Engineering Commons^™

A Survey On Security Applications With Smartnics: Taxonomy, Implementations, Challenges, And Future Trends, Serigo Elizalde, Ali Alsabeh, Ali Mazloum, Samia Choeiri, Elie Kfoury, Jose Gomez, Jorge Crichigno

Faculty Publications

Over the last decade, network applications have grown exponentially, demanding high-speed interconnects. Unfortunately, chip manufacturers are approaching the upper limits of silicon-based computing with slow improvements in computational performance and energy efficiency. This trend has forced the industry to shift paradigms, moving from monolithic architectures to heterogeneous, domain-specific designs. Moreover, the ever-evolving threats compromise digital services and demand more scalable and flexible solutions to ensure service continuity in production networks. Smart Network Interface Cards (SmartNICs) are a product of this new paradigm, integrating domain-specific engines and general-purpose cores to offload various network infrastructure tasks, including those related to security. This …

Redundant Functions Of Mir156-Targeted Squamosa Promoter Binding Protein-Like Transcription Factors In Promoting Cauline Leaf Identity, Darren Manuela, Liren Du, Qi Zhang, Yifei Liao, Tieqiang Hu, Jim P. Fouracre, Mingli Xu

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Integrating Ensemble Hydrologic Forecasts With Policy Optimization Models For Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (Firo), Alessandra Estefania Perez Salas

Theses and Dissertations

Effective reservoir management in hydrologically variable regions such as California’s Central Valley faces increasing pressure to balance flood control, water supply reliability, hydropower generation, and ecosystem health. Traditional rule-based operations, while operationally simple, often lack the adaptability required to respond to real-time hydrologic conditions and forecast uncertainty. This study presents an integration of a policy tree optimization model with ensemble streamflow forecasts to enhance Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Folsom Reservoir. Building on historical data for inflow, storage, and release, an interpretable, threshold-based decision framework was developed and coupled with 14-day ensemble inflow forecasts from the California-Nevada River Forecast Center’s …

Microstructure And Defects Of Aa6061 In The Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing, Sivaji Karna

Theses and Dissertations

AA6061 is a widely used aluminum alloy known for its excellent thermal conductivity, strength, and corrosion resistance. However, its application in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing is restricted by solidification cracking and porosity. This study examines defect formation, microstructural evolution, and precipitate behavior in AA6061 processed under various LPBF conditions, including room temperature and heated substrates (500°C), as well as pulsed wave laser configurations. Microstructural characterization was conducted using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

A maximum relative density of 99.17% was …

Hydrogen Permeation And Mechanical Behavior Of Hydrogen-Charged Cr-Coated And Oxidized Zr-Alloy Fuel Cladding, Daniel Cole Viands

Theses and Dissertations

Following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, accident tolerant fuel (ATF) became a major research interest to enhance the safety of light water reactors. Because the current fleet of light water reactors and their associated fuel cycle infrastructure are well-established, developing ATF that does not significantly alter the current fuel form or change its supporting infrastructure is ideal. Cr-coated Zircaloy fuel cladding is therefore an excellent short-term solution to enhance accident tolerance. Thin layers of Cr-coating offer notable resistance to corrosion, high-temperature oxidation, physical wear, and hydrogen permeation. Cold spray (CS) and physical vapor deposition (PVD) are two well-established Cr-coating …

Numerical Simulation For The Design Of Induction Heating Based Radio Frequency Reactor For Ethylene Production, Hunter Teel, Matthew Craps, Hector-Colon Mercado, Perter Ciesielski, Sirivatch Shimpalee

Faculty Publications

Ethylene is a vital petrochemical compound produced in vast amounts yearly by manufacturers that have enough scale to overcome the inherent thermodynamic inefficiencies of the process. In order to address the inefficiencies that prevent smaller scale or intermittent production ethylene, investigation of new production methods are required. In this work, we investigate the use of a radio frequency (RF) based reactor system that generates heat internally as opposed to applying heat externally via steam or direct combustion of fossil fuels. In order to guide the design of an electromagnetic based reactor system, we have created a macroscale model capable of …

A Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis Of Aqueous And Anhydrous Hcl Electrolysis Processes, O. Felix, K. Likit-Anurak, K. Ngamsanroaj, Sirivatch Shimpalee, Ben Meekins

