Engineering Commons^™

Assessing Global Engagement Interventions To Advance Global Engineering Competence For Engineering Formation, Scott Schneider, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Corinne Mowrey, Michael Moulton, Homero Murzi, Matthew A. Witenstein

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper summarizes the work performed during the first year of a collaborative Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (RIEF) project focused on assessing the formation of a global learner mindset in engineering students through the use of different types of global engagement interventions without extended international travel. During this year the global engagement interventions have been developed, piloted, and assessed using the Global Engagement Survey (GES) and Global Engineering Competency Scale (GECS) instruments in a pre and post format. The assessment results helped the research team update the interventions and refine the assessment strategy, including the addition of new qualitative …

Development Of A Sms Rollout Plan And Evaluation, Gabriel Dadi, Hala Nassereddine, Farshid Taherpour, Salena Pham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Many state transportation agencies have introduced safety management systems (SMSs) to improve employee safety and health programs. These systems let employees quickly access safety and health policies, procedures, training, responsibilities, resources, and incident reporting tools, often electronically. Instituting a SMS is a critical step in adopting a proactive, data-driven approach to organizational safety. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary’s Office of Safety (SOS) worked with Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) to acquire, adapt, and rollout the Boosting Occupational Outcomes in Transportation Safety (BOOTS) system, a new SMS. Researchers assisted KYTC by conducting pre-rollout focus groups, helping to bring the system online, providing …

Using Knowledge Of Human Factors To Strengthen Highway Design, Chris Van Dyke, Jeff Jasper, Jill Asher, Steve Waddle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Transportation practitioners recognize that leveraging knowledge of human factors in road design is critical for delivering safe mobility to the full spectrum of multimodal road users (motorists, pedestrians, micromobility users, transit users). Understanding how psychology, cognition, and behavioral tendencies shape the ways in which different road users interact with one another and the road environment itself is critical for creating design solutions that promote safe and efficient movement. NCHRP Report 600 (Human Factors Guidelines for Road Systems) provides guidance on integrating knowledge of human factors into design practice. While the report is a valuable resource, it appears to …

Cost Modeling Of Provision C.3 Green Stormwater Infrastructure Requirements For Residential Development In Concord, California, James Henry Mizutani

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

To assist the city of Concord in achieving its housing goals as presented in its general plan, while still meeting the stormwater discharge requirements laid out in the city’s municipal discharge permit, I worked with local developers and consultants to create a spreadsheet modeling tool that allows housing developers to estimate the total cost of green stormwater infrastructure needed to comply with local regulations.

This report contains a summary of the conditions leading to the necessity of this tool, the steps the tool takes that go beyond existing models, a description of how the model operates, instructions on how to …

Aerobic Exercise Improves Depressive Symptoms In The Unilateral 6-Ohda-Lesioned Rat Model Of Parkinson's Disease, Hannah Loughlin, Jacob Jackson, Chloe Looman, Alayna Starll, Jeremy Goldman, Zhiying Shan, Chunxiu Yu

Michigan Tech Publications

Aerobic exercise has been shown to have established benefits on motor function in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the impact of exercise on depressive symptoms in PD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of regular exercise, specifically using a forced running wheel, on both motor performance and the prevalence of depression in a unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of PD. The behavioral outcomes of exercise were assessed through the rotarod test (RT), forelimb adjusting step test (FAST), sucrose consumption test (SCT), and novelty sucrose splash test (NSST). Our data revealed evident depressive symptoms in the PD animals, characterized by …

Prototyping Low-Cost Tribometer With Block On Ring Configuration For The Optimization Of Metal-Forming Applications, Immanuel A. Edinbarough, Jaime Taha-Tijerina

Informatics and Engineering Systems Faculty Publications

Applications in the metal-mechanic industry require the analysis and support of tribo-evaluations in their manufacturing processes. Experimentation with various metals and components could be performed under controlled conditions, including the ability to apply testing with a fluid or lubricant media or in dry conditions. The aim of this work is to design and fabricate a working block for a ring tribometer at low cost. Present and future stakeholders will have the ability to analyze material properties in friction, wear, and displacement while saving the university over 500% in costs of an industrial tribometer. The integrity of the machine must adhere …

Hatt-Flow: Hierarchical Attention-Flow Mechanism For Group-Activity Scene Graph Generation In Videos, Naga Venkata Sai Raviteja Chappa, Pha Nguyen, Thi Hoang Ngan Le, Page Daniel Dobbs, Khoa Luu

