Engineering Commons^™

Subsurface Characterization Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (Ert) Integrated With Masw, P-Wave Refraction, And Boring Results, Mohammadyar Rahimi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has gained widespread application in geotechnical engineering as a non-invasive method for subsurface characterization. Despite its versatility, several challenges remain regarding its resolution capabilities, interpretive limitations, and integration with other investigative methods. This dissertation addresses three key applications of ERT, focusing on its effectiveness and limitations in resolving thin subsurface layers, detecting anomalies such as voids, and supporting environmental assessment in river restoration projects.

The first study investigates the ability of ERT to resolve thin, discontinuous clay layers beneath levees, using the Melvin Price Reach of the Wood River Levee on the Mississippi River as a …

A Causal Model Of Performance Shaping Factors For Human Reliability Analysis In Manufacturing., Prameet Ranjan Jha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human reliability analysis is a critical component of probabilistic risk assessment, aimed at predicting and mitigating human errors in complex systems. This dissertation develops a novel approach to human reliability analysis in manufacturing by integrating structural equation modeling and Bayesian networks to improve the estimation of human error probabilities. Traditional human reliability assessment methods, such as the Standardized Plant Analysis Risk-Human Reliability Analysis (SPAR-H) and the Technique for Human Error Rate Prediction (THERP), provide structured techniques for estimating human error probabilities. However, these methods often fail to capture the complex interdependencies among performance shaping factors (PSFs), limiting their applicability in …

Deep Learning In Lung Cancer Pre- And Post-Radiation Therapy: Diagnosis Of Malignancy And Radiation-Induced Lung Injury From 3d X-Ray Ct., Benjamin Peter Veasey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with early detection and accurate diagnosis being critical for improving patient outcomes. Additionally, the progression of Radiation-Induced Lung Injury (RILI) following Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for lung cancer presents a significant diagnostic challenge. This dissertation addresses these challenges by developing deep learning-based diagnostic tools for both pre-treatment lung nodule malignancy classification and post-treatment RILI identification using 3D X-ray CT imaging. The research is divided into two primary objectives. First, for lung nodule malignancy classification, we developed a biopsy-confirmed dataset, called NLSTx, to train and evaluate deep learning models while …

Online Optimization With Lookahead For Dynamic Assignment And Energy-Smart Scheduling In Manufacturing., Mahmud Parvez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Scheduling in online and dynamic manufacturing systems presents significant challenges due to the continuous arrival of customer orders with certainty only over a short time window and the dynamic availability of resources after completing ongoing operations. Similar challenges exist at our industry partner’s site when scheduling orders (computer servers) to machines (testing cells) during the final testing process before customer delivery. The primary challenge lies in dynamically assigning incoming orders to available machines in order to minimize the number of unfinished orders. Additionally, the energy-intensive nature of the production process introduces another challenge; efforts to reduce energy consumption often lead …

Tailoring The Morphology Of Block Copolymers Via Solvent-Vapor Annealing, Bayleigh Madelin Loving

Honors Theses

Triblock polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene (PS-PIB-PS) copolymers have widespread applications from thermoplastic elastomers to protective coatings for ballistic applications. The incompatibility between the soft PIB and hard PS phases leads to phase separation and subsequent formation of morphological domains like lamellae and cylinders. The structures are stabilized by physical crosslinks, which can greatly improve the toughness of the triblock systems by preventing chain pullout during tensile deformation. We tailored the morphologies (achieving different morphologies with the same block copolymer) by changing the annealing conditions of the block copolymers. Solvent vapor annealing was used to selectively activate the mobility of a particular block, causing …

