Engineering Commons^™

Supermileage Competition: Vehicle Chassis, Enrico Miguel Sangalang, Walter Oppelt, Adam Ponce, Vincent Corella

Mechanical Engineering

The Supermileage Urban Concept Vehicle Chassis Project was proposed by the Cal Poly Supermileage club. The goal of this project is to deliver a fully assembled vehicle chassis by the end of the 2023-2024 school year to be used by the club in the 2025 Shell Eco-Marathon competition. The competition requires a four-wheeled vehicle to comply with various requirements outlined in the Shell Eco-Marathon rulebook, such as dimensions and some safety requirements. The team selected a backbone-style chassis as the design direction. This design consists of a main structural beam that supports all other chassis and vehicle components. This main …

Advanced Wildfire Hose Clamp, Sean King, Christopher Tokarse, Connor Buchinski, Isaac Maddox-White

Mechanical Engineering

This report describes in detail the manufacturing, assembly, and testing of our hose clamp. We start with a review of the changes we have made to our design since our last report, namely a new automatic latching system, and continue with our manufacturing and assembly processes. Then we detail our testing procedures that we created to evaluate how well our design meets user needs and discuss the results of our tests. Unfortunately, our design did not meet our residual flow rate criteria and showed excessive leaking when clamped, so we end with some discussion of the issues our design has, …

Sizing Wind Tunnel Heater For High Enthalpy Conditions, Justin M. Slavick

Master's Theses

This paper determines the feasibility of adding a heater to an existing blowdown supersonic wind tunnel to unlock new high-enthalpy test applications, considering cost and power requirements at a variety of different states. This process includes both modeling the current range of test section properties in Cal Poly's blowdown wind tunnel and determining the new range of properties that a heat exchanger could induce. These results are verified with a computational fluid dynamics study. Additionally, sublimation and ablation properties of materials are explored to create appropriate models to study atmospheric re-entry once the heat exchanger is implemented.

It is found …

What Construction Management Students Are Looking For In A Job Offer, Michael D. Aceves

Construction Management

Many construction companies and construction management firms invest large amounts of time and resources into the acquisition of new talent directly out of college from universities such as California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). Because of this, the knowledge of what incentives would be most enticing to a construction management student preparing to graduate would prove beneficial to the aforementioned construction management companies. In order to find a base level understanding of that knowledge this paper looks to report on a survey of construction management students at Cal Poly about how important a myriad of common job …

Heavy Civil Estimating Utilizing Hcss Heavybid, Quintan Matthew Davis

Construction Management

The estimate process is an essential aspect of the construction industry. Understanding how bids are formed and being able to create one for yourself is critical in being able to really understand cost breakdown of a construction process. This paper will focus around the process in creating a presentation for Cal Poly students, breaking down HCSS HeavyBid and its functions. This project was created to address this idea of attempting to teach HeavyBid to Cal Poly future young engineers. This was particularly important because young students learn how to be a great young engineer in the construction field, however not …

Printed Graphite Electrodes For Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries, Guanyi Wang

Dissertations

The rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market has demanded lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high energy density and fast charging capability. However, charging energy-dense LIBs with thick graphite electrodes at high current densities is typically facing challenges and leading to adverse performance, such as low energy density, short cycle life, rapid temperature rises and safety issues. The root cause is the onset of Li plating. During fast charging application, the sluggish lithium ions accumulated at the surface of graphite due to kinetic limitation and formed Li plating, especially when lithiated to a high state of charge (SOC). It has …

Novel Equimolar Medium Entropy Alloy (Ti-W-Mo) Via Selective Laser Melting For High Temperature Applications, Lindsey A. Salazar

Theses and Dissertations

High-temperature strength and high environmental resistance are necessary characteristics for materials under extreme working conditions in aerospace, nuclear, and chemical industries. In this study, a novel refractory medium entropy alloy (MEA) was developed from tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), and molybdenum (Mo) via an additive manufacturing process, selective laser melting (SLM). Through process optimization, (i) the formation of brittle intermediate phases was suppressed, (ii) the complete melting of tungsten particles was achieved, and (iii) a pure solid solution was formed. Due to the addition of Ti and Mo, the resultant alloy showed outstanding high-temperature strength compared to other tungsten alloys. The …

