Engineering Commons^™

Silver Photodiffusion Into Ge-Rich Amorphous Germanium Sulfide—Neutron Reflectivity Study, Y. Sakaguchi, H. Asaoka, M. Mitkova

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Silver diffuses into chalcogenide films upon light exposure, and the kinetics of photodiffusion has been a subject of various investigations because of the difficulties in the in situ determination of the time-dependent Ag reaction and diffusion development in the chalcogenide layers. In this paper, we report the results of time-resolved neutron reflectivity measurement of Ag/Ge₄₀S₆₀/Si substrates under light exposure to clarify the kinetics of Ag photodiffusion into Ge-rich Ge chalcogenides. It reveals that Ag ions diffuse all over the Ge chalcogenide host layer once Ag dissolves into the layer without forming a metastable reaction layer unlike …

Expanding Efficiency: Women's Communication In Engineering, Jennifer C. Mallette

English Literature Faculty Publications and Presentations

As engineering fields strive to be more inclusive of women, focusing on perceptions of women's work is vital to understanding how women can succeed and the limitations they may face. One area in need of more attention is the connection between communication and women's experiences in engineering. This article examines the gendered nature of writing labor in engineering, focusing on case studies of three women who were able to use writing effectively, yet how communication emerged as a gendered form of labor subject to gendered perceptions. While these women's communication skills led to professional success, their association with writing echoes …

The Design And Implementation Outcome Of An Online Undergraduate Thermodynamics Class, Dazhi Yang, Krishna Pakala

Educational Technology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Online learning is not common for most undergraduate core engineering courses. However, the growing need for online engineering courses necessitates the design and delivery of online courses that can allow for the flexibility and convenience the distance learning experiences can offer. Thermodynamics is among the most difficult engineering subjects to teach, especially online, where instructors are unable to demonstrate the overwhelming number of equations and applications as they would in face-to-face lectures. This paper describes the design and development of an online, undergraduate thermodynamics class. It reports the implementation outcome of student final course grade and the students’ learning experience …

Dense-Graded Aggregate Base Gradation Influencing Rutting Model Predictions, Issam I. A. Qamhia, Liang Chern Chow, Debakanta Mishra, Erol Tutumluer

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper presents findings from an ongoing research study at the University of Illinois focused on developing and calibrating an improved permanent deformation model for unbound aggregate materials through laboratory testing and characterization. The project scope included testing sixteen aggregate materials, commonly used in the state of North Carolina for pavement base courses, in the laboratory through monotonic and repeated load triaxial testing. This paper primarily focuses on quantifying effects of aggregate gradation on permanent deformation behavior. To accomplish this, four materials were tested at both: (1) “source gradations,” i.e. original gradations from quarry, and (2) an “engineered gradation,” i.e., …

Optical Properties Of Organic Carbon And Soot Produced In An Inverse Diffusion Flame, C. Russo, B. Apicella, J. S. Lighty, A. Ciajolo, A. Tregrossi

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The carbonaceous matter (soot plus organic carbon) sampled downstream of an ethylene inverse diffusion flame (IDF) was chemically and spectroscopically analyzed in detail. In particular, the H/C ratio, the UV-Visible absorption coefficient and Raman parameters were measured and found to be representative of a highly disordered sp² -rich carbon as the early soot sampled in a premixed flame. In contrast, the optical band gap was found to be relatively low (0.7eV), closer to the optical band gap of graphite than to that of medium-sized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (>2eV) which are widely considered to be soot precursors and are …

Detection Of Methylation On Dsdna Using Nanopores In Mos2 Membrane, David Estrada

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Methylation at the 5-carbon position of the cytosine nucleotide base in DNA has been shown to be a reliable diagnostic biomarker for carcinogenesis. Early detection of methylation and intervention could drastically increase the effectiveness of therapy and reduce the cancer mortality rate. Current methods for detecting methylation involve bisulfite genomic sequencing, which are cumbersome and demand a large sample size of bodily fluids to yield accurate results. Hence, more efficient and cost effective methods are desired. Based on our previous work, we present a novel nanopore-based assay using a nanopore in a MoS₂ membrane, and the methyl-binding protein (MBP), …

