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Masters Theses

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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Design Of A Portable Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Device Utilizing Pulse Width Modulation For Waveform Generation, Nora Szymkowski Aug 2024

Design Of A Portable Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry Device Utilizing Pulse Width Modulation For Waveform Generation, Nora Szymkowski

Masters Theses

Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FSCV) is a widely used electrochemical technique for real-time measurement of the brain’s chemical messengers, including the molecule dopamine, with high temporal resolution. Currently the financial burden of performing FSCV is quite high, ranging from $8,000 to $20,000+ making the barrier to entry nearly insurmountable for laboratories and classrooms at small institutions. The purpose of this project was to develop a Do-It-Yourself (DIY), portable, and cost-effective FSCV system for use in laboratory and classroom settings. The project aimed to create a compact and cost-effective system that could be used by researchers and educators to study dopamine …


Conceptual Propellant Feed System For Electrospray Thrusters And An Exploration Into 3d Printed Millifluidic Manifolds, Tyler M. Sundstrom Aug 2024

Conceptual Propellant Feed System For Electrospray Thrusters And An Exploration Into 3d Printed Millifluidic Manifolds, Tyler M. Sundstrom

Masters Theses

The miniaturization of satellites has led to a new era of miniaturized spacecraft technology, which includes propulsion systems. The full potential of CubeSats will be realized once they are equipped with miniaturized thrusters. One option being developed at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) is a miniature electrospray device, Micro Scalable Thrusters for Adaptive Mission Profiles in Space (µSTAMPS). This device operates via electrospray principles and utilizes an ionic liquid (IL) propellant. µSTAMPS aims to provide CubeSats with maneuvering capabilities, including rapid deorbiting, station-keeping, and collision avoidance maneuvers (CAMs). An internal propellant reservoir can deliver enough propellant for CAMs; …


Fused Filament Fabrication Of Ceramic Matrix Composite Preforms Via Thermo-Oxidative Stabilization Of Polyetheretherketone, Samuel Pankratz Aug 2024

Fused Filament Fabrication Of Ceramic Matrix Composite Preforms Via Thermo-Oxidative Stabilization Of Polyetheretherketone, Samuel Pankratz

Masters Theses

Carbon-fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are frequently used in applications where high thermo-mechanical loads are induced along with weight limitations. The first step of producing the fibrous preform allows the near-net shape of the final part to be formed with fibers placed in the desired orientation, typically relying on traditional polymer matrix composite (PMC) manufacturing methods. Recent work has demonstrated a new method to produce discontinuous fiber preforms through various forms of additive manufacturing including fused filament fabrication (FFF). This work uses Polyetheretherketone with carbon fibers (CF PEEK) for additive manufacturing of the carbon-rich polymer precursor. Critically, thermoplastic precursor materials …


Novel Polymer-Derived Ceramic Antennas For Hypersonic Applications, Peter J. Alley Aug 2024

Novel Polymer-Derived Ceramic Antennas For Hypersonic Applications, Peter J. Alley

Masters Theses

With recent advances in three dimensional [3D] printing of polymer-derived ceramics [PDCs], and the controllability of electrical continuity thereof, interest has risen in potential applications resultant from these techniques in the realm of radio communication, particularly in cases where extreme high temperatures are ambient. The following investigates the electrical properties of both insulating and conductive variants of these PDCs, the interaction between each, and the performance characteristics observed when combined using microstrip antenna design theory for high temperature applications.