Ace Mentor Program - Central Coast Chapter, Brayden Samuel Groshart

Construction Management

For my senior project, I established a chapter of the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program in San Luis Obispo, California. This program provides high school students with hands-on experience and exposure to careers in the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. The program spanned eight weeks, balancing theoretical knowledge and practical application. The curriculum began with sessions on the fundamentals of architecture, engineering, and construction. In order to expose the students to real world practices, we organized tours of an architecture firm, an engineering firm, and an active construction site. These visits allowed students to engage with professionals, observe …

Commercial Construction Recruitment Preferences, Simon Ingram

Construction Management

Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in Construction Management at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo are provided with a wide array of opportunities for both social and professional activities. Often students are aware of the sector of the construction industry they would like to pursue after their degree is obtained but are unsure of what experiences or skills make them competitive recruiting candidates. This research focuses specifically on Commercial Construction companies to provide sector specific recruitment preference data. The purpose of the research is to provide students pursuing a full-time position in commercial construction with a roadmap …

The Challenges Of Building A Mass Timber Single-Family Home: A Case Study, Avery Emma Onan

Construction Management

This case study explores the various challenges faced by those involved in the pre-construction and construction of a mass timber, single-family home in Central Texas. Using semi-structured interviews, a subcontractor, an owner, a manufacturer, and two construction managers were questioned about their specific challenges with the build. These challenges were solely related to the use of mass timber on the project. In recent years in the United States, mass timber has become an increasingly desired building material to use in a commercial and multi-family residential context. Due to limited information and builder inexperience using mass timber in a single-family homebuilding …

Designing, Estimating, And Building A Deck And Overhang For The Paso Robles Police Department Shooting Range, Nicklaus Amil Zenner, Benjamin Henry Gallagher

Construction Management

This paper covers the design, estimating, and construction process by a team of students from Cal Poly to provide a deck and overhang for the Paso Robles Police Department Shooting Range. The project, initiated in the winter of 2024, aimed to provide a durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing deck and overhang suitable for a barbecue and lounge area. The paper focuses on the design and estimation phases, as well as material procurement and construction. Through meetings with the client, the team developed a design that met the police department's criteria for functionality, durability, and cost. The design process involved collaboration …

San Luis Obispo High School Ffa Barn Demolition: Disposal Of Material, Jake B. Schulman

Construction Management

San Luis Obispo High School’s FFA program needed to upgrade its deteriorating pig barn, involving three key scopes of work: demolition of the existing structure, proper disposal of materials, and reconfiguration of pig pens and water lines. This project required skills in demolition, framing, and plumbing, all of which our team learned during construction management courses at Cal Poly. The demolition entailed the complete removal of a barn with metal roof panels, wood trusses, joists, studs, and plywood sheathing. Proper disposal of these materials was crucial and will be detailed in this paper, with a brief discussion on demolition and …

Gateway Decathlon: Cost Estimation Of An Offsite Residential Construction Unit, Bradley Craig Blakemore Jr

Construction Management

This senior project focused on the cost of the materials used for the shell and structure of the Gateway Decathlon modular residential unit. Collectively, the group on the Gateway Decathlon project decided to design and build the structure using mass timber. A material takeoff of the building was performed, allowing for an accurate measurement of structural materials. After material selection, a final cost estimate was by multiplying the selected materials unit price by the total quantity of the material. The material cost estimate calculations were performed on the current Revit Model allowing for a full-scale analysis of the offsite building. …

A Case Study: Impacts Of A Building Retrofit On Employee Efficiency And Productivity, Rigo Zepeda

Construction Management

This case study explores the effects of retrofitting building systems on operational efficiency and employee productivity in the contemporary office environment. As concerns over sustainability and the well-being of employees are now at the forefront of modern workplace design, the retrofitting of outmoded building systems has been seen as an option to enhance energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction. This research paper focuses on the recently retrofitted Performance Contracting office building in Benicia, California. As heating and ventilation systems, and lighting are two big contributors to energy consumption in buildings and comfort, analyzing these systems provided insight into its building performance. …

Recycled And Waste Glass As A Sustainable Substitute For Aggregates And Cement In Concrete, Griffin Powers Finnane

Construction Management

Besides water, concrete is the most widely used material in the world. The production of Portland cement, the most crucial ingredient in a concrete mix, significantly contributes to global carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for 7-8% of the total. The majority of these emissions result from the cement production process, which involves kilns powered by greenhouse gas-producing sources. Additional emissions come from the heavy diesel equipment used to load and haul aggregates to batch plants. Although the construction industry is adopting more sustainable building techniques and materials, the basic concrete mix remains largely unchanged, continuing to contribute heavily to carbon emissions. …