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Group-activity scene graph (GASG) generation is a challenging task in computer vision, aiming to anticipate and describe relationships between subjects and objects in video sequences. Traditional video scene graph generation (VidSGG) methods focus on retrospective analysis, limiting their predictive capabilities. To enrich the scene-understanding capabilities, we introduced a GASG dataset extending the JRDB dataset with nuanced annotations involving appearance, interaction, position, relationship, and situation attributes. This work also introduces an innovative approach, a Hierarchical Attention–Flow (HAtt-Flow) mechanism, rooted in flow network theory to enhance GASG performance. Flow–attention incorporates flow conservation principles, fostering competition …

Coordinated Controls Of Residential Ev Chargers Considering High Power Appliances, Steven B. Poore, Rosemary E. Alden, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

In addition to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, the electricity demand of the modern grid is also under change from the replacement of resistive electric water heaters (EWHs) with high-efficiency heat pump electric water heaters (HPWH). Typical load of a HPWH has two parts: a low power compressor and a backup high power resistive boosting element. Within this paper, residential load from a large field demonstration for over one thousand homes is simulated in virtual power plant (VPP) operation with realistic HPWH and EV synthetic modules based on big data from the latest CBECC-Res and National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). Simultaneous …

Design And Characteristics Of A Single-Storey Hybrid Wood–Soil Structure, Mohamed Darwish, Mohamed Adham, Hassan Allam, Khaled Yousri, Tamer Hassan

Faculty Journal Articles

The need to reduce the effects of climate change has been increasing. One of the pathways to answer such a need is green construction. Hybrid wood–soil (HWS) structures are eco-friendly in addition to being cost-effective. Within this study, a single-storey building has been architecturally and structurally designed and tested. A conventional reinforced concrete (RC) structural system was designed and considered as a control case to be compared to the design at hand, which is an HWS system incorporating locally cultivated Casuarina Glauca wood and an in situ earth-based mixture. The two design alternatives are compared in terms of cost and …

Evaluating The Performance Of Class F Fly Ash Compared To Class G Cement For Hydrocarbon Wells Cementing: An Experimental Investigation, Youssef Helmy, Sherif Fakher

Faculty Journal Articles

The following study presents the results of research in the field of the performance of geopolymers consisting of Class F fly ash with an alkaline activator solution consisting only of sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) and water. The performances of this geopolymer are compared to the those of American Petroleum Institute (API) Class G cement. This comparison is to evaluate the potential of the geopolymer as an alternative to cement in cementing hydrocarbon wells in the oil and gas industry. The gap in the research is determining the performance properties that restrict the use of fly ash in the oil and gas …

Poster: Towards Efficient Spatio-Temporal Video Grounding In Pervasive Mobile Devices, Dulanga Kaveesha Weerakoon Mudiyanselage, Vigneshwaran Subbaraju, Joo Hwee Lim, Archan Misra

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

As the use of pervasive devices expands into complex collaborative tasks such as cognitive assistants and interactive AR/VR companions, they are equipped with a myriad of sensors facilitating natural interactions, such as voice commands. Spatio-Temporal Video Grounding (STVG), the task of identifying the target object in the field-of-view referred to in a language instruction, is a key capability needed for such systems. However, current STVG models tend to be resource-intensive, relying on multiple cross-attentional transformers applied to each video frame. This results in runtime complexity that increases linearly with video length. Furthermore, deploying these models on mobile devices while maintaining …

Failure Analysis Of Abutment-Loaded Underground Coal Mine Stoppings During Explosion, Kutay E. Karadeniz, Dogukan Guner, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Underground Mine Structures Like Mine Seals or Built-In-Place (BIP) Refuge Alternatives (RA) Are Exposed to Specific Loadings Like Explosions Because of overlying and Underlying Strata Conditions. Previous Studies Worked on the Vertical Loading Response of Structures Like Abutments from Panel Extraction But Not the Explosion Resistance Upon Being Subjected to These Vertical Strata Loads. in This Study, Two Steel-Reinforced Concrete Wall Designs as Seal and RA Applications Are Simulated to Examine the Performance and Failure Analysis under Abutment-Loading Conditions during an Explosion for a Coal Mine Model using Dynamic Analysis by a Distinct Element Code (3DEC). the Available Abutment Monitoring …

A New Design Strategy For Sizes Of Polymer Gel Treatments Derived From A Comprehensive Assessment Of Their Case Histories, Munqith Aldhaheri, Abdullah Almansour, Na Zhang, Mingzhen Wei, Baojun Bai

