Engineering Commons^™

Spatial Structure And Energy Content Of Wakes Behind Single And Arrayed Undulated Cylinders, Taiga Naomi Drucker-Boisvert, OndˇRej FerˇCák, Jérémie Auzoux, Sarah E. Smith, Zein Sadek, Rowan Moore, Christain T. Murphy, Trevor Dunt, Jennifer A. Franck, Raul Bayoan Cal

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Biologically inspired undulated cylinder geometries significantly influence wake structure and vortex-induced vibrations in turbulent flows, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. It is further unknown how these influences extend to multi-cylinder arrays, where interacting wakes accumulate and mix. This study examines the wake characteristics of an undulated cylinder and a smooth elliptic cylinder in single- and multi-cylinder array configurations, using particle image velocimetry and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). Relative to the smooth elliptic cylinder, the undulated geometry induces pronounced spanwise-axial variability, characterized by enhanced near-wake mean momentum and weak far-wake signatures, consistent with reduced turbulent kinetic energy. While …

0905: American Car And Foundry (Acf) Collection, 1916-2019, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

The collection includes only documents that were found in the plant in 2021. These primarily consist of files on capital projects from the 1970s through the 1990s. Also included are notebooks with job descriptions and classifications; ledger books containing maintenance purchase orders; quality assurance manuals; visitors register books from 1973-2019; drawings of plant machinery and operations; slides and photographs; and miscellaneous materials.

The forerunner to ACF was Ensign Manufacturing Company, founded in 1871 at Huntington, West Virginia, by William H. Barnum and Ely Ensign, both from prominent families of Lime Rock, Connecticut. It was chartered (incorporated) on November 1, 1872, …

Human-Centered Electric Vehicle Adoption Framework For Smart Mobility: Modeling Perceived Range And Charging Anxiety As A Psychological Barrier, Fatemeh Nazari, Abolfazl (Kouros) Mohammadian, Thomas Stephens

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a transformative pathway toward reducing the environmental, economic, and health-related externalities of internal combustion engine vehicles in urban settings. Despite substantial advances in battery technology, charging infrastructure expansion, and supportive policy incentives, EV penetration remains limited which poses challenges for smart and sustainable mobility planning. A critical yet insufficiently modeled barrier to adoption lies in the psychological perceptions surrounding electric driving range and charging reliability, which is commonly framed as “range anxiety,” but more broadly reflecting perceived range and charging anxiety. To address this gap, this study introduces a latent psychological construct capturing individuals’ perceived range …

Clogging Behaviour And Management In Two Full-Scale Infiltration Schemes: A Treated Wastewater Basin And A Surface-Water Weir In Australia, John Awad, Declan Page, Joanne Vanderzalm, Geoffrey J. Puzon, Jason Wylie, Falko Mathes, Debbie Reed, Michael Bartkow, Mehdi Khiadani, Karen Barry, Peter Dillon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) schemes are increasingly used to enhance water security, yet infiltration schemes are susceptible to clogging which consequently reduces operational efficiency. This study examines two full-scale Australian case studies: Jurien Bay (JB, Western Australia) and Lockyer Valley (LV, Queensland), representing treated wastewater (TWW) and surface water recharge, respectively. Recharge water at JB exhibited high clogging potential in relation to literature values proposed to manage clogging: total suspended solids (TSS) ranged from 100 to 176 mg/L (target ≤2 mg/L), turbidity 70–100 NTU (target ≤3 NTU), and total nitrogen (TN) 5–16 mg/L (target ≤10 mg/L). LV showed lower clogging …

Experimental Thermal-Hydraulic Performance Enhancement Of A Parabolic-Trough Solar Collector Using 3d-Printed Propeller-Shaped Turbulators, Shayan Pourhemmati, Barun Kumar Das, Majid Tolouei-Rad, Abdellah Shafieian

