Engineering Commons^™

Optimizing The Synthesis Process For Lithium-Ion Sieve Adsorbents: Effect Of Calcination Temperature And Heating Rate On Reaction Efficiency And Performance, Calvin Nyambane Nyarangi

Theses and Dissertations

Processing-structure-property relationships play a crucial role in tuning the performance of materials for a given application in order to attain a suitable set of optimal conditions, therefore, it is imperative to evaluate the parameters of either the synthesis, delithiation, adsorption, and desorption process. Through an orthogonal test design of the solid-state synthesis process, it was determined that a heating rate of 1 ℃/min had consistently higher reaction efficiencies of 68.1 %, 68.6 %, and 72.3 % at the calcination temperatures of 650 ℃, 700 ℃, and 750 ℃ respectively compared to heating rates of 4 ℃/min and 7 ℃/min. Moreover, …

Use Of Digital Twins To Mitigate Communication Failures In Microgrids, Andrew Eggebeen

Theses and Dissertations

This work investigates digital twin (DT) applications for electric power system (EPS) resilience. A novel DT architecture is proposed consisting of a physical twin, a virtual twin, an intelligent agent, and data communications. Requirements for the virtual twin are identified. Guidelines are provided for generating, capturing, and storing data to train the intelligent agent. The relationship between the DT development process and an existing controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) process is discussed. To demonstrate the proposed DT architecture and development process, a DT for a battery energy storage system (BESS) is created based on the simulation of an industrial nanogrid. The creation …

High Temperature Oxidation Kinetics Of Alumina Forming Steels For Petrochemical Processes, Kao Zoua Yang

Theses and Dissertations

Petrochemical industries produce 14.33 million barrels of petroleum products a day and by 2023, are expected to produce over a trillion dollars in sales annually. Petroleum is the number one used fuel source and is the raw material used to produce a wide range of petrochemical products including ethylene which is the raw chemical precursors that is crucial to the polymer market. Ethylene is created by the process of cracking ethane and other hydrocarbons in steel reactors at high temperature and potentially oxidizing conditions. The cracking process produces a range of byproducts including a detrimental solid carbon, called coke, which …

Simulation Analysis Of The Distrix Protocol For Political Redistricting, Cui Fu

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the process of political redistricting, a crucial component of ensuring fair representation in legislative bodies. The study first outlines the background and criteria of redistricting in the United States, emphasizing important criteria such as equal population, racial fairness, contiguity, and political fairness. It then focuses on the Distrix protocol for political redistricting in which two or more players (i.e., political parties) take turns assigning small pieces of territory to districts until no more unassigned territory remains. The Distrix protocol was recently introduced in a board game of the same name. After describing the Distrix protocol, we present …

Enhanced Biofouling Properties Of Polyethersulfone Membranes Using Multi-Functional Thermo-Responsive Polymers For Ultra-Filtration Applications, Homa Ghasemi

Theses and Dissertations

The accumulation and growth of microorganisms on a membrane surface, known as membrane biofouling, has been a significant issue in the effective use of membrane technology for water and wastewater treatment. To overcome these challenges, this study aimed to modify the surface of a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane through the use of a multi-functionalized thermo-responsive polymer. The primary objectives of chemical treatment on membrane surfaces are to enhance surface hydrophilicity and provide anti-bacterial/biocidal properties.To evaluate the effectiveness of these modifications, the performance of the modified membranes was tested for their ability to resist biofouling through filtration of bovine serum albumin (BSA), …

Transportation Needs Of Older Adults In Suburban And Rural Areas, Dahai Han

Theses and Dissertations

The fact that the average age of the world's population is increasing, which is more pronounced in developed countries, necessitates the understanding of the challenges faced by older adults in accessing transportation services. With advancing age, individuals may experience age-related changes that can notably affect their driving capabilities, emphasizing the importance of alternative transportation alternatives. This challenge is more evident in suburban and rural settings, where transportation choices are limited, and older adults often find themselves without access to suitable transportation alternatives. Given that mobility plays an essential role in maintaining social connections, accessing healthcare services, and fulfilling daily needs, …

