Engineering Commons^™

Activity 2: Cost Analysis, Patrick Young, David Hernandez

Theme 2: Around Town

The unit cost of highway construction varies tremendously, but state departments of transportation often publish estimates. For this activity, we assume that a four-lane divided highway will cost $5 million per mile across flat farmland.

Activity 3: Navigation, Patrick Young, David Hernandez

Theme 2: Around Town

Highways of the future will be more than ribbons of concrete and asphalt. They will have an information infrastructure that includes sensors, computers, and wireless connection with the computers in every moving vehicle. In the same way that people are connected by the internet, vehicles will be connected with each other through the highway’s network. This will enable drivers using navigation software to get real-time updates and suggestions. It will also increase the safety and efficiency of driverless vehicles.

In this activity, students will use mathematics to examine the types of calculations that navigational computers use to redirect drivers to …

Activity 2: Anger Management, David Hernandez, Peg Steffen

Theme 3: Traffic Management

Road rage is anger caused by inconveniences, incidents, or irresponsibility while driving. It can result in yelling, honking, tailgating, weaving, and blocking traffic. Road rage fatalities are increasing but there are strategies to help lessen road rage. These include overhead signs warning of upcoming traffic, weather, and car or truck incidents. Traffic and travel apps, which offer various route suggestions, travel times, and road hazards, may help as well. This activity will examine personal behaviors that drivers should exhibit to reduce road rage and then asks students to consider strategies to reduce this growing issue.

Activity 4: Information Board, David Hernandez, Peg Steffen

Theme 3: Traffic Management

In 1969, the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) began collecting data about Americans’ travel habits. During the survey period, each household was sent a travel diary and asked to report all travel by household members on a randomly assigned “travel day”. Data were weighted to correctly reflect the day of week and month of travel to allow comparisons of weekdays or seasons. The type of transportation used, length and distance of trips and the purpose of travel are some examples of data gathered through the surveys. Organizations such as insurance companies, transportation agencies, and the government analyze and use the …

Activity 2: A Little Bit Salty, Karen Ye

Theme 4: Please Pass the Salt

Density is defined as the amount of mass that takes up a certain amount of volume. Adding salt or sugar to water increases its density since there are more particles (mass) packed into a similar amount of space (volume). Cooling water can also increase its density since the particles move more slowly at lower temperatures and will be more packed together. When two substances with different densities are combined, the one with a lower density will float whereas the one with a higher density will sink. The greater the difference in density, the more distinct the layers and the harder …

Activity 1: A Day In The Life, Patrick Young

Theme 5: Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

All highways run through animal habitats. Fencing highways can provide drivers some protection from animal-related accidents, but they fragment the habitat, causing problems for wildlife. In this activity, students learn some of the reasons that animals will attempt to cross highways.

Activity 2: Just Passing Through, Elizabeth Martinez

Theme 5: Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Animal passages for wildlife are becoming more prevalent. Their purpose is to provide a safe path for animals to cross man-made barriers, in this case roadways. Fish ladders, patented in 1837, are an early example of this type of intervention. In addition, passages provide animal access to resources on the other side of the barrier. Crossings help to connect habitats to avoid habitat fragmentation, which can restrict the gene pool resulting in lower and more at-risk populations, as well as potential extinction. Vehicle and wildlife collisions account for many injuries and deaths for humans and other animals, property damage, and …

Database Design And Implementation, Weiru Chen

ATU Faculty OER Books and Materials

The book of Database Design and Implementation is a comprehensive guide that provides a thorough introduction to the principles, concepts, and best practices of database design and implementation. It covers the essential topics required to design, develop, and manage a database system, including data modeling, database normalization, SQL programming, and database administration.

