Engineering Commons^™

Flexible Electronics For Neurological Electronic Skin With Multiple Sensing Modalities, Haochuan Wan

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The evolution of electronic skin (E-skin) technology in the past decade has resulted in a great variety of flexible electronic devices that mimic the physical and chemical sensing properties of skin for applications in advanced robotics, prosthetics, and health monitoring technologies. The further advancement of E-skin technology demands closer imitation of skin receptors' transduction mechanisms, simultaneous detection of multiple information from different sources, and the study of transmission, processing and memory of the signals among the neurons. Motivated by such demands, this thesis focuses on design, fabrication, characterization of novel flexible electronic devices and integration of individual devices to realize …

Nucleation Studies In Barium Silicate Glasses And Soda-Lime Silicate Glass, Xinsheng Xia

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Controlling nucleation is key for the manufacture of glasses and glass-ceramics. It has been observed by different researchers in many silicate glasses that at low temperatures the critical work of cluster formation (i.e. the nucleation barrier) slowly rises rather than decreasing with decreasing temperature. However, this experimental observation is in contradiction with nucleation theories. In this dissertation, crystal nucleation was studied in BaO·2SiO2, 5BaO·8SiO2, and Na2O·2CaO·3SiO2 glasses. The main research topics include measurements of the nucleation rate, the structural evolution of the glass, and the low-temperature nucleation behavior. A special focus is given to the low-temperature nucleation anomaly. In total, …

Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized By Nonthermal Plasma For Electrochemical Applications, Qinyi Chen

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Metal oxide nanocrystals can be synthesized by colloidal processing and gas-phase processing routes. High-quality nanocrystals produced by colloidal routes typically have surface ligands. Transport of electrons and ions among nanocrystals is hindered by surface ligand, and degrades related electrical performance. Gas-phase processing, for example combustion and thermal plasma, can make free-standing nanocrystals. However, nanocrystals produced by combustion method are heavily agglomerated, which further limits the usage of nanoparticles in electrochemical applications. Nonthermal plasma, as an emerging attractive route, has been initially focused on the synthesis of elemental group IV materials, and extended to include the synthesis of multicomponent materials, such …

Structure-Property Relationship In High Strength- High Ductility Combination Austenitic Stainless Steels, Chengyang Hu

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Austenitic stainless steels are widely used in our daily life, but their mechanical strength is low. In order to improve their yield strength via grain refinement, an investigation was carried out involving phase reversion annealing concept comprising of severe cold roll reduction followed by annealing at different temperatures for short durations. During annealing reversion of deformation-induced martensite to austenite occurred by shear mechanism, leading to fine-grained structure and high strength-high ductility combination.Nanoscale deformation studies suggested that the deformation mechanism of nanograined structure was different from the coarse-grained counterpart. Post-mortem electron microscopy of plastic zone surrounding the indent indicated that the …

Magnesiothermic Combustion Synthesis Of Nanocrystalline Silicon And Oxidation Kinetics Of Magnesium Particles, Sergio Cordova

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Magnesium (Mg) is a well-known reduction agent in metallurgy (more specifically, in metallothermy). Recently, magnesiothermic reduction of oxides has been used in self-propagating high-temperature synThesis (SHS) of advanced materials such as ultrahigh-temperature ceramics (UHTC). The magnesiothermic SHS has also been used for the conversion of silica (SiO2) to silicon-based materials for thermoelectric applications. However, since oxidation of Mg releases a lot of heat, the direct use of it as the reduction agent leads to excessively high temperatures and undesirable sintering of the products. We have proposed to use magnesium silicide (Mg2Si) instead of Mg in the SHS of nanostructured silicon. …

Study Of Halide Gradient Formation Via Solution–Solid Halide Exchange In Crystalline Ch3Nh3Pbbr3 Thin Films, Behnaz Akbari

