Engineering Commons^™

Feasibility And Potential Of Electric Air Taxis For Long Distance Airport Access/Egress Trips, Atul Subedi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Getting to the airport is often one of the most stressful parts of a trip, especially for people who live far from the airport. In the United States, many travelers live more than an hour’s drive from a major airport, and their choices such as driving, using public transit, or paying for ride-hailing can be time-consuming, expensive, and inconvenient. A new technology, Electric Air Taxis (EATs), is being developed as a potential solution. These small, battery-powered aircraft could offer faster, cleaner, and more direct connections to airports. However, the success of EATs depends not only on the technology itself but …

Utilizing Diatoms In Wastewater Treatment For Pollutant Removal, Ceaira D. Howard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wastewater treatment systems are increasingly challenged by a complex mix of pollutants including excess nutrients, organic dyes, and persistent chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Conventional treatment technologies often struggle to effectively and affordably remove these contaminants. This study explores the use of two diatom species, Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Navicula cryptocephala var. veneta, both single-celled microalgae with silica-based cell walls, as an environmentally sustainable approach to tertiary wastewater treatment. Diatoms offer dual functionality through surface adsorption properties and metabolic flexibilities, making them promising candidates for integrated treatment strategies.

To test the trophic flexibilities of diatoms, P. tricornutum was …

Quicklime-Based Self-Healing Concrete For Bridge Deck Applications, Mehrnoosh Nazari

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. However, over time, it can crack and deteriorate, especially on roads and bridges exposed to harsh weather and deicing salts. Inspired by the long-lasting durability of ancient Roman concrete, this study explores the self-healing capabilities of concrete incorporating quicklime (calcium oxide) aggregates to extend the service life of bridge decks. For this purpose, three concrete mixtures were developed using local materials: one without quicklime (C-Q 0%) and two with 2% (C-Q 2%) and 4% quicklime (C-Q 4%). These mixtures were tested for fresh properties, strength, durability, and …

Analysis Of Progressive Failure From Hydrofracturing Tests In Boise Sandstone, Alejandra Sanchez Arizmendi

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Sealed borehole laboratory hydrofracturing tests with acoustic emission monitoring were used to investigate the acoustic emission activity, damage thresholds, progressive failure, and tensile strength as a function of injection rate for twenty Boise Sandstone specimens. Four injection rates 15.7, 31.4, 62.8, and 125.6 mL/minute were used in the testing.

Increasing the injection rate initially increased and then decreased acoustic emission activity. The highest injection rate resulted in the lowest number of AE hits. The acoustic emission data was collected via two ultrasonic sensors. The highest average AE hits at the 31.4 mL/min injection rate was 613 and the lowest average …

Integrating Neural Control And Finite Element Muscle Modeling: A Predictive Neuromusculoskeletal Framework For Investigating Neurodegenerative Disease, Colton Babcock

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disrupt the interplay between neural control and musculoskeletal function, leading to progressive motor decline and loss of force control and production. Traditional experimental and clinical approaches are limited in their ability to capture the multiscale, nonlinear mechanisms driving these impairments. This dissertation presents a novel predictive neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) modeling framework that integrates physiologically accurate motor neuron dynamics with three-dimensional finite element (FE) muscle models. Using subject-specific muscle geometry and fiber architecture of the tibialis anterior, the model simulates realistic force generation under both healthy and ALS-affected conditions. The neural component incorporates a …

Harnessing The Mechanical And Gelation Behavior Of Tyramine-Substituted Silk Fibroin Bioinks Through Integration Into A Modular And Low-Cost 3d Bioprinting Platform, Sourjjadeepta Biswas

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

3D printing has become an indispensable tool in research labs across the globe. Yet, when it comes to bioprinting with custom or sensitive bioinks, accessible options remain limited. Commercial systems are often prohibitively expensive and restricted to proprietary materials, while DIY setups frequently lack the precision and compatibility needed for biologically relevant printing. Moreover, tunable bioinks that align with real-world biological constraints are still hard to come by. To address these gaps, we developed a modular, low-cost bioprinting platform tailored for tyramine-substituted silk fibroin (TA-SF) hydrogels-biocompatible materials known for their rapid gelation, tunable stiffness, and potential to support cell differentiation …

