Engineering Commons^™

Assessment And Optimization Of Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure: Addressing Accessibility Disparities In Urban And Rural Areas, Dennis B. Bwire

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is essential for advancing sustainable transportation systems; however, disparities in the spatial distribution of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) present significant challenges for equitable access. This thesis investigates both the inequities in EVCS accessibility and offers a data driven approach for optimizing the siting of future charging infrastructure.

The first part of the study investigates the accessibility of EVCS in rural and urban areas, focusing on how socio-demographic factors influence accessibility metrics. Using geographic information systems (GIS), network analysis, and binary logistic regression, spatial data on EVCS locations and socio-demographic attributes such as …

Assessment Of Surface Area Application Ratios For Beach Sand Treated Via Surface Percolated Micp-Bioslurry For Erosion Mitigation, Connor J. Marlin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rapid shoreline erosion associated with sea-level rise is an ongoing threat to coastal infrastructure. Traditional stabilization techniques, such as revetments, seawalls, and periodic nourishment, often prove costly, ecologically disruptive, or provide only temporary protection. Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) and its operational variant, bioslurry, present a biologically inspired alternative capable of forming a cemented surface crust that reduces soil erodibility. Previous laboratory studies typically prescribed a solution dosage as a percentage of pore volume (%PV). While geotechnically sound, this metric is poorly suited to field deployment across a large area. This thesis evaluates surface-area-based dosing (L/m²) as the primary dosage …

Solar Energy Prediction Using Advanced Hybrid Machine Learning Models, Jelawi A. Alqhtani

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Accurate short-term forecasting of solar power generation is critical for the reliable and cost-effective operation of renewable-based microgrids, where sudden weather-induced variability can compromise grid stability, battery scheduling, and energy trading decisions. Traditional physical and statistical models struggle to capture the complex non-linear relationships and localized weather effects, while individual deep learning architectures often exhibit systematic biases such as chronic under-prediction of peak generation. This thesis proposes a novel Cross-Feedback Ensemble framework that combines the complementary strengths of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and one-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN) models through an iterative cross-feedback mechanism and a …

Computational Pangenomics And Machine Learning For Genotype-Phenotype Analysis, Tejaswi Vemuri

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Phenotypes are the observable characteristics of an individual organism. Predicting quantitative phenotypes from genomic variation remains challenging when causal signals span both local motifs and distal regulatory contexts. Building on Frequented Regions (FRs)—subsequences conserved across genomes and extracted from a pangenome graph generated from a large collection of closely related species—we compare several modeling strategies across 35 Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth phenotypes: Random Forest (RF) on FR counts (called RFCounts), RF on FR sequences, 1D convolutional neural networks (CNN) on FR sequences, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks on FR sequences, a Genomewide Association Study (GWAS) baseline, and a sequence-based transformer model, …

Deep Learning Approaches For Predicting Strain Energy In Heterogeneous Materials, Junesh Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) faces computational challenges when analyzing nonlinear and heterogeneous materials. Utilizing the Mechanical MNIST dataset, comprising 60,000 simulated samples of 28x28 pixel domains under large deformation, the study evaluates classical regression methods (Linear Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting) and advanced deep learning architectures (Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Residual Networks (ResNet)). CNN models achieved superior performance, with a Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 4.21 and an R2 value of approximately 0.982, outperforming classical regression models and slightly surpassing ResNet architectures. These deep learning methods automatically learn spatial relationships from pixel-based representations, eliminating the need for manual feature …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Doped Rare-Earth Zinc Alloys, Partha Das

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Rare-Earth-Zinc (RE-Zn) alloys doped with manganese represent a promising class of materials with diverse applications in magnetic, electronic, and thermoelectric devices. These alloys hold significant potential owing to the unique combination of rare-earth elements' properties with the versatility of zinc, augmented by manganese doping. In this study, I present the successful synthesis of ErMn_0.2Zn_11.8 alloys, achieved through self-flux method. The synthesized crystals were characterized using electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, magnetic measurements were performed to investigate the magnetic properties. Future plans include DFT calculations and comparison study between Rare-Earth-Zinc alloys with …

Motion Planning For A Flexible Modular Raft Robot, Chun-Yi She

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

This thesis presents a hierarchical motion planning framework for SoftRafts, a modular and deformable aquatic robot capable of performing locomotion and manipulation tasks on water surfaces. SoftRafts consist of soft and rigid components that enable structural reconfiguration, offering adaptability in unstructured aquatic environments.

