Digital Commons Network^™

Bonding Ss316l And In625 Through Laser Powder Bed Fusion And Directed Energy Deposition: A Comparative Tensile Analysis, Christopher J. Bettencourt, Nadia Kouraytem

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Directed Energy Deposition (DED) was used to deposit Inconel 625 (IN625) onto 316L stainless steel (SS316L) substrates fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion. Tensile properties of the resulting multi-material specimens were compared to those of the individual alloys. Two bonding approaches were evaluated: a direct transition and a 50/50 intermediate layer formed by blending equal parts of each alloy during deposition. The multi-material specimens demonstrated higher yield strength than the single alloys. However, samples with the 50/50 transition exhibited brittle failure at the joint, whereas the direct transition behaved more ductile. Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed microcracks at the interface of …

A Review Of Automation In Small Satellite Operations, Joseph Melville, Andrew Narvaez, Lee Jasper

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

In the context of congested orbital space, the proliferation of small satellite constellations aims to enhance resilience and responsiveness in on-orbit systems. The escalating number and diversity of small satellites and the need for intersatellite coordination pose operational challenges. Chief among these challenges is that the quantity of operators needed to fully utilize these deployed systems is prohibitively large and expensive; further, operators simply may not be responsive enough to events.

Automated systems, both on-board and ground-based, offer a viable solution to streamline various operational tasks. The integration of automation mitigates the operational burden, minimizes errors originating from human intervention, …

The Potential Of Microbial Fuel Cells As A Dual Solution For Sustainable Wastewater Treatment And Energy Generation: A Case Study, Shajjadur Rahman Shajid, Monjur Mourshed, Md. Golam Kibria, Bahman Shabani

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical systems that harness microorganisms to convert organic pollutants in wastewater directly into electricity, offering a dual solution for sustainable wastewater treatment and renewable energy generation. This paper presents a holistic techno-economic and environmental feasibility assessment of largescale MFC deployment in Dhaka’s industrial zone, Bangladesh, as a relevant case study. Here, treating 100,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily would require a capital investment of approximately USD 500 million, with a total project cost ranging between USD 307.38 million and 1.711 billion, depending on system configurations. This setup has an estimated theoretical energy recovery of 478.4 …

Atom-Chip Compatible Optical Lattice, Robert Leonard, Spencer E. Olson

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

A lattice beam configuration which results in an isotropic 3D trap near the surface of an atom chip is described. The lattice is formed near the surface of a reflectively coated atom chip, where three incident beams and three reflected beams intersect. The coherent interference of these six beams form a phase-stable optical lattice which extends to the surface of the atom chip. The lattice is experimentally realized and the trap frequency is measured. Degenerate Raman sideband cooling is performed in the optical lattice, cooling 80 million atoms to 1.1 μK.

Discrete Time Series Forecasting In Non-Invasive Monitoring Of Managed Honey Bee Colonies: Part Ii: Are Hive Weight And In-Hive Temperature Seasonal And Colony-Specific, Vladimir A. Kulyukin, Aleksey V. Kulyukin, William G. Meikle

Computer Science Faculty and Staff Publications

We explored the stationarity, trend, and seasonality of the hive weight and in-hive temperature of ten managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies at a research apiary of the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The hives were monitored with electronic scales and in-hive temperature sensors from June to October 2022. The weight and temperature were recorded every five minutes around the clock. The collected data were curated into 2160 timestamped weight and 2160 timestamped temperature observations. We performed a systematic autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time series analysis to answer three fundamental questions: (a) Does …

Salinity And Moisture Influence Co2 And Ch4 Emissions From High-Latitude Coastal Soils, B. N. Barr, K. C. Kelsey, A. J. Leffler, M. Petit Bon, K. H. Beard

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Sea level rise and more frequent and larger storms will increase saltwater flooding in coastal terrestrial ecosystems, altering soil-atmosphere CO₂ and CH₄ exchange. Understanding these impacts is particularly relevant in high-latitude coastal soils that hold large carbon stocks but where the interaction of salinity and moisture on greenhouse gas flux remains unexplored. Here, we quantified the effects of salinity and moisture on CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes from low-Arctic coastal soils from three landscape positions (two Wetlands and Upland Tundra) distinguished by elevation, flooding frequency, soil characteristics, and vegetation. We used a full factorial laboratory incubation experiment …

Weaning Beef Calves, David Secrist

All Current Publications

Weaning a beef calf is likely the most stressful event in the animal’s life. Future growth and reproductive performance can be compromised by health challenges encountered through the weaning process. Consequently, proper management aimed at reducing stress and preparing the beef animal for the next stage of production is critical to reach its genetic potential. Proper management involves applying good animal husbandry techniques, using sound science in developing health and feeding protocols, and implementing low-stress animal handling practices.