A Design Strategy To Improve Machine Learning Resiliency Of Physically Unclonable Functions Using Modulus Process, Yuqiu Jiang

Theses and Dissertations

Physically unclonable functions (PUFs) are hardware security primitives that utilize non-reproducible manufacturing variations to provide device-specific challenge-response pairs (CRPs). Such primitives are desirable for applications such as communication and intellectual property protection. PUFs have been gaining considerable interest from both the academic and industrial communities because of their simplicity and stability. However, many recent studies have exposed PUFs to machine-learning (ML) modeling attacks. To improve the resilience of a system to general ML attacks instead of a specific ML technique, a common solution is to improve the complexity of the system. Structures, such as XOR-PUFs, can significantly increase the nonlinearity …

Mechanical And Microstructural Properties Of 625 Chromia Forming Alloys In Different Temperatures And Atmospheres, Davan Jordan Siegfried

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACTMECHANICAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF 625 CHROMIA FORMING ALLOYS IN DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND ATMOSPHERES by Davan Jordan Siegfried The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2023 Under the Supervision of Dr. Benjamin C. Church Inconel alloys have historically been used in high temperature applications because of two significant reasons: high strength at elevated temperatures and excellent corrosion resistance especially in high temperature applications. The resistivity to chemical attack comes from presence of chromium and molybdenum in the alloy (22 and 9 wt%, respectively) and the formation of chromia on the surface when exposed to oxidizing environments. The formation of chromia on the surface …

Characterization, Simulation, And Test Method For Image Artifacts Due To Phase Drift Of The Saw Filter In The Magnetic Resonance Receiver, Gabriel T. Jacobs

Theses and Dissertations

The receiver for a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner is responsible for capturing the precise frequency and phase of extremely low-power RF signals emanating from the human body; and consequentially must minimize unexpected phase drift in the received signal. One well-known source for temperature-dependent phase drift in RF electronics is the Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filter. In this work, the phase drift due to temperature changes in the SAW filter of an MR receiver was evaluated for its potential effects on image quality using several image quality metrics. A lab bench method was developed to playback MR images using typical lab-equipment …

Ultra Fast Dc Switch, Ian A. Buck

Theses and Dissertations

With advancements in power electronics, DC power systems are a strong contender forfuture power system and shipboard application studies. However, to ensure proper DC power systems, protection engineers must develop different DC protection schemes to maintain proper system protection levels. The critical issue behind developing DC protection devices is that the signal never crosses zero naturally, as in AC circuit breakers and AC disconnect switches. There is also a necessity for galvanic isolation in the DC protection system. A method developed is pairing a mechanical commercial-off-the-shelf vacuum interrupter, a Thomson coil actuator, and a current commutating drive circuit (CCDC). The …

Multi-Order Modeling Of Linear Magnetic Motor System, Ming-Jen Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Numerical simulations have been proven to be a powerful tool for predicting, testing, and validating the capabilities of new designs. However, given the high demand for simulating extremely complicated geometries and nonlinear physical phenomena, simulations can often be significantly time consuming. Consequently, the development of high-precision reduced-order models becomes indispensable to reduce computational time. In this study, we simplified and characterized an industrial motion system based on linear magnetic motor technology using accurate full 3-D numerical model. The system behavior was explored through various scenarios, including extreme conditions, to gain a deeper understanding of its thermal behavior during operation. The …

Dendrite Growth Suppression And In-Situ Surface Observation Of Lithium Battery Under An Optical Microscope, Tianyao Ding

Theses and Dissertations

Dendrite growth is a major obstacle to the commercialization of Li metal batteries. A dendrite formed on a Li anode can cause thermal run-aways and permanent capacity loss. An in-situ optical techniques is considered as one of the major methods to study the dendrites growth behaviors and morphologies real-time. A home-designed in-situ optical cell with a digital optical microscope was used to investigate the behavior of Li deposition on a metallic Li electrode under different electrochemical operation conditions. The impacts of electrolytes, additives and cycling conditions on the dendrite formation were investigated. Guiding by the in-situ optical observation results, polycyclic …

