Engineering Commons^™

A Dynamic Urban Digital Twin Integrating Longitudinal Thermal Imagery For Microclimate Studies, Vasantha Ramani, Marcel Ignatius, Joie Lim, Filip Biljecki, Clayton Miller

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Recently, the concept of a digital twin for the built environment has received significant attention due to its potential benefits to urban planners, engineers, and designers. The development of tools that aid in integrating real-world physical systems with digital capabilities is essential for advancing digital twin technology. In this work, we present one such digital twin tool that integrates the longitudinal thermal envelope data of buildings on the campus of the National University of Singapore with a virtual 3D model. Thermal images of the buildings were captured using a neighborhood-scale infrared observatory for a few months. The temperature profile of …

Causal Neuro-Symbolic Ai For Root Cause Analysis In Smart Manufacturing, Utkarshani Jaimini, Cory Henson, Amit Sheth

Publications

Root cause analysis is the process of investigating the cause of a failure and providing measures to prevent future failures. It is an active area of research due to the complexities in manufacturing production lines and the vast amount of data that requires manual inspection. We present a combined approach of causal neuro-symbolic AI for root cause analysis to identify failures in smart manufacturing production lines. We have used data from an industry-grade rocket assembly line and a simulation package to demonstrate the effectiveness and relevance of our approach.

Ontology Design Metapattern For Relationtype Role Composition, Utkarshani Jaimini, Ruwan Wickramarachchi, Cory Henson, Amit Sheth

Publications

RelationType is a metapattern that specifies a property in a knowledge graph that directly links the head of a triple with the type of the tail. This metapattern is useful for knowledge graph link prediction tasks, specifically when one wants to predict the type of a linked entity rather than the entity instance itself. The RelationType metapattern serves as a template for future extensions of an ontology with more fine-grained domain information.

Expanded Combined Loading Injury Criterion For The Human Lumbar Spine Under Dynamic Compression, Maria Ortiz-Paparoni, Joost Op't Eynde, Christopher Eckersley, Concetta Morino, Mitchell Abrams, Derek Pang, Jason Kait, Frank A. Pintar, Narayan Yoganandan, Jason Moore, David Barnes, Kathryn Loftis, Cameron R. Bass

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Contemporary injury tolerance of the lumbar spine for under-body blast references axial compression and bending moments in a limited range. Since injuries often occur in a wider range of flexion and extension with increased moment contribution, this study expands a previously proposed combined loading injury criterion for the lumbar spine. Fifteen cadaveric lumbar spine failure tests with greater magnitudes of eccentric loading were incorporated into an existing injury criterion to augment its applicability and a combined loading injury risk model was proposed by means of survival analysis. A loglogistic distribution was the most representative of injury risk, resulting in optimized …

Mesenchymal-Type Genetic Mutations Are Likely Prerequisite For Glioblastoma Multiforme To Metastasize Outside The Central Nervous System: An Original Case Series And Systematic Review Of The Literature, Bryce J. Laurin, Randall Treffy, Jennifer M. Connelly, Michael Straza, Wade Mueller, Max O. Krucoff

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and prevalent type of malignant brain tumor, yet it metastasizes outside the central nervous system (CNS) in only 0.4% of cases. Little is known about what enables this subset of GBMs to take root outside the CNS, but genetic mutations likely play a role.

Methods

We conducted a PRISMA-compliant systematic review of metastatic GBM wherein we reviewed 3579 search results and 1080 abstracts, analyzing data from 139 studies and 211 unique patients. In addition, we describe 4 cases of patients with pathologically confirmed GBM metastases outside the CNS treated at our institution. …

Valorization Of Food Waste Into Hydrogen Energy Through Supercritical Water Gasification: Generation Potential And Techno-Econo-Environmental Feasibility Assessment, Md Sanowar Hossain, Fairuz Wasima, Md Sharul Islam Khan Shawon, Monjur Mourshed, Barun K. Das

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food waste (FW) is a significant portion of the solid waste produced by cities, and it has become a global problem due to the poor management of food distribution and consumption. The improper disposal of FW in landfills precipitates pervasive global environmental predicamentsHowever, effective management strategies have the potential to convert this large amount of garbage into a very effective renewable energy source, particularly through the generation of environmentally friendly hydrogen. This study examines the capacity for energy generation and the practicality of hydrogen production in Bangladesh using supercritical water gasification technology. The findings indicate that approximately 489 MW of …