Thermal Characterization Of Lithium-Ion Batteries Under Fast Charging Conditions Using Infrared Imaging., Gowthaman Punithakumar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used across various industries due to their long lifespan, high energy density, low self-discharge rate, and absence of memory effect. However, fast charging of Li-ion batteries can cause problems like lithium plating, mechanical damage, and overheating. Temperature plays a key role in battery performance. Measuring temperature accurately is important to improve battery life, efficiency, and safety. However, accurately measuring a battery's internal temperature remains challenging, and the appropriate measurement method depends on factors like range, accuracy, resolution, and cost. Choosing the right temperature measurement method depends on range, accuracy, resolution, and cost. In this study, we …

Engineering Solutions For The Transplant Supply Gap: Social Network Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, And Optimization In Living Kidney Donation., Joshua Nielsen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kidney transplantation is the gold standard for treating end-stage renal disease, yet over 90,000 patients remain on the transplant waitlist. This dissertation introduces engineering-driven solutions to help reduce the transplant supply gap by addressing three challenges: illicit trafficking, donor recruitment, and evaluation inefficiencies. First, we model illicit organ trafficking networks using social network analysis. We demonstrate that targeting transplant clinics alone is insufficient to disrupt operations. Instead, disrupting the network requires detaining brokers who organize behind-the-scenes logistics—offering a more effective strategy for intervention. Second, we seek to identify a latent population of potential living donors who face barriers such as …

Prefabricated Timber Living: A Modular Sustainable Solution, Hannah Giang, Justin Huang

Architectural Engineering

This senior project is part of the Gateway Decathlon, a two-year, multidisciplinary design-build competition focused on innovative, sustainable housing solutions. Our team designed and constructed a one-story dwelling using cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels to promote low-carbon, industrialized building practices. The structure features a modular layout with sloped roofs and exposed timber interiors, combining environmental responsibility with architectural flexibility. Emphasizing prefabrication and off-site construction, the design supports efficient assembly and disassembly, reduced material waste, and minimal environmental impact. The result is a scalable, adaptable housing prototype aligned with the competition’s goals of creativity, sustainability, and innovation in residential construction.

Exploring User Sentiment On Social Issues Via Neural Network Transfer Learning In Digital Communities, Ananya R. Vangoor

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Understanding public sentiment on social issues is crucial for gauging the stance of the general population. Traditionally, surveys have been a common approach for this. However, to capture more candid opinions, social media provides a rich source of unadulterated opinions. By analyzing social media statements, we can gain insights into the perspectives of specific groups. More specifically, we will investigate the attitudes of the public into the relationship between hard work and success in the workplace.

Using a neural network trained on tweets from X, formerly known as Twitter, we can categorize each tweet as either pro-luck or pro-meritocracy. But …

Evaluation Of Two Methods Of Automated Adversary Emulation, Norah J. Rogers

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for selecting between two methods of Automated Adversary Emulation (AAE). As IT systems become increasingly complex and interconnected, adopting a zero-trust mindset of cybersecurity is essential. This mindset extends to cybersecurity testing, where a combined offensive/defensive approach ("purple teaming") can utilize adversary emulation to uncover vulnerabilities efficiently and effectively. While AAE is rapidly gaining traction across various industries and applications, there is limited guidance in the current literature on how to choose the optimal method for different testing scenarios. This paper defines two common approaches to AAE and examines eight …

An Approach Of Implementing Mtncl And Mtd3l Asynchronous Logic Paradigms On Fpgas, Kile T. Harvey

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis describes the creation of component libraries for the implementation of Multi-Threshold NULL Convention Logic (MTNCL) and Multi-Threshold Dual-spacer Dual-rail Delay-insensitive Logic (MTD³L) on AMD 7 Series, AMD UltraScale, and AMD UltraScale+ FPGAs. The utilization of these libraries is identical to those used in the creation of MTNCL and MTD³L application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), leading to intuitive use for designers familiar with the logic paradigms. Single-stage and pipelined designs were created using both libraries, which were then tested and verified to be logically equivalent to their ASIC counterparts. Future work will include creating and testing …

