Engineering Commons^™

Determining The Impacts Of Corn Silage Mixing Ratios On Hydrogen Production From Beef Cattle Manure, Katya Faber-Quimby

Honors Theses

With global warming becoming an increasingly serious threat and a growing population requiring additional energy resources, interest in the production of clean energy from the agricultural sector has surged in popularity. Biohydrogen, also known as green hydrogen, is H₂ that has been produced using renewable energy, such as from agricultural byproducts or waste materials. It presents a promising alternative to nonrenewable resources due to its high potential for energy storage and lack of carbon emissions when used. Cattle manure has been explored as a resource for the production of biohydrogen. Selecting for hydrogen-producing microbes in the manure serves the …

Modeling Vibration Stiffness: An Analytical Extension Of Hertzian Theory For Angular Contact Bearings With A Thin Viscoelastic Coating, Davis R. Burton

Honors Theses

This thesis considers the novel angular contact rolling-element bearings proposed by NASA’s Glenn Research Center, which are coated with a thin solid lubricant that exhibits viscoelastic behavior. Current analytical models for the dynamic stiffness matrix of angular contact bearings, critical for vibration analysis, lack the ability to model the effects of a solid coating, as well as the time dependencies inherent in viscoelastic theory. The author first presents an overview of the stiffness matrix derivation, followed by a treatment of the underlying Hertzian contact theory. An analytical extension of this theory is proposed which accounts for a thin elastic layer …

Emotional Experiences Of Black U.S. Computer Science And Engineering Students Amid Faculty-Student Interactions, Kyle Shanachilubwa

Honors Theses

Black students encounter unique challenges in computer science and engineering education. Chief among these is a disconnect with faculty due to a lack of mentorship and difficulties in interactions with faculty. Despite these challenges, Black students bring many engineering and computer science assets. This study aims to understand the emotional experiences of Black students in computer science and engineering education. We present an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to answer the questions: (1) How do Black students experience faculty-student interactions in computer science and engineering education? (2) How do Black students experience professional shame in these interactions? To answer these research …

Side Channel Detection Of Pc Rootkits Using Nonlinear Phase Space, Rebecca Clark

Honors Theses

Cyberattacks are increasing in size and scope yearly, and the most effective and common means of attack is through malicious software executed on target devices of interest. Malware threats vary widely in terms of behavior and impact and, thus, effective methods of detection are constantly being sought from the academic research community to offset both volume and complexity. Rootkits are malware that represent a highly feared threat because they can change operating system integrity and alter otherwise normally functioning software. Although normal methods of detection that are based on signatures of known malware code are the standard line of defense, …

Meta Project: Construction, Validation, And Flight Testing Of A New Meta Aircraft Design, William Andrew Wearren

Honors Theses

Meta aircraft are a type of aircraft that can connect via wingtip, nose-to-tail, or both wingtip and nose-to-tail in order to create a lattice of aircraft that can fly together to a site, detach, survey different areas, and then reattach for flight back to the main base. The project started at the Georgia Institute of Technology with Dr. Carlos Montalvo and is being continued at the University of South Alabama Facility for Aerospace Systems and Technology Lab. This paper seeks to theoretically verify the new aircraft design for the META project, complete the development of the design, and to experimentally …

Monitoring Aerosols With Time Resolution With A Rotating Drum Sampler Using La-Icpms For Elemental Analysis, John V. Piorkowski

Honors Theses

This thesis presents a comprehensive study on the characterization and application of a rotating drum sampler for air quality monitoring, with a focus on aerosol composition analysis using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). The study aimed to determine (1) the cut-off points of the drum sampler to better understand its performance characteristics and (2) to investigate indoor air quality, specifically within makerspaces on Bucknell University’s campus. The research highlighted the novelty of applying LA-ICPMS for time-resolved aerosol composition analysis, demonstrating the potential for low-cost pollution concentration studies. The characterization experiments did not yield expected results, but the …

Experimental Evaluation Of Mesh Size In Physically Crosslinked Polymer Gels Using Dynamic Light Scattering, Duncan M. Hill

Honors Theses

Block copolymer gels are under consideration as drug delivery patches. Controlling and modeling the transport inside the gel is an important contribution to the successful delivery of pharmaceuticals. The diffusive transport of a solute – such as a therapeutic compound – within the gel can be described by the mesh size of the gel, which is defined as the distance between polymer chains. Existing experimental evaluations of mesh size do not work for block copolymer gels due to differences in the fundamental gel structure. As such, an experimental method of measuring mesh size of block copolymer gels using dynamic light …

The Precedence-Constrained Quadratic Knapsack Problem, Changkun Guan

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the previously unstudied Precedence-Constrained Quadratic Knapsack Problem (PC-QKP), an NP-hard nonlinear combinatorial optimization problem. The PC-QKP is a variation of the traditional Knapsack Problem (KP) that introduces several additional complexities. By developing custom exact and approximate solution methods, and testing these on a wide range of carefully structured PC-QKP problem instances, we seek to identify and understand patterns that make some cases easier or harder to solve than others. The findings aim to help develop better strategies for solving this and similar problems in the future.