Review On Spontaneous Imbibition Mechanisms In Gas-Water Systems: Impacts On Unconventional Gas Production And Co2 Geo-Sequestration, Yihang Xiao, Zhenjiang You, Zhengtong Du, Yongming He, Jun Zheng, Yujie Yuan, Lei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Spontaneous imbibition, a fundamental process in porous media, involves the displacement of a non-wetting phase by a wetting phase driven by capillary pressure. It plays a key role in various applications, particularly in unconventional gas production and greenhouse gas geo-sequestration. Despite extensive research in this area, conflicting results and explanations persist regarding imbibition phenomena, particularly in gas-water systems. This paper aims to address this gap by providing a comprehensive review of basic concepts, mechanical analyses, pore-filling patterns, front evolutions, and influencing factors associated with spontaneous imbibition. Mechanical factors including capillary force, viscous force, gravitational force, hydrostatic force, inertial force, capillary …

Synthesis And Properties Of (Hf,Mo,Ti,W,Zr)B2–(Hf,Mo,Ti,W,Zr)C Dual Phase Ceramics, S. Filipović, S. M. Smith, G. Hilmas, W. Fahrenholtz, N. Obradović, S. Curtarolo

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dense, dual phase (Hf,Mo,Ti,W,Zr)B₂–(Hf,Mo,Ti,W,Zr)C ceramics were synthesized with varying contents of Mo and W. The final (Hf_0.317Mo_0.025Ti_0.317W_0.025Zr_0.317)C–(Hf_0.317Mo_0.025Ti_0.317W_0.025Zr_0.317)B₂ was a nominally pure, dual phase ceramic, while compositions with higher amounts of Mo and W contained multiple phases. The final microstructures had submicron grains due to pinning effects. Vickers hardness values were up to 48.6 ± 2.2 GPa for an applied load of 0.49 N for the ceramic with optimized composition and densification. The solubility limits for Mo and …

Machine Vision To Provide Quantitative Analysis Of Meltpool Stability For A Coaxial Wire Directed Energy Deposition Process, Braden Mclain, Remy Mathenia, Todd Sparks, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Wire-based additive manufacturing (AM) is at the forefront of complex metal fabrication because of its scalability for large components, potential for high deposition rates, and ease of use. A common goal of wire directed energy deposition (DED) is preserving a stable process throughout deposition. If too little energy is put into the deposition, the wire will stub into the substrate and begin oscillating, creating turbulence within the melt pool. If too much energy exists, the wire will overheat, causing surface tension to take over and create liquid drips as opposed to a solid bead. This paper proposes a computer vision …

Effects Of Silver Nanoparticles In Pectin Polysaccharide Thin Film On Resistive Switching Characteristics, Jia Zheng Yeoh, Muhammad Awais, Feng Zhao, Kuan Yew Cheong

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the resistive switching characteristics of Ag nanoparticle (AgNP)-incorporated pectin (pectin-AgNP) as a memristive thin film, with varying concentrations of AgNP (0.0 wt.%, 0.5 wt.%, and 1.0 wt.%) and pectin (5.0 mg/L, 5.5 mg/L, 6.0 mg/L, 6.5 mg/L, and 7.0 mg/L), sandwiched between Au and indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes on glass substrate. The structural, chemical, and electrical properties of these pectin-AgNP thin films were evaluated. With AgNP concentration of 0.5 wt.% in a pectin concentration of 5.5 mg/mL, the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated the highest presence of C–O bonds. This suggests the incorporation of AgNP …

Addressing Uncertainty In Renewable Energy Integration For Western Australia’S Mining Cector: A Robust Optimization Approach, Mehrdad Ghahramani, Daryoush Habibi, Seyyedmorteza Ghamari, Asma Aziz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The mining industry is a key contributor to Western Australia’s economy, with over 130 mining operations that produce critical minerals such as iron ore, gold, and lithium. Ensuring a reliable and continuous energy supply is vital for these operations. This paper addresses the challenges and opportunities of integrating renewable energy sources into isolated power systems, particularly under uncertainties associated with renewable energy generation and demand. A robust optimization approach is developed to model a multi-source hybrid energy system that considers risk-averse, risk-neutral, and risk-seeking strategies. These strategies address power demand and renewable energy supply uncertainties, ensuring system reliability under various …