San Luis Obispo High School Ffa Barn Demolition: Demolition, Ryan Reza Manesh

Construction Management

The San Luis Obispo High School FFA program required an upgrade to its swine enclosure including removal of the deteriorating pig barn. This project came in three unique scopes of work: demolition of the existing barn, proper disposal of materials, and reconfiguration of pig pens and water lines. This paper will cover specifically the demolition of the barn.. This phase of the project required skills in framing and plumbing, which our team had absorbed during specific construction management courses at Cal Poly. The reconfiguration included framing and securing a long span of fencing along the northern side of the project …

Can Leadership Classes Help Women In Construction Embrace Vulnerability Early In Their Careers?, Crystal Giselle Martinez

Construction Management

This study investigates how a vulnerability lesson, integrated into a construction management university course, impacts women’s comfort levels in showing vulnerability in their early careers. It also examines the perceptions of individuals on the subject of vulnerability prior to taking the class expressing societal norms in relation to vulnerability and leadership in relation to vulnerability. Pre- and post-surveys, utilizing the Likert scale and free responses, were used to gather data from students enrolled in a leadership-focused class at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Findings reveal that while vulnerability is seen as vital for leadership, gender challenges persist, shaped …

Skip The Grid: Pv System Installations In The Navajo Nation, Samuel Varney

Construction Management

The Skip the Grid initiative is a collaborative effort between interdisciplinary California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo students, SOLV Energy, and the non-profit organization Heart of America aiming to strengthen the quality of life for Navajo Nation families. Many of the Navajo Nation’s residents are not connected to the power grid and don’t have access to sustainable alternatives, and this project aims to combat this by installing photovoltaic energy panel systems with lights and a battery storage system in their homes. With the help and guidance of the Consolidated School District near Farmington New Mexico, the project team was …

Design, Estimate, And Cut-Sheet Of Playhouse For Girls Build Summer Academy, Miles Paul Miller

Construction Management

This Project-Based-Project was inspired by the Girls Build Summer Academy which is run by Professor Stacy Kolegraff. The camp is a week-long and the group of girls will construct a playhouse from scratch. The camp is to immerse young girls into the construction industry. This senior project is composed of 3 different components which include the Design, Estimate, and Cut-sheet of the playhouse. The project did not have any type of needed funding. This project is aimed to create an in-depth but intuitive set of plans and directions to create the playhouse for the girls. This project’s goal is to …

Iron Filings Impact On The Compressive Strength Of Concrete, Dominic Daniel Aceves

Construction Management

In this study, compression tests were performed on three different mix designs of concrete to evaluate the effects of iron filings as an admixture to concrete. The first mix design served as the control mix, being the variable that the other two mixes will be based off. The second mix design was the same as the first mix design, but with an added 12 ounces of iron filings. The third mix design was, again, the same as the first mix design, but with an added 24 ounces of iron filings doubling that of the second mix design. The objective of …

Skip The Grid: Delivering Power To The Navajo Nation, William Jacob Bellios

Construction Management

Skip the Grid is a groundbreaking initiative designed to bring sustainable, off-grid power solutions to isolated communities facing significant challenges, such as the Navajo Nation. This collaborative effort involved an interdisciplinary team of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) SOLV Energy, and Heart of America (HOA). Due to the vast and dispersed nature of the reservation, a historical lack of government investment, and the severe impact of COVID-19 on the community, many homes are without electricity. This project aimed to address these issues by installing Goal Zero solar panels, battery systems, and lighting in 24 homes of …

Gateway Decathlon: Carbon Calculations Of An Offsite Residential Construction, Isaac Robert Rubio

Construction Management

This senior project delves into a comprehensive calculation of carbon emissions for both efficiency and sustainability within the realm of modular construction. A material takeoff of the building was performed, allowing for an accurate measurement of materials and their respective EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) values. After material selection, a final carbon calculation of the building was calculated. Carbon emission calculations were performed on the current Revit Model allowing for a full-scale analysis, from Cradle to Gate, of the offsite residential unit. The results show that the total initial embodied carbon emissions of the unit is 9241 (kg-CO2e), representing the total …

San Luis Obispo High School Ffa Swine Barn Demolition And Enclosure Reconfiguration, John F. Spurlock