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The incentive to revive brownfield oil production extends the interest to apply polymer gel treatments in injection wells. Virtually, volumes of previous remediations implemented in similar reservoir types are used to size new jobs. Such an analogy-based design procedure imposes a need to evaluate the most frequent designs for each reservoir type based on a comprehensive field survey. This survey provides a new treatment sizing strategy for polyacrylamide-polymer bulk gels by reviewing their field applications in 653 injection wells. The new strategy proposes using the average and most frequent gel volumes per reservoir type as an initial estimate of the …

Prescribed-Time Nash Equilibrium Seeking For Pursuit-Evasion Game, Lei Xue, Jianfeng Ye, Yongbao Wu, Jian Liu, D. C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dear Editor, this letter is concerned with prescribed-time Nash equilibrium (PTNE) seeking problem in a pursuit-evasion game (PEG) involving agents with second-order dynamics. In order to achieve the prior given and user-defined convergence time for the PEG, a PTNE seeking algorithm has been developed to facilitate collaboration among multiple pursuers for capturing the evader without the need for any global information. Then, it is theoretically proved that the prescribed-time convergence of the designed algorithm for achieving Nash equilibrium of PEG. Eventually, the effectiveness of the PTNE method was validated by numerical simulation results.

Work In Progress: Exploring The Impact Of International Experiences On The Development Of Students’ Entrepreneurial Mindset, Olgha Bassam Qaqish, Marcia Poole, William Pennock, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Fahmidah Ummul Ashraf

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

International experiences, including collaborative online international learning (COIL) experiences that naturally increase accessibility, are of interest to many undergraduate students. These experiences provide educators a unique opportunity to develop a student's entrepreneurial mindset (EM). Additionally, hands-on experiences aligned with the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) grand challenge themes (Sustainability, Security, Health, and Joy of Living) support connections between the experience, disciplinary knowledge, multicultural awareness, and EM. Through this Work-in-Progress (WiP) study, we seek to answer: 1) How do international experiences influence undergraduate science and engineering students’ EM, and 2) How does the international experience modality (i.e., study abroad or COIL) …

Comparative Analysis Of Motors With Inner And Outer Reluctance Rotors And Pm Stators, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents a comparison of special outer and inner reluctance rotor motor topologies with permanent magnet (PM) stators having toroidal AC windings. A systematic approach is taken to study and discuss the design geometries, the respective impact on performance, and adoption of technological advancements such as stator-only cooling and hair-pin winding for high slot fill factor. Parametric FEA models are developed for both topologies, and design of experiments (DoE)-based sensitivity analysis is used to study the effect of independent variables on specific performance metrics such as torque, motor loss, torque ripple, and power factor. Inner and outer rotor topologies …

Sensorless Control Of Low Inductance Coreless Afpm Machines For Fault-Tolerant Operation Of Propulsion Systems, Yaser Chulaee, Ali Mohammadi, Aaron M. Cramer, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

In motor-drive systems utilized in safety-critical applications and demanding conditions like electric aircraft propulsion systems, the reliability of the system is greatly affected by position sensors, given their susceptibility within the motor drive system. Consequently, there is a need to eliminate sensors in vector-controlled motor drives to decrease overall hardware complexity and expenses, bolster the mechanical durability and dependability of the drive system. In this paper, a fault-tolerant sensorless control system for low inductance coreless axial flux PM (AFPM) machines, integrated into electric aircraft propulsion systems, is introduced. The proposed control system spans a wide operating range, from zero to …

Fault-Tolerant Axial Flux Coreless Pm Machines With Independent Phase Modules, Yaser Chulaee, Ali Mohammadi, Dan M. Ionel, Matin Vatani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

In this paper, a fault-tolerant two-phase high power coreless axial flux PM (AFPM) machine with a modular structure is introduced. The performance of this machine, in terms of torque, power density, and efficiency, is compared with its three-phase counterpart configuration based on finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental results. The fault tolerance of these two configurations, considering the control systems, is also compared. A detailed power loss breakdown for the prototype two-phase and three-phase printed circuit board (PCB) stator coreless AFPM machines derived from experiments is presented, showcasing that the introduced fault-tolerant two-phase machine has comparable performance and efficiency, while …

High-Power Polyphase Pcb-Type Inductive Coupler For Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging, Donovin D. Lewis, Omer Onar, Lucas Gastineau, John F. Eastham, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