Construction And Characterization Of An Rf Anechoic Range, Logan Gentry

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Anechoic RF ranges are electromagnetically quiet spaces intended to provide conditions suitable for testing and classifying electronic equipment. Typically, ranges are constructed indoors, which presents a number of design challenges related to room geometry, cost, and material selection. This report describes the creation of an indoor anechoic range intended for characterization of antennas. Furthermore, the range is characterized for performance across a wide range of discrete frequencies in the UHF band according to CISPR standards, resulting in the determination of a lower frequency limit at which the room performance begins to degrade. The characterization of this range agrees with far-field …

Design Considerations Of A Gpu, Nicholas M. Devilliers

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

With the current era of AI technology, the era of single instruction multiple data has become an increasingly viable solution to accelerate training. The problem is that while software to use GPUs and other hardware accelerators, designing GPUs and ASIC devices has become increasingly more expensive and there aren’t great examples of generic GPUs that anyone can use and modify. In this thesis, there are four design considerations that will be discussed and how they affect the result of a generic GPU. The four considerations that were talked about in the thesis are, word width, arithmetic type, number of stages, …

Towards A Configurable Platform For The Design And Evaluation Of P4 Network Systems And Applications, Joseph B. Wilkin

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to the difficulties of running experiments on production networks, researchers often use platforms such as network emulators and testbeds to test their applications before applying them to the real world. There exists a need for a networking platform of this sort designed specifically for running P4 code and for evaluating P4-based experiments. In this work, we design and develop such a platform for use within our lab group based on the Mininet network emulator and its corresponding graphical user interface, MiniEdit. We have successfully integrated the BMv2 software switch into MiniEdit to allow users to build topologies for running …

Baja Sae Brakes, Carson Moore, Jaedyn Michael Imhoff, Will Duncan, Matthew Shaffer

Mechanical Engineering

Historically, the Cal Poly Racing Baja SAE has produced a braking system that has proven unreliable and barely passes competition rules and inspections, leading to ill performing and unsafe brakes. The goal of this project is to produce a system and documentation that meets the requirements provided by Cal Poly Racing Baja SAE. The final design includes a transient braking model of the vehicle to set system requirements, universal custom front and rear calipers modified from “Cal Poly BSAE Custom Brake Caliper Senior Project”, and a revamped hydraulic harness. Leaning on the team’s previous work and modifying the custom calipers …

Predictive Modeling Of Electro-Optic Modulators Under Electromagnetic Interference, Hasan Ahmed

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

In this age of electronic warfare, directed energy research is of utmost importance to ensure national security, robust military defense systems and gain a competitive edge in research worldwide. This thesis explores the intentional directed energy impacts on electro-optic devices by developing analytical predictive models through experimental data validation. An electro-optic modulator known as Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) is used to understand the implications of intentional EMI. A low frequency RF signal is injected in the MZM to create an EMI environment. The MZM behavior changes due to EMI during a pseudo-random bit sequence signal modulation were studied through analyzing receiver …

Exploring Metal Additive Manufacturing In Martian Atmospheric Environments, Zane Mebruer

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

On-surface manufacturing is key to the success of a planetary colonization, especially that of Mars. However, traditional subtractive manufacturing processes are equipment, energy, and material intensive, meaning novel additive manufacturing (AM) processes must be pursued for this end. Selective laser melting, one of the most effective and versatile AM methods, would be incredibly beneficial to a Martian mission but requires an artificial argon atmosphere to create effective parts. The purpose of this study was to examine if carbon dioxide, the gas that makes up over 95% of Mars’ surface atmosphere, would be a sufficient substitute for argon in SLM fabrication. …

Causes And Contributing Factors In General Aviation Fixed-Wing Stall And Spin Accidents, Lauren Westfall