Evaluation Of Bioengineered Bank Stabilization Methods For Use In Stormwater Mitigation Programs, Jaimie Ellen Dieker Armitage Aug 2024

Evaluation Of Bioengineered Bank Stabilization Methods For Use In Stormwater Mitigation Programs, Jaimie Ellen Dieker Armitage

Masters Theses

Streambank erosion has become an escalating concern due to climate change and increased land development. This erosion adversely affects human populations and aquatic ecosystems, yet there are limited incentives to stabilize eroding shorelines. Traditionally, shorelines have been protected using hard armoring techniques with materials such as rock or concrete. While these methods are effective, there are growing shifts towards bioengineered or vegetated methods of shoreline stabilization. Recently, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) approved bioengineered bank stabilization as an acceptable stormwater mitigation technique due to its water infiltration benefits. This research, conducted in Knoxville, TN, aims to enhance …


Low-Cost Image Collection And Compilation For Enhanced In-Situ Monitoring In Laser-Powder Bed Fusion, Brett Eugene Brady Aug 2024

Low-Cost Image Collection And Compilation For Enhanced In-Situ Monitoring In Laser-Powder Bed Fusion, Brett Eugene Brady

Masters Theses

Laser-Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing relies on precise control for quality assurance and reproducibility, necessitating advanced in-situ monitoring techniques. Presented is a novel low-cost approach to image collection and compilation to enable in-situ monitoring in L-PBF in ways not performed to date, i.e., at a lower cost. The research incorporates optical, near-infrared (NIR), and infrared (IR) imaging modalities to record and, in the future, analyze and detect defects during the L-PBF process. Off-axis cameras with different spectral sensitivities complicates the comparison of images due to differing image planes. A low-cost, calibration plate is used to create common image planes …


Machine Learning For Stability Analysis Of Milling Process, Katy Daniels Aug 2024

Machine Learning For Stability Analysis Of Milling Process, Katy Daniels

Masters Theses

The properties related to chatter and the stability of manufacturing milling machines are dependent primarily on parameters such as axial depth of cut, rotary speed rpm, and cutting force. These parameters are used to calculate the milling process and avoid certain cuts that would result in unstable milling. Using applied data science tools for statistical analysis and machine learning models like SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), this research will produce valuable insight into two stability testing methods used in milling machining operations. By leveraging the data, a partitioning model can be used with known stable and unstable points under certain conditions …


Geospatial Analysis Of Crop Production And Publicly-Funded Research Stations To Scale Carbon Markets, Madeline D. Ginsberg Aug 2024

Geospatial Analysis Of Crop Production And Publicly-Funded Research Stations To Scale Carbon Markets, Madeline D. Ginsberg

Masters Theses

Agricultural carbon markets compensate farmers for the implementation of climate smart practices to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agricultural land. To incentivize farmers to enroll in carbon credit contracts, it is necessary to identify model farms with historical crop and land management data from which carbon markets can base their estimations of SOC sequestration. This research utilizes row crop production, SOC sequestration estimations, and Soil Conditioning Index (SCI) values to evaluate the potential for scaling measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) efforts for carbon markets in Tennessee. Relationships between University of Tennessee Research and Education Centers (RECs) and cropland …


Differential Die-Away Analysis To Detect The Presence Of Nuclear Material In Cargo, Sophia C. Hitson Aug 2024

Differential Die-Away Analysis To Detect The Presence Of Nuclear Material In Cargo, Sophia C. Hitson

Masters Theses

Cargo scanning plays an essential role in the Department of Homeland Security's national security strategy. The improvement of nuclear and radiological material detection is imperative to maintain a strong defense against the smuggling of illicit materials. The University of Tennessee has developed a cargo container scanning system using differential die-away analysis to indicate the presence of shielded fissile material.

In preparation for measurements to be conducted at the Y-12 National Security Complex, our initial experimental setup uses natural uranium as simulated contraband within the cargo container. The container can be filled with hydrogenous materials, such as wood or paper, or …


2d Temperature Map Acquisition Using Hyperspectral Imaging System (Hsis), Anthony Kim Aug 2024

2d Temperature Map Acquisition Using Hyperspectral Imaging System (Hsis), Anthony Kim

Masters Theses

Imaging techniques are close to our lives and are used for various applications. In the engineering field, one of the dominant techniques is hyperspectral imaging. It is a necessary tool that combines spectroscopy and digital photography and provides additional information on what is imaged by the imaging system. Hyperspectral imaging has been applied to various fields including remote sensing, cultural relic conservation, food microbiology, forensic science, biomedicine, etc.