To address the complexity of planning in high-dimensional, deformable systems, the proposed method uses a bounding-shape abstraction, specifically, enclosing circles and rectangular bounding boxes to simplify motion planning. These enclosures abstract the robot's overall shape, reducing the high-dimensional planning problem into a lower-dimensional problem. A global planner uses a probabilistic roadmap (PRM) to compute a collision-free path …

Toward General Purpose Llms: From Domain Alignment To Multimodal And Multi-Agent Systems, Thang Nguyen

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Large Language Models have shown remarkable capabilities, but their generalization across domains, modalities, and collaborative settings remains limited. This work explores how LLMs can be adapted along three dimensions: domain specialization, multimodal processing, and multi-agent reasoning. First, we introduce a reward-guided retrieval mechanism that fine-tunes the retrieval component of a language model using preference-based supervision, improving response relevance in specialized domains. Building on this, we design a multi-agent framework for complex information-seeking tasks, where distinct agents handle query clarification, evidence extraction, and answer synthesis, enabling robust reasoning without additional model training. Extending beyond language, we investigate how LLMs can operate …

Precast Foundation For Steel Lattice Towers, Wessam Ramadan

All ETDs from UAB

Steel lattice towers are essential structures used in power transmission, telecommunications, and wind turbine towers, where they must withstand various loads to ensure stability and durability. The foundation system plays a crucial role in supporting these towers, with different types chosen based on soil conditions, environmental factors, and project requirements. Traditional foundations, such as drilled shafts, spread footings, and steel grillages have been widely used but often come with challenges, including long installation times, high labor costs, and difficult site conditions. As demand for transmission infrastructure grows, there is a need for faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly foundation solutions. …

Develop A Cross-Platform Toolset For In Situ Deep-Sea Coral Propagation, Joe Bevilacqua

Open Access Master's Theses

Mesophotic and deep-sea gorgonian octocorals in the Gulf of Mexico were significantly damaged following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, prompting a major federal investment in developing restoration techniques for these fragile, slow-growing communities. Asexual, in-situ coral propagation offers a biologically viable path for restoration at depth. However, current ROV systems are not optimized for the delicate, fine-scale interactions required to perform this process reliably. The objective of this research was to design, prototype, and evaluate a ROV-mountable toolset capable of preparing octocoral fragments for potting in epoxy substrate, with the additional goal of integrating the toolset into URI’s Coral Carousel …

Characterization Of The Solid-State Bonding For Simulated Charge And Seam Welds In The Porthole Die Extrusion Process, Randall L. Bowers

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

The isothermal (ISO-T) compression configuration is ideal for utilizing as a material input of flow stress at temperature and strain rate in models of the porthole die extrusion process due to the isothermal nature of the test. Micro-tensile testing was conducted to validate the solid-state welding integrity of the ISO-T samples at various temperatures and strain rates. Results of the mechanical testing were correlated with fractography and microstructural evaluations of the welds to confirm bonding behavior. Both clean interface conditions and oxidation and lubrication layers were evaluated to simulate the difference of seam and charge welds in the process. Results …

Computational Modeling Of The Heat Treatment Of White Oak Bound For Spirit Maturation, Kate E. Mclarney-Popham

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Maturation of distilled spirits in white oak barrels is a long standing practice known to have great impact on spirit character. Much of this impact can be controlled by the thermal modification of the barrel, since thermal degradation of the wood determines what wood compounds are available to interact with the spirit during maturation. In this work, a computational model for the thermal degradation of wood was developed and, with flavor compound data from literature, was used to investigate the effect of heat treatment on lignin-derived flavor compounds. The computational model in this work accounted for three solid species, three …

