Engineering Commons^™

Simulation Study On Nh3 Combustion And NoX Emissions Under Gas Turbine-Relevant Conditions, Kumeesha Arumawadu, Braxton Wiggins, Ziyu Wang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Ammonia (NH₃) is a zero-carbon fuel and an attractive hydrogen (H₂) carrier for gas turbine power generation due to its high energy density, ease of storage, and transportation. This study numerically investigates NH₃/air combustion using a hybrid Well-Stirred Reactor (WSR) and Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) model in Cantera at pressures of 1–20 atm, temperatures of 1850–2150 K, and equivalence ratios (ϕ) of 0.7–1.2. The effects of pressure, equivalence ratio, and temperature on NH₃ conversion and NO formation are examined. Results show that NH₃ exhibits a non-monotonic conversion curve with pressure after the …

Tuning Oxygen Reduction Kinetics In Lasrcoo4 With Strained Epitaxial Thin Films And Wrinkled Freestanding Membranes, Habib Rostaghi Chalaki, Ebenezer Sessi, Mohammad El Loubani, Dongkyu Lee

Faculty Publications

Sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remains a critical barrier to advancing intermediate-temperature electrochemical energy devices. Here, we demonstrate that strain engineering in two platforms, epitaxial thin films and freestanding membranes, systematically tunes ORR kinetics in Ruddlesden-Popper LaSrCoO4. In epitaxial films, film thickness is varied to control in-plane tensile strain, whereas in freestanding membranes strain relaxation during the release step using water-soluble sacrificial layers produces flat or wrinkled architectures. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis reveals more than an order of magnitude increase in the oxygen surface exchange coefficient for tensile-strained films relative to relaxed films, together with a larger oxygen vacancy concentration. …

Reformulation Of The Protein Databank For Real-Time Search Of Geometrical Attributes Of Protein Structures, Musa Azeem, Christopher Lee, Aaron Hein, Christopher Ott, Homayoun Valafar

Faculty Publications

Introduction:

In this study, we introduce the design and implementation of PDBMine, a large-scale, queryable platform for mining sequence-structure statistics from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). PDBMine enables rapid analysis of local conformational trends across proteins by extracting dihedral angles and sequence patterns at scale. In addition to the design and implementation of PDBMine, we also present results validating its ability to return structurally meaningful information.

Methods:

We first assess the accuracy of its dihedral angle distributions by comparing them to established Ramachandran space and verifying expected behaviors of residues such as glycine and proline. We then use PDBMine to …

Capturing Sclera Anisotropy Using Direct Collagen Fiber Models: Linking Microstructure To Macroscopic Mechanical Properties, Fengting Ji, Xuehuan He, Frederick Sebastian, Mohammad R. Islam, Hannah Schilpp, Bingrui Wang, Yi Hua, Rouzbeh Amini, Ian A. Sigal

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Collagen fibers are essential to the mechanical behavior of soft tissues, including sclera. Conventional models often represent these fibers statistically, potentially missing crucial aspects of their role in tissue behavior. In this study, we expand on a direct fiber modeling approach that we recently presented based on explicitly representing the sclera long, interwoven fiber bundles. Specifically, our goal was to capture specimen-specific 3D fiber architecture and anisotropic mechanics of four ovine sclera samples (superior from Eye-1, temporal and superior from Eye-2, and temporal from Eye-3), each tested under five conditions: equi-biaxial (1:1) and four non-equi-biaxial (1:0.75, 0.75:1, 1:0.5, and 0.5:1). …

Rheology-Guided Spinnability In Emulsion Forcespinning Of Water-In-Oil Nanofibers: Influence Of Surfactants And Internal Phase Concentration, Saptasree Bose, Alexandra Salinas, Evelyn Torres, Jose Ramirez, Elizabeth Gamez, Michelle A. Calabrese, Karen Lozano, Victoria Padilla

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study explores the emulsion Forcespinning (FS) approach for fabricating nanofibers with a hydrophilic phase encapsulated within a hydrophobic polymer matrix. Key factors influencing fiber production and morphology, including the concentration of the internal water phase and the presence of ionic and nonionic surfactants, were systematically investigated. Additionally, the centrifugal spinnability of the emulsions was assessed using environmentally controlled dripping-onto-substrate (DoS) rheometry, correlating the observed extensional flow behavior and emulsion extensibility with fiber spinnability. The nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. These findings offer critical …