Faculty Publications

The state-of-the-art aqueous HCl electrolysis process is a well-established process for chlorine production but faces challenges such as limited conversion efficiencies, corrosion, and additional pre- and post-electrolyzer processing steps that add to its cost. This study evaluates whether a recently demonstrated anhydrous HCl electrolysis process is more economically viable than the state-of-the-art aqueous process. A 1D electrolyzer model was developed using Aspen Custom Modeler® and integrated into Aspen Plus® for process modeling. Multiple conversion efficiencies (30.5 %, 50 %, 80 %, and 93.4 %) were analyzed for the anhydrous process, with various heat recovery and heat exchanger configurations assessed using …

Generalized Dynamic Pole Placement Control For Voltage Source Converters With Inductive-Capacitive Output Filters, Byunghee Moon

Theses and Dissertations

Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) with inductive-capacitive (LC) filters are prevalent in power electronics applications. There are many control techniques utilized for that category of power converter topology. However, as converter applications continue to increase their switching frequency, faster control methods are desirable to take advantage of the higher bandwidth that increased switching frequency allows for

Dynamic pole placement (DPP) controls are very promising methods for achieving high-speed control of VSCs with LC filters. However, the conventional DPP controls have very high sensitivity to disturbances and noise. In order to address this, two novel DPP current control methods are proposed and …

Satellite Radar Imagery Analysis For Ground Hazard Risk Monitoring In Railway Tracks And Slopes, Sumanth Varma Byrraju

Theses and Dissertations

Railway transportation is essential to national economies globally, and disruptions from geohazards can result in significant operational delays and considerable economic consequences. Satellite radar technologies, including Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), offer an effective means to monitor geohazard risks across extensive railway networks. This thesis employs Multi-Temporal InSAR (MTInSAR) techniques, including Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PSInSAR) and Small Baseline Subset (SBAS), to identify high-risk areas along railway rights of way (ROW) prior to geohazard occurrences. However, the efficiency of these MT-InSAR and, consequently, the caliber of the data generated may be restricted by elements like topographical profile, vegetation, and surface soil …

Reduced Order Model-Based Framework For Microsecond Model Updating Of Two-Dimensional Structural Systems Using The Local Eigenvalue Modification Procedure, Emmanuel Abiodun Ogunniyi

Theses and Dissertations

Real-time model updating is crucial for active structures and electronic assemblies subjected to high-rate dynamic events. High-rate dynamic events refer to events that occur at high speeds and with rapid changes in the forces and energy involved. These events can include explosions, impacts, and crashes. These systems are characterized by a high dynamic response with a high rate (< 100 ms), high amplitude (> 100 gn), highly nonlinear, meaning that the response is not proportional to the applied force, and involve complex interactions between multiple objects or materials. A system exposed to high-rate dynamic environments is frequently prone to rapid plastic deformation, involving violent and …

Hardware Accelerated Simulation Of Buck Converters Using Physics-Informed Neural Networks, James Clayton Crews

Theses and Dissertations

Physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) are an emerging machine learning method for learning the behavior of physical systems described by governing differential equations. Dc-dc power-electronic converters are used in a variety of industry applications such as motor drives or power supplies where real-time simulation is critical for control and safety. This thesis investigates physics-informed machine learning as an approach to develop a real-time digital twin for dc-dc power converters. Traditional numerical integration methods are used to approximate discretized behavior, and the results are compared with a trained PINN model. Modern ML frameworks (such as PyTorch and TensorFlow/Keras) are used to quickly …

Strain And Redox Engineering For Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance In Transition Metal Oxide Thin Films, Mohammad Jamal El Loubani

Theses and Dissertations

The discovery of highly efficient and cost-effective thermoelectric (TE) materials is essential to envision high-performance TE power generators that enable the direct conversion of waste heat into electricity. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are considered promising candidates for high-temperature TE applications due to their excellent thermal stability and low cost. However, their maximum power output (power factor, PF = σ•S2) is constrained by the intrinsic trade-off between thermopower (S) and electrical conductivity (σ), both of which are inversely related to carrier concentration. This trade-off poses a significant barrier to improving the performance of TE devices. Among various strategies to overcome this …

Elevating Next Generation Wireless Devices Towards Contactless Sensing For Healthcare Applications, Aakriti Adhikari

Theses and Dissertations

There is an increasing interest in technologies that can understand and perceive at-home human activities to provide personalized healthcare monitoring, aimed at early detection of disease markers and assisting physicians in making clinical decisions. Existing approaches, such as wearables, require users to wear sensors that can be cumbersome and cause discomfort. Vision based solutions, such as optical cameras, IRs, LiDARs, etc., can be used to design contactless at-home monitoring systems. However, these systems are limited by poor lighting and occlusion, and they are privacy-invasive. Fortunately, high-frequency millimeter-wave wireless devices provide an effective alternative to the existing systems to enable fine-grained …