A Machine Learning Approach To Estimating Agricultural Return Flows: A Case Study Of The Twin Falls Canal Company In Idaho, Kendra Alise Figgins

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Idaho is the third largest water user in the United States due to its extensive agriculture industry (Murray, 2018). Irrigation has allowed farmers to take advantage of the warm climate and rich soils of the Eastern Snake River Plain to develop one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions. This area now contains one-third of Idaho’s irrigated acres (Idaho Department of Water Resources, 2024). It also contains critical hydrologic connections between the Snake River and the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

Farming practices in Idaho have gradually shifted over time. Warming temperatures and increased irrigation efficiency are allowing an expansion of …

Sustainability Assessment Of Ground Improvement Techniques: A Life Cycle Analysis Of Lime, Cement, Geopolymers And Biopolymers For Roadway Application, Jillian R. Frost

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Ground improvement design (GID) is a vital part of constructing safe, long-lasting infrastructure. Traditionally, this is done with a chemical additive such as lime or cement that is mixed with in-situ soil to improve soil parameters such as compressibility, and strength. These stabilizers produce high amounts of carbon emissions. As a response, engineers and researchers are beginning to develop new stabilization methods using biopolymers and geopolymers in hopes of achieving comparable soil stability results as well as reduced environmental impacts.

This thesis work integrates a life-cycle analysis (LCA) and life-cycle-cost-analysis (LCCA) framework to evaluate and compare four soil stabilizer types: …

The Effect Of Loading Conditions And Specimen Size On The Tensile Strength Of Ring-Shaped Specimens, Kolby Scott Mcclure

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study introduces a custom-built direct tension testing apparatus designed for ring-shaped rock specimens. The apparatus applies a uniform axial load to the inner surface of the ring and is compatible with standard geotechnical testing equipment. Using this device, 176 granite specimens sourced from Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, were tested under three configurations: Brazilian, indirect ring tension, and direct ring tension. Only specimens exhibiting valid diametrical splitting failure modes (126 out of 176) were included in the final analysis. Direct tension tests yielded the lowest tensile strengths, followed by Brazilian tests, with indirect tension tests producing the highest values. While scatter …

Feasibility Of Small-Modular Reactors In Hybrid Energy Systems, Taylor Reid

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This thesis evaluates the feasibility of integrating next-generation nuclear technology into hybrid energy systems, framing the analysis within the guidelines suggested by the World Energy Council’s, Energy Trilemma. The trilemma seeks to balance energy security, economics/equity and sustainability. To this end, a computer model was created to illustrate how the limitations of intermittent renewables, like wind and solar (PV), can be addressed when they are combined with a baseload provided by a next-generation nuclear Small Modular Reactor (SMR). The baseload power provided by nuclear energy can smooth the variability of wind or solar power, while simultaneously offsetting the cost of …

Evaluation Of High Concentration Dissolved Oxygen Delivery On Wastewater Treatment Plant Performance, Gregor Ethan R. Posadas

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Microorganisms are used in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to transform constituents and depend on dissolved oxygen (DO) for growth. Limitations in traditional treatment methods pose inefficiencies in performance relative to constituent removal. This study involved monitoring the performance of a selected WWTP located in Greenleaf, Idaho that was retrofitted with a high concentration DO delivery system. The WWTP was selected due to its small scale (classified as a minor discharge facility with a design flow <1 MGD) and capability of being retrofitted with a high concentration DO delivery system proprietary to BioSolution Holdings Co., Ltd. This study aimed to monitor the effects of delivering higher DO concentrations in the WWTP in conjunction with validating the performance and function of the retrofitted high concentration DO delivery system. The performance of the selected WWTP was monitored over the course of one year to capture seasonal fluctuations.