Writing And Women's Retention In Engineering, Jennifer C. Mallette

English Literature Faculty Publications and Presentations

Engineering disciplines have focused on recruiting and retaining women, assessing factors that contribute to decisions to enter or exit the field at every level. While many studies have examined writing in engineering disciplines, few have looked at writing’s role in women’s decisions to remain in or leave engineering. Using a case study of a professional civil engineer, Katy, this study examines the role that writing played in her dissatisfaction with engineering and her ultimate decision to leave the field. The author analyzes two genres of writing, meeting minutes and a preliminary engineering report, to explore how Katy’s writing practices often …

Direct Numerical Simulation Of Turbulent Katabatic Slope Flows With An Immersed-Boundary Method, Clancy Umphrey, Ray Deleon, Inanc Senocak

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We investigate a Cartesian-mesh immersed-boundary formulation within an incompressible flow solver to simulate laminar and turbulent katabatic slope flows. As a proof-of-concept study, we consider four different immersed-boundary reconstruction schemes for imposing a Neumann-type boundary condition on the buoyancy field. Prandtl’s laminar solution is used to demonstrate the second-order accuracy of the numerical solutions globally. Direct numerical simulation of a turbulent katabatic flow is then performed to investigate the applicability of the proposed schemes in the turbulent regime by analyzing both first- and second-order statistics of turbulence. First-order statistics show that turbulent katabatic flow simulations are noticeably sensitive to the …

Amorphous Boron Nanorod As An Anode Material For Lithium-Ion Batteries At Room Temperature, Changjian Deng, Miu Lun Lau, Riley Parrish, Kassiopeia A. Smith, Hui Xiong

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We report an amorphous boron nanorod anode material for lithium-ion batteries prepared through smelting non-toxic boron oxide in liquid lithium. Boron in theory can provide capacity as high as 3099 mAh g^-1 by alloying with Li to form B₄Li_5. However, experimental studies of boron anode were rarely reported for room temperature lithium-ion batteries. Among the reported studies the electrochemical activity and cycling performance of bulk crystalline boron anode material are poor at room temperature. In this work, we utilized amorphous nanostructured one-dimensional (1D) boron material aiming at improving the electrochemical reactivity between boron and lithium ions …

Metrology Of Dna Arrays By Super-Resolution Microscopy, Christopher M. Green, Kelly Schutt, Noah Morris, Reza M. Zadegan, William L. Hughes, Wan Kuang, Elton Graugnard

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recent results in the assembly of DNA into structures and arrays with nanoscale features and patterns have opened the possibility of using DNA for sub-10 nm lithographic patterning of semiconductor devices. Super-resolution microscopy is being actively developed for DNA-based imaging and is compatible with inline optical metrology techniques for high volume manufacturing. Here, we combine DNA tile assembly with state-dependent super-resolution microscopy to introduce crystal-PAINT as a novel approach for metrology of DNA arrays. Using this approach, we demonstrate optical imaging and characterization of DNA arrays revealing grain boundaries and the temperature dependence of array quality. For finite arrays, analysis …

Testing Our Assumptions: The Role Of First Course Grade And Course Level In Mathematics And English, Janet Callahan, Marcia Belcheir

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Methods that provide an early indicator of factors that affect student persistence are important to colleges and universities. This quantitative research focused on the role of level of entry mathematics and English and also on grades earned in those classes as they relate to persistence after one year. The research showed that by far, the variable most predictive of first-time, full-time students enrolling one year later was earning a grade of “A” in English. Compared to those who did not pass their first English course, students who earned an “A” were three times more likely to persist. The variables which …

Dynamic Rating Of Overhead Transmission Lines Over Complex Terrain Using A Large-Eddy Simulation Paradigm, Tyler Phillips, Ray Deleon, Inanc Senocak

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) enables rating of power line conductors using real-time weather conditions. Conductors are typically operated based on a conservative static rating that assumes worst case weather conditions to avoid line sagging to unsafe levels. Static ratings can cause unnecessary congestion on transmission lines. To address this potential issue, a simulation-based dynamic line rating approach is applied to an area with moderately complex terrain. A micro-scale wind solver — accelerated on multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) — is deployed to compute wind speed and direction in the vicinity of powerlines. The wind solver adopts the large-eddy simulation technique …