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this thesis, attempts have been made to understand halide exchange and mass transport inside the solid lattice of Lead Halide Perovskites (LHPs). We aim for the transformation of MAPbBr₃ using ionic solutions including 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMIMI), and 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) as halide ion sources to observe the halide diffusion across the thin film sample and to have LHPs with a gradient of mixed halides (MAPbBr_3-x (I/Cl)_x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 3). Successfully, MAPbBr₃ single-crystalline thin film was fabricated with different configurations. Surface analysis of the LHPs, elemental composition, halide diffusion, roughness, and size of …

Performance Of Calcium Chloride- Ammonia Adsorption Refrigeration System, Michael John

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

An experimental study on the performance of calcium chloride-ammonia adsorption system is described. A single bed water cooled condenser adsorption refrigerator prototype, which utilises calcium chloride-ammonia pair has been developed and tested in the laboratory. Experiments have been conducted for desorption temperatures of 100 °C with desorption time varying from 1 to 4 hours. An electric tape heater and a timer were used to perform the experiments. The adsorption temperature profile, adsorption rate and prototype performance have been analysed and discussed. The tested heating and desorption temperature of 100 °C and heating and desorption time of 1 to 4 hours …

Assessment Of The Impacts Of Climate Variability On Hydropower Generation: A Case Study Of The New Pangani Falls, Tanzania, Dativa Byarufu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Climate change poses potential impacts on hydropower generation either positively by increasing or negatively by decreasing river flow. This study assessed the impacts of climate variability on hydropower with a focus on the New Pangani Falls in Tanzania. Rainfall and temperature time series data from 1980-2014 were analyzed in relation to river discharge and associated impacts to hydropower generation. The Man-Kendall test was used to detect trend in both annual and seasonal time series. The results showed a negative trend in annual rainfall with Z= -2.41 at α = 0.05 and the slope Q = -0.964. Seasonal trend analysis showed …

Electrochemical Corrosion Properties Of Ternary Al And Quaternary Zr Added Bell Metal In 0.1m Nacl Solution, Sakib Al Razi Khan, Mohammad Ashfaq Hossain, Maglub Al Nur, Mohammad Salim Kaiser

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The electrochemical corrosion property of ternary Al and quaternary Zr added Bell metal in 0.1M Sodium Chloride solution has been experimentally conducted at room temperature. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method and Potentiodynamic polarization technique are used to carry out the electrochemical investigation. Microhardness test is also conducted for all three alloys and it reveals that Al addition increases the hardness of bell metal due to the formation of different intermetallic precipitates of Cu and Al. Optical Micrograph as well as Scanning Electron Micrograph have also been studied to characterize their surface condition. It is found that Zr addition refines the …

Evaluating Storage And Effective Moduli Of In Situ Polymerised And Melt Extruded Pa6 Graphite (G) Composites, Muneer Umar, Michael Ikpi Ofem, Auwal Sani Anwar, Muhammad Murtala Usman

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Four PA6/graphite (G) composites systems were made. Two using in situ polymerisation equivalent in mixing strain and two systems melt extrusion of equivalent processing strain. The effective modulus of the carbons, room temperature storage modulus and storage modulus at 80 ⁰C were evaluated. The composite/unfilled PA6 ratios at E25 and that at E80 for the in situ polymerised system IG 40/10 are 1.37 and 1.63, respectively. For the in situ polymerised system IG 20/20, the same were 1.96 and 2.28, respectively. For the melt-extruded systems, G 100/6 had the best E25 ratio of 1.67 and E80 of 2.03, whereas the …

The Effect Of Thickness And Type Of Material On The Sheared Edge Characteristics Of Keychain Cranioplasty Plate Blanking Product Using Eccentric Press Machine, Didin Zakariya Lubis, Lea Rachmat Indrasepta, Redyarsa Dharma Bintara, Rizky Ramadhan, Agung Budi Darmawan

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Keychain cranioplasty plate product has the potential to be produced using the blanking process because it is faster, low-cost, and requires low-energy consumption compared to other mechanical operations. This research aimed to find the effect of material thickness and type on the sheared edge characteristics of keychain cranioplasty plate using the blanking process to meet the international health standard. Experimental research conducted using an eccentric press machine with 40 tons capacity. This research’s test material parameters of titanium (Ti-6AL-4V) and stainless steel (SS-316L) were the 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, and 0.8 mm thickness with a maximum blanking velocity of 3000 …

