Engineering Commons^™

System And Method For Determining Operating Deflection Shapes Of A Structure Using Optical Techniques, Javad Baqersad

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A system for measuring total operating deflection shapes of a structure includes one or more imagers, each including two cameras spaced apart from one another and each oriented and positioned to have corresponding fields of view of a different corresponding section of the structure, with the corresponding sections that may include overlap area of the structure within each of the different sections of the structure. Each of the cameras generates a corresponding data stream, which is communicated to a controller, which is configured to measure the response of the structure to an excitation, such as a vibration or an impulse. …

Assessment Of Various Parametric Effects On The Performance Of A Commercial Grade Photovoltaic Solar Panel, Susanta K. Das, David Frank

Mechanical Engineering Publications

This paper presents the implementation of an integrated photovoltaic solar panel model which includes all the necessary parameters in order to simulate and analyze using Matlab/Simulink software. The integrated photovoltaic model is validated with Matlab/Simulink simulation for a commercially available 100W photovoltaic solar panel module. Using the commercial solar panel specifications, such as solar irradiation, panel temperature, etc. the integrated model solved with Matlab/Simulink returns an I-V and PV performance characteristics under various conditions which enabled detailed analysis, assessment of parametric effect on the performance of the solar panel. According to the model simulation results for a commercial RNG-100D solar …

An Optical-Based Technique To Obtain Vibration Characteristics Of Rotating Tires, Aakash Mange, Theresa Atkinson, Jennifer Bastiaan, Javad Baqersad

Mechanical Engineering Publications

The dynamic characteristics of tires are critical in the overall vibrations of vehicles because the tire-road interface is the only medium of energy transfer between the vehicle and the road surface. Obtaining the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the tire helps in improving the comfort of the passengers. The vibrational characteristics of structures are usually obtained by performing conventional impact hammer modal testing, in which the structure is excited with an impact hammer and the response of the structure under excitation is captured using accelerometers. However, this approach only provides the response of the structure at a few discrete …

Vibration Analysis Of Healthy Skin: Toward A Noninvasive Skin Diagnosis Methodology, Rakshita Panchal, Luke Horton, Peyman Poozesh, Javad Baqersad, Mohammadreza Nasiriavanaki

Mechanical Engineering Publications

Several noninvasive imaging techniques have been developed to monitor the health of skin and enhance the diagnosis of skin diseases. Among them, skin elastography is a popular technique used to measure the elasticity of the skin. A change in the elasticity of the skin can influence its natural frequencies and mode shapes. We propose a technique to use the resonant frequencies and mode shapes of the skin to monitor its health. Our study demonstrates how the resonant frequencies and mode shapes of skin can be obtained using numerical and experimental analysis. In our study, natural frequencies and mode shapes are …

Dynamic Analysis Of Vehicle Performance For Changes To Rear Axle Housing, Diane Peters, Yaomin Dong, Vimal Patel

Mechanical Engineering Presentations And Conference Materials

This paper explores the performance improvements of a 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 resulting from changes to the rear axle housing. In previous work, described in [1, 2], the rear axle housing was optimized in order to minimize its weight. It was expected that the decrease in weight would lead to improved fuel economy; in this work, the vehicle was simulated for the EPA highway drive cycle (HWFET) both before and after the optimization of the housing, in order to quantify the changes in fuel economy. It was found that the optimization of the housing did produce a modest improvement …

How Faculty Advisers And Counselors View Their Role In The Swe Organization, Diane Peters, Alexa Rihana Abdallah

Mechanical Engineering Presentations And Conference Materials

Faculty advisors and counselors play an important role in establishing and sustaining a successful Society of Women Engineers (SWE) student section. Currently, most SWE collegiate sections have both faculty advisors and counselors. A faculty advisor, who is required for student organizations in most universities, serves as the liaison between the SWE section and the university and is responsible for knowing the university’s policies. A faculty advisor helps the student section access university resources and ensures the section is meeting all university requirements. A counselor is required by SWE for a collegiate section to remain in “good standing” and serves as …

