Lunar Payload Logistics: Advancing Autonomous Control For Lunar Surface Transporter Vehicles, Liam Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Key Parameters On Thermal Properties Of Carbon Nanotube Modified Epoxy Composites, Lida Najmi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The application of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced epoxy matrix composites (CRECs) has attracted extensive attention in various industrial sectors due to the significant improvement of material properties imparted by CNTs. The thermal behavior of these nanocomposites is governed by complex heat transfer mechanisms operating at different scales, resulting in a complex relationship between the effective thermal response and the microstructural characteristics of the composite. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate the thermal conductivity of CRECs, focusing on the effects of key parameters such as the length and volume fraction of CNTs, the degree of cross-linking within …

Development Of Bio-Based Coating Materials For Environmentally Friendly Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications, Anne Carolyne Mendonca Cidreira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Computation-Efficient Deep Learning Models For Computer Vision And Multimodal Vision-Language Tasks Via Network Pruning, Abir Mohammad Hadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid evolution of deep neural networks over the past decade, the demand for efficient, generalizable, and task-adaptable models, especially in computer vision, has increased significantly. To address the computational and deployment challenges posed by overparameterized models, the research community has extensively explored model compression techniques such as pruning, quantization, and distillation. These approaches aim to enhance model efficiency without compromising performance, particularly when adapting to domain-specific tasks under limited resources. This dissertation investigates several underexplored yet critical aspects of task-aware deep learning model compression, spanning both convolutional and vision-language architectures. In the early part of this work, we …

Simulating Positive Ion Distribution In The Protodune Single Phase Detector, Vishnu Pfeiffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work covers the validation and implementation of a model to solve for argon ion (Ar+) distribution in the ProtoDUNE-SP liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC). ProtoDUNE-SP undergoes a constant flux of cosmic ray muons due to surface operation. The performance of the ProtoDUNE-SP provided valuable insights into single-phase technology, membrane cryostat technology, and calibration of cryogenic instrumentation. Still, challenges in achieving precise measurements persist due to the space charge effect—the distortion of the electric field within the detector due to the accumulation of positive argon ions generated from constant cosmic muon flux. The overarching goal of this thesis is …

Effects Of Peel Angle And Strain Rate On The Bond Between Frcm Composite And Concrete Substrate, Lucas Robert Gervais

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites have gained increasing attention for the rehabilitation and strengthening of concrete and masonry structures due to their favorable mechanical properties, compatibility with existing substrates, and ease of application. The effectiveness of any strengthening procedure depends on the quality of the bond between the external reinforcement and the substrate, ensuring efficient stress transfer and enabling the system to reach its ultimate capacity without premature debonding. While research has focused on the bond performance of FRCM systems under pure shear loading and quasi-static, low strain rate conditions, the effects of mixed-mode loading and high strain rates representative …

Methods To Improve The Computational Efficiency And Accuracy Of Second-Order Elastic Steel Frame Analyses, Nadine Faramawi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This paper investigates the derivation and performance of new stiffness coefficients. The estimated coefficients aimed to improve the geometric stiffness matrix representation and their application in elastic second-order analysis for steel frames. The newly developed (C1-C4) coefficients incorporate non-linear effects and reduce computational efforts to efficiently enhance the accuracy of second-order analysis. These coefficients are particularly beneficial for braced structures where they allow more refined analysis using fewer elements per member, especially as the load applied to the frame approaches the critical buckling load. However, for cases of unbraced frames, using these approximated coefficients showed no significant advantages in comparison …

Deep Learning For Computer Vision Applications In Medical Diagnostics And Wildlife Monitoring, Mostapha Al Saidi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This dissertation explores innovative applications of deep learning and computer vision techniques across three distinct domains: medical imaging, dermatological diagnostics, and wildlife monitoring. The research addresses critical challenges in each field through the development and optimization of convolutional neural networks and other deep learning architectures.

The first study examines COVID-19 classification from X-ray images, comparing one-shot versus two-stage classification approaches using transfer learning with pre-trained models such as VGG16 and VGG19. The initial hypothesis was that breaking down the classification task into two optimized tasks would yield better results than one-shot classification. Results demonstrated that the single-stage approach achieved superior …

Reuse Of Calcium Carbonate (Caco3) Recovered From Discarded Carpets As Filler In Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (Frp) Composites, Roshan Devkota

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over four billion pounds of carpet are discarded annually in the United States, making carpet waste a significant environmental concern. Calcium carbonate (CaCo₃) constitutes up to 45% of the mass of most synthetic carpets. Reusing this CaCo₃ as a filler in the rapidly growing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) industry, which is projected to reach USD 10.38 billion, presents a low-cost, practical approach to developing a market-based solution to post-consumer carpet waste.