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This experimental study investigates the thermal-hydraulic performance of a parabolic trough collector (PTC) equipped with propeller-shaped turbulators, which were 3D printed and installed along the absorber tube to enhance convective heat-transfer by increasing flow mixing. Nine turbulator configurations were tested by varying the blade angle (β = 22.5° and 45°, and β = 67.5°) and the number of turbulators (Nt = 6, 12, and Nt = 18) over a Reynolds number range of 1000 to 6000. To ensure a rigorous and unbiased comparison, all experiments were conducted under identical operating conditions, including a constant inlet temperature and a constant Reynolds …

Optimizing Few-Shot Learning In Pruned Large Language Models With Task-Specific Prompts, Danyal Aftab

Dissertations

Few-shot learning enables large language models to efficiently perform tasks given only a limited number of labeled examples. However, training these models entirely from scratch requires substantial computational resources, making it challenging for many organizations to fully leverage their potential. This thesis explores how structured pruning, task-specific prompting, and parameter-efficient fine-tuning can be combined to preserve few-shot learning capabilities in compressed LLMs, while also extending their utility to real-world recommendation systems.

In this research, we propose the Tailored LLM framework, which first reduces model size through structured pruning and then enhances few-shot learning performance using carefully designed prompts. We experiment …

Policy And Regulation In Virtual Power Plants Development, Hemlal Bhattarai, Aziz, Stefan Lachowicz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Electricity systems are changing due to the rapid deployment of distributed energy resources (DER), which also presents significant regulatory obstacles to their coordinated integration into energy markets and power grids. However, the majority of current material in publications concentrate on operational optimization and technical architectures, with little systematic synthesis of the legal and policy frameworks governing the deployment of VPP on a broad scale. To provide grid services, improve flexibility and support decarbonization objectives, virtual power plants (VPP) have become a crucial aggregation method. To close this gap, this research critically looks at the institutional roles, market structures, global policy …

Multistage Integrated Systems For Wastewater Treatment And Resource Recovery: A Systematic Process Design Framework, Mahsa Golmohammadi, Ensiyeh Taheri, Ratish Ramyad Permala, Sebastien Allard, Mehdi Khiadani, Amir Razmjou

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The wastewater treatment paradigm is shifting from pollutant removal toward integrated systems that simultaneously achieve contaminant treatment and resource recovery. Despite extensive literature on individual technologies, systematic frameworks for designing multistage integrated wastewater treatment and resource recovery systems remain notably absent. This review addresses this gap by developing a comprehensive decision framework that guides designers from influent characterization through technology selection across pretreatment, main process, and post-treatment stages. The framework accommodates diverse integration strategies, ranging from fully unified treatment processes to stage-specific configurations where each treatment stage employs technologies tailored to its designated function. Rather than optimizing for a single …

Review: Mechanics Of Mycelium Materials, Md Anwar Sadat Anik, Ehsanul Azim, Gerardo I. Zapata, Mohammad R. Islam

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The biological growth of fungal root structure, called mycelium, can be engineered to develop innovative fibrous and biocomposite materials. Mycelium materials have potential as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived materials for load-bearing applications. To realize this potential, there is an increasing effort dedicated to understanding the mechanics of mycelium materials. This work presents a systematic review of our current understanding of the mechanics of mycelium materials with a specific focus on structure–property relationships. The review first explores how the mycelium’s fiber network structure varies depending on whether it is grown as a two-dimensional (2D) membrane, a cellular foam, or as a …

Asm And A Culture Of Sharing, Caring, And Fun In Education, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

One doesn't always equate a professional scientific society with sharing, caring, and fun, but in this age of public distrust, public engagement with science and active student learning are ways to regain trust. ASM holds a leadership position in promoting and recognizing the value of education in the future of our profession and is there to support your educational journey. From K12 outreach and public engagement, to professional development, to presenting and publishing scholarship of teaching and learning, ASM has been at the forefront of biology education. Under the leadership of visionary directors such as Amy Chang and now Irene …

