles to drop out of the dispersion and deposit onto the nanoparticles previously deposited out of the dispersion.

Microwave Imaging Using A Radially-Polarized Probe, Matthew Dvorsky, Mohammed Tayeb Al Qaseer, Reza Zoughi

Patents

A microwave and millimeter wave imaging system. In either a far-field or a near-field detection mode, a radially-polarized probe transmits an imaging signal along a predetermined scan path to detect a target in a sample. The imaging signal's orientation is independent of the target's orientation and changes at each target as the probe transmits the signal during scanning. A measurement system receives scattered waves reflected from the sample via a single channel and images the sample and the target based on the reflected waves independent of the orientation of the target.

Enhanced Bottom Anode Monitoring In Dc Electric Arc Furnaces Using Fiber Optic Sensors, Yeshwanth Reddy Mekala, Rony Kumer Saha, Ogbole Collins Inalegwu, Muhammad Roman, Farhan Mumtaz, Rex Gerald, Jeffrey D. Smith, Jie Huang, Ronald J. O'Malley

PSMRC Faculty Research

A pin style bottom anode employs conductive steel rods that serve as the pathway for the high electrical power through rammed refractory at the bottom of a DC Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Anode wear during operation is important to monitor, as anode replacement is expensive and impacts EAF productivity. Liquid steel penetration into the un-sintered refractory layer can result from rapid electrical power ramp-up, dips in furnace temperature, or operating the anode for too long between EAF campaigns. In extreme cases, the liquid steel may penetrate the bottom of the furnace when anode wear progresses too close to the bottom …

Sic Addition To A Dual Phase High Entropy Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic, Rubia Hassan, William G. Fahrenholtz, Kantesh Balani, Gregory E. Hilmas, Jeremy Watts

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dual phase (Hf,Ta,Ti,W,Zr)B2-(Hf,Ta,Ti,W,Zr)C high entropy ultra-high temperature ceramics were processed from commercial diboride and carbide powders with and without SiC additions. A 30-min hold at a maximum temperature of 1850 °C in spark plasma sintering resulted in a relative density of ∼95 %, which increased to ∼100 % with the addition of 7.5 wt.% SiC. The compositions did not reach chemical equilibrium under the given sintering conditions resulting in an inhomogeneous distribution of transition metals in both the boride and carbide phases. The addition of SiC improved densification by inhibiting grain growth, which reduced the grain size from 9.0 ± …

Magnetic Separation Of Lunar Regolith Simulants With Applications To In Situ Resource Utilization On The Moon, Peter Bachle, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William Schonberg, Daoru Han

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of in situ resource utilization (ISRU) for metal extraction is imperative as a steppingstone for habitation construction in lunar and non-terrestrial environments. Separation of minerals by chemical composition is important to optimize metal and oxygen liberation from lunar ore. to this effect, devices capable of separating aluminum bearing minerals from iron-bearing minerals from the lunar regolith simulants have been developed. Twenty-eight different simulants have been used in this study. a dual-belt separator was designed to reduce middlings. Para-magnetic minerals were reliably separated using a neodymium N52-magnet-separator system. Effective separation of aluminum-bearing minerals from iron-bearing minerals was greater than …

Beneficiation Of Lunar Regolith Simulants Through Electrostatic Sieving And Magnetic Separation, Peter Bachle, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William Schonberg, Daoru Han

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the light of future development of lunar structures, in-situ feldspar beneficiation is imperative for metal extraction. This research incorporates the tandem use of electrostatic sieving and magnetic separation for collecting a specific size range and mineral composition from lunar soil that optimizes subsequent chemical processing. While earlier works focused on silt-sized particles, this work expands that range up to medium-grained sand with a greater variety of potential lunar regolith compositions. This work shows that a 2.5 kV, 7 Hz to 30Hz frequency, single-phase square wave can lift silt and fine sand for collection. This lifting is successful directly from …

Kinetic Modeling Of Electrostatic Sieving For Lunar Regolith Beneficiation: Case Studies, Easton Ingram, Emmanuela Amen Eze, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William Schonberg, Daoru Han

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A new kinetic particle modeling framework was developed to investigate electrostatic transport of lunar regolith particles with applications to the concept of electrostatic sieving. The new approach is based on kinetic particle dynamics and includes major modules of sampling the particle size distribution, solving electric fields, and tracking motion of charged dust grains. Case studies for a concept of electrostatic sieving were chosen to validate the new model. The simulation achieved similar yields reported in previous works, which served as validation of the model. The new model is computationally efficient and could serve as a design, analysis, and optimization tool.

Development Of A Highly Loaded Zirconium Carbide Paste For Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing, Clare Sabata, Austin J. Martin, Jeremy L. Watts, Gregory E. Hilmas

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A highly loaded, aqueous-based zirconium carbide (ZrC) paste was developed for ceramic on-demand extrusion (CODE). Commercial ZrC powder was ball milled to reduce the particle size to ∼1 μm. Paste composition was determined by rheological characterization and observation of printing behavior; the final paste consisted of 46–47 vol% ZrC, 43.5 vol% distilled water, 8.1 vol% dispersant, and 1.6 vol% binder. Rheological characterization of the paste showed a yield stress of ∼8 Pa and shear thinning behavior (ΔG′/Δσ* = −55). The paste was printed using a 610 μm nozzle; a test print showed shape fidelity using the developed paste. A pressureless …

Effect Of Sc Spatial Distribution On The Electronic And Ferroelectric Properties Of Alscn, Bipin Bhattarai, Xiaoman Zhang, Wangwang Xu, Yijia Gu, W. J. Meng, Andrew C. Meng