Phase Separation In Ti-6al-4v Alloys With Boron Additions For Biomedical Applications: Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy Investigation Of Microgalvanic Couples And Corrosion Initiation, P. H. Davis, K. Robles, K. Livingston, S. Johns, V. A. Ravi, E. Graugnard, M. F. Hurley

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

To investigate the effect of boron additions on the corrosion behavior of Ti-6Al-4V for potential use in biomedical implants and devices, cast samples of Ti-6Al-4V were alloyed with 0.01% to 1.09% boron by weight and subjected to hot isostatic pressing. Subsequent analysis via scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy revealed the presence of both alpha (α) and beta (β) phase titanium, enriched in aluminum and vanadium, respectively. At all concentrations, boron additions affected the grain structure and were dispersed throughout both phases, but above the solubility limit, needle-like TiB structures also formed. …

Computationally Connecting Organic Photovoltaic Performance To Atomistic Arrangements And Bulk Morphology, Matthew L. Jones, Eric Jankowski

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Rationally designing roll-to-roll printed organic photovoltaics requires a fundamental understanding of active layer morphologies optimized for charge separation and transport, and which ingredients can be used to self-assemble those morphologies. In this review article we discuss advances in three areas of computational modeling that provide insight into active layer morphology and the charge transport properties that result. We explain the computational bottlenecks prohibiting atomistically-detailed simulations of device-scale active layers and the coarse-graining and hardware acceleration strategies for overcoming them. We review coarse-grained simulations of organic photovoltaic active layers and show that high throughput simulations of experimentally-relevant length scales are now …

Detection Of Structural Bolt Detorquing Using Direct Stethoscope Measurement, Joe Guarino, Robert Hamilton

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A method for detecting loosened bolts in a structural joint based upon open-loop acoustic measurement is presented. The acoustic measurement is taken directly on the bolt head. The response of the bolt to a proximal hammer impact is evaluated and characterized using wavelet decomposition of the signal measured from the bolt head. Data were also taken from an accelerometer mounted longitudinally and transversely on the bolt head. Results from the stethoscope and the accelerometer are presented from a set of structural bolts in several conditions of preload and looseness. A stethoscope applied to the loose bolt and a proximal bolt …

Development And Assessment Of A Combined Reu/Ret Program In Materials Science, Noah Salzman, Rick Ubic

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this paper we present an evaluation and lessons learned from a joint Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program focused on energy and sustainability topics within a Materials Science and Engineering program at a public university. This program brought eleven undergraduate science and engineering students with diverse educational and institutional backgrounds and four local middle and high school teachers on campus for an 8-week research experience working in established lab groups at the university.

Using the Qualtrics online survey software, we conducted pre-experience and post-experience surveys of the participants to assess the effects of …

Talking About A Revolution: Overview Of Nsf Red Projects, Noah Salzman

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A significant initiative in engineering education in the U.S. began in 2014 when the National Science Foundation (NSF) initiated the IUSE/PFE: REvolutionizing engineering and computer science Departments (IUSE/PFE: RED) program. The goals of IUSE/PFE: RED (hereinafter referred to as RED) are to “enable engineering and computer science departments to lead the nation by successfully achieving significant sustainable changes necessary to overcome longstanding issues in their undergraduate programs and educate inclusive communities of engineering and computer science students prepared to solve 21st-century challenges.” In 2015, six RED projects were funded followed by seven more in 2016. In addition, NSF funded researchers …

Developing An Instrument To Assess The Effects Of Pre-College Engineering Participation On The Experiences Of First-Year Engineering Students, Noah Salzman, Matthew W. Ohland, Monica E. Cardella

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this Complete Research paper, we describe the development of a survey instrument to measure the ways that students experience the transition from pre-college engineering activities to first-year engineering programs. As the number of opportunities to study and do engineering prior to matriculation in an undergraduate engineering program increases, first-year engineering students draw from a diverse range of pre-college engineering experiences that affect their transition to studying engineering at a university.