Deployable Systems Eat, Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

What Are Mechanisms?

• Moving Mechanical Assembly (MMA)

• A device that controls the movement of a deployable or other movable system of a space or launch vehicle

• Why do mechanisms exist?

• 1) Fit within launch vehicle or dispenser
• 2) Stow for launch loads
• 3) Change position or pointing once on orbit
• 4) Deploy objects

Detecting Ionospheric Disturbances Using High Frequency Coastal Radar Transmissions From The West Coast Of The United States, Riley N. Troyer, Kenneth Obenberger, Michael Negale, Eugene Dao, Zsolt Balint, Eric Burnside, Kris Robinson, Jeffrey M. Holmes, Pavel Inchin, Jonathan Snively

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Coastal radar system are located around the world and many happen to transmit at frequencies capable of skywave propagation via the ionosphere. Therefore, they can be detected hundreds to thousands of kilometers away. This paper demonstrates the opportunity to detect 39 Coastal Ocean Dynamics Application Radar transmitters located on the western coast of the United States using three HF radio receivers in Utah and New Mexico. It also illustrates the possibility to use the phase and Doppler measurements of these signals to derive displacements of the refracting ionospheric layer up to meter resolution for the 2023 annular solar eclipse, an …

Summary Of: Immersive Modeling Of Water Banking Elicits Local Knowledge And Strategies To Get More Water To Great Salt Lake, Hadia Akbar, David E. Rosenberg

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

Getting more water to the declining Great Salt Lake (GSL) is difficult. Strategies must address complex water rights, competing water needs, differing stakeholder priorities, historical legacies, lack of trust, and more arid and variable hydrology. Here we used immersive online collaborative modeling to explore water banking strategies to get more water to GSL. This 2-page brief describes the immersive modeling method, a Win-Win outcome, key results, new insights collaborators took from a model session, 2 new strategies to deliver water to GSL, and 3 next steps.

Bite By Bite: How Ungulate Browsing Shapes North America's Forest Future, Darius Hardalau, Vladut Stefanescu, Mindaugas Bakševičius, Michael Manton, Charles Ruffner, Gediminas Brazaitis, Georgeta Ionescu, Ovidiu Ionescu

Aspen Bibliography

Ungulate browsing represents a contemporary issue for forest development, influencing forest regeneration, composition, and management practices across the world, especially in North America. This review synthesizes findings from 101 studies conducted between 1980 and 2025 to examine patterns of herbivory damage through browsing by moose, elk, white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, and bison. Despite regional variation, high ungulate density consistently emerges as the primary factor driving browsing intensity and ecological and economic impact, leading to decreased social acceptance of coexistence with ungulates. This review highlights the selective suppression of palatable species such as balsam fir, red oak, and white cedar, leading …

Combining Submicron Spectroscopy Techniques (Afm-Ir And O-Ptir) To Detect And Quantify Nanoplastics In Snow From A Utah Ski Resort, Sara L. Belontz, Janice Brahney, Caroline E. Caplan, Eoghan Dillon, Ting Yan, Gerardo Dominguez

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) and optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy are cutting-edge techniques used for precise nanoscale chemical analysis, capable of detecting and characterizing particles smaller than 1 μm. In this study, we applied both techniques to analyze snow subsamples collected from Beaver Mountain, Utah. Quantification by AFM-IR identified a concentration of 1.50 × 10^–1 μg/mL of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), a copolyester known for its biodegradability and biocompatibility and that was the only polymer detected. Notably, 96% of particles had thicknesses below 1 μm, with the smallest particle recorded at 14 nm in height, demonstrating the advantage …

On Programmatic Aspects Of The Universality, Parameter, And Recursion Theorems Of Classical Computability, Vladimir A. Kulyukin

Computer Science Faculty and Staff Publications

The Universality, Parameter, and Recursion Theorems are three foundational results of classical computability theory. We show how these theorems can be programmatically illustrated and partially validated in Lisp. Our programs can be used as supplementary materials to texts on theoretical computer science, mathematical logic, or metamathematics.