A Transfer-Learning And Continuous Optimization-Based Framework For Predicting Heat Treatment-Dependent Mechanical Properties Of Ded-Processed Low-Alloy Steels, Atiqur Rahman, Sung Heng Wu, Ranjit Joy, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Directed energy deposition (DED) of low-alloy steels involves strongly coupled effects among alloy composition, solidification behavior, and post-deposition heat treatment, making mechanical property prediction difficult when target-domain data are limited. This study develops a transfer-learning and continuous optimization framework for predicting heat treatment-dependent yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), hardness (HV), and as-solidified phase fractions of martensite, ferrite, and austenite in DED-processed low-alloy steels. A CALPHAD-based dataset was generated for 125 low-alloy steel compositions. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) surrogate was first trained as a baseline model, then fine-tuned through transfer learning and progressively updated as staged continuous optimization; the …

Automated Battery Management Systems For Electric Vehicles, Woonki Na, Yuanyuan Xie

Mineta Transportation Institute

Electric vehicle (EV) safety, efficiency, and lifetime are strongly influenced by how well battery cells are managed, and as EV adoption accelerates, improving battery performance has become critical to vehicle reliability, cost, and public trust. This report conducts a field study on the core technologies and challenges in Battery Management Systems (BMS), focusing on the classification of BMS circuit topologies (design/structures) and systematically reviewing different topologies of active cell balancing circuits (systems that move energy from stronger battery cells to weaker ones). The study provides a detailed analysis of the working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of various active balancing circuit …

Enhanced Transdermal Immunization Via Solid-In-Oil Nanodispersions Incorporating Dendritic Cell-Targeting Peptide, Md Samiul Islam, Md. Shahin Ekka Sarker, Yoshirou Kawaguchi, Rie Wakabayashi, Noriho Kamiya, Muhammad Moniruzzaman, Masahiro Goto

Publications and Research

Transdermal immunization represents a promising needle-free alternative to conventional vaccination. However, efficient antigen delivery and robust immune activation remain major challenges. In this study, a solid-in-oil (S/O) nanodispersion system comprising a dendritic cell-targeting peptide (HR8), ovalbumin (OVA), and an adjuvant was developed for transdermal immunization. The HR8 peptide along with OVA was successfully incorporated into an S/O nanodispersion with an optimal hydrodynamic diameter of particles (< 200 nm) and exhibited stable physical properties for up to 90 days. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated enhanced antigen delivery with insignificant skin irritation in C57BL/6N mice. Moreover, in vivo transdermal immunization studies demonstrated that the addition of the HR8 peptide enhanced OVA-specific IgG responses (~1.5-fold). Notably, the HR8 peptide also promoted an approximately 2.5-fold increase in IgG2c levels, suggesting a shift toward a more T helper type 1-biased immune response, as reflected by an increased IgG2c/IgG1 ratio. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the incorporation of HR8 peptide into an S/O nanodispersion enables efficient transdermal antigen delivery and improved immunogenicity, highlighting its potential as a simple, non-invasive, and patient-friendly immunization strategy.

Sustainable Organic Materials Used In The Construction Sector, Michael P. Wistuba, Di Wang, Chiara Riccardi, Libo Yan, Zhanping You, Lily D. Poulikakos, Ana Jiménez Del Barco Carrión

Michigan Tech Publications

No abstract provided.

Emergent De Sitter Expansion And Closed Topology From The Cosmic Fabric Model As An Open Thermodynamic System: Resolving The Negative Bulk Modulus Paradox, T G. Tenev, C B. Ward, T F. Tenev, M F. Horstemeyer

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Cosmic Fabric Model establishes a continuum-mechanics isomorphism to General Relativity by representing physical space as an elastic three-dimensional hyperplate embedded in a four-dimensional spatial bulk. Reproducing vacuum kinematics requires a vanishing P-wave modulus, which in turn implies a negative bulk modulus—an apparent thermodynamic instability in a closed system. This paradox is resolved by recasting the framework as an open system: the instability is not pathological but instead drives cosmic expansion. In this interpretation, the observable universe is a lower-energy solid formed through continuous solidification from a higher-dimensional precursor fluid. Using multiplicative kinematics from finite-growth mechanics, the model shows that …