The cost and manufacturing difficulty of traditionally wound coils for wireless charging of electric vehicles has led to the exploration of alternative manufacturing for scalable deployment at a range of rated powers. A rotating-field polyphase wireless coupler is developed with balanced fully pitched coils which are not possible with conventional Litz wire. The usage of printed circuit board (PCB) technology is proposed for the innovative construction at large dimensions due to reduced cost, increased ease of manufacturability, and potential geometric customization compared to would coils. Design considerations specific to PCBs are detailed for wireless power transfer coils including advantages such …

Comparative Analysis Of Vernier Machines With Spoke, Surface Mounted, And Halbach Pm Rotors For In-Wheel Traction, Ali Mohammadi, Aaron M. Cramer, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Axial-flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) machines are well-suited for in-wheel traction in electric vehicles due to their compact structure and higher torque density. This paper presents a large-scale design optimization of an axial-flux permanent magnet vernier machine (PMVM) of the MAGNUS type with a double stator configuration. The active stator features double layer wound coils, while the passive stator is unwound but has a similar profile. The reference design employs a rotor with permanent magnets (PMs) arranged in a spoke-type field intensifying pattern, providing high flux concentration. Design optimization was performed using 3-D electromagnetic Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and the Differential …

On The Optimal Design Of Coreless Afpm Machines With Halbach Array Rotors For Electric Aircraft Propulsion, Matin Vatani, Yaser Chulaee, Ali Mohammadi, David R. Stewart, John F. Eastham, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents and evaluates the optimal design of a coreless axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) motor for electric aircraft propulsion. Ferromagnetic cores are entirely removed from the machine’s structure to improve the specific power density and efficiency. An approach for envelope design optimization of the proposed motor is introduced, considering the polarity as an independent variable and employing an evolutionary algorithm and 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA). In addition to the proposed electric motor’s electromagnetic performance, fault-tolerant capability and thermal management are considered in the optimization procedure. The optimization results and similar studies from power electronic and thermal management …

Scaffold-Free Development Of Multicellular Tumor Spheroids With Spatial Characterization Of Structure And Metabolic Radial Profiles, Shelby N. Bess, Gaven K. Smart, Matthew J. Igoe, Timothy J. Muldoon

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose

In vitro assays are essential for studying cellular biology, but traditional monolayer cultures fail to replicate the complex three-dimensional (3D) interactions of cells in living organisms. 3D culture systems offer a more accurate reflection of the cellular microenvironment. However, 3D cultures require robust and unique methods of characterization.

Methods

The goal of this study was to create a 3D spheroid model using cancer cells and macrophages, and to demonstrate a custom image analysis program to assess structural and metabolic changes across spheroid microregions.

Results

Structural characterization shows that cells at the necrotic core show high normalized fluorescence intensities of …

Acoustic Activation Imaging With Intravenous Perfluoropropane Nanodroplets Results In Selective Bioactivation Of The Risk Area, S. Li, C. Chen, J. Lof, E. A. Stolze, J. Sklenar, X. Chen, J. J. Pacella, F. S. Villanueva, T. O. Matsunaga, E. Carr Everbach, S. J. Radio, S. N. Westphal, S. Shiva, F. Xie, X. Leng, T. R. Porter

Engineering Faculty Works

Background: Acoustically activatable perfluoropropane droplets (PD) can be formulated from commercially available microbubble preparations. Diagnostic transthoracic ultrasound frequencies have resulted in acoustic activation (AA) predominately within myocardial infarct zones (IZ). Objective: We hypothesized that the AA area following acute coronary ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) would selectively enhance the developing scar zone, and target bioeffects specifically to this region. Methods: We administered intravenous PD in 36 rats and 20 pigs at various stages of myocardial scar formation (30 minutes, 1 day, and 7 days post I/R) to determine what effect infarct age had on the AA within the IZ. This was correlated with …

Settingsorder Article Reprints Open Accesseditor’S Choicearticle Exploring The Impact Of Spray Process Parameters On Graphite Coatings: Morphology, Thickness, And Tribological Properties, Adedoyin Abe, Josue A. Goss, Min Zou

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study explores, through a full factorial experimental design, the effects of graphite concentration and spray flow rate on the morphology, thickness, and tribological performance of graphite coatings for potential tribological applications. Coatings were applied to rough substrates using varying concentrations and flow rates, followed by analysis of their morphological characteristics, roughness, thickness, coefficient of friction (COF), and wear behavior. The results revealed distinct differences in the coating morphology based on flow rate, with low-flow-rate coatings exhibiting a porous structure and higher roughness, while high-flow-rate coatings displayed denser structures with lower roughness. A COF as low as 0.09 was achieved, …