In particular, work was done to apply hyperspectral imaging to measure the temperature and emissivity of an object. Due to its ability to measure temperature and emissivity without being in contact with …


Diagonal Erection Bridging For Open Web Steel Joists With Flush Frame Connections, James A. Moore Aug 2024

Diagonal Erection Bridging For Open Web Steel Joists With Flush Frame Connections, James A. Moore

Masters Theses

Open web steel joists are highly slender structural members that are susceptible to lateral-torsional buckling before bracing is installed. The stability of joists needs to be properly assessed to ensure safety and efficiency during erection. Current practice for joists is based on a strength equation derived by Minkoff in the 1970s. This equation was derived for the common case of joists with bearing seat connections. Flush frame connections for joists have been recently developed. These connections are similar in form to single-plate shear connections and can provide more restraint than bearing seat connections. With more restraint, less bracing may be …


Development And Validation Of An Open-Source Qct-Based Finite Element Analysis And Phase Field Modeling For Fracture Prediction In Goat Tibia, Debangshu Paul Aug 2024

Development And Validation Of An Open-Source Qct-Based Finite Element Analysis And Phase Field Modeling For Fracture Prediction In Goat Tibia, Debangshu Paul

Masters Theses

Predicting mechanical responses under various load conditions is of significant interest in the field of orthopedic research. Despite an abundance of research on finite element (FE) modeling for human bones, studies specifically focusing on the tibia remain notably limited. Given that mechanical properties and structural form of goat tibiae closely mimic those of human tibiae at the region of interest (ROI), they can serve as excellent models for comparative orthopedic research. While existing literature on ovine bone research offers rich in-vivo models, it lacks a validated FE model of the tibia subjected to thorough spatial error assessment.

This thesis presents …


Uber Meets Bus: A Simulation Study Of Public Ride-Hailing Service, Kimon E. Swanson Aug 2024

Uber Meets Bus: A Simulation Study Of Public Ride-Hailing Service, Kimon E. Swanson

Masters Theses

To prepare for the future of mobility in areas with widespread infrastructure, it is essential to address the shortcomings of public transit systems that fail to effectively serve their inhabitants’ needs due to a lack of optimization. In this study, we developed a simulation solution-based approach to help decision-makers build an efficient and low-cost public transit system for widespread cities backed by data. This is accomplished by implementing a diala-ride service to increase versatility and scope of rides. The simulation solution strategy utilizes agent-based modeling, which is executed in real-time in response to stochastic ride requests, thereby generating numerous individual …


Transfer Learning For Predictive Maintenance: A Case Study, Colter A. Swanson Aug 2024

Transfer Learning For Predictive Maintenance: A Case Study, Colter A. Swanson

Masters Theses

In light of recent strides in high-performance computing, the concept of transfer learning has emerged as a prominent paradigm within the realm of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning methodologies. Analogous to the human brain's capacity to assimilate information across related domains for pattern recognition, transfer learning has swiftly asserted its dominance, particularly in deep learning applications such as image classification and natural language processing. Despite its ascendancy in these domains, there exists a lack of comprehensive investigations in alternative domains, notably those encompassing tabular data formats. This thesis seeks to redress this gap by conducting an empirical examination of transfer …


Towards Developing A Watershed Assessment Framework Using Geomorphic-Based Hydrologic And Hydraulic Modeling, Matthew J. Tolson Aug 2024

Towards Developing A Watershed Assessment Framework Using Geomorphic-Based Hydrologic And Hydraulic Modeling, Matthew J. Tolson