Integrated Construction Uncertainty Quantification Framework Icuqf, Felix Delmonte

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This study develops ICUQF, an integrated uncertainty framework for digitally instrumented construction megaprojects that unite probabilistic simulation, fuzzy reasoning, Bayesian networks, AI-driven anomaly detection, BIM-linked digital twins, and organizational learning into a single operational architecture. The framework classifies uncertainty into aleatory variability, epistemic gaps, data-centric and model-centric risks, and cognitive or cultural sources, mapping each class to computational treatments such as Monte Carlo engines for stochastic variability, fuzzy intervals and p-boxes for imprecise expert judgments, and hierarchical Bayesian models for coherent evidence aggregation and online updating. ICUQF specifies data pipelines that connect IoT sensing, edge processing, cloud storage, and Common …

Tinyml-Based Embedded Vision System For Ic Detection In Microcontroller Manufacturing, Mark M. Pallones, King Harold A. Recto, Rynne Daven A. Barrios

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

Mixing of microcontroller unit (MCU) integrated circuits (ICs) during the final testing stage of semiconductor manufacturing can lead to material waste, production delays, and customer dissatisfaction. This issue often occurs when standard JEDEC Matrix Trays (JMTs) are reused without confirming that all ICs have been removed after testing, a process typically performed through manual inspection and therefore susceptible to human error due to high test volumes, small IC package sizes, and visual similarity between IC packages and tray surfaces. This study develops an automated IC Detection Test System using embedded vision to determine whether JMT trays are empty prior to …

Integrated Construction Risk Assessment Framework, Felix Delmonte

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

An integrated risk assessment architecture for construction projects synthesizes data governance, BIM, Digital Twins, and hybrid analytics into a continuous feedback loop that links sensing, semantic modelling, probabilistic simulation, and organizational learning. The framework distinguishes aleatory from cognitive uncertainty and prescribes layered methods: Monte Carlo and Bayesian updating for measurable variability; fuzzy inference and consensus aggregation for linguistic and expert judgements; and graph-based discovery for dynamic cyber-physical topologies represented as time-varying graphs 𝐺𝑡. Governance primitives, aligned with ISO 19650, enforce provenance, interoperability, and staged readiness thresholds that prevent premature prescriptive outputs until model convergence criteria are met. BIM and GIS …

Development Of Proposed Airworthiness Certification Criteria For Interference-Tolerant Radio Altimeter Systems, Matheus B. Furstenberger

Student Works

Radio altimeters provide height-above-ground information to flight deck displays and multiple safety-critical aircraft systems, however legacy certification standards were not developed for high-power terrestrial wireless services operating in adjacent C-Band spectrum. This study addressed the absence of a consolidated airworthiness certification framework for interference-tolerant radio altimeter systems installed on Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 25 transport category airplanes. An archival research synthesis was conducted using publicly available regulations, proposed and final rules, technical standard orders, advisory circulars, airworthiness directives, industry standards, spectrum-management documents, technical studies, and stakeholder comments. Qualitative content analysis and source triangulation were used to identify …

Theoretical Model To Predict The Flexural Response Of Concrete Beams Pre-Tensioned With Cfrp Rods Considering Cfrp Slippage Effects, Yasir Saeed, Karrar Al-Lami, Franz Rad

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The overwhelming costs of maintenance for reinforced concrete structures due to steel corrosion have motivated researchers to look for alternatives. One of the promising alternatives is Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP). Among FRP materials, Carbon FRP (CFRP) is the most attractive material for prestressed concrete members due to its high tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Previous studies investigated the use of CFRP in prestressed concrete through experimental tests and theoretical analysis. However, there is a significant need for more experimental data to develop an accurate model that can accurately predict the behavior of CFRP prestressed concrete beams. In the current …