Electrochemically Active Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers For Energy Generation And Storage, Jinyao Tang

Theses and Dissertations

The growing demand for sustainable energy has spurred interest in hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, yet its widespread adoption is limited by storage and transport challenges. Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) offer a promising solution by enabling reversible hydrogen storage through chemical redox reactions under ambient conditions. Compared to conventional thermal methods, LOHC electrochemistry provides improved energy efficiency, operational safety, and integration into electrochemical systems. However, key challenges remain, such as catalyst deactivation, limited redox reversibility, and low system-level performance that hinder broader application. Alcohols like isopropanol (IPA) and cyclohexanol (CHOL), and amines like ethylamine, have emerged as promising …

Database Development For Reliable Small Object Detection In Maritime Environments, Jacob Matthew Whisenant

Theses and Dissertations

Achieving high reliability in small object detection is critical for advancing maritime and littoral intelligent navigation operations. Computer vision provides an undetectable form of perception that can be easily integrated into existing camera systems, offering a low-profile yet powerful solution for navigation and situational awareness in water-based environments. While deep learning techniques have significantly advanced the field of computer vision, the detection of small objects remains a persistent challenge. Limited pixel representation, the scarcity of large-scale small object datasets, and the reduced detail and indistinct features of small objects complicate detection efforts, especially in complex environments. These factors collectively hinder …

Saw Biosensor For The Detection Of Cyanobacteria And Cyanotoxin, Tally Bovender

Theses and Dissertations

The growing prevalence of cyanobacterial blooms and associated cyanotoxins, such as microcystin-LR (MC-LR), presents a significant threat to water quality and public health. Conventional detection methods, including ELISA and PCR, are often time-consuming, expensive, and require trained personnel, limiting their application in field settings. Hence, a miniaturized, quick testing sensor is proposed to circumvent the current sensing challenges for real time, in-situ diagnostics of MC-LR. The proposed high-frequency ultrasonic sensor employs surface acoustic waves (SAW). The sensor was designed using a multi-physics simulation tool to understand wave propagation in the piezoelectric substrate (lithium tantalate) and optimize the design of the …

Design Of Supercritical Reactors To Understand Supercritical Water Oxidation Process And Hydrothermal Flames, Victor Dubceac

Theses and Dissertations

Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) has been a topic of immense interest as an effective technique/tool for hazardous aqueous waste disposal. SCWO can be achieved by introducing an oxidizer (e.g., H2O2), or a hydrothermal flame as an internal source of both heat and oxidizer species in an aqueous environment at conditions above the critical point of water (P > 218 atm and T > 647 K). SCWO poses important environmental advantages for the treatment of harmful organic materials contained in waste streams. An SCWO reactor has the potential to be compact in design and therefore can be an ideal alternative to existing technology …

Optical And Thermal Characterization Of Vertically Conducting Β-Ga₂O₃ Diodes Grown On 4h-Sic Substrates For Short-Wavelength (<254 Nm) Detection, Muhammad Hassan Tahir

Theses and Dissertations

The advancement of compact, thermally stable, and efficient devices for deepultraviolet (DUV) detection below 254 nm is critical for solar-blind sensing, radiation monitoring, and high-power electronics. This thesis presents the growth, fabrication, and detailed optical and thermal characterization of vertically conducting β-gallium oxide (βGa₂O₃) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) grown on n-type 4H-Silicon Carbide (4H-SiC) substrates using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).

β-Ga₂O₃ is an ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductor (~4.8 eV) with intrinsic DUV transparency and high breakdown electric field, making it an ideal candidate for short-wavelength photodetection. However, its low thermal conductivity limits its vertical device performance. To overcome this, …

Effect Of Growth Conditions On The Performance Of Vertically Conducting Beta-Ga2o3 Diodes On 4h-Sic Substrate By Mocvd, Nifat Jahan Nipa

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis highlights the critical influence of doping strategies, specifically co-delta doping with silicon (Si) and indium (In), on improving the structural quality and device performance of β-Ga₂O₃-based Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs). To achieve better thermal management, β-Ga₂O₃ thin film was grown on bulk 4H-SiC substrates using the Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) technique, renowned for its precise control over composition, thickness and doping profile. The ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG), high critical breakdown field and low turn-on resistance of β-Ga₂O₃ make it a strong candidate for next-generation power electronics and short-wavelength detection in extreme environments. However, the presence of structural defects …

Characterizing The Relationships Between Cranial Geometry, Brain Morphometry, And Brain Mechanical Properties Using Mr Imaging And Elastography, Jessica Restivo