The instrument utilizes a theoretical framework developed via a phenomenographic interview process that identified five distinct ways students experience the transition from pre-college to university engineering. These range from …

Establishing Doctoral Programs In Electrical Engineering, Materials Science And Engineering, And Computing In An Emerging Research Institution: Lessons Learned And Best Practices, Janet Callahan, Cheryl B. Schrader, Darryl P. Butt, Timothy Anderson, Tammi Vacha-Hasse, Amy J. Moll

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Over the past decade, three doctoral programs have been launched at Boise State University. The first doctoral program established was in Electrical and Computer Engineering, selected because of the need for a trained workforce in the region. The other two doctoral programs, Materials Science and Engineering, and Computing, were from the start designed as interdisciplinary degree programs. That is, they were designed for the participation of not just program faculty within the division, but for the participation of program faculty with related research interests in other departments at the university. This paper presents the steps taken to launch the programs, …

Using Ir Cameras Beyond Outreach: Motivational Projects For Engineering Students, Cameron H.G. Wright, Thad B. Welch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Affordable infrared (IR) cameras provide a unique opportunity to motivate and enhance the education of engineering students. We used both IR and visible images from a FLIR E60 camera as an instructional vehicle in a digital image processing course, where students came from several engineering majors. These IR and visible images were used as the basis for an open-ended final project in the course. Assessment via both pre- and post-project questionnaires showed the project was a positive experience for the students, and helped motivate them to learn the material. This paper discusses the course, the camera, the project, and how …

Elementary School Use Of The Sidekick Basic Kit For Ti Launchpad™, Tara N. Kimmey, Thad B. Welch, Cameron H.G. Wright

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite the fact that the Sidekick basic kit for TI LaunchPad™ is intended for a much more experienced group of students, engineers, and makers, we have successfully introduced it into four classes of 5^th grade elementary school students. This system mapped well onto the existing science standards of learning established by the State of Virginia. Additionally, the assessment of this process clearly demonstrated that effective learning is occurring.

Vertically Integrated Projects (Vip) Programs: Multidisciplinary Projects With Homes In Any Discipline, Jocelyn B. S. Cullers, William L. Hughes, Donna C. Llewellyn

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A survey of papers in the ASEE Multidisciplinary Engineering Division over the last three years shows three main areas of emphasis: individual courses; profiles of specific projects; and capstone design courses. However, propagating multidisciplinary education across the vast majority of disciplines offered at educational institutions with varying missions requires models that are independent of the disciplines, programs, and institutions in which they were originally conceived. Further, models that can propagate must be cost effective, scalable, and engage and benefit participating faculty. Since 2015, a consortium of twenty-four institutions has come together around one such model, the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) …

Calculus Reform: Increasing Stem Retention And Post-Requisite Course Success While Closing The Retention Gap For Women And Underrepresented Minority Students, Doug Bullock, Janet Callahan, Jocelyn B. S. Cullers

Mathematics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Boise State University (BSU) implemented an across-the-board reform of calculus instruction during the 2014 calendar year. The details of the reform, described elsewhere (Bullock, 2015), (Bullock 2016), involve both pedagogical and curricular reform. Gains from the project have included a jump in Calculus I pass rate, greater student engagement, greater instructor satisfaction, a shift toward active learning pedagogies, and the emergence of a strong collaborative teaching community. This paper examines the effects of the reform on student retention. Since the curricular reform involved pruning some content and altering course outcomes, which could conceivably have negative downstream impacts, we report on …

Listening And Negotiation Ii, Adjo A. Amekudzi-Kennedy, Kevin D. Hall, Trevor Scott Harding, Amy J. Moll, Janet Callahan

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper is based on a panel held in June, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio, jointly sponsored by the Women in Engineering Division and by the Minorities in Engineering Division. It is focused on negotiation, with an emphasis on providing practical strategies that are relevant in an academic setting. The panel featured academic leaders at multiple levels, including professor, chair and dean, from diverse engineering institutions, ranging from teaching-centric to heavily research-focused. Panelists discussed strategies for negotiation, with an emphasis on an approach that meets the interests of both parties to the extent possible. The panel was administrated with an opening …