Computationally Modeling The Human-Structure Interaction Response Of An Occupied Cantilevered Structure, Brennan Smith

Honors Theses

There is a limited understanding of the impact that passive human occupants have on a dynamic structural system, referred to as Human-Structure Interaction (HSI). Cantilevers are naturally prone to excessive vibrations due to their long unsupported spans, and cantilevered structures such as those commonly found in the seating area of a stadium facility or concert hall are designed to support a high density of occupancy.

This study determined that HSI in cantilevered structures can be modeled using a simple two-degree-of-freedom system. The results of the model were validated by data that was collected on a small-scale laboratory structure intentionally designed …

Inverted Pendulum With Swing-Up And Center-Stabilization System Design, Caleb Osmond

Honors Theses

The inverted pendulum is a classic problem for testing control techniques. This paper details the implementation of multiple PID control schemes and the overall design of an inverted pendulum capable of swing-up and center stabilization.

The Influence Of Aviation Technology On Human Complacency, Aurora Burton

Honors Theses

The thesis covers automation complacency in the aviation industry. The purpose being to provide a foundation of complacency-related accidents to support or dismiss the Federal Aviation Administration’s claim to automation-induced inattention. Complacency factors are outlined in a multitude of fields, creating a background for aviation discussion. To outline the parameters of literature review, behaviors associated with complacency are addressed. Next, a compilation of accident reports is examined and categorized. Specific, impactful accidents relating to complacency are detailed and explained. Summarily, three solutions to human-driven complacency are proposed, evaluated, and analyzed. Including the following: proficiency advancement, technology improvement, and change in …

In Situ Water Sensing Systems: Research On Advancements In Environmental Monitoring, Abigail Seibel

Honors Theses

In this work, two sensing systems were researched in order to improve in situ environmental monitoring. The first is a pH and Total Alkalinity sensor used to determine these characteristics of sea water. I explored the facets of this sensor over a 7-week internship with Dr. Ellen Briggs in her lab in summer of 2023. The second is a more holistic sensing system that reads temperature, turbidity, and pressure used for studying environmental characteristics of Alaskan bever ponds. Both systems were developed in close collaboration with scientists who are collecting data to better understand the impacts of climate change. Better …

Husker Motorsports Active Drag Reduction System, Creighton Hughes, Evan Killian, Micah Busboom, Aj Johnson, Jude Steffen

Honors Theses

Formula SAE is a multifaceted competition that involves student teams designing and competing with an open-wheel style race car. There are 5 different dynamic events included in the competition. Each event requires a unique aerodynamic setup to have the best performance possible. This design project focuses on a drag reduction system (DRS) that will improve aerodynamic performance, resulting in faster lap times and increased competitiveness. Key features include a direct electronic actuation mechanism that will allow the rear wing to be adjusted during a race. The benefits of the DRS system, include increased speed, improved handling, and greater fuel efficiency …

Ensuring Non-Repudiation In Long-Distance Constrained Devices, Ethan Blum

Honors Theses

Satellite communication is essential for the exploration and study of space. Satellites allow communications with many devices and systems residing in space and on the surface of celestial bodies from ground stations on Earth. However, with the rise of Ground Station as a Service (GsaaS), the ability to efficiently send action commands to distant satellites must ensure non-repudiation such that an attacker is unable to send malicious commands to distant satellites. Distant satellites are also constrained devices and rely on limited power, meaning security on these devices is minimal. Therefore, this study attempted to propose a novel algorithm to allow …

Creating An Automatic Lowering Function For Quarter-Scale Tractor Pulling Sled, Sam Wilkins

Honors Theses

As the agricultural industry works to continuously integrate innovative technology and improve production efficiency, improved on-board data acquisition and transmission will be necessary for all agricultural machines. To make this a reality, the utilization of controller area network (CAN) technology will be crucial. Therefore, it is important for all agricultural engineers to have foundational knowledge of CAN bus systems and the standards that govern their use in industry. The UNL quarter-scale tractor team regularly utilizes CAN buses on their tractors and testing equipment. One such testing machine is the team’s pulling sled, which uses CAN messages to transport important information …

Exploring The Use Of Virtual Reality In Designing And Prototyping Medical Devices, Evan Marsh

Honors Theses

A degree in engineering is highly sought after in the United States. Despite the grueling coursework and sacrifices involved in earning an engineering degree, the rewards after college are numerous. However, the engineering field is vast, and the degree obtained is not always the profession followed in industry. A lot of what we learn in the college of engineering is very broad and surface-level. It is worth noting that only about 10% of what engineering students learn in school is applicable in the workplace, but they wish they had learned a lot more about that 10%.