Model-Based Investigation Of The Influence Of Environmental Conditions On The Energy Supply Of Multirotor Uavs, Morten Roßberg, Hanna Dibbern, Claudia Werner

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Flight time of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is limited by available energy, which is affected by the mission profile and external factors, such as environmental conditions. Two main environmental conditions that need to be considered are the impact of wind and ambient temperature on the UAV and its energy supply. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of wind and ambient temperature to conduct a preliminary evaluation of flight performance and flight limitations. For this reason, three locations in the United States—New York City, Miami, and Fairbanks—are selected and the impact of the considered environmental conditions of …

Numerical Solution Of A Coupled Nonlinear Dynamic Problem Of Thermoviscoelasticity, Abdali Abdukarimov, Ibodat Turabekovna Khaldybaeva, Askarova Shamshetdinovna Ayjamal

Technical science and innovation

This paper presents a numerical solution of a coupled nonlinear dynamic problem of thermoviscoelasticity. A Duffing-type oscillator with temperature-dependent properties is used to model nonlinear hereditary deformable systems. After specifying the temperature dependences of the elastic modulus 𝐸 and viscosity parameter 𝜂 and introducing dimensionless variables, the problem is reduced to a system of nonlinear integro-differential equations. A numerical procedure for solving this system is developed, and representative examples are computed. The results are presented in graphical form for various values of the governing parameters.

Numerical Investigation Of Heat Transfer And Aero-Acoustic Response In Deep Cavity Flows Using Urans Simulations, Abdul Hamid Jabado, Ali Hammoud, Bilal El Zohbi, Bilal Taher, Hassan Assoum

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This paper presents a numerical study to investigate a deep cavity flow, in order to better understand the underlying mechanisms involved in it, such as flow dynamics, heat transfer, and aeroacoustics. A 2-D Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes model (URANS) was implemented using an SST k-ω turbulence closure simulated over a rectangular deep cavity. Previous experimental results were used to validate the numerical results, to confirm the accuracy of the flow field patterns reproduced. Both controlled and uncontrolled cases were analyzed. Heat transfer was also investigated on both configurations, showing the effect of cavity geometry and inlet conditions on heat …

Electromagnetic Formation Flying Using Alternating Magnetic Field Forces And Control Barrier Functions For State And Input Constraints, Sumit Suryakant Kamat, Thomas Michael Seigler, Jesse B. Hoagg

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This article presents a feedback control algorithm for electromagnetic formation flying with constraints on the satellites’ states and control inputs. The algorithm combines several key techniques. First, we use alternating magnetic field forces to decouple the electromagnetic forces between each pair of satellites in the formation. Each satellite’s electromagnetic actuation system is driven by a sum of amplitude-modulated sinusoids, where amplitudes are controlled in order to prescribe the time-averaged force between each pair of satellites. Next, the desired time-averaged force is computed from an optimal control that satisfies state constraints (i.e., no collisions and an upper limit on intersatellite speeds) …

Numerical Simulation And Analysis Of Lid Driven Cavity Flow And Flow Around A Cylinder, Liberty Ammamoo Mr, Mohammad Uddin Dr

ASPIRE 2026

This paper explores a computational investigation of two classical fluid dynamics problems-lid driven cavity flow and flow around a cylinder- simulated at varying Reynolds numbers using Ansys Fluent (AF) and OpenFOAM (OF).The primary goal is to reproduce and compare the physical flow behavior observed in both solvers under matched boundary conditions, mesh configurations, and fluid properties, rather than to compare solver performance. Simulations for a square cavity case at Reynolds number of 10,100,10000, and for the flow around a cylinder case at Reynolds number of 180 were produced. The results capture key flow features including primary vortex formation, vortex shifting …

Teleoperated Robotic Arm With Vision-Based Imitation Learning, Favour E. Emmanuel, Hunter J. Donahue

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report presents the design, development, and deployment of a teleoperated robotic arm system capable of vision-based imitation learning. The system uses a leader-follower architecture with myArm C650 and myArm M750 robots manufactured by Elephant Robotics. The leader arm movement is controlled by the operator, whereas the follower performs actions acquired from demonstrations. Data collection included synchronized joint-angle recording and multi- camera video streams capturing human demonstrations.