Ten Years Later: Where Are They Now?, Janet Callahan, Donna C. Llewellyn, Vicki Stieha, Ann E. Delaney

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper explores the educational and career trajectories of the alumnae of an outreach activity for girls. The outreach activity was originally developed using an integrated marketing approach to attract girls into engineering programs.¹ The program, a two day, overnight experience for rising 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grade girls, focuses on showcasing engineering as an exciting, creative activity, including activities developed from that perspective. Started in 2005 and held annually since then, a total of over 500 girls have participated, with approximately 85% of them coming from Boise State University’s immediate metropolitan area. Facilitated by …

Effects Of Proton Irradiation On Structural And Electrochemical Charge Storage Properties Of Tio2 Nanotube Electrode For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Kassiopeia A. Smith, Andreas I. Savva, Changjian Deng, Hui Xiong

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The effects of proton irradiation on nanostructured metal oxides have been investigated. Recent studies suggest that the presence of structural defects (e.g. vacancies and interstitials) in metal oxides may enhance the material’s electrochemical charge storage capacity. A new approach to introduce defects in electrode materials is to use ion irradiation as it can produce a supersaturation of point defects in the target material. In this work we report the effect of low-energy proton irradiation on amorphous TiO₂ nanotube electrodes at both room temperature and high temperature (250 ˚C). Upon room temperature irradiation the nanotubes demonstrate an irradiation-induced phase transformation …

Increasing Probability Of Mass-Mortality During Indian Heatwaves, Mojtaba Sadegh

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Rising global temperatures are causing increases in the frequency and severity of extreme climatic events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Here, we analyze changes in summer temperatures, the frequency, severity and duration of heatwaves, and heat-related mortality in India between 1960 and 2009, using data from the India Meteorological Department. Mean temperatures across India have risen by more than 0.5 °C over this period, with statistically significant increases in heatwaves. Using a novel probabilistic model, we further show that the increase in summer mean temperatures in India over this period corresponds to a 146% increase in the probability of …

Multivariate Copula Analysis Toolbox (Mvcat): Describing Dependence And Underlying Uncertainty Using A Bayesian Framework, Mojtaba Sadegh, Elisa Ragno, Amir Aghakouchak

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present a newly developed Multivariate Copula Analysis Toolbox (MvCAT) which includes a wide range of copula families with different levels of complexity. MvCAT employs a Bayesian framework with a residual-based Gaussian likelihood function for inferring copula parameters and estimating the underlying uncertainties. The contribution of this paper is threefold: (a) providing a Bayesian framework to approximate the predictive uncertainties of fitted copulas, (b) introducing a hybrid-evolution Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach designed for numerical estimation of the posterior distribution of copula parameters, and (c) enabling the community to explore a wide range of copulas and evaluate them relative …

Target Reliability Approach To Study The Effect Of Fiber Reinforcement On Ucs Behavior Of Lime Treated Semi-Arid Soil, Arif Ali Baig Moghal, Bhaskar C.S. Chittoori, B. Munwar Basha, Mosleh Ali Al-Shamrani

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of stabilizing expansive soil with two different types of fibers, Fiber Mesh® (FM) and Fiber Cast® (FC), in conjunction with chemical stabilization. The intention of this study is to evaluate the effect of these fibers and lime in stabilizing expansive soil by improving its UCS behavior. The effect of varying lengths (6 mm and 12 mm) and amounts (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% dosage by weight of soil) of FC and FM fibers and curing periods (0, 7, 28, 60, 120, 180 and 360 days) on the UCS and on secant modulus of a semi-arid expansive …

Low Loss And Low Dispersion Fiber For Transmission Applications In The Terahertz Regime, Sohel Rana, Adnan Siraj Rakin, Harish Subbaraman, Rainer Leonhardt, Derek Abbott

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this letter we present a novel slotted core fiber incorporating a slotted cladding for the terahertz band. The modal properties of the designed fiber are numerically investigated based on an efficient finite element method (FEM). Simulation results of the fiber exhibit both a low material absorption loss of 0.0103–0.0145 cm^-1 and low dispersion below 0.5 ps/THz/cm within the 0.5–0.9 THz range. Additionally, a number of other features of the fiber have been evaluated.