Exploring Instructor Engagement With Aviation Safety Messaging At Und: A Pilot Study, Brendan Aug

Aviation Student Publications

Effective communication of safety information is critical in fostering a strong safety culture within collegiate aviation. This pilot study explores how flight instructors at the University of North Dakota (UND) engage with two safety communication tools: The ASAP Spotlight email update and the 60-Seconds for Safety flyers. A 25-question survey distributed to active UND Line Flight Instructors examined engagement levels, behavioral impact, perceived effectiveness, and preferred communication methods. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and an exploratory factor analysis were used to evaluate responses across four constructs: engagement, behavior, perception, and communication preference. Results indicate that while instructors do generally engage with and …

A Machine Learning Approach For Water Quality Assessment In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Watershed, Saika Nowshin Nowrin, Chu-Lin Cheng, Jungseok Ho, Jinwoo An, Fatemeh Nazari

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Water quality analysis plays an essential role in maintaining the health and sustainability of river ecosystems, especially in semi-arid regions like the Arroyo Colorado Watershed in South Texas. Since the river is a vital source of water supply for local communities, agriculture, and wildlife, it faces significant challenges and pollution from land use changes, climate variation, and agricultural runoff. Continuous monitoring and assessment of water quality parameters and their temporal variability are essential to ensure the drinking water supply and aquatic ecosystem health. However, comprehensive laboratory-based water quality investigations are often constrained by higher costs, logistical complexity, and limited manpower. …

Vertical Alignment As A Systemic Strategy For Sustaining Workforce-Aligned K–12 Engineering Initiatives: A Collective Case Study Of District-Wide Microelectronics Integration, Greg J. Strimel, Victoria Constantine, Deana Lucas, Emily Haluschak, Yubin Lee, Morgan Hynes, Selcen Guzey, Tamara J. Moore

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Background

In response to the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, a K–12 workforce development initiative was launched to embed microelectronics education across US school districts. To promote sustainability, the initiative employed a district-wide vertical alignment strategy that progressively integrates microelectronics content and engineering-related career experiences from kindergarten through high school. While vertical alignment is often used for curriculum planning, its broader potential as a systems-level strategy remains underexplored.

Purpose

This study investigated how vertical alignment functions within a K–12 engineering workforce development initiative, focusing on enablers/barriers toward expanding and sustaining integration efforts. The research questions addressed stakeholder experiences with the …

Comparative Analysis Of Strain-To-Velocity Conversion Methods For Active-Source Das Data And Collocated Nodal Stations, Prajwal Panthi, Brady R. Cox

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) provides dense spatial measurements of the dynamic strain along fiber optic cables, offering high-resolution wave sensing for ground motion monitoring and subsurface imaging applications. However, DAS records the axial strain or strain rate, whereas traditional seismic and engineering ground motion equipment and derived metrics are based on particle displacement, velocity, or acceleration, necessitating reliable strain-to-velocity conversion methods. This study evaluates three widely used conversion approaches: the fk-rescaling, curvelet-based conversion, and slant-stack methods. These approaches are applied to a unique high-energy, near-field, active-source dataset collected at the Birds Landing Site in Sherman Island, California. The dataset includes …

Co-Designing New Website Ideas In The Age Of Ai, Rami Huu Nguyen

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This workshop introduced students to the principles of website co-design in the age of artificial intelligence through a collaborative, project-based learning experience. Participants first explored the mission of the Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute and the instructor's career journey before learning the fundamentals of e-commerce website design. Students were organized into five teams to develop original website concepts in areas including travel, fashion, sports, and gaming. Each team conducted research using search engines and generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity, created website wireframes, and presented their ideas using Canva. The workshop emphasized teamwork, creativity, user-centered design, …

Global Time-Resolved Measurements Of Inlet/Isolator Unstart Induced By Mass Injection, Andrew N. Bustard, Benjamin L. Bemis, Aaron Marques, Matthew J. Zahr, Thomas J. Juliano

