Engineering Commons^™

Artificial Intelligence Based Predictive Simulation And Decision-Support Framework For Full Scale Wastewater Treatment Systems, Muhammad Hassnain, Cameron Veal, Sarada M.W. Lee, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Full scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) generate extensive sensor and laboratory datasets that remain challenging to translate into real-time operational insight, while increasing hydraulic variability, energy constraints, tightening effluent regulations, and events such as sensor faults, hydraulic shocks, and effluent-quality excursions require predictive decision-support tools beyond conventional mechanistic modelling. This study presents a full-scale, industry-deployed artificial intelligence (AI) framework integrating machine learning (ML), simulation, and operational boundary definition across a nitrogen-removal WWTP in Australia. Up to nine years of high-frequency online instrumentation data (≤419,000 records per target; 5–30 min resolution) and ~3000 laboratory samples were used to train and evaluate …

Nb–Zr Interdiffusion In The (Hf,Ta,Ti,Nb)B2–(Hf,Ta,Ti,Zr)B2 High-Entropy Boride System, Ana C. Feltrin, Yue Zhou, Stefano Curtarolo, Gregory E. Hilmas, William G. Fahrenholtz

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Niobium (Nb) presents a challenge for achieving homogeneous solid solutions in high-entropy boride and carbide ceramics. In this work, we synthesized (Hf,Ta,Ti,Zr)B₂ (Zr-HEB) and (Hf,Ta,Ti,Nb)B₂ (Nb-HEB) ceramics by boro/carbothermal reduction, followed by densification via spark plasma sintering (SPS). Diffusion couples were prepared to investigate the interdiffusion behavior of Nb and zirconium (Zr) in these complex systems at temperatures between 2000°C and 2200°C. Aside from Nb and Zr, the other elements exhibited no significant concentration gradient across the diffusion interface. Nb exhibited lower diffusion coefficients ((Formula presented.) Nb = 1.7 x 10⁻¹⁷–1.2 x 10⁻¹⁶ m^{2 …}

A Comparative Evaluation Of Experimentally Validated Finite Element Modeling Strategies To Simulate Compression-After-Impact Behavior Of Multidirectional Cfrp Laminates With Barely Visible Impact Damage, Niildiip Chandraa, Vinh Tung Le, Arief Yudhanto, Abhendra K. Singh, Douglas E. Smith

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Abstract The finite element-based approaches to predict compression-after-impact (CAI) performance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) subject to a low-velocity impact rely on assumptions about compressive failure mechanisms within the barely visible impact damage (BVID). Comprehensive evaluations of finite element (FE) models concerning accuracy, efficiency, and validity with respect to experimental tests are limited. This study explores several finite element-based approaches developed in ABAQUS Explicit to predict the residual strength and related compressive failure mechanisms of multidirectional CFRP laminates. Drop-weight impact experiments followed by CAI tests employing 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) were used to validate our FE models by …

Nascent Titanium-/Silicon-Containing Particle Formation In Corona-Discharge-Assisted Combustion, Chanakya Bagya Ramesh, Frank Daoru Han, Yang Wang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Adding plasmas to a flame has been shown to introduce high concentrations of charges, ions, and radicals to the said flame. This technique of adding plasma to a flame is called plasma-assisted combustion (PAC), and this addition has been shown to make a flame more stable and efficient. At the same time, PAC has also been shown to alter particle formation during combustion. Here, we investigate the effect of a high-frequency (∼21 kHz) alternating current (AC) corona discharge on particle formation and growth in a premixed flame, especially at the initial stages (with particle sizes below 10 nm). We first …

Magnetic Field-Induced Transformation In Polycrystalline Ni2mnal Heusler Type Magnetic Shape Memory Alloy, Choji J. Daches, Joseph W. Newkirk, Mario Buchely, Laura N. Bartlett

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The martensitic and magnetic transformations, as well as the mechanical properties, of Ni₂MnAl alloys in as-cast (AC) and heat-treated (HT) conditions were investigated. Magnetic-field-induced strain was evaluated via magnetostriction, with reversible strains of 0.14% and 0.2% achieved in the martensitic phase at 2 K for the AC and HT alloys, respectively. Transformation temperatures and Curie temperatures were determined under constant applied magnetic field, revealing that γ-phase inclusions in the AC microstructure suppress antiferromagnetic domain response, yielding a lower magnetization (∼8.4 emu g⁻¹) compared to the HT alloy (∼13.4 emu g⁻¹). Both alloys exhibited hysteretic behavior in the martensitic state and …