The Optimization And Manufacturing Scale-Up Of Polymeric Membranes Using Eco-Friendly Solvents, David Lu

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Polymeric membranes have become a prominent technology applied in water filtration due to the lower cost, energy input, and simpler manufacturing process relative to other separation technologies. However, the environmental impact of polymeric membrane fabrication remains a hindrance due to the use of hazardous solvents derived from fossil fuels (e.g., DMAc, NMP, DMF) that pose a risk to the environment and human health. Whereas recent studies have demonstrated the proof-of-concept of polymeric membrane derived from eco-friendly solvents, the next steps of optimizing and upscaling the production of these membranes remains understudied and a gap between lab-scale studies and the path …

Combinatorial Thin Film Approach To Accelerate Materials Discovery: Development Of Nanoporous And Bulk Multi-Principal Element Alloys, Tibra Das Gupta

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) have garnered significant attention in materials science due to their potential for exhibiting a combination of desirable properties stemming from their unique configurational entropy. While early research focused on equiatomic compositions, recent studies have indicated that non-equiatomic MPEAs may offer superior mechanical performance. However, the identification of optimal non-equiatomic compositions remains challenging due to the vast compositional space and the reliance on time-consuming and computationally expensive methods. This dissertation presents a combinatorial thin film approach as a rapid and efficient strategy for discovering two types of materials: nanoporous and bulk MPEAs.

The first study explores the …

Microstructural Characterization Of Complex Metal Alloy Systems With A Focus On Electron Microscopy, Alexandra Allamon

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs)/high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a class of materials that provide novel and superior combinations of properties, with promise for use in challenging application areas that many of the current established materials cannot fit. With a higher number of constituent elements, many of the newly created alloys are compositionally complex in nature, known to contain combinations of relatively soft FCC phases, hard BCC phases, and, in some cases, even harder intermetallic phases. Microstructural study of these new materials is essential to understanding the enhanced properties they may possess, but their complexity can make this study much more challenging …

Ion Hydration In Bulk And Nanoconfined Water: Insights From Machine Learning Force Fields, Zachary D. Baker

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Understanding ionic hydration remains a central challenge in physical chemistry and materials science, as the interactions between ions and water molecules govern diverse phenomena ranging from electrolyte transport to selective ion separation. While experimental techniques have provided invaluable insights into solvation energetics and coordination numbers, they often lack atomistic resolution, particularly under nanoscale confinement where direct measurement becomes infeasible. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can bridge this gap; however, conventional classical force fields are limited by their simplified, fixed functional forms and empirical parameterization, whereas ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) achieves higher accuracy at the expense of severe computational cost and …

Understanding The Influence Of Applied Magnetic Field On Aluminum Alloys: Implications On Strength, Precipitate Development And Diffusion Of Solutes, Damilola David Alewi

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

The processing of certain metals and alloys under magnetic fields presents a promising yet underexplored frontier for controlling microstructure alongside improving physical and mechanical properties. Magnetic fields can be strategically applied at different stages of materials processing, from melting and solidification to subsequent heat treatments to achieve targeted properties in materials. Although magnetic fields have been found to aid changes in microstructural evolution and phase equilibria in ferrous materials, there is limited application of this technique in non-ferrous material systems. This dissertation aims at contributing to the understanding of the influence of magnetic field on the mechanical properties and solid-state …

Development And Verification Of Testing Platform For Torque Vectoring Controller, Nicholas Petersen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A foremost concept in the automotive industry in recent years has been that of a vehicle “digital twin”. A digital twin is an accurate simulation of a dynamic system for the use of rapid development. These digital twins have a critical advantage over physical testing, which have dominated vehicle development up to now. As the cost of physical testing continues to rise, simulation can deliver rapid system development in a low-cost format. No simulation environment is a perfect representation of reality, however, and physical testing is still necessary to validate systems for use in the real world. This is especially …