Stump Grinder Project, Wyatt Hopper

Honors Theses

This project covers the analysis of a Portable Stump Grinder device sponsored by private investors known as Gary and Carol Sherman, two farmers out of Lincoln, Nebraska. The ultimate goal of this project, in terms of the work we were assigned, was to provide the foundation work for future engineering teams to design and build the stump grinder for Gary and Carol Sherman.

Modern Practices For Responsive Web Design And Web Accessibility, Keyaun Washington

Honors Theses

Responsive web design and web accessibility play crucial roles in ensuring an optimal user experience on the web. By designing websites with responsiveness and accessibility in mind, more opportunities are opened up for a wider audience to access and interact with our content. Through modern practices, responsive web design allows websites to reach several different devices ranging from compact smartwatches to expansive television screens. Designing for accessibility provides accommodations for individuals with impairments while also providing benefits for individuals without impairments. However, designing for responsiveness and accessibility can present challenges; a poor attempt at providing accessibility features can worsen a …

Columbus, Nebraska: Southern Housing Development Design Proposal, Ryan Weyers, Caiden Dynek, Alex Papa, Brexton Robertson, Kaden Perala

Honors Theses

The following paper proposes the design and creation of a new housing development in the city of Columbus, Nebraska in a lot to the south of the city and directly north of the Columbus wastewater treatment plant. The goal of this proposal is to provide readers with confidence that our company is the most qualified to complete the project and will create the safest, most comfortable, most efficient, and most cost-effective final design. This proposal seeks to offer a solution to the lack of affordable housing for the growing workforce in Columbus. In order to arrive at this solution, each …

The Biological Activity Of Dual-Responsive Glycopolymers For Intracellular Codelivery Of Antigen And Lipophilic Adjuvant, Micaela Shields

Honors Theses

Subunit vaccines present themselves as an attractive alternative to traditional approaches to vaccines, which utilizes whole organisms to trigger an immune response. While these traditional approaches have proven themselves reliable within the history of vaccinations, they generally deliver subpar robust cellular-mediated immunity and pose many safety risks. Composed of proteins and /or peptides, subunit vaccines are safer and more precise alternatives to traditional approaches. However, the pharmacokinetic properties of the macromolecules that make up these vaccines hinder the subunit vaccine’s level of immunogenicity [d1] Examples of this hindrance include but are not limited to aggregation at the injection site and …

Identifying Key Activity Indicators In Rats' Neuronal Data Using Lasso Regularized Logistic Regression, Avery Woods

Honors Theses

This thesis aims to identify timestamps of rats’ neuronal activity that best determine behavior using a machine learning model. Neuronal data is a complex and high-dimensional dataset, and identifying the most informative features is crucial for understanding the underlying neuronal processes. The Lasso regularization technique is employed to select the most relevant features of the data to the model’s prediction. The results of this study provide insights into the key activity indicators that are associated with specific behaviors or cognitive processes in rats, as well as the effect that stress can have on neuronal activity and behavior. Ultimately, it was …

Leadership And Project Management In Engineering: Baja Tube Bender, Maysyn Tm Sorensen

Honors Theses

Typical coursework for Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students does not deeply focus on project management and leadership. Detailed in the following documentation is review of my Mechanical Engineering Senior Design capstone project as well as analysis of final presentations of other capstone projects. The Senior Design capstone projects spanned both semesters of the ‘22-’23 academic school year. After the first semester of my project I produced a post-mortem report to analyze the project’s progress and suggest improvements for the project, design, and team interaction. These improvements were compiled into an action plan and implemented in the spring semester. When the project …

The Effects Of Differing Light Wavelengths And Gravity On, Reese Chesshir

Honors Theses

Physarum is a slime mold in the class of Mycetozoan and the family of Physaraceae. It is a single cellular, multinuclear organism that is not classified as an animal, plant, or fungi. Physarum growth for long-term space travel would be beneficial because it is a decomposer and is able to break down material and waste to recycle. This is important for transferring energy and allowing other organisms to grow. The purpose of this experiment is to study the effect of different light wavelengths and the influence of gravity on Physarum growth patterns.