Exact X2 Statistic Critical Values For Dice Fairness Testing, Warren Campbell

SEAS Faculty Publications

Two questions were addressed: 1) What are the exact values of the c² statistic critical values? 2. Does a dice tower offer improved fairness of dice rolls?  Critical values of the statistic asymptotically approach those given by the continuous chi-square distribution, but the exact distribution is discrete.  The exact distributions only asymptotically approach the chi-square distribution, and the convergence is slow (1/number of rolls).  Th exact distributions are a function of the number of rolls, the chi-square distribution is not a function of the number of rolls.  Exact values of c² at the 90, 95, and 99 percent …

Nebraska And The Midwest Agtech Ecosystem: Benchmarking Innovation Investment And Translation Gaps, Ankit Chandra, Ishani Lal, Brennan Costello

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Agricultural innovation is central to the sustainable transformation of food systems, yet the capital that finances it is unevenly distributed relative to where food is produced. This paper develops a diagnostic framework for measuring this mismatch and applies it across the U.S. Midwest from 2021 to 2025, with particular emphasis on Nebraska's structural position within this landscape. Drawing on venture capital deal-flow data, 17 stakeholder interviews, and a novel strength-weakness-opportunity-gap (SWOG) ecosystem mapping methodology, we document $736 million in tracked Midwest AgTech funding across eight states (Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota). We introduce three …

Unhsc Watershed Protection Standard Calculator, Daniel Macadam

UNH Stormwater Center

No abstract provided.

Tailoring Crushing Responses Of Hexagonal Crash Box Filled With Additively Manufactured Lattice Structures By Assessing The Influence Of Material Parameters, L. D. Lumanauw, A. Jusuf, M. H. Jarwadi, L. Gunawan, T. Sebaey, A. Yudhanto

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hexagonal crash boxes offer superior crashworthiness compared to other cross-sectional geometries, and their performance can be further enhanced by integrating additively manufactured lattice fillers. This study investigates the quasi-static crushing behavior of hexagonal crash boxes filled with hexagonal close-packed (HCP) lattice structures fabricated via stereolithography (SLA). Finite element models developed in ABAQUS/Explicit, validated against quasi-static compression experiments, show discrepancies below 5%, indicating that polymeric lattice fillers provide modest performance gains, achieving a crushing force efficiency (CFE) of 20%–25%. Replacing polymeric lattices with metallic fillers, namely 316L stainless steel and Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy, substantially increases energy absorption, with Ti–6Al–4V delivering the …

Interfacial Redox Mediation By Amine/Alkyne-Functionalized Silicon Nanoparticles: Surfactant-Free Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis, Amber L. Garcia, Brittany Griggs, Brian S. Mitchell, Mark J. Fink, Julie P. Vanegas

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We develop a surfactant-free synthesis method for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using 2-propynylamine-functionalized silicon nanoparticles as integrated redox-active supports. Surface-anchored amine groups act as built-in reducing sites for Au³⁺ precursors at the hexane–water interface under ambient conditions, enabling in situ AuNP nucleation and growth. Time-resolved UV-vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering track the emergence of plasmonic AuNPs, while quantitative morphology analysis reveals a final population dominated by spherical and near-spherical nanoparticles (∼74%), with faceted polyhedral structures (∼4%) and dendritic, hollow, irregular, and rod-like morphologies (∼22%) as minority species. The temporal evolution proceeds from early dendritic and irregular aggregates to a …

Explainable And Hybrid Machine Learning For Predicting Fatal Crash Risk, Hussein Khanjar, Abdolmajid Erfani

Michigan Tech Publications

Road traffic fatalities remain one of the most persistent public safety challenges, demanding predictive models that are not only accurate but also reliable and interpretable. While numerous machine-learning models have been developed for crash severity prediction, most remain limited in three critical dimensions: they simplify the unit of analysis by focusing only on the driver or the most severe occupant per crash, they emphasize predictive performance while neglecting model confidence and probability calibration, and they often function as black boxes lacking interpretability for real-world decision support. To address these gaps, this study proposes a calibrated hybrid machine-learning framework for nationwide, …