These demonstrations were processed with a deep learning imitation algorithm called Action Chunking with Transformers (ACT). The main capability of this algorithm is its ability to make future action predictions based solely on …

Areosense, Josephine Turney

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The AeroSense growing system is designed to make indoor aeroponic gardening easy and accessible for everyone. By combining sensors, automation, and AI, the system can monitor and adjust humidity, lighting, and nutrient levels to help plants thrive without requiring expert knowledge. The goal is to create a self-regulating garden that takes the guesswork out of growing fresh herbs and vegetables at home. The project involves building a working aeroponic prototype equipped with misters, pumps, and environmental sensors, all managed by a Raspberry Pi. Using computer vision and machine learning, AeroSense will be able to assess plant health and respond automatically …

High-Speed Non-Pneumatic Tire (Npt) Design For Speeds Above 60 Mph, Jacob Grams, Brady Maurer, Jake Groewa

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project focuses on developing a high-speed non-pneumatic tire (NPT) capable of safely operating at speeds greater than 60 mph, a performance range where most existing airless tire designs fail due to structural instability and performance limitations. The objective of this work is to design, analyze, and prototype a structurally optimized honeycomb-based tire structure with improved load distribution, deformation control, and durability. Multiple geometries were evaluated using finite element analysis (FEA) to assess stress and maximum resultant (total) displacement behavior under loading conditions, and a material selection study was performed to identify a suitable material for the design. The final …

Nissan Leaf Disassembly Tool And Test Stand Design, Mariah Z. Hodge

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Akron Engineering Tribology Laboratory has developed a water-based lubricant and aims to test and observe if the water-based lubricant could work in an electric vehicle environment. As parameters for creating a test stand to mimic an electric motor environment are not readily available online, the goal of this senior design project is to take apart a used Nissan Leaf engine to define the parameters a test stand must meet to accurately recreate an electric motor environment. Knowing these parameters, a test stand will then be designed for testing the water-based lubricants. The purpose of building a test stand to …

Eletric Charging Arm Mechanism - E-Charm, Jacob A. Lewis, Gabriel A. Greer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

As demand for electric and hybrid vehicles continues to rise, many EV owners rely on home charging in their garages. Gabriel Greer and I’s Senior Design Project, the Electric Charging Arm Mechanism (ECHARM), addresses this by creating a robotic system that autonomously detects a vehicle’s charging port, connects to it, and returns to a rest position when charging is complete. ECHARM is designed as a six-axis robotic arm with wrist and shoulder joints driven by stepper motors through custom cycloidal drive gearboxes. A closed-loop control system using rotary potentiometers ensures precise motion control. At the end of the arm is …

Captive Model Test For Hydrodynamic Derivatives Of Ship Maneuvering In Regular Head Waves, Pin-Yuan Huang, Zih-Yao Lin, Tsung-Yueh Lin, Fu-En Lee, Yan-Wei Lai

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The motion of ship in wave can be discussed in seakeeping and maneuvering. In model tests, the former is found by the motion response of waves while the latter requires captive model test to acquire hydrodynamic derivatives. The hydrodynamic derivatives in waves are discovered to be different from those in calm water. To understand better the behavior of maneuverability in waves, maneuvering tests in a wide range of waves are performed in this study. This study presents an experimental investigation into the maneuvering behavior of a container ship in regular waves, covering a wide range of wavelengths from half to …

Measuring The Impact Of 3d Printers On The Health Of Youth, Alexis Kostin, Olla Obeid, Oz Trost

Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters

3D printers are used more widely than ever before; they can be found in factories, hospitals, and even schools. However, the health effects of the VOCs and UFPs that these machines emit have yet to be fully understood. In collaboration with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this study utilizes an Air Gradient One sensor at the Diamond Lab to monitor VOC and UFP emissions before, during, and after 3D printing sessions. By comparing these levels to EPA and CDC safety standards, we aim to quantify the respiratory risks posed to youth.