Thermal Design Overview, Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Preface

• Introductions
• Work Based on "Small Satellite Thermal Modeling Guide, Initial Release, July 2022"
• Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RVSV)
• Purpose
• Introduce methods/concepts to develop and analyze a small satellite thermal model
• Understand why thermal modeling and thermal analysis are important
• Understand common pitfalls
• Learn about available resources

A Review Of Plant–Microbe Interactions In The Rhizosphere And The Role Of Root Exudates In Microbiome Engineering, Anagha Wankhade, Emma Wilkinson, David W. Britt, Amita Kaundal

Biological Engineering Student Research

Microbial interactions within the rhizosphere are fundamental to plant health, influencing nutrient availability, stress tolerance, and pathogen resistance. Beneficial microbes, such as plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs), including bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, enhance plant resilience through mechanisms like nutrient solubilization, phytohormone production, and pathogen suppression via antimicrobial compounds and siderophores. Root exudates, composed of sugars, organic acids, and secondary metabolites, act as chemoattractants that shape the rhizosphere microbiome by recruiting beneficial microbes. Microbial metabolites can, in turn, modulate plant physiology and exudate profiles, thereby reinforcing mutualistic interactions. Stress conditions alter exudate composition, enabling plants to attract specific microbes that aid in …

Influence Of Age At Harvest And Packaging Conditions On Color Stability Of Bovine Psoas Major Muscle, Xiao Lu, Xin Luo, Sulaiman K. Matarneh

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Student Research

This study investigated the effect of cattle age on the color stability of Psoas major steaks under different packaging conditions, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film packaging, high-oxygen-modified atmosphere packaging (HiOx-MAP), and carbon monoxide modified atmosphere packaging (CO-MAP), over a 14-day storage period. Steaks from old cows had a greater myoglobin content than those from young animals (p < 0.05), resulting in a darker beef color. Regardless of animal age, steaks in PVC and HiOx-MAP exhibited poor color stability during storage, as evidenced by the low color intensity and high surface metmyoglobin (MetMb; p < 0.05). These samples also exhibited a reduced MetMb reducing activity (MRA) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and higher 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels, with these effects being evident in steaks from mature cows. In contrast, steaks stored in CO-MAP had greater redness, MRA, and OCR, along with lower surface MetMb and TBARS levels (p < 0.05), contributing to the limited discoloration of steaks from both age groups. These findings suggest that while both harvest age and packaging affect the shelf stability of bovine steaks, packaging plays a more significant role. CO-MAP proved to be more effective than aerobic packaging and may mitigate age-related differences in color stability.

Utah Surface Irrigation Water Optimization Opportunities And Barriers, Matt Yost, Clara Anderson, Burdette Barker, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Kalen Taylor, Michael Pace

All Current Publications

Surface irrigation systems are still the predominant system used in some parts of Utah, representing nearly half of the irrigated area in the state and the region. Understanding the barriers to water optimization and opportunities for improvement in surface irrigation systems will help ensure their viability. This article presents the results of a survey of surface irrigators in Utah.

Global Variation Of Mesospheric Gravity Waves Observed By Awe, Yucheng Zhao, Jiarong Zhang, Pierre-Dominique Pautet, Ludger Scherliess, Michael J. Taylor

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

USU Presentation on the Global Variation of Mesospheric Gravity Waves Observed by AWE

Awe Data Status, P.-Dominique Pautet, Anh Phan, Ludger Scherliess, Yucheng Zhao, Jiarong Zhang, Dallin Tucker, Connor Waite, Pedro Sevilla, Russell Kirkham, Harri Latvakoski, Jacob Adams, Keith Paskett

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL Presentation on the AWE data status.