How Does Competitive Adsorption Between Vma And Pce Influence Yield Stress Of Cement Paste? A Novel Insight From Interparticle Forces And Percolation Threshold, Huamin Sun, Le Teng, Xiaohan Yu, Xin Shu, Zhangli Hu, Jiaping Liu, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Viscosity modifying admixture (VMA) and polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) are often combined to optimize rheological properties of cement-based materials. However, the competitive adsorption of these complex admixtures can greatly influence rheological properties. Many studies have investigated the variation of yield stress due to competitive adsorption between VMA and PCE; but the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aims to shed a new light on this question in cement paste systems prepared with low water-to-binder ratios of 0.16–0.30. The competitive adsorption of VMA and PCE was quantitatively assessed using the Total Organic Carbon and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy measurements. The effect of competitive …

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

Published Works

Analyzing Energy Use in 2D & 3D Imaging Systems and Workflows Dataset

CONTENTS: Z-WaveReportingProfiles; SessionInput; DroneFlights; SessionsComputed; Types; ByType; GrossSummaryUnweighted; WeightingSummary; Raw Sampling History Data

Managing Risks Under Nuclear Power Plant Projects: A Latent Similarity-Guided Contract Customization, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Global energy is transforming, with nuclear power emerging as a pivotal player in achieving sustainable and low-carbon energy goals. The nature of nuclear technology introduces unique challenges, such as stringent safety and environmental requirements. Existing studies focus on general risk identification, such as supply chain delays, cost overruns, and public perception issues. However, these studies fail to address integrating these risks into tailored contractual provisions, which are critical for navigating the unique challenges of nuclear projects. The goal of this paper is to examine how standard construction contracts can be tailored to better accommodate the risks inherent in nuclear power …

Interpretable Machine Learning Of Plasma Proteomics Reveals Stage-Specific Signatures Across The Alzheimer's Disease Continuum, Hemshankar Laugi

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

Alzheimer’s pathology begins years before clinical symptoms, starting early with amyloid-β accumulation, followed by tau deposition and neurodegeneration. Although existing tools, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) screening and PET/MRI imaging, can accurately track disease progression, they are invasive, expensive, and not scalable for population-level screening. So, there is a growing interest in using blood-based plasma biomarkers as a scalable alternative. While recent studies demonstrate strong predictive performance with plasma biomarkers, most rely on a small set of canonical blood-based protein biomarkers such as amyloid-β, p-tau, and neurofilament light. These biomarkers primarily reflect downstream brain pathology and may fail to capture …

Adaptive Solar Energy Collection Fenestration Systems; Measured Performance On Test Cell Under Real Weather Conditions., Noel O’Neill

Doctoral

Buildings account for a significant share of global energy use, and improving façade performance is critical to achieving nearly zero-energy building targets. This research addresses the challenge of integrating multiple adaptive functions into a single façade system to reduce heat loss, harness solar energy, and provide dynamic environmental control. The aim was to design, construct, and evaluate an adaptive Multi-Functional Façade (MFF) that integrates vacuum glazing, switchable opacity glazing, and a ventilated cavity with active airflow control to provide façade insulation, heated fresh air, recirculated air, or exhaust ventilation.

A Solar Thermal Test Cell (STTC) designed to Passive House standard, …

Understanding The Structural Drivers Of Useful Exergy Intensity, João Santos, Tiago Domingos, Tânia Sousa, Matthew Kuperus Heun, André Serrenho

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Energy-Economy Decomposition Analysis Across 112 Countries 1971-2020

Comparative Catalytic Pyrolysis Of Wheat Straw For Enhanced Bio-Oil Production, Nourhan H. Khashaba, Noura F. Abdelsalam, Hany A. Elazab, Mamdouh A. Gadalla, Thokozani Majozi, Fatma H. Ashour

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is a promising thermochemical route for producing renewable biofuels and value-added chemicals. Many African countries have abundant underutilized agricultural residues whose reuse can improve waste management while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This study used wheat straw as a representative residue to examine how two catalysts—zinc oxide (ZnO) and cement kiln dust (CKD)—affect bio-oil yield and quality. Bench-scale experiments were performed in a fixed-bed reactor under an inert nitrogen atmosphere at 500–600 °C. Each catalyst was tested separately at loadings from 0 to 7 g per 500 g of biomass to evaluate impacts on …

Developing Solvent-Based Recycling Methods At Ambient Conditions To Regenerate Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether And Recover Metal Oxides From Epoxy Nanocomposites, Heaven Smith

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Research Publications

No abstract provided.