Methodology For Designing Assistive Robots For Activities Of Daily Living Assistance, Javier Dario Sanjuan De Caro

Theses and Dissertations

The growing prevalence of Upper or Lower Extremities Dysfunctions (ULED), often linked to central nervous disorders such as stroke, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), underscores the urgent need for innovative support solutions. Over 5.35 million Americans currently live with ULED, a situation that places a significant socioeconomic burden on families and society. Despite invaluable support from caregivers and family members, the need for more scalable, practical solutions persists.

Wheelchair-mounted assistive robots emerge as a promising alternative in this context. These devices, offering continuous and reliable assistance, significantly alleviate caregiver fatigue and enhance the independence and quality of …

Virtual Prototyping Process For Mvac To Mvdc Power Converters For Navy & Land-Based Applications, Rounak Siddaiah

Theses and Dissertations

The US Navy is currently challenged to develop new ship designs under compressed schedules. These ship designs must incorporate emerging technologies for high power energy conversion to enable smaller ship designs with a high degree of electrification and next-generation electrified weapons. This challenge is being addressed by developing a collaborative concurrent design environment that allows for design space exploration across a wide range of implementation options. The most significant challenge is the assurance of a dependable power and energy service via the shipboard Integrated Power and Energy System (IPES). The IPES comprises interconnected power conversion and distribution equipment with allocated …

Applications Of Surface Discharge Modeling, Simulation And Testing To Electrical Insulation Systems, Skyler Schwartz

Theses and Dissertations

Advances in power electronics and the increasing demand for highly power dense power distributionsystems have increased the demands for electrical insulation systems. A critical challenge in insulation system design is the prevention and mitigation of partial discharge which drives premature aging and failure of electrical assets. This work applies and validates a recently proposed model for surface discharge applied to the case of a laminated bus bar. The results from the modeling and testing shows the traditional concept of creepage, while essential for preventing a flashover events provides little insight into surface discharge. The approach to characterize the laminated bus …

Allocation And Compilation Methodology For Modular Power Electronic Equipment Metamodels, William J. Koebel

Theses and Dissertations

With the ongoing electrification of Navy vessels motivated by increased power demands, evolving operating environments, and more stringent pollution policies, modular distribution networks have been proposed to introduce survivability, affordability, and resiliency into future ship designs. A virtual prototyping process (VPP) has been introduced to produce scalable metamodels for the Leading Edge Architecture for Prototyping Systems (LEAPS) database that enables development of modular distribution networks on the U.S. Navy’s Smart Ship System Design (S3D) design platform. This work proposes an allocation and compilation methodology for use in the VPP that modularizes enabling technologies for integration into a modular distribution network …

Materials And Methods For Digital Construction, Milad Hajipour Manjili

Theses and Dissertations

The benefits of digital manufacturing and 3D printing technology when applied in the construction industry have proven to demonstrate considerable advantages over conventional production methods including increase in efficiency, reduced labor, ability to realize complex architecture and design optimization to effectively utilize materials characteristics and decrease production waste. For industry today, the 3D printing has emerged to address many of the needs to improve the material performance, enhance properties, and deliver complex structures with efficiency. In the case of concrete, the extension of the extrusion method to 3D (and even 4D) printings is the technological challenge that requires the modification …

Rapid Synthesis Of Dual-Layered Covalent Organic Framework Membranes Via Interfacial Polymerization With Enhanced Desalination Performance, Miguel Angel Jaimes

Theses and Dissertations

As a consequence of disrupting the water cycle via human interventions, such as climate change, humanity is facing global water crises. The water crises are wide ranging, but often associated with the deterioration of a local water cycle’s capacity to support a population. This capacity is reduced on a global scale through the atmosphere via climate change, but on a local scale, it can be reduced because of an over extraction of resources, alteration of ecosystems, and water pollution. The deployment of desalination plants is growing around the world. Reverse osmosis (RO) desalination is much more efficient than the thermal …