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

While aluminum scandium nitride based ferroelectric materials have shown significant promise for non-volatile memory applications, difficulties relating challenges in device performance, such as electrical leakage, to structural characteristics motivate improved understanding of the fundamental structure-property relationship. Spinodal decomposition has been reported in this material system, consistent with our observation of compositional segregation in AlScN films grown by reactive sputter epitaxy. To better understand the effects of spatially non-uniform Sc concentrations, the electronic and ferroelectric (FE) properties of AlScN as a function of Sc distribution are studied using density functional theory (DFT). We explore the impact of Sc-rich atomic planes in …

Phenolic Polymer Infiltration And Pyrolysis Process For Additively Manufactured Carbon/Peek Composites To Produce Carbon–Carbon Composites, S. Weiler, H. A. Haffner, K. Chandrashekhara, J. Watts, G. E. Hilmas, J. Bayldon, L. M. Rueschhoff

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Carbon–carbon composites are carbon fibers reinforced with carbon matrix and are classified as advanced materials well suited for high-temperature structural applications. Carbon–carbon composites are characterized by maintaining excellent mechanical properties and structural stability at high temperatures and have been used in aerospace application as nozzles, heatshields, and leading edge. However, conventional methods to manufacture carbon–carbon composites are costly and time-consuming. the aim of this work is to develop a method for creating additively manufactured (AM) carbon–carbon composites using a high-pressure re-infiltration process. in doing so, less infiltration cycles are required compared to a low-pressure re-infiltration, reducing the total manufacture time. …

New Testing Capabilities Of The Missouri University Of Science And Technology Supersonic Wind Tunnel, Joshua Gary, Davide Viganò

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of non-intrusive, laser-based diagnostic techniques has significantly enhanced supersonic experimental aerodynamics, enabling the measurement of many parameters in complex flow fields. Among these techniques, Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry, capable of measuring 3 components of velocity in 3-dimensional volumes, is now available at the Aerodynamics Research Laboratory of the Missouri University of Science and Technology. To integrate this new system into the university's supersonic wind tunnel, a redesigned nozzle, test section, and diffuser have been implemented. The upgraded modular test section features 4 large ports which can be configured with windows for optical diagnostics or lead plates for model …

Sensor Tasking For Low Earth Orbit Objects: Leveraging Space Sensor Data For Ground-Based Optical Observations, Smriti Nandan Paul, Hang Woon Lee

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Because of recent advancements in space technologies, easier and more economical access to space, and an increase in commercial interests, the near-Earth space environment has witnessed an exploding number of objects being put into orbit. In particular, the low Earth orbit (LEO) region is at an increased risk of orbital collisions from large satellite constellation projects. Thus, monitoring LEO objects for space situational awareness and space traffic management has become increasingly imperative. In this paper, we use the concept of limited-CDF (cumulative distribution function) surface and mutual information for designing sensor tasking algorithms focusing on regular observation of known catalog …

Damage Initiation Of 15v38 Steel Bar During Square-To-Round Hot Rolling Process, Siva Sai Krishna Dasari, Henry Adekola Haffner, K. Chandrashekhara, Mario F. Buchley, Simon N. Lekakh, Ronald J. O'Malley

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hot rolling processes have been extensively used to produce round bars by reducing the cross-sectional area of continuously cast steel. The current trend toward increasing productivity often requires a more aggressive reduction per pass. Establishing safe and optimized hot rolling parameters must be determined to avoid damage while deforming the specific steel composition. Understanding the damage mechanism during the metal forming process is vital for product quality. Herein, a combined experimental and simulation approach is developed to track the evolution potential damage during hot bar rolling. Hot tension tests are conducted on as-cast vanadium micro alloyed 15V38 steel at different …

Thermodynamic Analysis Of Metal Segregation In Dual Phase High Entropy Ceramics, Steven M. Smith, William G. Fahrenholtz, Gregory E. Hilmas, Stefano Curtarolo

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Equilibrium Gibbs' free energy calculations were used to determine metal segregation trends between boride and carbide solid solutions containing two metals that are relevant to dual phase high entropy ceramics. The model predicted that Ti had the strongest tendency to segregate to the boride phase followed by Zr, Nb, Mo, V, Hf, and Ta, which matches experimental results of measured compositions. The ratio of a metal in the carbide phase to the content of the same metal in the corresponding metal boride had a linear trend with the change in standard Gibbs' free energy of reaction for a metal carbide …

A Super-Hard High Entropy Boride Containing Hf, Mo, Ti, V, And W, Suzana Filipovic, Nina Obradovic, Greg E. Hilmas, William G. Fahrenholtz, Donald W. Brenner, Jon Paul Maria, Douglas E. Wolfe, Eva Zurek, Xiomara Campilongo, Stefano Curtarolo

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Super-Hard (Hf,Mo,Ti,V,W)B2 Was Synthesized by Boro-Carbothermal Reduction and Densified by Spark Plasma Sintering. This Composition Was Produced for the First Time as a Single-Phase Ceramic in the Present Research. the Optimized Ceramic Had a Single Hexagonal AlB2-Type Crystalline Phase with a Grain Size of 3.8 µm and Homogeneous Distribution of the Constituent Metals. the Vickers Hardness Exhibited the Indentation Size Effect, Increasing from 27 GPa at a Load of 9.8 N to as High as 66 GPa at a Load of 0.49 N. This is the Highest Hardness Reported to Date for High Entropy Boride Ceramics.