Publications

The inner surface pressure of an axisymmetric inlet/isolator model was measured using anodized-aluminum pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) viewing through cast acrylic. Temperaturesensitive paint was utilized to correct for the PSP’s temperature sensitivity. The model was tested under Mach 5.7 flow at 𝑹𝒆 = 7.1 ×106 /m under conventional noise conditions. Transverse jet injection with jet-to-inlet mass-flow ratios up to 0.8 was used to induce unstart in the inlet/isolator. Background-oriented schlieren visualization of the inlet shocks was collected simultaneously with the PSP to determine when the inlet unstarted. Computational fluid dynamics results were used to determine off-wall flow structures and quantify approach …

Sustainable Hydrogel From Biowaste: Synthesis And Characterization Of Pectin And Starch-Based Hydrogels Derived From Fruit Peel, Aneesa Rasheed Anwar, Roudha Sultan Almarri, Munawwar Ali Khan, Pramod Kumbhar

All Works

Arid regions such as the United Arab Emirates face persistent challenges in agricultural productivity due to water scarcity, poor soil quality, and the overuse of chemical fertilizers. As a sustainable alternative, biodegradable hydrogels offer promising solutions owing to their high swelling capacity, water retention ability, and controlled release of water and nutrients. This study explored the synthesis and characterization of eco-friendly hydrogels derived from pectin and starch extracted from orange and banana peels, respectively. These biopolymers are cross-linked using calcium and polyvinyl alcohol, forming hydrogels suitable for agricultural applications. The quality of the extracted biopolymers was assessed by analyzing moisture …

Application Of Cost-Effective High-Resolution Remote Sensing To Characterize Flooding In Mountain River Corridors, Ishwar Joshi, Ian Gowing, Brian M. Crookston

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

This study evaluated a cost-effective UAV-based multi-sensor approach for characterizing river corridor conditions during and after moderate floods in two mountain river corridors in Northern Utah, USA: the Logan River and Blacksmith Fork River. These study reaches included urban, rural, and agricultural areas, hydraulic structures and bridges, and fish passage structures. A DJI Matrice 300 UAV was used with two separate payloads: an AgEagle Altum-PT multispectral camera and an R3 Pro V2 two-return LiDAR system. The workflow included UAV flight planning and data collection, post-processing of the multi-spectral and LiDAR sensor data, spatial resolution and accuracy assessment, and interpretation of …

Instructional Slides From Molten Salt Electrochemistry Symposium (Moses) 2026, Devin Rappleye, Carlos Mejia, Alex Peroff

Faculty Publications

This instructional slide set was developed for the 2026 Molten Salt Electrochemistry Symposium (MoSES) as an introduction and review of fundamental electrochemical concepts and methods used in molten salt systems. The material is intended for students, researchers, and practitioners seeking to better understand and interpret electrochemical measurements in high-temperature molten salts.

Topics include electrochemical thermodynamics, kinetics, mass transfer, electrode potentials, cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, chronoamperometry, square-wave voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and common approaches for analyzing electrochemical data. Emphasis is placed on building physical intuition, understanding underlying assumptions, recognizing common experimental artifacts, and connecting electrochemical signals to real chemical and transport …

Analyzing Energy Use In 2d & 3d Imaging Systems And Workflows, Michael J. Bennett

Published Works

This study examines energy consumption in cultural heritage imaging systems and workflows, addressing a gap in sustainability research that has to date focused primarily on data storage infrastructure estimations. Using Home Assistant edge computing and Z-Wave smart plugs, seven distinct imaging systems were monitored over 203 hours, capturing 55,211 images, and rendering 2,448 objects. Results show an average energy requirement of 11.1 Wh per object, with an annual total of 747 kWh for digitization activities. Findings highlight opportunities to reduce energy demand and improve efficiency, such as automating continuous light shutoff and optimizing postprocessing routines that support institutional sustainability goals …