Geospatial Analysis For Urban Resilience: Green Space, Flood Susceptibility, And Wetland Restoration Potential, Jessica Lareaux

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Through the integration of high-resolution geospatial data, hydrologic modeling, and spatial statistics, this research addresses three interrelated topics that are critical to sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient urban planning. The overall objective of this dissertation is to provide data-driven and machine learning-based geospatial analysis frameworks that enhance our understanding of environmental inequities, flood exposure, and the potential for wetland restoration, with a focus on urban contexts. The study presented in Chapter Two examines the distribution and accessibility of urban green spaces in Detroit, Michigan, using high-resolution geospatial data and geospatial analysis methods, including geographically weighted regression (GWR) and network-based analyses. This …

Batteryless Nfc-Enabled Wireless Sensor Node: Design, Optimization, And Implementation, Rishin Patra

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis presents the design, construction, and testing of a batteryless Near-field communication (NFC) powered wireless sensor node intended for maintenance free, short range Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The work focuses on harvesting energy from a 13.56 MHz NFC field to power a very low-power sensing platform capa- ble of measuring temperature, pressure, and humidity without the use of batteries or wired power. The motivation behind this approach is the growing need for reliable, sustainable, and low-maintenance sensing systems that can operate in environments where battery replacement is impractical, undesirable, or environmentally costly. The prototype is built around a …

Design Of Fast Start-Up High-Q Oscillator For Wireless Sensor Nodes Transceiver Frequency Reference, Abdolraouf Rahmani

Student Works (2020-2029)

With the prevalence of wireless sensor networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), optimizing power in battery-powered wireless nodes is crucial due to the inconvenience and cost of replacing batteries in remote areas. Synchronized power modulation between "Sleep" and "Active" states, known as burst mode activation, allows nodes to conserve power. However, frequent transitions between these states consume significant energy, highlighting the need to reduce the start-up time of the slowest component, the high-Q crystal oscillator. Additionally, to ensure improved synchronization within the network and a cost-effective IoT device manufacturing, the device should be produced with low start-up time variations …

Bright And Dark Pulsed Fiber Lasers Based On Multimode Interference, Yu Chen

Student Works (2020-2029)

Pulsed lasers, particularly ultrashort pulsed lasers, find widespread application across various fields including telecommunications, bio-imaging, spectroscopy, atmospheric measurements, surgery, and material processing. This study focuses on harnessing the potential of the single mode-multimode-single mode (SMS) structure as a robust avenue for developing simple, compact, and cost-effective bright and dark pulsed erbium-doped fiber lasers (EDFLs). The SMS configuration serves as an ingenious artificial saturable absorber (SA), facilitating the generation of ultrashort pulsed lasers through the Kerr Effect with nonlinear multimode interference. By precisely fusion-splicing single mode fibers to both ends of a designated length of multimode fiber, the SMS architecture is …

Development Of A Mediation Model Of Pain Cognition In Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Daniel M. Sop

Theses and Dissertations

Pain is a hallmark of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a genetic hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusion, and organ damage. While acute vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) have been extensively studied, the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and its interplay with brain function remain unclear. This dissertation investigates the relationships between cerebral blood flow (CBF), fluid cognition, and pain sensitivity in adults with SCD, utilizing advanced imaging techniques and validated assessment tools.

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were employed to measure CBF and brain activity, respectively. Pain sensitivity was assessed using the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), and …

Development, Synthesis And Characterization Of Advanced Low- Cobalt And High-Nickel Cathode Materials For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Arjun Patel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the improvement of structural and electrochemical stability of active materials for lithium-ion batteries. It explores the modification strategies to mitigate the issues related to Ni-rich cathode materials, along with the continuous production of cathode precursors using a slug flow reactor to improve the quality of the product.