Effect Of Dcrp And Dcsp Polarity On The Depth Of Penetration Of Smaw On Low Carbon Steel Astm A36 Using E7018 Electrode, Ma'mun Hidayat, Helleni Febnesia, Sulaeman Deni Ramdani

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The study aims to determine the level of penetration depth using SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) Process based on the polarity type of DCRP (Direct Current Reverse Polarity) and DCSP (Direct Current Straight Polarity). This research used ASTM A36 low carbon steel plate with thickness of 6 mm and length of 200 mm, Electrode E7018 LB-52-18 ∅ 3.2 mm, and with current parameters of 90 A, 100 A, 110 A, 120 A and 130 A and 70 ° welding arc angle. The method used the experimental research. Data collection techniques applied direct observation techniques and descriptive statistical data analysis techniques. …

Camshaft Failure Simulation With Static Structural Approach, Riduwan Prasetya, Andoko Andoko, Suprayitno Suprayitno

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

A failure happens within the camshaft of the minibus when the vehicle is in utilize. The camshaft was a fracture within the bearing between the primary cylinder exhaust valve and the second cylinder suction. This simulation aims to find the causes of camshaft failure utilizing the finite element method with a static structural approach, including simulations of deformation, strain, stress, fatigue life (stress-life and strainlife), and cracks. The method used in this paper is the finite element method with a static structural approach by ANSYS software. The camshaft material is a gray cast iron designed using Solidworks. Pre-processing includes meshing …

The Effect Of Multi-Extrusion Process Of Polylactic Acid On Tensile Strength And Fracture Morphology Of Filament Product, Muhamad Syaifuddin, Heru Suryanto, Suprayitno Suprayitno

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most used materials in FDM 3D Printing. Large-scale consumption of PLA on an industrial scale could cause environmental and efficiency problems. Thus, PLA waste and industry waste need to be recycled to limit excessive waste. This study aimed to investigate the change in mechanical property, morphology, and structure of mechanically recycled PLA. Recycling was performed 12 times using the extrusion process with an extrusion temperature nozzle of 170°C. The SEM, structural analysis, and amorphous-crystalline analysis used XRD. The results showed a gradual decrease of tensile strength from each recycle with a total of …

Degumming Of Hemp Fibers Using Combined Microwave Energy And Deep Eutectic Solvent, Bulbul Ahmed

LSU Master's Theses

Hemp is considered as one of the sustainable agricultural fiber materials. Degumming or surface modification of hemp bast is needed to produce single fibers for ensuing textile and industrial applications. The traditional degumming process necessitates a high amount of alkali, which causes detrimental environmental pollution. This study offers a new method to degum hemp fibers with reduced use of harmful alkali and precious water resources. In this work, hemp bast fibers were degummed by using combined microwave energy and deep eutectic solvent (DES). The properties of hemp fibers manufactured by this method were investigated and compared with the traditional alkali …

Methods , Systems , And Devices Relating To Surgical End Effectors, Shane M. Farritor, Thomas Frederick, Joe Bartels

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical device components , including components that can be incorporated into robotic and / or in vivo medical devices, and more specifically including end effectors that can be incorporated into such devices. Certain end effector embodiments include various vessel cautery devices that have rotational movement as well as cautery and cutting functions while maintaining a relatively compact structure. Other end effector embodiments include various end effector devices that have more than one end effector.

An Improved Earned Value Management Method Integrating Quality And Safety, Brian Briggs

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The construction industry invests significant time and money to improve quality and safety while reducing cost and schedule impacts. The industry has a sincere desire to improve construction project management methods to improve efficiency. Historically, quality and safety underperformances result from undermanaged quality control and safety activities. The cost and schedule impacts associated with poor quality work have always had an impact on construction operations. The unprecedented challenges and uncertainties of COVID-19 highlighted the need to improve the Earned Value Management (EVM) method within construction to reflect these quality and safety activities. The central goal of this dissertation is to …