Masters Theses

Urban hydromodification has created a need for an urban watershed assessment framework involving environmental rehabilitation practices to prioritize long-term and cost-effective enhancement strategies. This study sought to develop a watershed-scale model using Personal Computer Storm Water Management Model (PCSWMM) and field reconnaissance to be included in the planning phase of future watershed assessment frameworks. Typical modeling efforts for urban watershed stormwater management plans do not consider fluvial geomorphology during model development. To create an effective stormwater management and stream restoration watershed plan, this study sought to determine the level of model development necessary to prioritize watershed enhancement activities and explore …


Bridging User Preferences And Security Demands: A User-Centric Approach To Password Generation, David H. Huang Aug 2024

Bridging User Preferences And Security Demands: A User-Centric Approach To Password Generation, David H. Huang

Masters Theses

This thesis introduces a novel password generation algorithm that aligns user-specified password composition policies (PCPs) with those required by websites, aiming to enhance security and usability. Traditional password generators focus on maximizing entropy but often neglect user ease, producing passwords that are either too complex to remember or too simple to be secure. Our research proposes a user-centric interface and algorithm that integrates the PCPs articulated by users with website requirements, facilitating a balance between security and convenience. We developed a system architecture that includes a baseline interface inspired by existing password generators and an advanced, user-centric interface that collects …


A Pilot Study Comparing Muscle Activation And Kinematic Parameters Between Professional And Non-Professional Tennis Players, Anton S. Petrenko Jun 2024

A Pilot Study Comparing Muscle Activation And Kinematic Parameters Between Professional And Non-Professional Tennis Players, Anton S. Petrenko

Masters Theses

Tennis, a widely played sport across various age and skill groups, prompts continual skill improvement among competitive players seeking a competitive edge. This study explores two approaches for enhancing playing style: motion capture (MoCap) and surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals. The study addresses a gap in simultaneous examination of MoCap and entire dominant leg muscle activation, particularly concerning the influence of skill level and gender on various tennis strokes. To fill this void, the research records and analyzes MoCap and dominant leg sEMG data during serves and strokes on both court sides. The hypothesis posits differences in muscle activation and body …


Technocene, Vir Joseph Naidu Jun 2024

Technocene, Vir Joseph Naidu

Masters Theses

Embodied human communication within the Anthropocene. Existing at the intersection of technology, and the body.

The design industry has developed technology that is, paradoxically, isolating. The exposure to a vast audience in the digital sphere has introduced new societal pressures, leading to a disconnection from our immediate surroundings, detached, and donning metaphorical masks. Technocene lives on the fringes of the discipline by blending conceptual thinking with practical application. Through curious, experimental artifacts, it prompts us to shed our masks and embrace vulnerability. Technocene endeavors to reimagine the human experience by acting as a discursive design project. It probes the boundaries …


Waste Illuminates Worlds: Printed Modular Lamp Design Based On Brick And Clay Tile, Yechen Zhu Jun 2024

Waste Illuminates Worlds: Printed Modular Lamp Design Based On Brick And Clay Tile, Yechen Zhu

Masters Theses

The building industry in the New England area is often in a state of entropy, with abandoned brick buildings contributing to urban decay. The recycling rate of brick and clay tile wastes generated by construction and demolition is only 12.2%, meaning the majority is sent to landfills. The expansion of landfills can lead to significant environmental and community challenges, including increased traffic from waste transport, habitat destruction, ecosystem degradation, and contributions to climate change. Specifically, the Bethlehem landfill in New Hampshire, which is planned to undergo a 5.71-acre lateral expansion through 2026, has already encountered issues such as leachate spills …


Naturify 2300, Yarina Yiwei Dai Jun 2024

Naturify 2300, Yarina Yiwei Dai

Masters Theses

In my art practice, I explore the interplay between human desires to manipulate and anthropomorphize nature, as seen in the technological augmentation of plants and living entities. This investigation delves into how this intersection, alongside empathy towards these creations, contributes to fears of uncontrollability and the risks of addiction and excessive dependence on technology.