The book is designed for students, database administrators, software developers, and anyone interested in learning how to design and implement a database system. It provides a step-by-step approach to database design and implementation, with clear explanations and practical examples. It also includes exercises and quizzes at the end …

Soil Moisture And Geomorphologic Data For Use In Dynamic And Forecastable Landslide Hazard Analyses In Eastern Kentucky, Daniel M. Francis, L. Sebastian Bryson

Civil Engineering Research Data

These data are the geomorphologic and land information system-based soil moisture estimates from assimilation of NASA SMAP satellite-based observations and NOAH 3.6 Land Surface Model estimates over known landslides in Eastern Kentucky. Additionally Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network and logistic regression machine learning codes, as well as an Application programming interface code are included. Finally, in-situ data from Eastern Kentucky is included.

Modeling Of Expansion Of Laser-Produced Aluminum Plasma Plume In Ambient Air, Edmund Tsiri Semaha

Graduate Research Posters

When a laser pulse is focused on an aluminum target, it interacts with the material’s surface and a plasma plume is developed. Hydrodynamic expansion of generated plasma plume consisting of interacting target and ambient gaseous species remain one of very significant subjects of plasma plume chemistry, yet to be fully understood. The revealing of fundamental physics processes which occur within these plasma plumes is not only of purely scientific advancement, but it is also of industrial interest. Our research focuses on the development of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model that is used to investigate the chemistry of expanding plasma generated …

Spatiotemporal Retrievals Of Soil Moisture And Geomorphologic Data For Landslide Sites In Eastern Kentucky, Lindsey Sebastian Bryson, Daniel M. Francis

Civil Engineering Research Data

These data are the soil texture, land information system-based soil moisture estimates from assimilation of NASA SMAP satellite-based observations and NOAH 3.6 Land Surface Model estimates, artificial neural network machine learning code, and in-situ soil moisture measurements.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and the Energy & Environmental Research Center’s CCUS capabilities. Includes information on the Plains CO₂ Reduction (PCOR) Partnership initiative, Brine Extraction and Storage Test (BEST), Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE), Red Trail Energy Carbon Capture and Storage, a feed study at Coal Creek Station, Bell Creek and Cedar Creek anticline projects, and Partnership for CO₂ Capture (PCO₂C).

Actividad 3: ¡Advertencia!, Patrick Young

Tema 5: ¿Por qué la gallina cruzó la calle?

En un ciclo de ingeniería y diseño se producen múltiples repeticiones de diseño. Esto es así desde el inicio de la idea hasta la instalación de una estructura de paso para animales. En el diseño hay que tener en cuenta más factores que los mencionados anteriormente, como la temperatura, las precipitaciones, el tráfico de vehículos, el ruido y los gases de escape de los vehículos.

Actividad 3: ¡Construye Rápido!, Patrick Young

Tema 1: Estructura y proceso

Uno de los costos de cualquier proyecto de carretera es el impacto económico de desviar el tráfico durante la construcción. Los métodos que minimizan las interrupciones reducen costos y suelen mejorar la seguridad. Los métodos de construcción acelerada de puentes (ABC, por sus siglas en inglés) incluyen la prefabricación de la mayor parte posible del puente fuera del lugar de la obra. Las piezas grandes se llevan al lugar y se instalan según un plan que minimiza el tiempo necesario para desviar el tráfico.

Activity 4: Testing Student-Made Concrete Decks, Patrick Young

Theme 1: Structure and Process

When a structural beam is loaded from above, the force creates compression on the upper surface and tension on the lower surface. Concrete can withstand ten times as much compression as it can tension. Since concrete is much less capable of supporting tension, it is along the bottom that steel reinforcement is most important.

Activity 3: Traffic Management, David Hernandez, Peg Steffen

Theme 3: Traffic Management

Traffic management in busy urban areas is an extremely complex problem. Issues such as traffic congestion from home to work, suburban growth, preservation of scenic landscapes and historic neighborhoods, and the ability to walk, bike, and access public transit make traffic management a challenge. Traffic Management can include lane closures, detours, pedestrian access, and speed limits. It also includes intersections engineered for safe passage of vehicles in a stream of traffic that must cross each other's paths. Complicating factors for intersections include bikes, pedestrians, and emergency vehicles.