Enhancing Entrepreneurial Minded Learning Of Process Control And Heat Transfer Concepts Using Micromoments And Concept Maps, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Ricardo Gomez Gonzalez, Jean M. Andino, Nilza D. Aples, Xiaojing Yuan

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The Entrepreneurially Minded Learning (EML) Framework seeks to infuse an Entrepreneurial Mindset in engineering students. The EML framework is founded on the 3 C’s principles of curiosity, connections, and creating value. Assessing EML efforts, however, is a well-known challenge for many engineering courses that do not have a design component. Through concept maps and micromoment activities, this work seeks to answer the following questions: Does implementing micromoment activities enhance students’ EML in two core areas of chemical engineering, i.e., heat transfer and process controls? A secondary research question is whether introducing a physical device in lectures enhances students’ EML. The …

Using Micromoments And Concept Maps To Enhance Entrepreneurially Minded Learning Of Indoor Air Pollution Control, Jean M. Andino, Erick Salvador Vasquez-Guardado, Ricardo Gomez Gonzalez, Xiaojing Yuan, Nilza D. Aples

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Micromoments targeted toward indoor air quality were introduced to students in an Air Quality Engineering course to enhance their entrepreneurial mindset. Three micromoment activities, i.e., “Question Frenzy”, “Make It Relevant”, and “How Do We Make It Better?” that are linked, respectively, to the curiosity, connections, and creating value elements of EM were deployed in the class in the context of the use of a Corsi Rosenthal cube (a do-it-yourself structure that has recently become popular as an inexpensive way to reduce indoor particle pollution). Students generated concept maps pre-and post- micromoment intervention using the freely available CMap Tools software. The …

Mechanical Environment Influences Muscle Activity During Infant Rolling, Danielle N. Siegel, Safeer F. Siddicky, Wyatt D. Davis, Erin M. Mannen

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

An infant's musculoskeletal and motor development is largely affected by their environment. Understanding how different mechanical environments affect an infant's movements and muscle use is necessary to inform the juvenile products industry and reduce incidents involving inclined nursery products each year. The purpose of this study was to determine how the coordinated movements and corresponding muscle activation patterns are affected by different mechanical environments, specifically the back incline angle. Thirty-eight healthy infants (age: 6.5 ± 0.7 months; 23 M/15 F) were enrolled in this IRB-approved in-vivo biomechanics study. Surface electromyography sensors recorded muscle activity of the erector spinae, abdominal muscles, …

Modeling And Design Parameter Optimization To Improve The Sensitivity Of A Bimorph Polysilicon-Based Mems Sensor For Helium Detection, Sulaiman Mohaidat, F. M. Alsaleem

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Helium is integral in several industries, including nuclear waste management and semiconductors. Thus, developing a sensing method for detecting helium is essential to ensure the proper operation of such facilities. Several approaches can be used for helium detection, including based on the high thermal conductivity of helium, which is several times higher than air. This work utilizes the high thermal conductivity of helium to design and analyze a bimorph MEMS sensor for helium sensing applications. COMSOL Multiphysics software (version 6.2) is used to carry out this investigation. The sensor is constructed from poly-silicon and SiO₂ materials with a trenched …

The Effects Of Lead, Copper, And Iron Corrosion Products On Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria And Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Veronika Folvarska, San Marie Thomson, Zihao Lu, Maya Adelgren, Adam Schmidt, Ryan J. Newton, Yin Wang, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Antibiotic resistance is a public health crisis. Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are present in drinking water distribution systems. Metals are known selective pressures for antibiotic resistance, and metallic corrosion products are found within drinking water distribution systems due to the corrosion of metal pipes. While corrosion products are a source of metals, the impact of specific corrosion products on antibiotic resistance has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of six corrosion products—CuO, Cu₂O, Pb₅(PO₄)₃OH, β-PbO₂, Fe₃O …

Lithospheric Evolution Of The South-Central United States Constrained By Joint Inversion Of Receiver Functions And Surface Wave Dispersion, Tuo Wang, Stephen S. Gao, Kelly H. Liu, Kevin L. Mickus, Ling Chen

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the present study, we use broadband seismic data recorded by 190 stations of the EarthScope program's Transportable Array to construct a 3-D shear wave velocity model for the upper 180 km using a non-linear Bayesian Monte-Carlo joint inversion of receiver functions (RFs) and Rayleigh wave dispersion curves. Ambient noise and teleseismic data are used for obtaining Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves. A resonance removal filtering technique is applied to the RFs contaminated by reverberations from the thick sedimentary layers that cover most of the region. Our observations of the higher crustal shear velocities (∼3.40 km/s) beneath the Sabine …