Numerical And Machine Learning Based Recreation Of Damage Morphologies Of Barely Visible Impact Damage, Oscar A. Valdez

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations

Composite laminates are highly sought after in the aerospace industry as they provide strength without dramatically increasing the weight of manufactured structures. However, composite laminates are susceptible to barely visible impact damage caused by routine activities. This type of damage can easily go unnoticed while significantly reducing the load-carrying capability of the laminate. Current non-destructive evaluation techniques, such as ultrasonic scanning, can reveal the damage footprint but provide no insight into delamination through-the-thickness due to the shadowing effect. Micro-computed tomography offers ply-by-ply damage resolution but is unsuitable for field inspections and is constrained by specimen size. This study aims to …

Set-Theoretic Reachability-Informed Model Predictive Control For Mechanical And Aerospace Systems, Jinaykumar Nitinkumar Patel

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations

Modern mechanical and aerospace systems increasingly operate autonomously in environments characterized by nonlinear dynamics, uncertainty, and safety constraints. In these settings, estimation and control methods based on nominal models and single-point trajectory predictions are usually insufficient to ensure safe and reliable operation. This dissertation uses a set-theoretic perspective, in which the system state, uncertainty, and admissible behavior are described by sets instead of point estimates. The key question is not only what the state is, but what set of states remains consistent with the dynamics, disturbances, control limits, and available measurements. This provides bounded descriptions of uncertainty and supports control …

Cross-Linking Peg Microgels With Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles To Engineer Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold Properties, Jonathan M. Zuidema, Alessandro Ajo, Marco Carofiglio, Luisa De Cola

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Microporous annealed particle (MAP) scaffolds composed of cross-linked microgels are emerging as important biomaterials due to their modular design, high porosity, and large surface area, which allow for highly tailored properties, cellular infiltration, nutrient and waste exchange, and improved drug release characteristics. To further expand on these technologies and enhance their modular design, thiolated mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (ssMSN-SH), which degrade in response to glutathione, were first cross-linked inside of 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol) maleimide microgels. The microgel size, rheological properties, and payload release characteristics were determined. Hierarchical MAP scaffolds were then created by cross-linking 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol) maleimide microgels with ssMSN-SH. …

Rope Cutting Task Module, Rebecca Usher

Engineering Theses

This project focuses on the design and evaluation of a rope-cutting module for use with robotic platforms developed by New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation Center (NERVE) and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The system is designed to cut nylon rope using a specialized robotic cutting arm that can be attached to the robot.

The system consists of a module task box that has two pegs that hold two arms to each one. One arm where the spring- mechanism inside of the task module and the second arm the one on top of the box hold the string in place …

Improving Ground Penetrating Radar Calibration For Chloride Assessment In Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks, Camila Silva Wendland

Engineering Theses

This study investigates how ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be used to estimate chloride content in reinforced concrete bridge decks. Chloride buildup at the rebar level can lead to corrosion and structural damage, but current testing methods are destructive and limited to small sample areas. GPR offers a non-destructive alternative, but interpreting reflection amplitudes is challenging because they are affected by multiple factors, including moisture content and rebar depth. To address this, a simulation-based calibration method was developed. Finite-difference time-domain simulations were used to study how chloride, moisture, and rebar depth influence GPR reflection amplitudes. A depth correction method was …

A Comprehensive Statistical And Regional Analysis Of Lng-Powered Marine Vessels On Ghg Mitigation Strategies Considering Existing Bunkering Stations And Gwp Values, Canberk Hazar, Onur Yuksel, Murat Bayraktar

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study aims to quantify and analyse emissions from marine vessels that can operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) but continue to use conventional fuels, largely due to the limited availability of LNG bunkering stations (BSs) over long distances. Four regions have been identified as having high concentrations of LNG-fueled vessels but limited access to operational BSs: the West Coast of the United States of America (USA), South Africa–Good Hope–Madagascar, Northwest Africa, and Brazil. This selection is based on the geographical distribution of these ships and the existing infrastructure. Hourly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been calculated by considering the …

Characterization Of Tomographic Piv System For Single-Phase Immersion Cooling Applications, Joel Joshua Oommen

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses

As the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure and High-Performance Computing (HPC) pushes power requirements to new heights, traditional air-cooling methods have become inadequate for modern server demands. Consequently, single-phase immersion cooling (SPIC) has emerged as one of the effective and sustainable alternatives, utilizing dielectric fluids to remove heat through direct contact with electronic components. Despite numerous thermal and reliability studies, the complex three-dimensional movement of buoyant thermal plumes around intricate component shapes are not yet fully understood in confined spaces.