Significant changes in WWTP constituent treatment induced by higher DO concentrations were observed at various points within the treatment processes. Monitored parameters included DO, temperature, …

Harnessing Bioscaffold-Coupled Stimulation Through Electroactive Graphene Foam For Enhanced Cellular And Mechanical Responses: Applications In Cartilage Tissue Engineering, Mone't Sawyer

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of joint degeneration, with limited treatment options that fail to restore native cartilage. Tissue engineering offers a promising strategy by combining cells, scaffolds, and bioactive cues to regenerate functional tissue, though challenges remain in developing systems that integrate and precisely control these signals in three-dimensional environments. This work establishes a scaffold-coupled electrical stimulation (ES) platform using electroactive graphene foam (GF) to modulate cellular and mechanical responses relevant to cartilage tissue engineering. Custom stereolithography-printed bioreactors were developed to deliver low-voltage biphasic square waves (20–60 mVpp, 1 kHz) directly to GF scaffolds under submerged culture, maintaining waveform …

Stimulation And Recording Interfaces For Data Transmission To And From A Micro Neural Stimulation Device, Morgan Riley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Advancements in neuromodulation for treating neurological disorders increasingly rely on selective peripheral nerve stimulation rather than whole-nerve activation. Traditional approaches engage all fascicles, causing off-target effects such as involuntary muscle contractions and pain. To address these challenges, this research proposes a minimally invasive microdevice that integrates wireless galvanic impulse communication with an epineural multi-contact nerve cuff. This design facilitates high-throughput, low-power stimulation, recording, and data transfer. Development efforts include optimizing neural stimulation protocols, validating deep tissue galvanic transmission, and fabricating a multi-channel nerve cuff for stable electrode–tissue interfacing. In parallel, custom depth-controlled intramuscular arrays enable high-density electromyography (EMG) recording during …

Examining The Relationship Between Title 14 Code Of Federal Regulations (Cfr) Part 147 Maintenance School Aviation Maintenance Technician (Amt) Instructor Experience And Instructor Pass Rates For Airmen Certification Standards (Acs) Element Subject Areas, Richard Lyman Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationship between Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) instructor experience and student pass rates in 14 CFR Part 147 maintenance schools. Data were collected from February to August 2025 using purposive and snowball sampling, which yielded 67 complete responses. Instructor experience, measured in months of A&P-rated maintenance work prior to teaching, ranged from 1 to 684 months (M = 253.54, SD = 197.97). Student pass rates, defined as the proportion of students passing ACS element subject area courses, ranged from .52 to 1.00 (M = .95, SD = .07). Most instructors were male, White, over 50 …

Qualitative Stereo Vision Using Distributed Extended Waltz Filtering, Ben Mathew

Theses and Dissertations

Stereo vision is a fundamental problem in computer vision, aimed at reconstructing three-dimensional scene structure from two or more two-dimensional images. Traditional stereo algorithms rely on quantitative disparity estimation, often constrained by calibration precision, lighting variations, and surface texture. In contrast, our proposed Qualitative Stereo Vision seeks to understand depth relationships and spatial configurations from multiple planar views through symbolic reasoning and constraint satisfaction, offering a more flexible and cognitively plausible approach to scene interpretation.

This dissertation presents a novel framework called Distributed Extended Waltz Filtering, designed to provide qualitative stereo vision, particularly in the presence of occlusions—a persistent challenge …

The Road To Regulation: A Literature Review Of The Influences On The Updated Silica Standards, Skye M. Medcraft

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Silica is a hazardous compound that poses a risk to human health resulting from dust creating activities across various industries. Several agencies, including OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) and MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) have adopted regulatory oversight of silica exposure in the workplace. As more research has been conducted on silica exposure, the health effects are becoming better described, which has led to the creation and updating of exposure regulations to protect worker health. The objective of this literature study is to review the data presented to the Department of Labor and discuss how the factors that …

Series Resonant Converters With Medium Voltage Sic Mosfets For Electric Aircraft Applications, Xinyuan Du

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

To develop high-performance high- power-density MV power converters, the emerging silicon carbide (SiC) devices are more attractive than their silicon (Si) counterparts, since the fast switch frequency brought by the SiC can effectively reduce the volume and weight of the filter components and thus increase the converter power density. From the converter topology perspective, with the MV dc distribution, the single stage isolated dc/dc converter are suitable for next-generation electric aircraft system due to soft switching and high power density. In this work, comprehensive static and dynamic characterizations were conducted for the latest 6.5 kV silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs from …

Beam Steering Control For A Small-Scale 5g Antenna Array, Omar Wagih Elkalesh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis demonstrates the design, development, and validation of a full-scale adaptive beam steering control system of a small-scale 5G antenna array, designed and thoroughly evaluated with MATLAB Simulink. Overcoming the significant challenge of establishing strong wireless links in dynamic environments, the new system uses a new closed-loop control framework that can automatically detect the signal sources and automatically change the beam direction in real-time. The use of the adaptation is necessary to combat tracking errors that are caused by the mobility of the mobile users, environmental variations, as well as channel estimation errors, widespread in future wireless communication systems. …