Zeta Potential Of Supercritical Co2-Water-Sandstone Systems And Its Correlation With Wettability And Residual Subsurface Trapping Of Co2, Jan Vinogradov, Miftah Hidayat, Mohammad Sarmadivaleh, David Vega-Maza, Stefan Iglauer, Lijuan Zhang, Dajiang Mei, Jos Derksen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although CO2 geological storage (CGS) is thought to be one of the most promising technologies to sequester the anthropogenic CO2 to mitigate the climate change, implementation of the method is still challenging due to lack of fundamental understanding of controls of wettability, which is responsible for residual trapping of the gas and its flow dynamics. One of the key parameters that controls the wetting state is the zeta potential, ζ, at rock-water and CO2-water interfaces. ζ in systems comprising rocks, carbonated aqueous solutions and immiscible supercritical CO2 have not been measured prior to this study, where we detail the experimental …

Beyond Aesthetics To Elevate Sustainable Architectures: Selective Micropatterning Enhanced Efficiency In Colored Photovoltaic Modules, Mohammad Khairul Basher, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Kamal Alameh, Steven Hinckley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In the past few years, there has been notable interest in the advancement of colored photovoltaic (PV) modules. This attention is driven by their visual attractiveness and the opportunities they offer for integrating PV technology into diverse applications. However, limited color options and low efficiency restrict the widespread application of PV modules. This research introduces a targeted micropatterning strategy aimed at improving the efficiency and visual appeal of colored photovoltaic (PV) modules. This approach entails the selective elimination of black pixels from a multicolored pattern. By doing so, the surface area of the PV module is augmented, fostering enhanced light …

Human-Centered Approach For Resilience Assessment Of Healthcare Networks Subjected To Sequential Earthquakes, Emad Hassan, Hussam Mahmoud

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Healthcare services are critical for community resilience and stability as their role after disastrous events is indispensable to reducing casualties and returning the community to normalcy. Sequential mainshock-aftershock events can damage hospital components, reduce utility availability, and cause multiple patient surges. No studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of mainshock-aftershock events on healthcare resilience. Accordingly, here we investigate the impact of multiple earthquakes on the healthcare network in Shelby County, Tennessee, and determine the optimal resources needed to enhance its functionality. The functionality is estimated by combining functionality quantity and quality terms. The quantity is calculated based on …

Process Development And Techno-Economic Analysis For Combined And Separated Co2 Capture-Electrochemical Utilization, Abdullah Al Moinee, Ali A. Rownaghi, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Combining CO₂ capture and utilization into a single unit operation offers a feasible solution for converting a sustainable feedstock into marketable commodity chemicals, while reducing energy requirements from separated processes. In this research, we developed a process model and performed a techno-economic analysis (TEA) for point-source CO₂ capture and electrochemical-based utilization in light olefins production under both separated and integrated scenarios. CO₂ containing flue gas from a 500 MW power plant was utilized as a feed while CO₂ utilization involved electrochemical reduction reactions to produce light olefins directly from CO₂. A meticulous analysis was …

The Effects Of Wildfires On The Mental And Physical Health Of School-Age Children In North America: A Scoping Review, Sarah Oerther, Sarah Manspeaker, Alison Wix, Daniel Oerther, Carmen Marsit

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: Wildfires are occurring more often and with greater intensity, leading to longer and harsher fire seasons. As a result, children are more frequently exposed to wildfire smoke, which increases their risk of mental and physical health effects. Purpose: The purpose of our scoping review is to explore the current literature on what is known about the direct and indirect impacts of wildfires on the mental and physical health of school-age children in North America (5 to 18-year-olds). Methods: A health sciences librarian-assisted literature search, with input from the research team, was performed. Results: A total of 16 studies were …

Stressfit: A Hybrid Wearable Physicochemical Sensor Suite For Simultaneously Measuring Electromyogram And Sweat Cortisol, Nafize Ishtiaque Hossain, Tanzila Noushin, Shawana Tabassum

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study introduces StressFit, a novel hybrid wearable sensor system designed to simultaneously monitor electromyogram (EMG) signals and sweat cortisol levels. Our approach involves the development of a noninvasive skin patch capable of monitoring skin temperature, sweat pH, cortisol levels, and corresponding EMG signals using a combination of physical and electrochemical sensors integrated with EMG electrodes. StressFit was optimized by enhancing sensor output and mechanical resilience for practical application on curved body surfaces, ensuring accurate acquisition of cortisol, pH, body temperature, and EMG data without sensor interference. In addition, we integrated an onboard data processing unit with Internet of Things …

Analysis Of Multivariable Sensor Responses To Multi-Analyte Gas Samples In The Presence Of Interferents And Humidity, Sakin Sarwar Satter, Florian Bender, Nicholas Post, Antonio J. Ricco, Fabien Josse

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This work presents an adaptive sensor signal-processing approach to enable quantification, using a single gas sensor or a small sensor array, of multianalyte mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of various interferents and humidity for environmental-monitoring applications. Dynamic sensor responses are analyzed by extracting multivariable sensing parameters to provide necessary sensitivity and selectivity. This is achieved by integrating the Levenberg–Marquardt-modified, exponentially weighted, recursive-least-squares-estimation (LM-modified EW-RLSE) algorithm and principal-component analysis (PCA). Achieving measured detection limits as low as 3 μg/L (≤1 ppm by volume) for 6 target analytes, the system exhibits excellent PCA cluster separation for all analytes in the …

Semi-Annual Progress Report #15, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Semi-Annual Progress Reports

No abstract provided.