Designing Electric Vehicle Infrastructures And Opportunities To Benefit All Residents, Polly Parkinson, Emma Mecham, Fawn Groves, Ivonne Santiago, Amy Wilson-Lopez

Teacher Education and Leadership Student Research

Countries around the globe have set electric vehicle adoption goals to address environmental and health concerns, but engineering planners and community policy experts cannot separate the socioeconomic factors from transportation needs. This mixed-methods case study indicates that because transportation decisions are inextricably linked to health, work, and housing, EV adoption must also address multifaceted human needs. To avoid the transportation mistakes of the past, it is essential that people in communities are consulted in the adoption process and have opportunities so all may actively benefit from the infrastructures and economic growth caused by electrification. “If you don't know the space …

Calibration And Systems Engineering Collaboration, John Wilson

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

Systems engineering and calibration engineering are critical to the efficient development, production, and operation of complex systems. Systems engineering provides the framework for the system lifecycle, ensuring stakeholder needs are met through integrated solutions. Calibration engineering ensures the accuracy, reliability, traceability of measurement, and compliance with standards. Coordination between system engineering and calibration ensures that instrumentation, control systems, and system performance are enabled. As the lifecycle coordinator, systems engineering relies on calibration engineers to reduce risks, optimize development, and ensure operational success.

However, the relationship between these disciplines is often poorly coordinated, as noted in tabletop discussions at CALCON 2024. …

Nist Recent Advances In Support Of Radiometric Calibrations, Michelle Stephens

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

No abstract provided.

How To Make Radiometric Vicarious Calibration Methods Ready For The Upcoming Space Projects, Damien Rodat, Morgane Chapelier, Sophie Coustance, Emilie Delogu, Camille Desjardins, Arthur Dick, Morgane Farradeche, Lucas Landier, Clement Luitot, Sebastien Marcq, Aime Meygret, Charlotte Revel, Thierry Erudel, Morgan Farges, Xavier Lenot, Martin Bachmann, Emiliano Carmona, Laura La Porta, Miguel Pato, Karl Segl, Lorenzo Giampietri, Ettore Lopinto, Francesco Sarti

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

The space projects are always designed to push back the frontiers of what is feasible, focusing for instance on spatial, spectral and/or temporal aspects. In any case, the radiometric quality has to meet the end-user’s requirements, which may also be higher and higher. In the frame of optical Earth observation, the French space agency (CNES) is involved in a large panel of upcoming projects addressing new challenges such as the very high spectral resolution for carbon dioxide monitoring with MICROCARB, the combination of both spatial and spectral resolution for a spectro-imager, the thermal infrared domain with TRISHNA, the polarisation with …

Spectral-Spatial Ground Targets For Measurement Of Airborne Electro-Optical Imaging System Performance, Robert Sundberg, James Grassi, Michael Kogan, Cory Garms, Paul Corlies, Neil Goldstein, Bridget Tannian, Megan Stark, Marsha Fox, Timothy Perkins, Ronald Hardgrove Iii, Karapet Gyrujyan, Steven Santaniello, Todd Christensen, Vu Hoang

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

Targets located on the Precision Impact Range Area (PIRA) of Edwards AFB are used to evaluate imaging systems’ sensitivity and spatial resolution to ensure they meet specified requirements. Spectral Sciences, Inc., is developing a field-ready electro-optical sensor calibration/test system for airborne instruments from the visible through longwave infrared. This spectral region is particularly challenging because of the contributions from both solar and thermal fluxes. The system is composed of spectral-spatial ground targets and atmospheric characterization instruments. The design challenges for a new ground target installation applicable over short to long ranges and a broad optical spectrum include: 1) development of …

Spectroradiometric Calibration Facilities At The Nasa Ames Airborne Sensor Facility, Thomas Ellis, Alok Shrestha, Gary Hoffmann, Haiping Su, Roseanne Dominguez, James Jacobson, Julia Barsi, Matthew Birkebak

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

The Airborne Sensor Facility (ASF) at NASA Ames Research Center maintains a suite of capabilities for the calibration of passive earth remote sensing instruments, focused on hyperspectral imaging devices operating in 350-2500 nm wavelength range, with additional thermal IR spectroradiometric resources extending to 14 microns. Hyperspectral instruments present challenges to characterization and calibration due to the large volume of data gathered in spatial and spectral dimensions. ASF uses techniques anticipating best practices developing in the IEEE standard p4001, while leveraging multiplex advantages for efficient data collection. ASF has developed facilities for the spatial, spectral and radiometric characterization of airborne hyperspectral …