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health concern, with over 69 million cases annually. TBI risk depends on subject-specific neuroanatomical variation, yet research often only considers generic finite element (FE) models, based on the geometry and material composition of a 50th percentile male head. Although highly accurate, subject-specific models require expensive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, elastography, and time-consuming computational resources. There is a need to create subject-specific TBI models that account for subject-specific variations, without neuroimaging. This study aims to create mathematical models to predict brain morphometry (dimensions, volume) [Objective 1] and mechanical properties (shear stiffness, damping ratio, octahedral …

Addressing Key Challenges In Mhz Power Converters, Aqarib Hussain

Theses and Dissertations

Power electronics are essential in applications such as aerospace, electric vehicles, and electric ships where compact, efficient, and high power-density converters are increasingly demanded. This push toward miniaturization has led to converter designs operating at switching frequencies in the megahertz (MHz) range. Higher-frequency operation enables significant reductions in passive component sizes—particularly transformers and inductors—thereby facilitating dense packaging. However, these benefits come with new challenges, including increased thermal stress, complex semiconductor behavior, higher-frequency magnetic design constraints, and elevated electromagnetic interference (EMI).

This research addresses several key challenges in MHz converter design. The first part involves the development of a 1-MHz, 1-kW …

High-Frequency Impedance Spectroscopy: Measurement Reproducibility, Electromagnetic, And Ionic Effects In Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Cells, Matthew R. King, Paul T. Coman, Rafid Mollah, Md Rayhan Khan, Saranraj Karuppuswami, Taylor R. Garrick, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

Accurate high-frequency electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (HF EIS) is critical for understanding lithium-ion battery (LIB) behavior under AC perturbations, relevant to electric vehicle systems and charging infrastructure. However, measurements at high frequencies are often distorted by external electromagnetic interference, poor contact quality, and wiring artifacts. This study investigates four experimental testbench configurations for HF EIS of cylindrical LIBs, highlighting the impact of contact resistance, Faraday shielding, wire twisting, and calibration. A coupled electrochemical-electromagnetic model is developed to isolate and analyze the skin effect and frequency-dependent electrolyte conductivity. Results show that spot-welded connections, twisted and shielded wiring, and calibration within a Faraday …

3d Nano-Architected Polymer Shell Enables Reconfigurable Stabilized Blue Phase Soft Crystals, Sephideh Norouzi, Yazael R. Morales-Flores, Tadej Emersic, Jeremy Money, Otillo E. Rodriguez-Lopez, Andrew Casale, Juan J. De Pablo, Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez, Monirosadat Sadati

Faculty Publications

Blue phases (BPs), formed through the self-assembly of chiral liquid crystal molecules into 3D nanolattices with cubic symmetries, exhibit dynamic photonic bandgaps in the visible spectrum, offering transformative opportunities for advanced optical circuits, sensing and communication technologies. However, their thermal stability is restricted to a narrow temperature range (0.5–1.0 K), limiting practical applications. Polymer stabilization of bulk BPs has extended thermal stability but often compromises the dynamic behavior essential for fast-response functionalities. Here, experimental and computational approaches are integrated to investigate the effect of curvature and interfacial interactions on BP polymer stabilization. It is demonstrated that photo-polymerization of reactive monomers …

From Assembly Lines To The Open Road: Predicting Rare Events In Autonomous Systems, Ruwan Wickramarachchi

Publications

In the age of embodied AI and smart automation, autonomous agents are increasingly deployed in high-stakes, real-world environments. Ensuring the robustness and resilience of these systems in the face of rare but critical failure events is essential for their safe and reliable operation. Accurate forecasting of such rare events is particularly crucial, as a single overlooked anomaly can lead to catastrophic consequences. In manufacturing, for instance, unplanned downtime due to rare failures costs industries over \$50 billion annually, with sectors like automotive losing more than \$2 million per hour—even with preventive maintenance systems in place.

However, the extreme rarity and …

High Field Performance Of Si-Doped N-Aln Layers Grown Using Pulsed Mocvd, Abdullah Al Mamun Mazumder, Tariq Jamil, Mafruda Rahman, Muhammad Ali, Grigory Simin, Asif Khan

Faculty Publications

We report on the study of high-field performance of Si-doped n-AlN layers that were grown using a pulsed metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (PMOCVD) process. In the past we showed this pulsed doping approach to lead to doping efficiency superior to that in the conventional MOCVD process. Here using them as the drift layer for a quasi-vertical conduction Schottky barrier, we show their ability to withstand high reverse bias voltages and sustain an electrical field as high as 9.9 MV cm−1. Our study thus demonstrates the viability of the PMOCVD growth and doping approach to yield n-AlN layers suitable …