Investigation And Statistical Modeling Of The Mechanical Properties Of Additively Manufactured Lattices, Derek G. Spear, Anthony N. Palazotto

Faculty Publications

This paper describes the background, test methodology, and experimental results associated with the testing and analysis of quasi-static compression testing of additively manufactured open-cell lattice structures. The study aims to examine the effect of lattice topology, cell size, cell density, and surface thickness on the mechanical properties of lattice structures. Three lattice designs were chosen, the Diamond, I-WP, and Primitive Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMSs). Uniaxial compression tests were conducted for every combination of the three lattice designs, three cell sizes, three cell densities, and three surface thicknesses. In order to perform an efficient experiment and gain the most information …

Performance Evaluation Of Gas Lift Valves Using Numerical Simulation, Felipe Simoes Maciel

LSU Master's Theses

This work aimed to assess the performance of two numerical simulation methods to replicate flow capacity test (FCT) results and predict the flow coefficient (Cv) and critical pressure ratio (Rcp) of gas lift valves (GLVs). FCT's use a modified GLV with an adjustable stem positioning system to obtain pressure as a function of flow rate for different stem positions to calculate Cv and Rcp. Therefore, this study used both a one-dimensional (1D) mechanistic model and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to predict the same variable from the FCT without tests using modified GLVs. This methodology demonstrates accurate results, which were compared …

Justification Of The Parameters Of The Working Body For Loosening The Furrows Between The Ridges, Xurshed Abdulkhayev

Scientific-technical journal

The article presents the results of theoretical studies on the justification of the angles of crumbling and solution of the wings of the pointed paw of the developed machine for pre-sowing treatment of ridges, the angle of its entry into the soil and the width of the grip. At the same time, based on the conditions for ensuring high-quality loosening of the soil with minimal energy consumption, the sliding of plant residues and weeds along the blades of the wings of the pointed paw and the descent from them, analytical dependences are obtained to determine the angles of crumbling and …

Robotic Surgical Devices , Systems , And Related Methods, Shane Farritor, Erik Mumm, Philip Chu, Nishant Kumar, Jason Dumpert, Yutaka Tsutano

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical device components, including components that can be incorporated into robotic and / or in vivo medical devices. Certain embodiments include various modular medical devices for in vivo medical procedures.

In Vivo Printing Of Growth Factor-Eluting Adhesive Scaffolds Improves Wound Healing, Kristo Nuutila, Mohamadmahdi Samandari, Yori Endo, Yuteng Zhang, Jacob Quint, Tannin A. Schmidt, Ali Tamayol, Indranil Sinha

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Acute and chronic wounds affect millions of people around the world, imposing a growing financial burden on patients and hospitals. Despite the application of current wound management strategies, the physiological healing process is disrupted in many cases, resulting in impaired wound healing. Therefore, more efficient and easy-to-use treatment modalities are needed. In this study, we demonstrate the benefit of in vivo printed, growth factor-eluting adhesive scaffolds for the treatment of full-thickness wounds in a porcine model. A custom-made handheld printer is implemented to finely print gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into the wounds. In vitro and …

Development Of Novel Battery Materials For Lithium-Ion Batteries And Beyond, Jiyu Cai

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As fossil fuels are depleting and causing environmental issues, it becomes imperative to widely implement renewable energies (e.g., solar and wind power). In this context, electrical energy storage (EES) systems are essential to accommodate the intermittent supply and uneven distribution of renewable energies. To this end, high-energy-density EES devices are highly demanded, such as rechargeable batteries. This dissertation presents my efforts in developing novel battery materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), and solidstate lithium batteries (SSLBs). These efforts include electrochemical evaluations of battery materials, surface modifications of electrodes via atomic layer deposition (ALD), and advanced characterizations of batteries …

Phase-Field Modeling Of The Polymer Membrane Formation Process For Micro- And Ultra-Filtration, Michael Rosario Cervellere

