Engineering Commons^™

New York City’S Rising Sea Level And Coastal Erosion: Approaches To Resiliency, Ryder D. Isidro

Student Theses 2015-Present

No abstract provided.

Machine Learning For Intrusion Detection Into Unmanned Aerial System 6g Networks, Faisal Alrefaei

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Progress in the development of wireless network technology has played a crucial role in the evolution of societies and provided remarkable services over the past decades. It remotely offers the ability to execute critical missions and effective services that meet the user's needs. This advanced technology integrates cyber and physical layers to form cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), which consists of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), ground network infrastructure, communication link, etc. Furthermore, it plays a crucial role in connecting objects to create and develop the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Therefore, the emergence of …

Analysis Of Wingtip Vortex Structure Generated By Bio-Inspired Winglets, D'Zahn A. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Bio-inspired winglets were studied with the goal of better understanding the structure of the wingtip vortices they generate. Measurements of the tip vortex were previously carried out using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (sPIV). The bio-inspired winglet was tested on a rectangular NACA 0012 wing section at a 5-degree angle of attack and at a chord Reynolds number of 900,000. Velocity field measurements were recorded at 0.7 and 2 chord lengths aft of the wing’s trailing edge. Compared to the wing with no attachment and a traditional blended winglet, the bio-inspired winglet’s vortex exhibited significantly less intense flow field properties. These …

Design And Application Of Phase-Separating Peptides In Cytosolic Drug Delivery, Huihao Wang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This research investigates the design and application of phase-separating peptides for direct cytosolic drug delivery. Novel peptides (GHGXY)4, with variable amino acids, were synthesized using microwave-assisted chemistry to enhance phase separation and membrane fusion. In vitro experiments utilizing advanced imaging techniques demonstrated the peptides' capability to form coacervates and facilitate direct cargo, DNA, mRNA, and protein, delivery into the cytosol, bypassing traditional cellular barriers. The study also explores the role of inhibitor Bafilomycin and NH4Cl in phase-separating peptides functionality, offering significant insights into their delivery mechanisms. This research underscores the potential of phase-separating peptides in improving therapeutic delivery strategies.

Hybrid Rib And Air Core Arrow Waveguides Fabricated In A Thin Membrane Covered Trench, Seth Brent Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this work is the development of hollow core Anti-Resonant Reflecting Optical Waveguides (ARROWs) fabricated in a membrane covered trench. This technique is a new approach at building more efficient hollow core waveguides for integration into various platforms that involve liquid or gases. These structures are built on silicon wafers using standard microfabrication techniques, including plasma etching to form trenches. Four waveguide designs are demonstrated, which have different numbers of thin film reflecting layers. Research and manufacturing were conducted in BYU's Integrated Microelectronic Laboratory (IML). A brief history of past work at BYU on hollow core ARROW devices …

Optimization Of Ethylbenzene Production Facility, Chance Ferrell

Honors Theses

Ethylbenzene is a foundational organic compound used as a reactant in styrene production. The objective of this thesis is to present the optimization of the in-house production process of ethylbenzene, aiming to avoid external procurement for the downstream styrene manufacturing facility. The process underlines a strategic approach to enhance the yield and cost efficiency of the production of ethylbenzene. An economic analysis revealed a promising net present value of approximately $57.6 million. This thesis not only proposes a viable route for internal ethylbenzene generation but also discusses optimizing the chemical production processes for enhanced efficiency and sustainability.

Ammonia Recovery From Digester Centrate With Electrochemical Membrane Systems: Mechanism, Performance, And Application, Fubin Liu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nitrogen plays an indispensable role in living organisms and thus is a key element for agricultural production. Ammonia (NH3), as an important part in nitrogen cycle, can be synthesized by nitrogen fixing bacteria and the Haber-Bosch process, the latter of which requires an extensive energy input. Wastewaters can contain a large amount of nitrogen compounds because of kitchen and toilet wastes being discharged to sewage. The concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) can be hundreds mg per liter in some wastewaters like anaerobic digester (AD) centrate. However, both Haber-Bosch process and conventional wastewater ammonia treatment process are energy intensive, which making …

Affordable Bioprint Head-Adapter For 3d Printers, Andrew Ceralde, Dominic Drake, Noah Engles, Mohammad Alwan, Nevada Perry

Honors Capstones

Introduction: Addressing the need for affordable and accessible bioprinting technology, the Northern Illinois University bioprinting research and design project aims to democratize the field by developing an open source bioprint head. The initiative targets the prohibitive cost of commercial bioprinters by proposing an optimal design that can be integrated with widely available 3D printers, like the Creality Ender-3. This approach seeks to enable the widespread adoption of bioprinting technology, particularly for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Methods: Leveraging SolidWorks for design, the project employs a methodology that combines a precision extrusion system with thermal and UV crosslinking capabilities. …

Improving The Power Efficiency Of Woodward’S High-Power Inverter (Hpi) Using Algorithmic Part Selection., Jaron Holder, Ali Al Gazwi, John Childers, Jose Soublett

Honors Capstones

Woodward Inc. is a secondary aerospace manufacturer based in the USA that specializes in aircraft power and control systems. This senior design project was concerned with a power systems platform currently in development by Woodward, the High-Power Inverter (HPI) system. In this report, the senior design group from Northern Illinois University (NIU) demonstrated the creation of an algorithmic part selection process to choose more power-efficient electrical components, the prototyping using MATLAB Simulink, and the practical testing that showed an increase of 7% in the power efficiency of the HPI system.