The First part of the dissertation examines the effect of substitution of cobalt with aluminum and iron on the electrochemical stability of Ni-rich lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) materials. This study investigates how Al and Fe doping work and how they impact the performance and stability of these …

Modeling Synergistic Effects Of Integrin And Tgf-Β Signaling In Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition, Prerak Thakkar

Theses and Dissertations

The induction of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is initiated by a

number of protiens and growth factors, one of which is the profibrotic cytokine Trans-

forming Growth Factor β (TGF-β). Within the extracellular matrix (ECM), TGF-β

is found in a latent, inactive form bound to proteins such as fibronectin (FN). For

TGF-β to contribute to EMT induction, it has to be extracted from the latent com-

plexes into a soluble form. This soluble, activated TGF-β can then bind to receptors

on the cell membrane, which causes the transduction of signals that begin EMT. Re-

search has shown that the release …

Strength Imbalances And Shoulder Pain In Manual Wheelchair Users Stratified By Age Of Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (Sci/D) Onset, Ashlyn M. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction The majority of manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D) develop shoulder pain. In adults with SCI/D, there is evidence that upper limb strength imbalances are associated with shoulder pain. However, strength imbalances may indicate protective compensatory strategies, and other factors may be important contributors to pain. Currently, personalized prevention and management of pain is limited, little is known about joint strength imbalances and pain in children who use manual wheelchairs, and the effect of the age of SCI/D onset is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of age …

Hafnium Oxide-Based Nanoheterostructures For Catalytic Radiosensitization And Enhanced X-Ray Radiotherapy, Marlen Dariela Calix Quezada

Theses and Dissertations

Orthovoltage X-ray beams are attractive for surface and intra-operative radiotherapy. Yet, their clinical utility is constrained by rapid attenuation and the limited dose that can be delivered without harming healthy tissue. High-Z hafnium oxide (HfO₂) nanoparticles can boost local energy deposition through the photoelectric effect, while catalytic surface defects accelerate water radiolysis. Harnessing both mechanisms in a single nano-heterostructure could enable potent radiosensitization at diagnostic-range energies.

This thesis develops and evaluates HfO₂-based nanoheterostructures, both bare and Au-decorated, as catalytic radiosensitizers.

Two types of HfO₂ were evaluated, one was synthesized following a specific route and the …

Rehabilitation In Stroke-Related Flexor Synergy, Shawn J. Dirocco

Theses and Dissertations

Upper extremity abnormal flexor synergy caused by stroke can impair individuals by coupling upper extremity muscles with deltoid activation. Previous studies have shown that reduction in deltoid loading can decrease flexor synergy. Robotic rehabilitation has the ability to allow for reduced deltoid loading while assisting or constraining joints along the arm to increase rehabilitation outcomes. The effects of higher degree of freedom low impedance robotics needs to be tested to learn how various parameters affect flexor synergy in comparison to end point robotics. During the first experiment, we tested 16 chronic stroke patients with flexor synergy problems in 3 tasks. …

Visible Modulation Of Epsilon Near Zero Materials, Jonathan M. Weber

Theses and Dissertations

While Epsilon-Near-Zero materials have offered many benefits from their introduction to the field of nonlinear optics, those materials have also narrowed the range of wavelengths often studied. With reliable and proven enhancements to light-matter interaction in the ENZ region, many researchers have had little reason to extend the spectrum measured in experiments. The purpose of this work is to measure the intensity dependent refractive index of Indium Tin Oxide across a broad spectral range, from ultraviolet to near infrared, to improve the understanding of semiconductor nonlinearities far from Lorentz and Drude resonances. Furthermore, the visible region is naturally low-loss in …

Characterization Of Nanoplastic-Induced Exacerbation Of Asthmatic Pathophysiology In A Murine In Vivo Model, Keith Li

Theses and Dissertations

As global plastic production increases, so does the environmental and biological presence of nanoplastics (NPs), raising growing concerns about their potential impact on human health. These particles have been detected in various organs, including the lungs, yet their role in respiratory inflammation remains largely unexplored. Emerging evidence suggests that NP exposure may influence immune responses in the lungs, particularly in individuals with preexisting conditions such as asthma. However, the specific ways in which these particles interact with allergen driven inflammation are still unclear.

In this study, a murine model of allergic airway inflammation was used to investigate how surface modified …