Activity 3: Rooting For You, Karen Ye

Theme 4: Please Pass the Salt

Snow and ice removal are needed in winter for safe roads. Salt is very effective along with other chemicals, but these may cause harm to plants, wildlife, and humans. Salt seeps into groundwater and may create problems with water resources. High levels of salt affects the amount of oxygen in water, organism growth, reproduction, and food sources. Whether the chemicals cause harm to an organism depends on the amount of chemicals and how long the organism is exposed to them. Salt can also reduce soil minerals and absorb water that plants need. Other impacts on plants include leaf damage, stunted …

Activity 1: Cooler Than Me, Karen Ye

Theme 4: Please Pass the Salt

All matter is made up of atoms and molecules. Even though we can’t see them with our bare eyes, these tiny particles are constantly moving. The temperature of a substance is a measure of its average kinetic energy (the energy it has due to the motion of the particles). As the temperature increases, particles gain more energy, move more quickly and spread further apart.

No matter where one lives in Illinois, you are impacted by winter weather. Deicing and snow removal account for a large portion of state and local highway budgets. Salt is commonly used for melting snow and …

Actividad 3: Ayudándote A Crecer, Patrick Young

Tema 4: Por favor, pásame la sal

Es necesario quitar la nieve y el hielo en invierno para que las carreteras sean seguras. La sal, junto con otros productos químicos, es muy eficaz para hacerlo, pero estos pueden ocasionarle daño las plantas, a la vida silvestre y a los seres humanos. La sal se filtra al agua subterránea y puede ocasionar problemas con los suministros de agua. Los niveles elevados de sal afectan la cantidad de oxígeno en el agua, el crecimiento de los organismos, la reproducción y las fuentes de alimentos. La posibilidad de que las sustancias químicas le ocasionen daño a un organismo depende de …

Actividad 4: Consejo De Información, Patrick Young

Tema 3: Tráfico

En 1969, la Encuesta Nacional Sobre los Viajes de las Familias (NHTS, por sus siglas en inglés) comenzó a recopilar información sobre los hábitos de viaje de los estadounidenses. El tipo de transporte utilizado, la duración, la distancia y el propósito del viaje son algunos ejemplos de información recopilada a través de las encuestas. Organizaciones como compañías de seguros y de automóviles, agencias de transporte y el gobierno analizan y utilizan la información para tomar decisiones.

Actividad 4: Invierno Ecológico, Patrick Young

Tema 4: Por favor, pásame la sal

Además de la sal, existen otros materiales que se utilizan para mitigar los peligros del hielo y aumentar la tracción. Estos materiales adicionales incluyen arena, cloruro de calcio y una mezcla de salmuera y jugo de remolacha. El uso de cada método conlleva contrapartidas.

Actividad 1: Crear Una Criatura, Patrick Young

Tema 5: ¿Por qué la gallina cruzó la calle?

La fauna salvaje representa un peligro para los conductores. Los animales implicados en los accidentes de carretera tienen una gran variedad de formas, tamaños, métodos de locomoción, tolerancia al ruido y patrones de migración, así como necesidades de comida, agua y espacio.

Actividad 2: Un Poco De Sal: Folleto Para El Estudiante, Patrick Young

Tema 4: Por favor, pásame la sal

La densidad se define como la cantidad de masa que ocupa una cierta cantidad de volumen. Agregar sal o azúcar al agua aumenta su densidad, ya que hay más partículas (masa) empaquetadas en una cantidad similar de espacio (volumen). El agua de enfriamiento también puede aumentar su densidad, ya que las partículas se mueven más lentamente a temperaturas más bajas y estarán más empaquetadas. Cuando se combinan dos sustancias con diferentes densidades, la de menor densidad flotará mientras que la de mayor densidad se hundirá. Cuanto mayor sea la diferencia de densidad, más distintas serán las capas y más difícil …