The Use Of Portland Cement In Reactive Powder Hybrid Asphalt Concrete, Behrouz Farahi

Theses and Dissertations

In order to establish a cost-effective and enduring road infrastructure, it is imperative to employ inventive methodologies that prioritize environmental sustainability. The current climate necessitates the development of a sustainable, enduring, and effective road infrastructure that requires minimal maintenance, however, achieving this goal is an effortful undertaking, and necessitates urgent and groundbreaking technological advancements. The use of fillers (aggregates with a diameter smaller than 75 µm) in asphalt mix design is a common practice in the pavement industry. They can occupy up to 12% by weight in asphalt mixes. The inclusion of fillers in asphalt mix, even in limited concentrations, …

Utilizing Fluorescent Nanoscale Particles To Create A Map Of The Electric Double Layer, Quintus Owen

Theses and Dissertations

The interactions between charged particles in solution and an applied electric field follow several models, most notably the Gouy-Chapman-Stern model, for the establishment of an electric double layer along the electrode, but these models make several assumptions of ionic concentrations and an infinite bulk solution. As more scientific progress is made for the finite and single molecule reactions inside microfluidic cells, the limitations of the models become more extreme. Thus, creating an accurate map of the precise response of charged nanoparticles in an electric field becomes increasingly vital. Another compounding factor is Brownian motion’s inverse relationship with size: large easily …

Study Of The Various Charactertics Of A Helical Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Compared To A Straight Bladed Darrieus Design, Patrick Quinlan

Theses and Dissertations

As the wind energy market continues to expand, the need for a more diverse range of wind turbine technologies becomes increasingly apparent. Horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) have become the standard design for wind turbines over the past few decades and have been the go-to design used in wind farms both on land and off-shore. However, in residential and urban environments other types of turbine designs can help expand the reach of wind energy. Specifically, vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) have shown potential for new applications of wind turbines in areas that are less suitable for typical HAWTs. The most …

High Power, Medium Frequency, And Medium Voltage Transformer Design And Implementation, Ahmad El Shafei

Theses and Dissertations

Many industrial applications that require high-power and high-voltage DC-DC conversion are emerging. Space-borne and off-shore wind farms, fleet fast electric vehicle charging stations, large data centers, and smart distribution systems are among the applications. Solid State Transformer (SST) is a promising concept for addressing these emerging applications. It replaces the traditional Low Frequency Transformer (LFT) while offering many advanced features such as VAR compensation, voltage regulation, fault isolation, and DC connectivity. Many technical challenges related to high voltage stress, efficiency, reliability, protection, and insulation must be addressed before the technology is ready for commercial deployment. Among the major challenges in …

Use Of Machine Learning And Natural Language Processing To Enhance Traffic Safety Analysis, Md Abu Sayed

Theses and Dissertations

Despite significant advances in vehicle technologies, safety data collection and analysis, and engineering advancements, tens of thousands of Americans die every year in motor vehicle crashes. Alarmingly, the trend of fatal and serious injury crashes appears to be heading in the wrong direction. In 2021, the actual rate of fatalities exceeded the predicted rate. This worrisome trend prompts and necessitates the development of advanced and holistic approaches to determining the causes of a crash (particularly fatal and major injuries). These approaches range from analyzing problems from multiple perspectives, utilizing available data sources, and employing the most suitable tools and technologies …

Microbial Ecology Of Urban Sewers, Emily Lou Lamartina

Theses and Dissertations

Municipal sewage provides a glimpse into the health and activities of a human society. For more than a century, sewage exploration has helped expose the sources of disease outbreaks and track disease progression over time. Recent advancements in wastewater surveillance born from the COVID-19 pandemic have potential to enhance mitigation efforts against the decades-long global health crisis of microbial antibiotic resistance. However, critical knowledge gaps exist in wastewater surveillance, stemming from a lack of understanding in sewer microbial ecology. Ecology reveals trends in how communities respond and adapt to change, which has far-reaching implications for identifying effective strategies for disease …

Design, Development, And Control Of A Robotic Gripper For Activities Of Daily Living (Adl) Assistance., Jaime Rafael Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

This research contributes to developing a robotic gripper designed to improve the performance of assistive robots to help people with upper limb impairment due to stroke, injury, and other trauma. As developed in this research, the gripper for assistive robots (GAR) can be an alternative solution to the existing robotic grippers increasing the benefits in different ways, including the cost/benefits ratio and the range of graspable objects.