Understanding The Effects Of Binder Dissolution Dynamics On The Chemistry And Performance Of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries, Saheed A. Lateef, John Chmiola, Fabio Albano, William E. Mustain, Golareh Jalilvand

Faculty Publications

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are promising next-generation energy storage devices due to their higher theoretical specific energy and lower cost compared to conventional Lithium-ion batteries. However, their practical implementation has been hindered by severe performance degradation during extended cycling, primarily driven by shuttling of soluble sulfur discharge products (polysulfides) between the cathode and anode leading to capacity loss. In this work, we investigate the impact of selected binders and solvents, highlighting the effect of the dissolution process of the binder in solvent, on the structural properties and electrochemical performance of sulfur cathode. It is demonstrated for a variety of binders that …

Adsorption And Electron Transfer Of Metal-Reducing Decaheme Cytochrome Protein Mtrf On Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Surfaces, Jiahuiyu Fang, Pranab Sarker, Xiaoxue Qin, Shuting Zhang, Size Zheng, Tao Wei

Faculty Publications

Dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria (DMRB) transfer electrons to extracellular metal oxides via a multiheme cytochrome network. Coupling DMRB with iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) enables continuous redox processes for various applications such as bioremediation and bioenergy. The conformation of the terminal decaheme cytochrome MtrF on the surface critically influences electron transfer (ET) efficiency. In this work, we used molecular dynamics simulations and master equations to study MtrF adsorption on 3.6 and 6.0 nm α-Fe2O3 NPs and its steady-state ET in water. Our study shows that the heme cofactors can have strong electrostatic interactions with iron oxide NP surfaces, promoting protein adsorption and …

Human Gut Commensal Alistipes Timonensis Modulates The Host Lipidome And Delivers Anti-Inflammatory Outer Membrane Vesicles To Suppress Colitis In An Il10-Deficient Mouse Model, Ethan Older, Mary K. Mitchell, Andrew Campbell, Xiaoying Lian, Michael Madden, Yuzhen Wang, Lauren E. Van De Wal, Thelma Zaw, Brandon N. Vanderveen, Rodney Tatum, E. Angela Murphy, Yan-Hua Chen, Daping Fang, Melissa Ellermann, Jie Li

Faculty Publications

Correlative studies have linked human gut microbes to specific health conditions. Alistipes is one such microbial genus negatively linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the protective role of Alistipes in IBD is understudied, and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, colonization of Il10-deficient mice with Alistipes timonensis DSM 27924 delays colitis development. Colonization does not significantly alter the gut microbiome composition, but instead shifts the host plasma lipidome, increasing phosphatidic acids while decreasing triglycerides. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from Alistipes are detected in the plasma of colonized mice, carrying potentially immunomodulatory metabolites into the …

Low-Cost, High-Performance Electrodes For Pgm-Free Aem Water Electrolyzers: Structural Optimization Of Nimo-Based Cathodes, Mahmoud Amirsalehi, Noor Ul Hassan, Venkata Sai Sriram Mosali, Ian Street, Marjanul Manjum, Saheed Adewale Lateef, Jasmine Bohannon, Sam Mckinney, Ashutosh G. Divekar, Paul A. Kohl, Mustain E. William

Faculty Publications

Water electrolysis technologies for hydrogen production are receiving significant attention due to a drastic reduction in the cost of renewable energy sources in recent years. Though traditional alkaline and proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers are receiving the most commercial attention, the anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMEL) has the potential to be much lower in cost. AEMELs have recently shown remarkable progress in terms of performance and durability. However, they are still mostly operated with expensive platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts on both the anode and cathode. To achieve low cost, either PGM-free or ultra-low loading PGM catalysts are needed. …

Extreme Bandgap Polarization Doped Algan Layers On Bulk Aln For Pn-Diodes With An 8.5 Mv Cm−1 Breakdown Field And Forward Current Density Exceeding 20 Ka Cm−2, Tariq Jamil, Abdullah Al Mamun Mazumder, Muhammad Ali, Mafruda Rahman, Kenneth Stephenson, Grigory Simin, Asif Khan

Faculty Publications

In this paper we present a study of distribution polarization doped Al_xGa_1−xN layers and their use in quasi-vertical configuration pn-diodes which exhibited a high breakdown field of ∼8.5 MV cm⁻¹ and a large forward current density (∼23 kA cm⁻²). We also establish their potential use in UVC light emitters by studying the optical emission from a quantum well inserted at the distribution polarization doped pn-junction interface.