Construction Management

The San Luis Obispo High School (SLOHS) FFA program required an upgrade to its deteriorating swine barn. This project came in three unique scopes of work: demolition of the existing barn, proper disposal of materials, and reconfiguration of the enclosure and water lines. This paper will cover specifically the reconfiguration of the enclosures and the redesign of the watering system. This phase of the project required skills in framing and plumbing, which our team had absorbed during specific construction management courses at Cal Poly. The reconfiguration included framing and securing a long span of fencing along the northern side of …

Optimizing 3d Printed Concrete Effificeny: A Case Study Of Emergent 3d'S Iterative Process Improvement, Michael Stearns

Construction Management

This case study looks into the advancement of 3D printed concrete (3DPC) technology and its application by Emergent 3D, a company dedicated to addressing California's housing crisis through low-cost, sustainable construction. Emergent 3D, which was formed in response to the 2018 Carr Fire, uses 3DPC to quickly and economically design energy-efficient homes. Unlike traditional construction processes, 3DPC constructs buildings or walls layer by layer using computer-generated designs, reducing material and labor expenses. This case study focuses on Emergent 3D's first project, Enterprise Park, which gave them significant insights on improving the 3DPC process. This case study identifies crucial improvements in …

Skip The Grid: Bringing Power To Navajo Nation Students, Colette Burd

Construction Management

Skip the Grid is an annual joint initiative facilitated by the non-profit Heart of America involving California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) students and faculty, and SOLV Energy. The Skip the Grid project brings power and lighting to Navajo Nation families with school-age children by installing a self-contained solar battery system. Completed from March 24th through March 28th of 2024, this year the Skip the Grid project brought photovoltaic energy systems with solar panels, a battery, lights, and outlets to 24 homes, benefiting over 100 students in the Consolidated School District within the Navajo Nation. For the …

Slo Newman Catholic Center - Holy Monument, Luka Kosor

Construction Management

The SLO Newman Catholic Center is a Catholic Church that serves the students of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cuesta College. Around 300 students attend Catholic Mass every Sunday here. While searching for a Senior Project, I approached the Priest and Admin staff of this organization and asked if there was anything I could build for them. They informed me they were gifted this tile mosaic of the Lady of Guadalupe they wanted to showcase in their backyard. They asked me to design and build a holy monument that could exhibit this beautiful tile mosaic. After 6 months of …

Evaluating Value Engineering Techniques Of California Contractors, Mason Alec Montoya

Construction Management

Value engineering plays a critical role in delivering the best possible project to an ownership team. Preconstruction teams across firms of all sizes perform value engineering studies to determine how project scopes can be changed to advance the construction schedule, reduce costs, and ensure the end user is satisfied with their building. To determine how California general contractors employ value engineering, I used a series of interview questions in a structured format to interview four professionals from different California general construction firms. The analysis and findings of my study provide insight into how familiar construction teams are with value engineering …

Heavy Civil Estimating Utilizing Hcss Heavybid, Quintan Matthew Davis

Construction Management

The estimate process is an essential aspect of the construction industry. Understanding how bids are formed and being able to create one for yourself is critical in being able to really understand cost breakdown of a construction process. This paper will focus around the process in creating a presentation for Cal Poly students, breaking down HCSS HeavyBid and its functions. This project was created to address this idea of attempting to teach HeavyBid to Cal Poly future young engineers. This was particularly important because young students learn how to be a great young engineer in the construction field, however not …

Electrical Design For Moringa Leaf Dryer, Jake Weiss

Construction Management

The objective of this project is to provide a methodology to the electrical scope of mechanical leaf dryers. This dryer was particularly designed for an off-grid farm in New Longoro, Ghana in which resources and materials are limited. The electrical system must be designed so that it works with motors, variable frequency drives, worm gears, and other materials that could be sourced in Ghana. The system should also draw minimal power so that remaining photovoltaic energy could be utilized on the farm. The system should be simplistic and repeatable for other farmers to utilize. By using both a numerical analysis …

Feasibility Of Implementing A Construction Project In An International Country, Kristina Poliseri

Construction Management

This paper examines the execution of an international service project involving the construction of a complex system. It explores three distinct approaches assuming a fully designed system: building the system in the U.S. and shipping it internationally, having system pieces constructed entirely in the destination country prior to arrival for assembly, and developing a prototype in the U.S. followed by the construction of a full-scale system in the international country. Each method presents unique advantages and challenges. Building in the U.S. ensures high quality, advanced technology, and meeting tolerances, however, leads to significant fees, shipping costs, and logistical complications. Constructing …