This study investigates the reuse of CaCo₃ recovered from discarded carpet backing as a filler in FRP composites, focusing on its mechanical viability in comparison to virgin CaCo₃. The methodology …

Engineering Nanomaterials From Phase-Change Biological Materials Reacting With Carbon Dioxide, Qingyang Li

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The current global situation concerning CO2 emissions is increasingly alarming, with rising concentrations of CO2 significantly worsening climate change and global warming. Atmospheric CO2 levels are now at their highest in millions of years, driving a host of catastrophic effects, including but not limited to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, disrupted ecosystems, deteriorating air quality, respiratory health issues, heat-related illnesses, threats to food and water security, and escalating social and geopolitical tensions. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C higher than that of pre-industry – as called for in the Paris Agreement – emissions need …

Electro-Mechanical Behavior Of Core-Shell Carbon Grease-Silicone Fibers Fabricated Via Coaxial Direct Ink Writing, Fahrettin Kilic

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Highly stretchable strain sensors are essential components in soft electronics, enabling integration of sensing and signal transmission into deformable systems. This thesis explores the fabrication and characterization of coaxial core–shell fibers composed of a conductive carbon grease core and an elastomeric silicone shell. These fibers were produced using coaxial direct ink writing (DIW), a versatile additive manufacturing technique that allows continuous deposition of multi-material filaments. The goal was to achieve mechanically compliant yet electrically stable fibers capable of withstanding large deformations, suitable for applications in wearable electronics and soft robotics.
The printed fibers were systematically examined through mechanical tensile testing, …

Advancing 4h-Silicon Carbide Power Device Technology Through Improved Device Design, Performance And Reliability, Stephen A. Mancini

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The work presented in this document focuses on advancing the overall design, performance, and reliability of 4H-SiC power devices through various design architectures and processing strategies. Power devices serve as an efficient way to control the flow of power and thus are utilized throughout a vast number of different systems. These systems accommodate various current and voltage ratings to support applications such as personal electronics, electric vehicle components, fast chargers, renewable energy solutions, and energy storage systems. As the demand for these applications grows alongside global electrification and sustainability efforts, minimizing power losses becomes increasingly important. Therefore, developing efficient and …

Recovery Of Iron And Aluminum From Acid Mine Drainage For Beneficial Uses, Katelyn Renee Pepe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a widespread issue across the globe, in which some of the most critical cases are created by the mining industry. Researchers have investigated ways to derive benefits from AMD, such as precipitating rare earth elements (REEs) to generate potential revenue from AMD treatment and supplement market demand. However, the bulk of precipitated sludge is composed of iron and aluminum, which also have market value but are discarded in current practice.

Using the Omega site in West Virginia (WV) as a representative AMD source, the objectives of this study are (1) to determine a replicable precipitation …

Development And Deployment Of In Situ Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing Systems And Data Processing Workflows For Oceanographic Observatories In Coastal And Deep-Sea Environments, Johann Sebastian Becker

Open Access Dissertations

Over the last two decades, fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) has emerged as a transformative technology capable of providing unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution observations of temperature in a broad range of environmental sensing, industrial, and civil engineering monitoring applications. DTS uses a single interrogator unit to measure temperature continuously along an optical fiber, effectively turning the fiber into the equivalent of an array of temperature probes that can be interrogated synoptically. Modern commercially-available DTS systems are capable of continuous sensing with sampling frequencies up 5 sec, spatial resolution of 0.25 m, and temperature precision up to 0.01 °C) observations, on …

Electro-Vascular Dynamics During Auditory Processing: Variation Along The Schizotypy Continuum, John P. Mclinden

Open Access Dissertations

Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) are complementary noninvasive neuroimaging modalities that have contributed greatly to our understanding of the mechanisms of auditory processing. As an emerging technology, fNIRS has produced promising insights into the mechanisms of auditory processing, although considerable work remains to characterize hemodynamic responses in auditory tasks. In addition, the complementary nature of EEG and fNIRS and the relationships between the signals they record have been underexplored. In particular, nonlinear interactions between these signals remain under-characterized, despite the potential benefit to future multimodal neuroimaging studies. A challenge in understanding these interactions is the influence of systemic …

Democratizing Deep-Sea Technology Development Using Rapid Prototyping Techniques, Breanna Motsenbocker

Open Access Dissertations

Deep-sea research and exploration have consistently been inaccessible to a broader oceanographic community due to the lack of affordable technology and resources that are required for this type of work. Traditionally, to investigate the deep sea, large research vessels are required to operate the expensive and massive equipment that can withstand the intense pressure and harsh environment beyond 200 meters of water. Not only does this lessen the capacity for exploring the deep sea but it also introduces an extreme inequity for who can participate and lead these efforts. With a growing demand for the global Blue Economy and a …