Actividad 2: Control De La Ira, Patrick Young

Tema 3: Tráfico

La furia al volante suele ser el resultado de una ira explosiva causada por inconvenientes, incidentes e irresponsabilidad mientras se conduce. En su mayor parte, la furia al volante genera gritos, bocinazos, pegarse al coche de adelante, zigzaguear y bloquear el tráfico. Sin embargo, las muertes por furia al volante están aumentando. Existen estrategias para ayudar a disminuir la furia al volante. Los carteles aéreos advierten sobre el tráfico, el clima y los incidentes de coches o camiones que se avecinan. Las aplicaciones de tráfico y viaje, que ofrecen varias sugerencias de rutas, tiempos de viaje y peligros en la …

Actividad 3: Red De Semáforos, Patrick Young

Tema 3: Tráfico

La organización del tráfico en las zonas urbanas congestionadas es un problema extremadamente complejo. Uno de los desafíos fundamentales tiene lugar en las intersecciones en las que los vehículos de un flujo de tráfico deben cruzarse entre sí. Los factores que complican la situación incluyen bicicletas, peatones y vehículos de emergencia.

Una de las formas más comunes de controlar el derecho de paso en las intersecciones es el semáforo. Es más barato que construir numerosas rampas y pasos elevados, pero restringe el flujo de tráfico básicamente a una dirección a la vez. Un sistema de control activo es útil para …

Actividad 1: Romper El Embotellamiento, Patrick Young

Tema 3: Tráfico

Los modelos informáticos pueden ser excelentes herramientas para analizar sistemas complejos. En esta actividad, los estudiantes utilizarán un modelo informático basado en la web para explorar la relación entre el volumen de tráfico y el tiempo que tardan los vehículos en llegar del punto A al punto B. Luego, utilizarán el modelo para evaluar dos posibles soluciones para su ejemplo particular de congestión del tráfico. Los estudiantes compararán muestras pequeñas con muestras globales para así apreciar los beneficios de utilizar muestras aleatorias grandes.

Activity 3: Build It Fast!, Patrick Young

Theme 1: Structure and Process

One of the costs of any road project is the economic impact of rerouting traffic during the construction. Methods that minimize the disruption will reduce costs and often improve safety. Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) methods include prefabricating as much of the bridge as possible at an off-site location. Large parts are brought to the site and installed according to a plan that minimizes the time required to reroute traffic.

Activity 4: Green Winterization, Karen Ye

Theme 4: Please Pass the Salt

Materials other than salt are also used to mitigate the dangers of ice and increase traction. Additional materials used include sand, calcium chloride, and a mixture of salt brine and beet juice. The use of each method involves trade-offs.

Patient-Specific Analysis Of Aortic Hemodynamics And Wall Shear Stresses In Patients Undergoing Pediatric Bariatric Surgery Using 2d Phase-Contrast Mri, Oluwaferanmi S. Akande, Joao Soares, Nathan Hargan, Dr. Uyen Truong, Haeung Kang, David Lanning

Undergraduate Research Posters

Patient-Specific Analysis of Aortic Hemodynamics and Wall Shear Stresses in Patients Undergoing Pediatric Bariatric Surgery using 2D Phase-Contrast MRI

Feranmi Akande¹ Nathan Hargan² Haesung Kang³ David Lanning³ Uyen Truong⁴ João S. Soares¹

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University

² Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University

³ Department of Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University

Introduction: Severe obesity among today’s youth is a rising epidemic within the United States. Emerging research has linked childhood obesity with shortened life expectancy and early …

Finite Element Analysis Of 3d-Printed Pcl Scaffolds, Ireolu K. Orenuga, Joao Soares, Phillip D. Glass, Daeha Joung Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Posters

Finite Element Analysis of 3D-printed PCL Scaffolds for Synergizing Cellular Micro-Environment and Mechanical Stimuli to Enhance Engineered Tissue Growth in Vitro

Ireolu Orenuga,1 Phillip Glass,2 Daeha Joung,2 Joao S. Soares1

1. Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
2. Department of Physics, College of Humanities & Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University

Introduction: Tissue engineering aims to create viable and functional engineered tissues via biodegradable scaffolds and autologous cells. Scaffolds play an essential part in organizing the architecture of developing tissues and aid in the proper function of implants acutely by serving as mechanical support and long-term by …