The GAR has been designed with simplicity in mind with a minimum viability approach. The design, construction, control, and operation of this robotic hand have been simplified with a minimal number of custom-made …

Wheelchair-Mounted Assistive Robot For Activities Of Daily Living: Design, And Validation, Elias Jose Munoz Montenegro

Theses and Dissertations

In the last decades, the number of wheelchair users has been increasing at an alarmingrate. Part of these individuals has an upper or lower dysfunction (ULED) resulting from a stroke, spinal cord injury, trauma, accident, or workplace injuries. Due to this, these patients need assistance to conduct their activities of daily living (ADLs). Hence, Wheelchair-Mounted Assistive Robots (WMAR) have a crucial role in Individuals with ULED. This research focuses on the design optimization, development, and validation of WMARs for essential ADLs. The design aims to obtain the link lengths with the most workspace coverage. Moreover, the analysis includes singularity avoidance …

Characterization And Composition Of Corrosion Scales In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Adam Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations

Internal corrosion of drinking water pipes has received considerable attention recently in the media and in academic studies due to compliance and monitoring regulations with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) established by the EPA in 1991. Notable health crises involving municipalities exceeding the LCR in Washington D.C. and Flint, Michigan occurred when corrosion scale conditions changed from stable to soluble lead compounds due to changing water chemistry, leaching high amounts of lead into consumers drinking water. Understanding the role of the corrosion scale in the process of leaching lead and other toxic trace metals such as arsenic is vital …

Mechanical Erosion Investigation Through The Solid Rocket Motor’S Nozzle, Mohamed Ahmed Abdelazim Abousabae

Theses and Dissertations

The solid rocket motor (SRM) is considered one of the essential engines that facilitatesaerospace research; thus, investigating the propellant burning process is vital. One of the challenges facing its growth is the oxidization of the aluminum into aluminum oxide at the exhaust’s high pressures and temperatures. The oxidized aluminum forms agglomerates, impinge on the exit nozzle walls, causing severe damage (erosion) to the nozzle material. Thus, the present work attempts to investigate and reduce this erosion. Two different approaches are followed in the current work, the first one aims to better understand the aluminum oxide agglomerates break-up mechanism and the …

Image-Based Cancer Diagnosis Using Novel Deep Neural Networks, Hosein Barzekar

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is the major cause of death in many nations. This serious illness can only be effectivelytreated if it is diagnosed early. In contrast, biomedical imaging presents challenges to both clinical institutions and researchers. Physiological anomalies are often characterized by modest modifications in individual cells or tissues, making them difficult to detect visually. Physiological anomalies are often characterized by slight abnormalities in individual cells or tissues, making them difficult to detect visually. Traditionally, anomalies are diagnosed by radiologists and pathologists with extensive training. This procedure, however, demands the participation of professionals and incurs a substantial expense, making the classification of …

Study Of The Various Charactertics Of A Helical Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Compared To A Straight Bladed Darrieus Design, Patrick Quinlan

Theses and Dissertations

As the wind energy market continues to expand, the need for a more diverse range of wind turbine technologies becomes increasingly apparent. Horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) have become the standard design for wind turbines over the past few decades and have been the go-to design used in wind farms both on land and off-shore. However, in residential and urban environments other types of turbine designs can help expand the reach of wind energy. Specifically, vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) have shown potential for new applications of wind turbines in areas that are less suitable for typical HAWTs. The most …