Personalized Bioceramic Grafts For Craniomaxillofacial Bone Regeneration, Ana Beatriz G. De Carvalho, Maedeh Rahimnejad, Rodrigo L. M. S. Oliveira, Prabaha Sikder, Guilherme S. F. A. Saavedra, Et. Al.

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The reconstruction of craniomaxillofacial bone defects remains clinically challenging. To date, autogenous grafts are considered the gold standard but present critical drawbacks. These shortcomings have driven recent research on craniomaxillofacial bone reconstruction to focus on synthetic grafts with distinct materials and fabrication techniques. Among the various fabrication methods, additive manufacturing (AM) has shown significant clinical potential. AM technologies build three-dimensional (3D) objects with personalized geometry customizable from a computer-aided design. These layer-by-layer 3D biomaterial structures can support bone formation by guiding cell migration/proliferation, osteogenesis, and angiogenesis. Additionally, these structures can be engineered to degrade concomitantly with the new bone tissue …

The Impact Of Film Cooling On The Heat Release Within A Rotating Detonation Combustor, Shreyas Ramanagar Sridhara, Antonio Andreini, Marc D. Polanka, Myles D. Bohon

Faculty Publications

Rotating detonation combustors establish a detonation wave that continuously circulates inside a small annulus. The presence of the detonation wave and the downstream oblique shock within the small annulus coupled with high mass flow induces a high heat load to the combustor wall. Preliminary analysis shows that for higher thermal power, internal air cooling alone is not sufficient to remove the heat out of the walls to maintain them below the maximum temperature of the metal. A possible solution is to use film cooling to reduce the heat flux to the combustor walls. One issue, though, is that the introduction …

Thermal Straps: Aluminum 1235 Foil Qualification Summary, Holly Mortensen

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) first developed thermal strap technology in 1994 when we designed, built, and tested the SABER instrument, which is still on orbit and has performed flawlessly since 2001. Since then, we have continued to pioneer solderless flexible thermal straps and supporting technologies.

SDL’s heritage thermal straps used aluminum 1145 foil, an extremely pure alloy that contains 99.45% aluminum content. Unfortunately, it is no longer readily procurable in the market. Aluminum 1235 is a very similar alloy with similar chemical composition and physical attributes, but more readily available than 1145.

This report documents the process and results in …

2017-2024 Emerging Technologies And Milestone Achievements Toward Automated Bridge Inspection And Maintenance, Genda Chen

INSPIRE Archived Webinars

Main hardware and software systems developed in the INSPIRE University Transportation Center from 2017 to 2024 will be presented. Their characteristic parameters, operation procedures, performance metrics, advantages over the state of practice, and application limitations will be summarized. These systems include, but not limited to,

 Flying and climbing robots for high-quality data collection from remote sensing and nondestructive testing,

 Explainable artificial intelligence and machine learning for element segmentation and defect classification,

 3D reconstruction and digital twins for virtual inspection,

 Framework for the probability of detection for various defects and damage from in-situ sensors,

 Defect detection, …

Modeling Reversible Volume Change In Automotive Battery Cells With Porous Silicon Oxide-Graphite Composite Anodes, Taylor R. Garrick, Brian J. Koch, Miguel A. Fernandez, Erin Efimoff, Hunter Teel, Matthew D. Jones, Mingjie Tu, Sirivatch Shimpalee

Faculty Publications

Automotive battery manufacturers are working to improve the individual cell and overall pack design by increasing durability, performance, and range, while reducing cost, and active material volume change is a key aspect that needs to be considered during this design process. Recently, silicon oxide-graphite composite anodes are being explored to increase total anode capacity while maintaining a tolerable amount of cell level reversible volume expansion due to the relatively lower reversible volume change of the silicon oxide compared to pure battery grade or metallurgical grade silicon. To predict the blended anode response and contribution to the overall cell volume change, …