This thesis provides a detailed characterization of Tomo-PIV and a component level experimental study of flow patterns in …

Effect Of Wall Movement On Porosity Formation In Ductile Iron Castings Under Varying Processing Parameters, Shamsul Alam

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Shrinkage porosity is a major defect that significantly impairs the mechanical properties and overall performance of ductile iron castings. Although graphite formation during solidification induces volumetric expansion, this expansion alone is insufficient to fully compensate for the shrinkage occurring throughout solidification. During the solidification and cooling of ductile iron, multiple phase transformations occur, resulting in dynamic volume changes that exert pressure on mold walls and internal cavities. These pressures can deform mold walls and casting surfaces, leading to defects such as swell and porosity, while also influencing shrinkage formation. This study aims to analyze the mechanisms of porosity formation and …

Viscoelastic Behavior Of Magnetically Filled Pdms Elastomers: Influence Of Filler Loading And Particle Type, Madison Procyk

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) offer a promising pathway for soft, magnetically actuated drug‑delivery systems, yet material‑selection guidelines remain unclear due to limited comparative data across particle chemistries, size scales, and concentrations. This study systematically evaluates how magnetic filler type (carbonyl iron and magnetite) and particle size (micro vs. nano), at two weight percentages – 40 wt% and 50 wt% – in Sylgard 184 PDMS influence the viscoelastic behavior of MREs intended for compliant biomedical actuation. Eight particle formulations were prepared through sieving, controlled mixing, vacuum degassing, and isotropic curing, producing nineteen total specimens (16 with filler particles and 3 without). Dynamic …

Embeddable Optical Fiber Sensor For Simultaneous Strain And Temperature Monitoring, Amardeep Kaur, Sudharshan Anandan, Steve Eugene Watkins, Yinan Zhang, Kumbla Chandrashekhara, Hai Xiao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We present an embeddable hybrid optical fiber sensor based on a cascaded extrinsic Fabry–Pérot interferometer (EFPI) and intrinsic Fabry–Pérot interferometer (IFPI) for simultaneous strain and temperature monitoring in high-performance composite materials. The sensor is fabricated using femtosecond laser micromachining and is embedded within bismaleimide composite laminates manufactured via an out-of-autoclave process. Experimental results demonstrate linear and decoupled responses to strain and temperature, with the EFPI showing minimal temperature sensitivity (1.7 pm/°C) and the IFPI exhibiting high temperature sensitivity (16.1 pm/°C). Strain sensitivities for both components were consistent at 0.6pm/με in embedded conditions. The sensor maintained structural integrity and stable spectral …

Physics-Constrained Generative Adversarial Networks For Dimensionality Reduction In Optimization, Samuel Sisk, Xiaosong Du

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft make a unique form of urban air mobility due to their low noise, zero emission, and precision control. To maximize efficiency, high-fidelity simulation-based multidisciplinary design optimization discovers the optimal balance among subsystems within an eVTOL. However, conventional multidisciplinary design optimization is computationally intensive due to excessive high-fidelity model evaluations. Moreover, complex nonlinear constraints deteriorate optimization efficiency and convergence. While surrogate models enable efficient design optimization, surrogate modeling suffers in large-scale applications and surrogate-based optimization still has to deal with nonlinear constraints. To address these challenges, the authors' previous work proposed physics-constrained generative adversarial …

Optimal Takeoff Trajectory Prediction Of Electric Drones Based On A Fully Automated Optimal Experimental Design Method, Jiachen Wang, Dheeraj Paramkusham, Xiaosong Du

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is attracting great interest as a viable solution to promote urban aerial mobility with promising flexibility as well as emission reductions. However, the low specific energy of the current battery is still a strong constraint on the range and endurance of eVTOL flights, especially considering the significant power demands during the takeoff process. Engineering design optimization permits promising solutions for the minimum takeoff energy consumption but can be computationally intensive due to iteratively evaluating simulation models. Surrogate-based design optimization is efficient but still relies on optimization iterations which prohibit real-time decision-making. To fill …

Tomo-Piv Study Of Baseline Flow Structures Behind A Strut Injector, Josiah Mcdermott, Connor Bell, Davide Viganò

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Stabilizing combustion in scramjet engines is a formidable challenge due to the small-time scales afforded for air-fuel mixing. Numerous studies in this area have demonstrated the potential of strut-style platforms for fuel injection and mixing enhancement, which remains an active area of research. In the Aerodynamics Research Laboratory at Missouri S&T, a strut-style injector system has recently been installed. In this study, we characterize the baseline flow structures behind this platform absent fuel injection. The wake generated by a strut itself has an appreciable impact on the resulting air-fuel mixing, which motivates its characterization. In future studies, this characterization will …