Bioengineering and genetic modification have cultivated unprecedented developments, allowing humans to manipulate the fundamental building blocks of life. My research speculates on this technology further, modifying the genetic code of organisms and creating bioengineered wearable entities with enhanced traits or entirely new functionalities. The primary objective …


Architecture As A Carbon-Based Practice, Qixin Yu Jun 2024

Architecture As A Carbon-Based Practice, Qixin Yu

Masters Theses

Carbon serves as both a silent protagonist and a looming antagonist in the narrative of architecture, shaping not only the physical structures we inhabit but also the ecological legacy we leave behind.

Centuries of human exploitation of the environment have led to climate and material crises. Shifting this dynamic requires action at micro (matter), meso (material), and macro (materiality) levels. Biogenic materials offer significant potential for carbon sequestration and present opportunities for the building industry to collaborate with nature rather than merely extract from it.

This thesis establishes a research and manufacturing practice that prioritizes material innovation, carbon sequestration, environmental …


Wild Joy: An Exploration In Queer Spatial Dynamics, Kipper Thomas Reinsmith Jun 2024

Wild Joy: An Exploration In Queer Spatial Dynamics, Kipper Thomas Reinsmith

Masters Theses

What does it mean to feel represented in a space?

What does a trans space look like?

How can we queer our interior spaces?

Our world is crafted by the many designers that have come before us. These systems, products, and spaces are built upon assumptions of the bodies that will use and occupy them—namely cisgender, able-bodied, straight folks.

Designing and creating objects as a trans person is an act of radical nature. To take up space, to design for trans luxury, for the sake of beauty, for joy itself, feels counterintuitive to the narratives we’ve been served: that of …


Development Of Protocol To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The Labor Assist Device, Samantha M. Spurr May 2024

Development Of Protocol To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The Labor Assist Device, Samantha M. Spurr

Masters Theses

The Labor Assist Device (LAD) was designed to reduce the muscle fatigue experienced by women during childbirth to decrease the number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries and injuries to nurses. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a protocol for a future study to assess the effectiveness of the LAD at reducing muscle fatigue. While multiple parameters were investigated in this pilot study, the major parameter needed to develop the future protocol is the muscle fatigue rate in women contracting their muscles to simulate pushing during labor. The muscle fatigue rates are estimated in this study using a surface electromyography …


Potential Impact Of Proposed Medical Device On Hospital Acquired Anemia, Sam Menzie May 2024

Potential Impact Of Proposed Medical Device On Hospital Acquired Anemia, Sam Menzie

Masters Theses

Evacuated tubes are the industry standard for drawing blood and have improved phlebotomist and patient safety as well as paved the way for laboratory automation. Current practices using evacuated tubes do not allow caregivers to control the volume of blood drawn, leading to blood waste in hospital settings. This overdrawing of blood has led to the prevalence of iatrogenic anemia, or hospital acquired anemia (HAA). HAA represents a significant risk to patients, leading to increased adverse conditions, and a higher consumption of hospital resources. This study seeks to model the efficacy of a potential new medical device. The proposed device …


State Of Health Estimation For Second-Use Electric Vehicle Batteries In Grid Applications, Yousef Hassan A Alamri May 2024

State Of Health Estimation For Second-Use Electric Vehicle Batteries In Grid Applications, Yousef Hassan A Alamri

Masters Theses

Escalating demand for sustainable energy solutions necessitates the efficient utilization of energy storage systems (ESSs). This thesis explores the critical need for efficient energy storage systems in the face of increasing demand and intermittent renewable energy sources and addresses the need for advanced energy storage technologies, focusing on second life batteries as a potential solution. A literature review highlights the significance of second life batteries in addressing the challenges of energy storage, emphasizing their potential for cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives by repurposing retired electric vehicle batteries. These batteries, with decreased capacity for automotive use, still retain energy storage capabilities, making …