Characterization Of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells With Lscf-Sdc Composite Cathodes, Gianfranco Digiuseppe, Venkatesh Boddapati

Mechanical Engineering Publications

This paper reports the study of an anode-supported SOFC cell containing an LSCF-SDC composite cathode. The SOFC cell was tested at different temperatures and reactant flow rates. After testing, the cell was sectioned and characterized using SEM/EDS. Such analysis indicated that no structural damage and no significant interdiffusion of elements among the layers occurred. The measured electrochemical performance data at different temperatures indicate an Arrhenius behavior or temperature activated processes. The low-porosity anode functional layer appears to be very sensitive to low hydrogen contents. The electrochemical performance is also affected by changing air flow rates.

Implantable Fluid Delivery System, Ihab Saab, Nathan Waters, Joel Carne, Lanie R. Belloli, Massoud Tavakoli

Mechanical Engineering Patents

An implantable system for delivering fluids , such as drugs , to one or more anatomical structures in a patient ' s ( i . e . , human or animal ) body . A number of medical conditions require continual and / or periodic administration of fluids ( e . g . , drugs ) to target regions ( e . g . , anatomic organs ) of the body . Accessibility to those target regions might be limited technically for ex . and not limited to : frequent endoscopic , radiologically guided or surgical approaches . The system …

A Novel Approach To Visualize And Quantify The Transient Air Infiltration/Exfiltration In Walk-In Coolers, Ramin Faramarzi, Homayun K. Navaz, K. Kamensky

Mechanical Engineering Publications

Walk-in coolers are room-sized, insulated, and refrigerated compartments for food product storage. Walk-ins have areas equal or below 280 m2 (3,000 ft2), and are classified either as coolers operating above 0 degrees C (32 degrees F) (medium-temperature) to store fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy products, or freezers that operate below 0 degrees C (32 degrees F) (low-temperature) to meet health and safety standards of frozen food products. Walk-ins are typically found in restaurants as well as small- and medium-to-large grocery stores or supermarkets.

Xps Studies Of Lscf Interfaces Afer Cell Testing, Gianfranco Digiuseppe, Venkatesh Boddapati, Hiten Mothikhana

Mechanical Engineering Publications

The motivation of this investigation is to explore the possibility of using the depth profile capability of XPS to study interfaces after SOFC button cell testing. The literature uses XPS to study various cathode materials but has devoted little to the understanding of various cathode interfaces especially after testing. In this work, an SOFC button cell is first tested, and then, the LSCF cathode, barrier layer, and electrolyte are sputtered away to study the behavior of different interfaces. This work has shown that some elements have moved into other layers of the SOFC cell. It is argued that the migration …

Microfluidic Device And Method Using Double Anodic Bonding, Stephen Forrest, Gregory Mcgraw, Siddharth Harikrishna Mohan, Diane Peters

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A microfluidic device for use with a microfluidic delivery system, such as an organic vapor jet printing device, includes a glass layer that is directly bonded to a microfabricated die and a metal plate via a double anodic bond. The double anodic bond is formed by forming a first anodic bond at an interface of the microfabricated die and the glass layer, and forming a second anodic bond at an interface of the metal plate and the glass layer, where the second anodic bond is formed using a voltage that is lower than the voltage used to form the first …

Long-Term Cell Testing Of Interlayer-Free Lanthanum Strontium Cobalt Ferrite Cathodes For Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Gianfranco Digiuseppe, Venkatesh Boddapati, Hiten Mothikhana

Mechanical Engineering Publications

Sub-stoichiometric LSCF nanopowders with composition of (La0.6Sr0.40)0.95Co0.2Fe0.80O3-d were prepared using a nitrate-glycine process. The particle size is estimated to be 28.8 nm using the Scherrer equation. A sintering study and pull test was done to determine the quality of LSCF adhesion to the YSZ electrolyte. It was found that firing the cathode at 850oC does not provide the best adhesion, but button cell testing data indicate that the performance is stable over relatively long-term tests. The cell performance is not up to par to state-of-the-art Ni-YSZ/YSZ/SDC/LSCF where a barrier layer is used and the cathode is fired at high temperatures. …