Unveiling Corrosion Behavior And Passive Film Performance Of L12-Strengthened Ni28cr15cu8ti8fe26-Xco15+X Multi-Principal Element Alloys, Liran Huang, Zhiqiang Fu, Chenliang Chu, Shiyu Liu, Xiaohui Qin, Yunzhu Shi, Yongxiang Tan, Haiming Wen

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

L12 precipitates are usually induced into face-centered cubic (FCC) multiple-principal element alloys (MPEAs) to improve their moderate yield strength; however, the precipitation also influences the corrosion resistance. This study investigated the corrosion behavior and passive film performance of a series of L1₂-strengthened Ni₂₈Cr₁₅Cu₈Ti₈Fe_26-xCo_15+x (x = 0, 3, 6, and 9 at.%) MPEAs in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The size and density of the L1₂ nanoprecipitates were regulated via tuning Fe and Co content. With decreasing Fe/Co ratio, the radii of these nanoprecipitates gradually increased within the …

Thermal And Mechanical Properties Of Zirconium Carbide Manufactured Via Ceramic On-Demand Extrusion, Clare Sabata, Yue Zhou, Jeremy L. Watts, Gregory E. Hilmas

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Zirconium carbide (ZrC) was fabricated by material extrusion additive manufacturing (AM) followed by pressureless sintering at 2000°C for two hours, achieving a relative density of 90.3 %. SEM analysis revealed grains of 4.6 ± 1.8 μm; XRD confirmed single phase ZrC. A stoichiometry of ZrC_0.92 was determined by XPS. Four-point flexure testing exhibited a strength of 331.3 ± 57.1 MPa and Young's modulus of 232.8 ± 13.1 GPa. Vickers hardness was 13.6 ± 1.0 GPa and 11.6 ± 0.5 GPa at 4.91 and 9.81 N, respectively. Indentation fracture resistance was 2.9 ± 0.2 MPa⋅m^1/2; Griffith analysis confirmed …

Multi-Parametric Nonlinear Programming For Lossy Lmp Sensitivity Analysis Using Outer Progressive Cuts, Yuhan Huang, Tao Ding, Chenggang Mu, Rui Bo, Pengwei Du

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurate sensitivity analysis of locational marginal price (LMP) is crucial for risk hedging and market management. This paper proposes multiparametric nonlinear programming for sensitivity analysis of LMP with nonlinear network loss, also known as lossy LMP. Global analytical solutions for lossy LMP and the corresponding critical regions are derived. An outer progressive cut algorithm is developed to constrain the network loss error within a specific range for the whole parametric domain. Case studies show the improved accuracy over methods with lossless or fixed loss factors, and a two-order-of-magnitude online speedup over Monte Carlo methods while maintaining lower total computational time.

Distinct Regulatory Dna Methylation Signatures Across Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica, And Neurological Post-Acute Sequelae Of Covid-19, Syed Ilyas Munzir, Daniel B. Hier, Michael D. Carrithers

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background/Objectives: Our prior epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) on multiple sclerosis (MS) identified myeloid-associated methylation signatures and an association with enhancer regions. Here we compared differential DNA methylation across three central nervous system inflammatory disorders: MS, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and neurologic post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (neuro-PASC). Methods: Whole-blood DNA was profiled on Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays. Analyses included EWAS at the CpG level, differentially methylation region (DMR) analysis, and gene regulatory-element enrichment using Locus Overlap Analysis (LOLA). Limma linear models were adjusted for race, EPIC array version, age, sex, disease-modifying treatment class, and blood cell composition. Results: All three diseases were associated …

Chi Meta-Project Ecosystem Overview - Spring 2026, David B. Smith

Publications and Research

This paper offers a high-level account of the Center for Holistic Integration’s (CHI) meta-project ecosystem as visualized in the included system map. CHI provides an organizational structure framed around persistent meta-projects that support and extend individual initiatives across curriculum, scholarly and applied research, infrastructure, artistic production, AI development, cultural inquiry, and external partnerships. Rather than presenting the map as a static inventory of projects, the paper examines how its core domains function as living systems through which knowledge, tools, documentation, participants, and collaborations can accumulate over time. It also considers how CHI-mediated connectivity, institutional integration, and external funding allow the …

Life Cycle Of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Systems Enable Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage: A Review, Nabeel Al-Qirim, Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, Hussam Al Hamadi, Akm Ahasan Habib, Shayla Islam