Lower Limits Of Performance Of An Electrospray Thruster Using A Direct Measurement Method, Caitlin M. Bunce May 2024

Lower Limits Of Performance Of An Electrospray Thruster Using A Direct Measurement Method, Caitlin M. Bunce

Masters Theses

Nanosatellites are a growing technology that offer a more accessible way for scientific missions to be conducted in space. The number of nanosatellites launched annually continues to grow, increasing the need for a propulsion system onboard to assist in collision avoidance, station keeping, rendezvous, and other attitude adjustments. More importantly though, new rulings have dictated that all orbiting spacecraft must deorbit within five years of mission completion to help mitigate the evergrowing problem of space debris. Electrospray thrusters, a subset of electric propulsion, is a well-researched method of propulsion for nanosatellites, including the novel µSTAMPS thruster currently in development at …


Principles Of Tomographic Measurements And Reconstruction, Bernadette Evelyn Brezinski May 2024

Principles Of Tomographic Measurements And Reconstruction, Bernadette Evelyn Brezinski

Masters Theses

X-ray computed tomography (CT) plays a crucial role in enhancing national security through its use in active interrogation of any miscellaneous object across various environments. The use of x-ray active interrogation can give insight on the structure of an object and its material density to provide an effective means of detecting potential threats in a wide range of objects. A small and lightweight portable CT device that can address highly sensitive inputs is constructed to perform active interrogation. Preprocessing analysis is performed to calibrate for irregularities in pixel values, detector current, tilt corrections, and more. Full image acquisitions are obtained …


Post-Layout Evaluation Of Adiabatic Logic For Energy Efficiency And Cpa Resistance, Jun-Cheng Chin May 2024

Post-Layout Evaluation Of Adiabatic Logic For Energy Efficiency And Cpa Resistance, Jun-Cheng Chin

Masters Theses

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become commonplace in society, but it has been demonstrated that many IoT systems are vulnerable to significant security exploits. This necessitates the need for a closer examination of IoT security. IoT design prerequisites are low power consumption and an emphasis on smaller die areas for increased production yield. Security on the software level typically provides adequate protection but there are hardware-level exploits that are difficult or impossible to counteract. Booting attacks, eavesdropping and interference, and Side-Channel Attacks (SCA) are exploits deployed against IoT devices on the hardware level. To combat these vulnerabilities, several lightweight …


Genetic Algorithm Optimization Of Experiment Design For Targeted Uncertainty Reduction, Alexander Amedeo Depillis May 2024

Genetic Algorithm Optimization Of Experiment Design For Targeted Uncertainty Reduction, Alexander Amedeo Depillis

Masters Theses

Nuclear cross sections are a set of parameters that capture probability information about various nuclear reactions. Nuclear cross section data must be experimentally measured, and this results in simulations with nuclear data-induced uncertainties on simulation outputs. This nuclear data-induced uncertainty on most parameters of interest can be reduced by adjusting the nuclear data based on the results from an experiment. Integral nuclear experiments are experiments where the results are related to many different cross sections. Nuclear data may be adjusted to have less uncertainty by adjusting them to match the results obtained from integral experiments. Different integral experiments will adjust …


Validating The Design Tensile Strength Of Grade 5 And Metric Class 8.8 Bolts, Paxton Charles Lifsey May 2024

Validating The Design Tensile Strength Of Grade 5 And Metric Class 8.8 Bolts, Paxton Charles Lifsey

Masters Theses

Bolted connections offer many benefits including ease of installation and maintenance and replaceable components, but must have sufficient strength in order to take advantage of these benefits. One of the major ways a bolted connection is loaded is under tension. In this loading condition, bolted connections can fail via tension in the threaded area, shear in the bolt threads, or shear in the nut threads. Standards such as FED-STD-H28/2B and ISO TR/16224 include equations for the stress area and strength of these limit states as well as for the required length of engagement such that tensile failure controls. These equations …