The Antler: The Design And Development Of An Independent Shower Support Stand For Those Living With Lower Extremity Limb Loss, Kylie Wright

Honors Theses

While we do not often think about it, taking a shower is a privilege. Standing in the hot water, cleaning off after a long day outdoors, and taking a moment to simply relax is an experience that most people in the U.S. have participated in. However, about 1.4 million Americans do not have this luxury3. Lower extremity amputees have long been advised to shower while seated for their safety. This population is unable to experience the simple independence that accompanies standing in the shower. Despite the growing rate of amputations each year, no products are currently available on the market …

An Investigation Into The Common Problems Of Lagoon Wastewater Treatment In Kentucky, Kaylee A. Jones

Honors Theses

Lagoon wastewater treatment systems are commonly used in areas that do not have the available resources for typical mechanical wastewater treatment. Lagoon systems consist of multiple preliminary lagoons, but mainly rely on long-term facultative lagoons for most analyte removal. In this study, one particular lagoon wastewater treatment system (named Municipality A Wastewater Treatment Plant) is investigated due to noncompliance with governmental standards provided by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Samples were collected by researchers at 4 different instances inside of the treatment systems. These samples were sent to an analytical laboratory for testing. The readings from these samples …

Evaluation Of The Geotechnical And Foundation Components On Jud Site, Mirabel W. Nkanor

Honors Theses

This thesis is part of the senior design final project of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Mississippi. Geotechnical and foundation analyses were done on a proposed construction project for a multi-family home in Orlando, Florida. This evaluation done in this thesis follows the pre-existing geotechnical report on the side, USDA soil reports, ASCE Code 32-01 (Design of Foundations), and ASCE-7 Section 12.31.1 (Foundations and Superstructure-to-Foundation Connections).

A structural system was selected from the proposed location, on the corner of South Conway and Judge Road, and an evaluation of the Bearing Load capacity was completed to determine the …

Development Of Novel Sensor Coating Methodology To Enable Understanding Of Fouling Mechanisms On Ion Exchange Membranes, Andrew Ulmer

Honors Theses

As populations expand and natural water resources are depleted, severe droughts and limited access to clean water have become an increased threat to areas across the world. Effective and economic water treatment methods such as electrodialysis (ED) are vital for combating these threats, especially in developing nations and secluded locations. Organic foulant adsorption on the surface of ion exchange membranes severely limits the capabilities of water desalination systems such as ED along with significantly increasing maintenance costs. Understanding characteristics such as the total amount and rate at which these foulants at specific concentrations adsorb and desorb to the membranes is …

The Use Of Scattering Cancellation To Cloak And Decouple Slot Antennas And Antenna Arrays, Daniel Ferro

Honors Theses

The concept of cloaking has been prevalent in emerging research, being able to hide oneself completely from outside observers would be a huge benefit for covert surveillance and other fields. This idea has expanded past optical invisibility into the field of electromagnetic invisibility. To accomplish this form of cloaking, a non-natural material, called metamaterials, must be used. Furthermore, metamaterials can be used in a variety of different techniques including transformation-based cloaking, transmission line cloaking, and scattering cancellation cloaking. One application of cloaking is to use scattering cancellation to decouple two antennas that are placed too closely together such as in …

An Analysis Of The Production Of Pharmaceutical-Grade Acetone Via The Dehydrogenation Of Isopropanol (Ipa), Jordan Desplas

Honors Theses

The production of 99.9 wt% acetone from isopropanol in Unit 1100 is designed to start up in 2025 and operate for 12 years after startup. The engineering team was tasked with designing the process, creating an economic model, and optimizing the net present value (NPV). The process was simulated in AVEVA PRO/II Simulation for the design process, and the economic analysis was estimated in Microsoft Excel. Parametric and topological optimization was performed linearly on the unit operations in the process. The NPV was improved by $14M from a base case of $122M to an optimized case of $136M. The project …

Pour-Over Coffee Stand With Warmer, Francesca Patawaran

Honors Theses

This project sought to demonstrate the process of bringing a new product into the market, from the initial design and prototyping stage to marketing and, ultimately, mass production. As part of the curriculum of The Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME), the project team manufactured fifteen Pour-Over Coffee Stands with electric heating components. We first created a 3D model of the proposed design, ensuring that all components fit together in an assembly. Next, we worked with the lab technicians to create a prototype of the product. Then, we refined the manufacturing process to eliminate waste where possible. Throughout the …