Geoxo Ocx Prelaunch And On-Orbit Calibration, Alexandra Ocasio, Lauren Aycock, Sandra Collins, Meghan Knudtzon

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

BAE will build the Ocean Color (OCX) instrument for NOAA’s next-generation Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite network. The OCX design provides high spatial resolution, moderate spectral resolution, high radiometric sensitivity, and calibration accuracy data at an unprecedented area collection rate to enable significant advances in Ocean Color science. This presentation addresses the OCX prelaunch and on-board calibration approach that will provide hyperspectral measurements with high absolute radiometric accuracy and stability.

Pre-Launch Evaluation Of Detector Misalignment To Compensate For Structural Focus Shifts Of Bluebon Spectral Imager In Space, Ohgan Kim, Minwook Joo, Dong-Jun Choi, Taeyoung Kim, Ara Kim, Ji-Nyeong Choi, Jin-Soo Chang, Sehyun Seong, Seonghui Kim, Seonggick Cho

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

Focus adjustment in satellite optical payloads is critical, especially for CubeSats, which generally lack dedicated focus mechanisms due to stringent constraints in size, weight, and power. The harsh space environment, characterized by cyclic thermal variations, can induce significant thermal deformation in optomechanical structures, leading to misalignment and degraded image quality that may compromise mission performance. While larger satellites routinely integrate precise focus adjustment systems into their designs, CubeSats face considerable challenges in implementing such mechanisms, although a few recent missions have successfully demonstrated effective focus adjustment capabilities.

To address this challenge, we propose a dual-method strategy that combines passive pre-compensation …

Geometric Calibration Of Near Focus Infrared (Ir) Sensors For Spacecraft Missions, Alex Allgrunn, Jason Knudson, Keith Blonquist, Christian Conkle, David Huish

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

On-orbit spacecraft missions ranging from observation and object tracking to situational awareness and close-quarters navigation rely on electro-optical (EO) sensors. These sensors serve as the spacecraft’s primary vision system, providing critical data for computer vision (CV) algorithms and guidance, navigation, control (GN&C) software, etc. To ensure accurate data is fed to downstream applications, EO sensor data must undergo rigorous calibration to transform raw measurements into high-fidelity inputs. However, EO sensors designed for close-range spacecraft missions often feature a wide field of view (FOV) with short focus distances, posing unique calibration challenges. Traditional EO sensor calibration methods, which typically employ collimators …

Characterization And Calibration Of Single-Mode Fiber-Coupled Laser Diodes As Irradiance Sources For Astronomical Observatories, Brian G. Alberding

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

Current problems in astrophysics relating to the determination of stellar properties, properties of exoplanet host stars, and observation of the expanding universe due to dark energy depend on accurate measurements of flux (a.k.a. spectral irradiance) from stellar sources. Flux calibrations of observatories are typically based on natural standard stars that currently have tenuous SI traceability where additional uncertainty occurs from differences in the reference source and target observations during the scale transfer measurements. CANDLE (Calibration using an Artificial star with NIST-traceable Distribution of Luminous Energy), is a prototype instrument payload to demonstrate an artificial light source that could be flown …

Getting The Most Out Of Your Imager, Torbjorn Skauli, Mark Helmlinger, Nicolas Venjean, Julia Barsi, Christian Conkle, Jason Knudsen, Alex Allgrunn, Matthew Birkebak, Christopher Durell

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

This practical workshop will focus on integrating spheres and other methods and maintaining NIST traceability through the calibration process. The workshop starts with a lecture on a basic framework to maintain integrity of radiometric and spectral signals and fundamentals of instrument characterization which is based the new IEEE 4001 standard. Hands-on sessions provide an opportunity to learn about characterizing and efficiently providing calibration measurements for successful campaign results.

The workshop will be organized into three sections:

1. Measuring Absolute Radiance Radiometry & Characterization of Imagers

2. Measuring Payload Spectral Response Application of Sensor Characterization

3. Characterizing and Using Integrating Spheres …