Development And Characterization Of Polysaccharide-Based Controlled Drug Delivery Platforms, Amanda Pepler

Open Access Dissertations

Drug delivery research focuses on overcoming challenges in patient treatment. Most therapeutics are delivered systemically through oral or intravenous routes. However, these administration methods are often inefficient due to therapeutic hydrophobicity, poor bioavailability, and liver metabolic clearance, necessitating frequent dosing. When treatment plans require frequent dosing, patients experience significant fluctuations in therapeutic concentration in the bloodstream, which can increase adverse side effects. These factors contribute to low patient compliance. Therefore, the core focus of drug delivery research is to develop new administration routes for therapeutics. Drug delivery systems (DDS) that can target therapeutics to a localized region offer advantages over …

Beyond The Phonon Gas Model (Pgm): Unraveling The Unique Mechanistic Processes Dictating Thermal Transport In Highly Anharmonic And Disordered Materials, Sandip Thakur

Open Access Dissertations

Thermal transport in nonmetallic solids has traditionally been described by the phonon gas model (PGM), in which heat is carried by weakly interacting phonon quasiparticles in an ordered crystalline lattice. However, this model breaks down in materials characterized by strong anharmonicity, dynamic disorder, or structural complexity, features prevalent in many next-generation materials used in energy conversion, optoelectronics, and thermal management. This dissertation investigates thermal transport in such complex materials, including metal halide perovskites (MHPs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and 2D-3D heterostructures, through large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and frequency-resolved spectral analyses.

In MHPs, the work reveals …

Multi-Scale Dynamic Modeling, Validation, And Uncertainty Quantification Of Radial Flow Fixed Bed Contactors For Co2 Capture, Ana Flávia De Alencar Arraes Monteiro

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One of the key sources of carbon dioxide emissions to the environment is fossil fuel combustion for power generation. Post-combustion CO2 capture using amine-based solvents is currently the most matured process. However, amines are corrosive and lead to degradation products at even moderate temperatures generating environmental pollutants, and require high energy for regeneration. Solid sorbents are a promising alternative. They possess lower regeneration energy, thermal stability, and have highly tunable porous structures with large surface area that can help in achieving high loading and high adsorption rates. This work focuses on mathematical modeling of CO2 adsorption/desorption processes using solid sorbents. …

Framework For Development Environment Selection In Digital Twin Applications, Carlos Dodero Fernandez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Digital Twin (DT) technology, a cornerstone of Industry 4.0, facilitates real-time synchronization between virtual models and physical manufacturing systems, enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making. However, its widespread adoption is hindered by the absence of standardized methods for selecting Development Environments (DEs) for DTs, compounded by challenges in cost, interoperability, and connectivity with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) protocols. This thesis proposes a Systematic Selection Framework to address this gap, offering a structured methodology to evaluate DEs based-on visualization quality, scalability, interoperability, and cost-effectiveness for manufacturing applications. The framework categorizes and compares sixteen DEs into Game Engines, Robotics Engines, and Simulation …

Flower Cluster Matching Utilizing The Unscented Transform For Robotic Pollination, Andy Chu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The use of automated systems for agriculture is integral to keeping the food supply secure. Both industry and academia are exploring and applying methods to increase the yield of plants in environments ranging from outdoor fields to greenhouses. Specifically, many automated systems use continuous monitoring of plants to track plant health and yield. The use of computer vision is necessary when it comes to precision operations that use robotics. Today, robots are trained to weed, harvest, and pollinate. To accomplish these tasks autonomously, a lot of data is needed, which is where spatial-temporal observations of the plants are being recorded …

Design And Simulation Of An Ai-Powered Autonomous Quadrotor Framework For Search And Rescue Operations, James J. Shope

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly quadrotor platforms, have proven to be indispensable tools for search and rescue (SAR) teams due to their maneuverability, rapid deployment, and affordable operation. The current SAR use cases of quadrotors span from aerial surveillance to mission planning and strategic deliveries. However, most SAR applications remain passive or semi-autonomous, such that they rely on human-operated control or data assessment. Advancements in autonomous control strategies bring about a future where a single SAR operator can program and deploy several UAVs. This thesis details the development and simulation of a fully autonomous, AI-powered quadrotor framework capable of detecting …

Delineating Underground Geological Formations: An Integrated Lidar And Camera-Based Approach For Enhanced Feature Identification In Poorly Lit Mining Environments, Timothy James Batchler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Underground mining environments present challenges in accurately identifying geological formations and potential hazards due to poor lighting conditions and confined spaces. Traditional imaging methods often fall short, making it difficult to detect critical geological features such as limestone, shale, and other rock formations. This research addresses these challenges by integrating camera imagery with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data to improve geological formation detection in poorly lit mining settings.