Drivers Of Research Topic Selection For Engineering Doctoral Students, Erika A. Mosyjowski, Shanna R. Daly, Diane L. Peters

Mechanical Engineering Publications

In this study, we explored engineering doctoral students’ motivations for selecting their research topic. The extent to whichindividuals are intrinsically or extrinsically motivated and the autonomy they have to make their own decisions hasimplications for their enjoyment of and success at a particular task. Given the importance of motivation, we sought toaddress a gap in the understanding of how doctoral students in engineering decide on a particular problem to study. Ourfindings are based on interviews with students with varying past educational and professional experiences that enable us tocapture a wide range of motivations for engineering PhD students’ research subject decisions. …

Extracting Vibration Characteristics Of A Guitar Using Finite Element, Modal Analysis, And Digital Image Correlation Techniques, Kiran Patil, Javad Baqersad, Daniel Ludwigsen, Yaomin Dong

Physics Publications

The sound quality generated by the guitar depends on the vibration characteristics (i.e. natural frequencies and mode shapes) of this instrument. Thus, it is of particular interest to the guitar manufacturers to be able to obtain global information about the characteristics of the guitar. Traditional sensors can only measure at discrete locations. However, digital image correlation (DIC) can measure full-field data on the surface of the structure. In the current paper, a finite element (FE) model of a guitar with free boundary configurations was developed using quadratic solid elements. An eigensolution was performed on the FE model to determine its …

Roots Air Management System With Integrated Expander, Dale Stretch, Brad Wright, Matt Fortini, Neal Fink, Bassem Ramadan, William Eybergen

Mechanical Engineering Presentations And Conference Materials

PEM fuel cells remain an emerging technology in the vehicle market with several cost and reliability challenges that must be overcome in order to increase market penetration and acceptance. The DOE has identified the lack of a cost effective, reliable, and efficient air supply system that meets the operational requirements of a pressurized PEM 80kW fuel cell as one of the major technological barriers that must be overcome. This project leveraged Roots positive displacement development advancements and demonstrated an efficient and low cost fuel cell air management system. Eaton built upon its P-Series Roots positive displacement design and shifted the …

Injury Severity Data For Front And Second Row Passengers In Frontal Crashes, Theresa Atkinson, Leszek Gawarecki, Massoud Tavakoli

Mechanical Engineering Publications

The data contained here were obtained from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration׳s National Automotive Sampling System – Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) for the years 2008–2014. This publically available data set monitors motor vehicle crashes in the United States, using a stratified random sample frame, resulting in information on approximately 5000 crashes each year that can be utilized to create national estimates for crashes. The NASS-CDS data sets document vehicle, crash, and occupant factors. These data can be utilized to examine public health, law enforcement, roadway planning, and vehicle design issues. The data provided in this brief are a subset …

A General-Purpose Multiphase/Multispecies Model To Predict The Spread, Percutaneous Hazard, And Contact Dynamics For Nonporous And Porous Substrates And Membranes, Homayun K. Navaz, Ali R. Zand, Amir Gat, Theresa S. Atkinson

Mechanical Engineering Publications

A computational model to solve the coupled transport equations with chemical reaction and phase change for a liquid sessile droplet or the contact and spread of a sessile droplet between two approaching porous or non-porous surfaces, is developed. The model is general therefore it can be applied to toxic chemicals (contact hazard), drug delivery through porous organs and membranes, combustion processes within porous material, and liquid movements in the ground. The equation of motion and the spread of the incompressible liquid available on the primary surface for transfer into the contacting surface while reacting with other chemicals (or water) and/or …

Adjustable Jig And Method For Targeting Interlocking Holes Of An Intramedullary Nail, Patrick J. Atkinson

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A targeting jig apparatus for targeting interlocking holes of an intramedullary nail. The targeting jig includes a support-arm extending substantially parallel to the intramedullary nail. A targeting mechanism including a pair of targeting mechanism drioll-guide orifices is adjustably disposed on the support arm for aligning the targeting mechanism drilol-guide orifice with the interlocking holes of the intramedullary nail. The targeting mechanism includes a saddle having a U-shape including a base and parallel legs that are slidable along the support-arm. A connection mechanism includes a horizontal slot on the support-arm aligned with a vertical slot on the targeting mechanism and a …