Implementation Of A Three-Port Solar Converter With A Battery Energy Storage System, Maison Christopher Phipps

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increasing deployment of distributed solar and energy storage systems has created the need for integrated power converters that can efficiently manage photovoltaic (PV) generation, battery energy storage, and grid-tied AC output. This thesis presents the implementation and validation of a 5kW non-isolated Three-Port Converter (TPC) adapted for residential solar applications. The converter consolidates three power stage into a high-frequency, compact architecture: a unidirectional boost converter for PV input, a bidirectional interleaved buck-boost converter for battery energy storage, and a configurable DC/AC inverter for 120Vac single-phase output. The system is controlled using a central controller implemented on a TI C2000™ …

Design And Testing Of A Gallium Nitride Power Amplifier For High-Temperature Radar Applications, Walker Landry Harbison

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis offers the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifier integrated circuit (IC) intended for high-temperature radar applications. Radar systems are used in many different applications, such as defense, aerospace, and weather. For their function, these systems require high power, efficiency, and reliability under a wide range of operating conditions. Taking advantage of the material properties of GaN, including its high breakdown voltage, wide bandgap, and thermal conductivity bolstered by the use of silicon carbide in the substrate, this work focuses on examining amplifier performance in both ambient and elevated temperature conditions. The PA was …

Design And Optimization Of High-Frequency Medium-Voltage Dual Active Bridge Dc/Dc Converter Using Sic Device, Hui Cao

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

High frequency Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converters have become a key enabling technology in medium- and high-power applications such as renewable energy integration, electric vehicle fast charging, and emerging DC power distribution systems. However, when operating at high power and high frequency, DAB converters face critical challenges including limited soft-switching range, uneven semiconductor loss distribution, deadtime-induced resonance, switching-frequency constraints of wide-bandgap (WBG) devices, and transformer DC bias during dynamic transitions. This dissertation addresses these challenges through advancements in modulation strategies and converter architecture. First, an enhanced triple-phase-shift (E-TPS) modulation scheme is proposed to achieve balanced switching and conduction losses across …

Design And Development Of A Multi-Port Solid State Circuit Breaker Based On Half Bridge Sic Mosfets, Yannal Nawafleh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates multi-port solid-state circuit breaker (M-SSCB) architectures that reduce steady-state conduction losses while preserving microsecond-class DC fault interruption and per-port selectivity. The proposed M-SSCB consolidates protection for several node interfaces into a single assembly with shared sensing, control, and a common energy-absorption branch. In normal operation, two electrically symmetric parallel semiconductor paths are established so each port’s current divides approximately in half; because conduction loss scales with current squared, the M-SSCB achieves ≈75% reduction in on-state loss relative to a conventional anti-series SiC path without increasing device count. During fault handling, the coordinated controller detects the local over-current, …

Optical Characterization Of Ge And Gesn Grown In Aspect Ratio Trapping Structures For Enhanced Emitter Performance, Abdulla Said Ali

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Silicon (Si) began dominating the electronics industry since 1960s, the dominance came due to its affordability and well developed fabrication processes. But when it comes to light emitting devices and photonics devices in general, the indirect bandgap of Si has caused many scientists to search for alternative semiconductor materials that can deliver better light emission, materials that can also improve wavelengths detection which is also very limited when it comes to Si, reduce losses and greater light amplification, all this while still being affordable. Despite these limitations, Si has been widely used in Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing and …

Unraveling Nucleation Mechanisms In Membrane Distillation: A Molecular Dynamics And Enhanced Sampling Approach, Nazanin Abbasi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Membrane distillation offers a promising route for desalination but remains limited by salt scaling, where mineral crystals nucleate and grow in concentrated brines. To inform strategies that mitigate scaling, this thesis investigates homogeneous nucleation in supersaturated aqueous NaCl solutions using molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling techniques. Several collective variables (CVs) are tested to capture the early stages of ion aggregation and crystal formation, including ion–ion coordination number, dehydration, and bond orientational order parameters Q₄ and Q₆. Enhanced sampling techniques, such as metadynamics and umbrella sampling, are employed to overcome the high free energy barriers associated with the formation of critical …