All Works

The lithium-ion battery (LIB) is the primary component of electric vehicles (EVs), and its environmental consequences are significant for the eventual widespread adoption of EVs. Recycling used LIBs protects the environment and allows for the reuse of valuable materials. To achieve the goal of a circular economy, LIB recycling processes that conserve environmentally friendly resources and maintain sustainability need to be developed. The critical technology for achieving global climate goals is carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), which makes it possible to significantly lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions across power and industrial systems. The LIB recycling and CCUS are becoming …

The Privacy Trap: Keeping Sensitive Data Safe In The Ai Era, Xiaohui Liang

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This presentation examines privacy and data security risks associated with the growing use of artificial intelligence, with particular attention to the sensitive information users may disclose when interacting with AI systems. It explores how voice, text, images, and prompts can expose personally identifiable and privacy-sensitive information and introduces privacy threats associated with large language models and other AI systems. The presentation discusses approaches for identifying and protecting sensitive information, including named entity recognition, prompt modification, masking, replacement, and other privacy-preserving techniques. It also examines the trade-off between protecting privacy and maintaining the usefulness of AI-generated responses. Drawing on research in …

Confidenceai: A Wearable And Predictive Ai Ecosystem, Denzil Paul, Xuejun Kong, Raymond Wang, Flora Fleith Lopes, Zhengjia Yang, Brain Chu, Weijian Wang, Leo Chen

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This group project presents ConfidenceAI, a conceptual wearable and predictive artificial intelligence ecosystem designed to help teenagers build confidence and manage stress in high-pressure situations such as classroom participation and public speaking. The system combines wrist-based biosensing with a personalized machine-learning model that uses physiological signals, including heart rate and heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, skin temperature, and movement, to learn an individual's baseline patterns and anticipate heightened stress responses. Rather than relying on universal thresholds, ConfidenceAI is designed to personalize the timing, method, and delivery of interventions based on each user's physiological patterns and prior responses. The proposed ecosystem …

Actioncaptions: Making Movies, Shows, And Daily Life Accessible For All, Haruna Hosokawa, Rhianon Gutierrez, Matt Davis, Justin Wang, Eric Gu, Arthur Miao, Andrew Duan, Perry Yu, Ziqi Yan, Susie Yan

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This group project presents ACTIONCAPTIONS, a proposed downloadable application or web application designed to improve access to audio content through customizable captioning. The project addresses limitations associated with existing captioning options in settings such as movie theaters, including limited device availability, cumbersome equipment, lack of portability, and the absence of live captioning capabilities. ACTIONCAPTIONS proposes a free and accessible platform that provides both live transcription and captioning for uploaded files. The application incorporates customizable settings for user preferences, including caption size, color, contrast, and language, and is designed around principles of accessibility and universal design. The project demonstrates how speech …

Production Of Seismic-Resistant Steel From Scrap With Up To 0.6% Copper, Iman El-Mahallawi, Ahmed Ramadan Seada Dr.

Mechanical Engineering

Earthquake-resistant steel grades of characteristic value defined by the ratio (UTS/YS) greater than 1.25 are verified through controlling the proportion of alloying elements in steel. This work illustrates a novel idea to produce earthquake-resistant steel grade utilizing steel scrap. Different heats were produced containing varying levels of copper, manganese, and silicon, along with deep desulfurization. The heats were hot rolled to diameters of 10, and 16 mm, followed by Tempcore process. JMatPro software was used to predict the formed phases. The chemical composition was determined by optical emission spectrometry. The tensile properties were determined by tensile testing, and bend testing …

Harnessing Tio2-Based Nanofilaments: A Pathway To Enhanced Optoelectronic Performance In Dye-Sensitized And Perovskite Light Harvesters, Zahraa Ismail, Tarek A. Elmelegy, Hassan Nageh, Sameh Abdellatif

Mechanical Engineering

This study explores the integration of TiO2-based nanofilaments into dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to enhance their optoelectronic performance. Despite the advancements in one-dimensional lepidocrocite TiO2 nanofilaments, there remains a significant gap in understanding their optical scattering mechanisms and dual applicability in both types of solar cells. We synthesized TiO2 nanofilaments and compared their performance to conventional P25 TiO2 in terms of morphology, electrical, and optical properties. The results indicate that the DSSC utilizing nanofilaments achieved a short-circuit current density of 8.2 mA/cm² and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.9%, compared to 7.1 mA/cm² and …