Easily Implantable And Stable Nail-Fastener For Skeletal Fixation And Method, David Lecronier, Patrick Atkinson

Mechanical Engineering Patents

An intramedullary nail (20) defining a bore (34) is inserted into a medullary canal (26) of a bone (24). A threaded fastener (22) has a compression portion (48) presenting a compression portion diameter (DCP) and a threaded portion (50) presenting a threaded portion diameter (DTP). The fastener (22) extends through a near cortex hole (40) and/or a far cortex hole (42), and the threaded portion (22) threadedly engages the bore (34). A compression transmission device (54) is disposed between a head (44) of the fastener (22) and the intramedullary nail (20) for transmitting the compressional load of the threaded fastener …

A Neural Network Structure For Prediction Of Chemical Agent Fate, Homayun K. Navaz, N. Kehtarnavaz, Zoran Jovic

Mechanical Engineering Presentations And Conference Materials

This work presents the development of a multi-input, multi-output neural network structure to predict the time dependent concentration of chemical agents as they participate in chemical reaction with environmental substrates or moisture content within these substrates. The neural network prediction is based on a computationally or experimentally produced database that includes the concentration of all chemicals presents (reactants and products) as a function of the chemical agent droplet size, wind speed, temperature, and turbulence. The utilization of this prediction structure is made userfriendly via an easy-to-use graphical user interface. Furthermore, upon the knowledge of the time-varying environmental parameters (wind speed …

Fate Of Sessile Droplet Chemical Agents In Environmental Substrates In The Presence Of Physiochemical Processes, Homayun K. Navaz, A. L. Dang, Theresa Atkinson, Ali Zand, A. Nowakowski, K. Kamensky

Mechanical Engineering Presentations And Conference Materials

A general-purpose multi-phase and multi-component computer model capable of solving the complex problems encountered in the agent substrate interaction is developed. The model solves the transient and time-accurate mass and momentum governing equations in a three dimensional space. The provisions for considering all the inter-phase activities (solidification, evaporation, condensation, etc.) are included in the model. The chemical reactions among all phases are allowed and the products of the existing chemical reactions in all three phases are possible. The impact of chemical reaction products on the transport properties in porous media such as porosity, capillary pressure, and permeability is considered. Numerous …

Development Of Nhtsa’S Side Impact Test Procedure For Child Restraint Systems Using A Deceleration Sled : Part 2, Janet Brelin-Fornari, Sheryl Janca

Mechanical Engineering Grants

This report presents the results of the continued research and development of child seat side impact tests using the deceleration sled at Kettering University’s Crash Safety Center. The objective of this test series was to gain further insight into the sensitivity of the side impact test fixture response. Test variations included speed of impact, weight of the fixture, and impact characteristics. Additionally, 20 child restraint system (CRS) specific tests were conducted using a fixed set of test parameters.

Development Of Nhtsa’S Side Impact Test Procedure For Child Restraint Systems Using A Deceleration Sled : Part 1, Janet Brelin-Fornari, Sheryl Janca

Mechanical Engineering Grants

This report presents the results of the research and development of the child seat side impact tests performed at Kettering University’s Crash Safety Center for NHTSA. The tests were conducted using a deceleration sled. The objective of this testing was to obtain data for the development of a side impact test procedure for child restraint systems.

Biomechanical Performance Of Variable And Fixed Angle Locked Volar Plates For The Dorsally Comminuted Distal Radius, Patrick Atkinson, D. Martineau, J. Shorez, C. Beran, A. G. Dass

Mechanical Engineering Publications

Background

The ideal treatment strategy for the dorsally comminuted distal radius fracture continues to evolve. Newer plate designs allow for variable axis screw placement while maintaining the advantages of locked technology. The purpose of this study is to compare the biomechanical properties of one variable axis plate with two traditional locked constructs.