Development And Testing Of A Fast-Acting, 8-Bit, Digital Throttle For Hybrid Rocket Motors, Stephen A. Whitmore

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The potential for throttle control of hybrid rocket systems has long been known as a potential advantage for a variety of applications. Because only a single flow path is controlled, theoretically, hybrids should be significantly easier to throttle than bipropellant systems. Unfortunately, the slow response times and nonlinearity of traditional position-control valves have limited practical applications of hybrid throttling. This paper presents an alternative throttling system where the oxidizer flow path is broken into multiple streams, with each flow path controlled by a solenoid-operated on/off valve. The parallel paths allow significantly faster and more precise control than can be achieved …

Experimental Study Of The Impact Of Droplet And Printing Parameters On Line Formation In Binder Jetting, Jacob E. Lawrence, Madi P. Lawrence, Nathan Crane

ScholarsArchive Data

This dataset consists of images of lines printed into 316 SS powder with varied droplet parameters (velocity, size, satellite or not) and print parameters (droplet spacing, printing frequency). Additionally, it includes data that was extracted from the images and some secondary measurements such as droplet height performed for some samples. The codes for the image processing routines are also included for reference as are the tables of data that were extracted from the images.

Editorial: Advances In Ecological Environment Changes In Coastal And Estuarine Waters In Response To Hydrodynamic Variability, Jiayi Pan, Yeqiang Shu, Zhe-Wen Zheng, Adam T. Devlin, Majid Nazeer, Andrew M. Fischer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Over the past few decades, coastal and estuarine ecological environments have undergone significant and rapid transformations, driven by a range of factors, with the variability in hydrodynamic conditions being one of the most prominent (Elliott et al., 2019; Statham, 2012; Da et al., 2024). These dynamic forces influence water movement, sediment transport, and nutrient cycling, all of which are critical components affecting the health and stability of these ecosystems (van Vliet et al., 2023; Li et al., 2023). Consequently, understanding and interpreting hydrodynamic processes in coastal and estuarine waters are fundamental to unraveling the mechanisms behind ecological changes. This task …

Assessing The Effects Of Dasatinib On Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells, David P. Heinrichs, Vitali Maldonado, I Kade Karisma Gita Ardana, Ryan M. Porter, Rebekah M. Samsonraj

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction

Progressive aging, or senescence, of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) is a major obstacle faced when trying to culture potent stem cells for use in therapy. Senescent cells are irreversibly nondividing cells that cease performing critical functional effects. Elimination of senescent cells using biochemical means, such as the use of senolytic drugs like dasatinib, may be useful in retaining the viable and proliferating populations of the cells.

Methods

An in vitro approach was used to investigate the effect of dasatinib on phenotypic, genotypic, and immunomodulatory functionality of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiated MSCs. Replicative senescence was achieved through multiple sub-culturing in …

Optimizing In-Situ Upgrading Of Heavy Crude Oil Via Catalytic Aquathermolysis Using A Novel Graphene Oxide-Copper Zinc Ferrite Nanocomposite As A Catalyst, Attia Attia, Ahmed Ashraf Soliman Eng., Mostafa Aboul-Fetouh Prof., Sayed Gomaa Prof., Tarek Aboul-Fotouh Prof.

Petroleum Engineering and Gas

Unconventional resources, such as heavy oil, are increasingly being explored and exploited due to the declining availability of conventional petroleum resources. Heavy crude oil poses challenges in production, transportation, and refining, due to its high viscosity, low API gravity, and elevated sulfur and metal content. Improving the quality of heavy oil can be achieved through the application of steam injection, which lowers the oil’s viscosity and enhances its flow. However, steam injection alone falls short of meeting the growing demand for higher-quality petroleum products. Catalytic upgrading is therefore being investigated as a viable solution to improve heavy oil quality. This …

Joint Modeling Of Degradation Signals And Time-To-Event Data For The Prediction Of Remaining Useful Life, Sebastian Brumm, Erik Linstead, Junde Chen, Narayanaswamy Balakrishnan, Yuxin Wen

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Accurate prediction of remaining useful life (RUL) for in-service systems plays an important role in ensuring efficient operation of industrial equipment and in preventing unexpected equipment failures. In this paper, we present a prognostic framework for real-time RUL prediction based on joint modeling of both degradation signals and time-to-event data. The proposed model employs a change point-based general path model to capture signal non-linearity and Neural network (NN) based Cox model to link the time-to-event data with the estimated degradation trend. An empirical two-step scheme for hyperparameter estimation is proposed to enhance prognostic accuracy. Furthermore, an efficient Bayesian model updating …