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

General Aviation operations are all civil aviation operations excluding commercial airline operations and cargo transport. General Aviation accidents comprise approximately 94% of all aviation accidents in the United States annually. Stall and spin accidents are the third most common causes of fatal General Aviation accidents, accounting for 7.28% of such accidents in 2013–2022. The National Transportation Safety Board investigates and records all General Aviation accidents in the United States. Using the National Transportation Safety Board’s accident database, I investigated stall and spin accidents between 2013 and 2022 to find (1) the most common phases of flight where stall and spin …

Characteristics Of Patterned Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge Devices For Ionic Wind Propulsion, Ethan J. Graef

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Electroaerodynamic (EAD) or ionic wind propulsion is a growing area of research for small noiseless low speed aircraft. Previous flight demonstrations and experimentation have revealed that traditional methods of EAD propulsion utilizing corona discharge incur a large drag penalty due to their collector and emitter geometries. Recent publications detail flexible and geometrically conformable surface dielectric barrier discharge devices (SDBD) that could increase thrust and decrease drag as an ion source for an EAD propulsion system. This thesis explores the effects of different electrode sizes and geometries on total SDBD power consumption. SDBDs of a hexagonal, triangular, and square electrode geometry …

Agent-Based Modeling For Faulty System Analysis, Jayden G. Hamilton

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Numerous approaches exist for computational modeling of complex, dynamic systems. One particular option is the use of agent-based modeling, which simulates the behavior of numerous autonomous agents interacting with each other and with the system at large. Current agent-based modeling research has largely focused on studying the system level behavior of a model, as this is generally the main concern for any real world application. However, the characteristics and behaviors of agents deserves consideration as well. The issue with this area of interest lies in the fact that the agent data cannot be as quickly obtained and analyzed as system …

A Labview-Based Open-Source Data Acquisition Program For Acoustic Emission Sensing, Harrison Greene

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Acoustic emission sensing is a growing field of analysis and testing that benefits from its non-destructive nature, enabling operators to detect faults, the severity of impacts, the propagation of cracks, and much more without damaging the system being tested. However, the use of proprietary software to collect, analyze, and display data hinders the field, as access to this crucial information makes consistent and in-depth data analysis impossible. To this end, this paper details an open-source code made in the programming language LabVIEW for the express purpose of allowing the user to have full access to all data and fully customize …

Using Optical Dielectrophoresis For Microbead And Cell Manipulation, Leigh K. Smith

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Dielectrophoresis is a common method used to manipulate particles on the microscopic scale. Optically Induced Dielectrophoresis or ODEP is the specific method used in this research. All experiments were conducted in Dr. Tung’s Micro and Nano Systems lab at the University of Arkansas’ ENRC. An ODEP system was created in the lab for manipulating microbeads (6-10 micrometers (μm) in diameter) and E. coli cells (1-2 μm in diameter).

Experiments were performed on the microbeads to see how changing the parameters of the device affects the force caused by ODEP on the beads. The parameters that could be changed in the …

Optimal Parameters For Electrode Free Local Anodic Oxidation Lithography, Maxwell C. Cleveland

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Dr. Steve Tung’s research lab is developing a device for sequencing DNA strands. A key component of this device is a nano sensor fabricated using monolayer graphene. To create the sensor, the graphene must be precisely patterned. Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, is an ideal material for detecting electrical signals from DNA bases due to its excellent conductivity.

The current fabrication method uses Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in combination with Electrode-Free Local Anodic Oxidation (LAO) lithography. While AFM is typically employed for nanoscale imaging, pairing it with LAO lithography enables the patterning of graphene into nanoribbons capable of …

Sustainable Agriculture Through Data-Driven Land And Soil Management For Rural Farming Communities, Peggy Clareece Discenza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis aims to investigate sustainable farming practices by utilizing a database containing soil, weather, and water data. Additionally, it evaluates cropping strategies using a system that incorporates nutrient dynamics and environmental values. The objective is to monitor, develop predictive models, and assess the impact of both controlled and uncontrolled nutrient variables. This is achieved through the development of an algorithm that provides information on soil health based on datasets and land use, with a particular focus on residual values after harvesting for deeper analytical insights and interpretation. This study focuses on key nutrients, including pH levels, water availability, and …