Methods

Simulated fractures were created via a distal 1 cm dorsal wedge osteotomy in radius bone analogs. The analogs were of low stiffness and rigidity to create a worst-case strength condition for the subject radius plates. This fracture-gap model was fixated using one of three different locked volar …

Assembly Of Bifurcation And Trifurcation Bipolar Plate To Design Fuel Cell Stack, Susanta K. Das, Jayesh Kavathe, Kingsley Joel Berry

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A current producing cell has anode flow plates 22 and cathode flow plates 20. Each of the flow plates 20, 22 defines a membrane face 26, a collector face 24, and a center axis C perpendicular to the membrane face 26 and the collector face 24. Each of the collector faces 24 define a plurality of cooling channels 74, 76, 78 and a plurality of transport channels 62, 64. The cooling channels 74, 76, 78 of the cathode flow plates 20 extend radially relative to the center axis C thereof to overlap the transport channels 62, 64 of the anode …

Design, Modeling And Development Of A Serial Hybrid Motorcycle With Hcci Engine, Yuh-Yih Wu, Chen Duan, Kai-Xian Hong, Hsien-Chi Tsai, Craig Hoff

Mechanical Engineering Publications

This paper discusses the design, modeling, and development of small motorcycle equipped with a HCCI engine in an series hybrid configuration. A mathematical model was developed using MATLAB/Simulink and used to size the powertrain components and to predict fuel economy. A conventional 125 cc spark ignition engine was modified to run in HCCI combustion mode and integrated into a prototype vehicle. Dual-fuel and external EGR strategies were used to upgrade the engine speed and torque capabilities of the engine to meet the requirements of the powertrain. An electrical generator, hub-motor, battery pack and other power electronics devices were used to …

Vector Acoustic Intensity Around A Tuning Fork, Daniel A. Russell, Justin Junell, Daniel O. Ludwigsen

Physics Publications

The acoustic intensity vector field around a tuning fork is investigated. Theory for a longitudinal quadrupole source predicts a well-defined transition between near-field and far-field, with significant circulation of sound energy in the near-field. Vector components of the time-averaged intensity were measured using a two-microphone intensity probe and found to agree well with predictions from theory. The vector intensity map is interpreted, and shown to provide useful information about the near-field of an acoustic source.

Compression Transmission Collar For Fastening, David Lecronier, Patrick Atkinson

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A compression transmission collar apparatus for implantation into a bone with a hole having a hole wall comprising an intramedullary nail defining a bore and a threaded fastener and a compression transmission collar including an exterior face and a top edge and a bottom edge and a first end interstcting the top edge at an acute angle and the bottom edge at an obtuse angle and a second end intersecting the top edge at an obtuse angle and the bottom edge at an acute angle and the first end partially overlapping and opposing the second end to define a slit …

Acoustic Testing And Modeling: An Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory, Daniel A. Russell, Daniel O. Ludwigsen

Physics Publications

This paper describes an advanced laboratory course in acoustics, specifically targeted for students with an interest in engineering applications at a school with a strongly integrated industrial co-op program. The laboratory course is developed around a three-pronged approach to problem solving that combines and integrates theoretical models, computational models, and experimental data. The course is structured around modules that begin with fundamental concepts and build laboratory skills and expand the knowledge base toward a final project. Students keep a detailed laboratory notebook, write research papers in teams, and must pass laboratory certification exams. This paper describes the course layout and …

Dynamics And Stability Of Two-Potential Flows In The Porous Media, Bojan Markicevic, Branko Bijeljic, Homayun K. Navaz

Mechanical Engineering Publications

The experimental and numerical results of the capillary-force-driven climb of wetting liquid in porous media, which is opposed by the gravity force, are analyzed with respect to the emergence of a multiphase flow front and flow stability of the climbing liquid. Two dynamic characteristics are used: (i) the multiphase flow front thickness as a function of time, and (ii) the capillary number as a function of Bond number, where both numbers are calculated from the harmonic average of pores radii. Throughout the climb, the influence of capillary, gravity, and viscous force variations on the flow behavior is investigated for different …