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Porous polymer membrane filters are widely used in separation and filtration process. Micro- and ultra-filtration membranes are commonly used in biopharmaceutical applications such as filtering viruses and separating proteins from a carrier solution. The formation of these membrane filters via phase inversion is a complex and interconnected process where varying casting conditions can have a wide variety of effects on the final membrane morphol- ogy. Tailoring membrane filters for specific performance characteristics is a tedious and time consuming process. The time and length scales of membrane formation make it extremely difficult to experimentally observe membrane formation. Modeling the membrane formation …

Influence Of Extracellular Matrix Stiffness And Topography On Neuronal Cell Behavior And Neurite Outgrowth, Mohan Yasodharababu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The focus of regeneration therapy for traumatic brain injuries and Alzheimer's disease is on the promotion and growth of neuronal cells. In vitro research attempts to improve this by modifying the stiffness and topography of the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the limitations of in vitro experiments make it difficult to control the individual factors influencing neuronal cell growth. A computational model can be used to decouple individual factors and study them individually to gain a better understanding of the mechanics between the neuronal cell and ECM, which will aid in the design of in vitro experimental studies.

This study develops …

Inhomogeneous Composite Design For High Energy Impact Resistance Through Computational Design, Physical Testing And Analysis, And Mathematical Modeling, Trenin Bayless

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Research in the development of impact resistant materials has been an expanding field for the better part of a hundred years. The development of a light penetration resistant and man-portable system that can resist extreme quantities of kinetic energy has been a subject of substantial study. In particular, the use of composite materials, polymers, ceramics, and metals has been critical to the development of the field. With the advent of complex computational programs for defining material properties, it has become possible to use simulations as a starting point for the development of next generation armored systems. To that end, it …

Optimization Of Vaccine Supply Chains In Low- And Middle-Income Countries Utilizing Drones, Maximilian Kolter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite tremendous efforts from governments and humanitarian organizations, millions of children in low- and low-middle-income countries (LICs and LMICs) are still excluded from the benefits of immunization. The vaccine distribution in LICs and LMICs is challenging for several reasons, such as limited cold chain capacities, vaccine wastage, uncertain demand, and lack of access to immunization services. A promising avenue to address these issues is the utilization of drones for vaccine delivery. Drones can fly at high speed on direct paths and could enable on-demand deliveries to mitigate limited storage capacities. Further, their independence of road networks could allow them reaching …

Electrochemical Deposition In Energy Storage Devices, Witness Atutala Martin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Metals, whether in a solid or soluble ion form, are a vital part of any electrochemical storage system. More so, Li metal is widely considered as the ideal anode because of its low density and low electrochemical potential (-3.04 V vs. the standard hydrogen electrode – SHE). However, just like most metals, it does not plate or strip evenly during cycling which can lead to cycling performance issues, short cycling lifespans, and even safety concerns brought about by dendrites that can cause internal short-circuiting within cells. This research focused on investigating the electroplating of metals in both aqueous and non-aqueous …

Design, Synthesis, And Optimization Of Additively Manufactured Functional Ceramics And Its Composites, Anabel Renteria Marquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The goal of this research consist in the design, synThesis and optimization of functional piezoelectric ceramics and composites that can be fabricated by Direct Ink Write (DIW) 3D printing technique for the use of sensors and energy storage applications. The synThesis optimization of lead-free ceramics for printing was evaluated by analyzing the impact of raw particle size of BaTiO3. A novel approach to evaluate the effect of bimodal distribution raw particle size of BaTiO3 ceramics is presented and their influence on packing density, piezoelectric coefficient and dielectric relative permittivity. Additionally, multi-material DIW printing was adapted as a novel method to …

A Computational Study Of Radiation Damage In Bilayer Silicon-Gold Structures, Cameron Hopper

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Irradiation from sources such as nuclear reactors bombard materials with neutrons and heavy ions. The primary consequence of this irradiation is the displacement of atoms from their atomic structure. As the structure becomes damaged, the mechanical properties can change. Eventually, this can result in a failure due to embrittlement. This type of damage is hard to detect and can result in sudden, unexpected failure. Therefore, focusing on managing the consequences of irradiation has been a heavily researched topic. To manage irradiation, the focus is primarily to manage the voids and interstitials that appear during irradiation. Grain boundaries and amorphous regions …