Digital Twin Use Case At El Paso International Airport, Matyas Mori

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the potential of implementing Digital Twin technology in airports, with a concrete use case at the Innovation Factory at El Paso International Airport. The Digital Twin model was developed using project documentation and LiDAR scanning, resulting in point cloud datasets that served as the foundation for further analysis. A comparison was conducted between reality-captured data and the model created from project documentation, highlighting the presence of noise in the field data. This analysis revealed key challenges and identified opportunities to enhance efficiency through automation. Instead of relying on a resource-intensive manual process to clean point cloud datasets …

Enhancing Security And Resiliency In Operational Technology Environments Through Network Slicing And Federated Learning, Brian Giovanni Rodiles Delgado

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The growing convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) within Industry 4.0 environments has introduced new demands on industrial network infrastructure. As cyber-physical systems become increasingly interconnected, ensuring the secure, timely, and efficient exchange of critical data is essential. This thesis explores how network slicing, a method of creating isolated virtual network segments, can be applied within OT environments to address challenges such as latency, security, and resource allocation.

The first research question addressed in this thesis is: How can OT networks take advantage of NFV and SDN technology to become cyber resilient? This study examines the operational, …

Skip The Grid: An Impactful Solar Installation Project In The Navajo Nation, John Ryan Strain

Construction Management

Over the past four years, a team of interdisciplinary students and faculty from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), Heart of America, and generous industry sponsors (SOLV, Goal Zero, NextTracker, Elite, and TCB Builders) have brought their time, effort, and resources together to complete a service trip, called Skip the Grid. The trip’s primary goal is to provide a reliable source of power, light, and refrigeration to families with school age children in the Navajo Nation where these resources are absent or unreliable otherwise. This year’s trip took place over Cal Poly’s academic break from March 23rd …

Plansyncc - A Construction Document Translation Software, Easton Richard Abreo, Ashton Lee Gandrup, Javier Solis

Construction Management

PlanSyncc was born from shared construction internship experiences, where the team observed significant language barriers between supervisors and tradesmen, leading to miscommunication, inefficiencies, and safety risk. Motivated by this problem, PlanSyncc developed an AI-powered translation software to bridge the gap by translating construction documents in real-time. To bring PlanSyncc to life, the team divided the project into three key deliverables: a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), a business plan, and a pitch deck. The MVP involved creating two Python-based translation codes, one for specifications and another for complex construction plans using tools like PyMuPDF, Tesseract, mtranslate, and others. The business plan …

Car Damage Detection Using Deep Learning, Rahul Varma Indukuri Sr.

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Growing vehicle usage has resulted in a notable increase in road accidents, so it is imperative to have effective systems for identifying and evaluating vehicle damage. This work aims to create a computer vision and deep learning-based automated car damage detection system. This project's main goal is to develop a model that, using visual cues, can categorize car photos as either damaged or undamaged.

The algorithm operates in two steps: first, determining whether the picture features an automobile; then, it classifies the state of the car—damaged or undamaged. We thus employ the InceptionV3 model for damage classification and the MobileNet …

Cross-Frame Effects And Design Optimization For Skewed Steel I-Girder Bridges, Nisha Sthapit

Theses and Dissertations

Cross-frames are critical for load distribution and stability in steel I-girder bridges with complex geometry, especially during construction. However, they are often designed with standardized cross-sections that are uniform throughout the bridge. This thesis presents an optimization approach for cross-frame cross-sections for skewed steel I-girder bridges with integral and stub abutments with skews ranging from 15⁰-60⁰. This optimization, using Method of Moving Asymptotes (MMA), minimizes girder flange lateral bending stress while maintaining or reducing the total volume of the cross-frames from the original design. Validated 3D finite element models in CSI Bridge showed that the optimization achieved around 20% decrease …