LiDAR, with its ability to generate high-resolution three-dimensional models in low-light or dark conditions, offers a promising solution to these limitations. By combining LiDAR’s precise 3D models with camera imagery, the …

Enhancing Pillar Stability Assessment In Underground Limestone Mines Using Lamodel: Integrating Empirical Strength Equations For Improved Ground Control, Alim Elibol

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Underground stone mining accounts for approximately 21% of all underground mining operations in the United States, with more than 2,000 workers employed in this sector as of 2019. Ground control failures, particularly those involving massive pillar collapses and roof falls, pose significant safety hazards, contributing to 40% of fatalities and 15% of lost workdays since 2006. Several massive pillar collapses have occurred in active limestone mines from 2015 to 2021, and a fatal incident was reported in January 2022 in a mine operating within the Loyalhanna formation. Given these risks, accurate stability assessment tools are essential for improving mine safety. …

A Multiscale Ai Framework For Forest And Agriculture Health Monitoring: Drone-Based Object Recognition And Segmentation For Automated Ecological Assessment, Sruthi Keerthi Valicharla

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Forest and agricultural ecosystems are increasingly at risk due to invasive species, pests, and diseases, necessitating scalable, automated, and intelligent monitoring solutions. Traditional field based forest and agriculture health assessments are limited by cost, time, and spatial coverage. This dissertation presents a multiscale deep learning framework that automates forest and agriculture health monitoring using drone imagery and computer vision techniques. The system operates across three spatial levels: forest level, tree level, and leaf level, combining object detection, segmentation, and classification models to support large scale ecological assessment.

At the forest level, high-altitude drone imagery is processed using object detection and …

A Framework For Biomimetic Robot Design Applied To The Development Of A Robotic Model Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Clarissa A. Goldsmith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For decades, the field of biologically inspired robotics has leveraged insights from animal locomotion to improve the walking ability of legged robots. Recently, “biomimetic” robots have been developed to model how specific animals walk. By prioritizing biological accuracy to the target organism rather than the application of general principles from biology, these robots can be used to develop detailed biological hypotheses for animal experiments, ultimately improving our understanding of the biological control of legs while improving technical solutions. Much of this work involves biologically inspired walking controllers informed by the morphology and dynamics of the insect nervous system, which necessitate …

Quantifying Subsurface Pavement Temperatures Subject To Future Climates And Implications For Pavement Resilience, Austin Michael Jarrell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Assessment of anthropogenic climate change impacts in pavement design and analysis remains limited within engineering practice, despite growing recognition of the need for climate-resilient roadway infrastructure. Research efforts have increasingly focused on integrating future climate projections into mechanistic-empirical pavement design, which represents the leading edge of the state of practice. However, a lack of consensus persists regarding the optimal methods for incorporating climate projections, particularly in the selection of downscaling techniques and global climate models (GCMs) to ensure accuracy and applicability for pavement performance analysis. This research investigates the impact of statistical downscaling methodologies and GCM selection routines on subsurface …

Microwave-Assisted Reduction Of Critical Metal Oxides From E-Waste Mixture, Kurundu Shavinka Jayasekera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The efficient recovery of critical metals such as tantalum (Ta), manganese (Mn), gallium (Ga), and indium (In) from electronic waste (e-waste) is essential for resource sustainability and environmental protection. This research uses microwave-assisted treatment to investigate the carbothermal reduction of these four specific metals from their oxides in a simulated e-waste mixture, with carbon black serving as both a microwave coupling and reduction agent. Microwave processing is used specifically because it offers a rapid and energy-efficient alternative to conventional thermal methods, with the benefits of intrinsic heating and selective heating of materials. The first experiments centered on understanding the effects …

Augmentation And Hybridization Of Conventional Forms Of Process Control With Advanced Control Methods, Daniel Paul Beahr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Within the last decade in the field of process control, there has developed a distinct gap between the technological advancements of today and the well-established theory that has preceded it. This is most evident where the novel developments and structures often outpace the necessary guarantees and strong foundation required to ensure the possibility of widespread adoption. Therefore, the goals of this work are to broadly integrate those novel advanced control methods into the field of process control in such a way to increase the applicability and encourage implementation.

The first portion of this work seeks to further explore the nature …

Membrane Reactor Modeling And Optimization For Hydrogen Production, Ayooluwa Tomiwa Akintola

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There has been an ongoing trend toward cleaner fuels for more environmentally benign forms of energy generation. Recently, hydrogen has been identified as a clean fuel for energy generation. However, the most established, efficient, and widely utilized technique for producing hydrogen remains the steam methane reforming (SMR) in the presence of catalyst. Unlike other fossil fuels, utilizing methane from natural gas in an SMR process to produce hydrogen emits less, but yet a notable sum of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the endothermic nature of SMR reactions imply that there is a high energy requirement to obtain a substantial amount of hydrogen …