Study And Simulation Of Model-Reference Adaptive Control Via The Heffron-Philips Model For Enhanced Power System Stability, Laila Ayman Dallol

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Improving power transmission and quality has been an area of research interest over the past decades and was improved using renewable energy resources, mainly wind, and solar generation. Renewable energy penetration into power grids aims to replace some traditional synchronous generators, affecting the overall power system with reduced gas emissions that help with climate change and pollution issues. However, renewable generation in power systems ranging from microgrids to national grids is subjected to large disturbances that affect its transient stability, which is measured by its critical clearing time. As increased amounts of renewable generation connected to power systems have resulted …

Volume Status Detection With Integral Pulse Frequency Modulation Model Of Peripheral Venous Pressure, Jeremiah Rhys Wimer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis studies the effectiveness of utilizing a modified integral pulse frequency modulation (IPFM) algorithm to synthesize peripheral venous pressure (PVP) waveforms for the detection of several physiological conditions using logistic regression. PVP waveforms are collected from 18 human patients and 4 porcine subjects. Human data are used to train models for determining the hypovolemic status of the patient, while the porcine data are used to train models for determining level of anesthesia and detecting internal hemorrhaging. In the human dataset, the waveforms collected from the 18 patients are classified into two groups according to serum chloride levels: resuscitated (≥100 …

Development And Validation Of A Thermal Model For An Electric Vehicle Transmission, Ghazal Rajabikhorasani

Dissertations

This research investigates the thermal behavior of a high-speed electric vehicle (EV) helical gearbox with the goal of improving the prediction accuracy of component temperatures and total power losses under a range of operating conditions. The study focuses on developing a physics-based lumped-parameter thermal network model capable of capturing the main heat generation and dissipation mechanisms within the transmission. The model integrates experimentally validated loss correlations for gears, bearings, seals, and churning, as well as convective and radiative heat transfer paths.

The thermal network model was coded in MATLAB and validated through a series of controlled experiments performed on an …

Comparative Assessment Of Lower Limb Neuromusculoskeletal Activation And Joint Kinematics In Normal And Impaired Gait, Jack Ryan Schule

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis evaluates whether accessible and affordable technologies can provide clinically significant, quantifiable gait analysis comparable to traditional marker-based motion capture systems. Modern high-end systems offer excellent accuracy but remain financially and logistically inaccessible to many clinicians and researchers. To address this gap, a framework was developed using markerless pose estimation using the model, MediaPipe, inertial measurement units (IMUs) processed through an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), and surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure joint kinematics and neuromuscular activity during gait. An experiment was performed where data was collected from participants with both normal gait and pathologies including: Osgood–Schlatter disease, Plica Band …

Effect Of Capillary And Viscous Forces On Carbon Dioxide Desorption In Porous Adsorbent Layers, Caroline Isabel Mcclung

Theses and Dissertations

Temperature swing adsorption-based (TSA) carbon dioxide (CO₂) separation processes, which involve an alternating flow of gases and liquids in adsorbent-coated microchannels, have been shown to yield superior and environmentally friendly performance than the existing processes. This technique begins by sending the impure gas mixture through hydrophobic silicalite adsorbent-coated microchannels, which results in the adsorption of CO₂. Subsequently, hot water heat transfer fluid (HTF) flows through the same channels, displaces the purified gas stream, heats the adsorbent, desorbs the CO₂, and removes that desorbed CO₂ from the channel. This stage is followed by cooling …

Retrieval Augmented Framework For Deepfake Audio Detection, Avinash Saxena

Master's Theses

The widespread use of AI-based audio deepfakes threatens severely to undermine media integrity and public trust. Speech synthesis techniques have improved dramatically in voice conversion (VC) and text-to-speech (TTS) in recent years, making forgeries sound highly realistic, and concerns are raised about possible malevolent uses. Existing state-of-the-art techniques for identifying fake speech have proven to be effective in some cases but are still limited in application and robustness when faced with novel attacking strategies, different acoustic conditions, or alternative linguistic domains. To address some of these limitations, the current research presents a novel deepfake audio detection system based on personalized …