Detection Of Unauthorized Transmissions In A Frequency Spectrum Using A Wireless Sensor Network, Benjamin Roehrig, Joel Brinkman, Dylan Zupec, Jannette Gonzalez

Honors Capstones

A prototype for a wireless sensor network has been designed to detect and identify unauthorized wireless transmissions in a frequency spectrum. This prototype design is intended to detect unauthorized transmissions within the FM band of frequencies independently at individual nodes with Software Defined Radio receivers and transmit that information to a fusion center for aggregation using a Bluetooth Low Energy mesh network. Aggregated results will be displayed to the user through a Graphical User Interface at the fusion center.

Using Unmanned Aircraft System (Uas)-Borne High-Resolution Hyperspectral Imaging And Gamma Radiometry For Rare Earth Element Exploration In The Bearpaw Mountains, Montana Usa, Emma Kamp

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The radiometric signature of thorium, in combination with the hyperspectral signature of carbonate minerals, can be a useful indicator of rare earth mineral occurrences in air-borne geophysical exploration. Recent technological advancements have allowed unmanned aircraft system (UAS)--borne spectral imaging and gamma-ray spectroscopy systems to acquire high-spatial-resolution data. In this study, we attempted to define and map an area of interest for rare earth mineral exploration using UAS-borne spectral and gamma-ray spectroscopy systems. Gamma-ray spectroscopy data were used to define an area of interest. Short-wave infrared imagery was used to detect and map carbonate minerals within the area of interest. Gamma-ray …

Variable Scale Pore System Effects On Unconventional Reservoir Fluid Properties And Production Mechanisms, David Reichhardt

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Improved recovery from tight oil reservoirs will be accomplished through a more thorough understanding of primary and enhanced production mechanisms. This is true for both primary production and production following cyclic gas injection processes. The production mechanisms are controlled by reservoir fluid properties and pore network characteristics. The pore networks found in these reservoirs include large fractions of nanometer scale pores, which effect fluid flow and storage. A numerical model was developed to describe the impacts that nanometer scale pore networks have on the fluid properties and oil production. In order to describe the effects, the nanometer scale pore networks …

Selective Separation Of Metal Ions From Aqueous Process Streams Using Magnetite Adsorbent, Daniel Geottlich

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The effect of coexisting ions on the selectivity of adsorption onto magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) for various elements in aqueous solutions was investigated. Surrogate solutions of varying concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs), heavy metals, and gangue elements (low commercial value elements or metals) were mixed with MNPs. Selectivity experiments were performed on surrogate samples based on the composition of a REE ore concentrate and a leach liquor from the chlorinated products of the roasted REE ore concentrate. Adsorption efficiency of magnetite was determined by measuring ion concentration in a sample using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Magnetite is selective …

Comparison Of All-In Sustaining Costs, Gold Grade, And Gold Prices In North American Gold Mining Companies, David Abiodun

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Mining has evolved into an equilibrium of ore deposit management, environmental stewardship, and economic profitability that necessitates a proper understanding of economics and production efficiency. The All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) was introduced in 2013 to better capture the cost of producing one ounce of gold and, when compared with the gold price and grade, could describe a company’s gold production efficiency. In this paper, this novel analysis focuses on US and Canadian operations under Barrick and Newmont, the two largest gold mining companies in North America, from 2019-2022. Published data for Coeur and Kinross were also secondarily analyzed. Under Newmont …

Mpem Capstone Presentation, Jason Schneider

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Master of Project, Engineering and Management (MPEM) Final Capstone Presentation.

Mpem Capstone Presentation, Kaelin Newman

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Master of Project, Engineering and Management (MPEM) capstone final presentation.

Mpem Capstone Presentation, Sarah Hambidge

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Master of Project, Engineering and Management (MPEM) Final Capstone Presentation.

Mpem Capstone Presentation, Stetson Ratzlaff

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Master of Project, Engineering and Management. MPEM Capstone Final Presentation.

Electrical Resistance Tomography Measurements In Column Flotation Of Pure Hydrophobic And Hydrophilic Systems, Vimeipha Vilayphone

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Column flotation was phenomenologically investigated with Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) as an uninterrupted instrument to measure gas holdup. Two-phase tests were performed to use the measurements for examining gas dispersion. Results were found to duplicate the findings in a previous thesis. With confidence attained in experimental procedures, three-phase tests were then performed to compare gas holdup with hydrophobic and hydrophilic solids. Hydrophobic solids included talc as well as dolomite with dodecyl amine (DDA) collector. Hydrophilic solids included dolomite as well as talc with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) depressant. Variables throughout the research included frother concentration and sparger size. Results showed gas …

Process Intensification For Rare Earth Elements Adsorption By Resonant Vibratory Mixing, Oluwatosin Adebayo, Richard Ladouceur, Zainab Nasrullah

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The adsorption capacity for six rare earth elements (Lanthanum, Terbium, Neodymium, Dysprosium, Praseodymium, and Holmium) by biochar produced from hemp feedstock was investigated. An innovative approach to enhancing the adsorption of rare earth elements using biochar was studied and investigates the potential of resonant vibratory mixing (RVM) as a process intensification method compared to conventional mechanical mixing for the adsorption process. Hemp hurds as source of biomass was pyrolyzed to produce biochar at a temperature of 4500C for 60 minutes. The biochar was characterized by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-red), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), Surpass 3 Electrokinetic solid surface analyzer, and …

Application Of Biochar / Bentonite Based Admixtures In Reinforced Concrete For Corrosion Prevention, Jacob Fleury

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Reinforced concrete systems are in many sectors of infrastructure. Due to a combination of elevated compressive strength from the cement and aggregates and tensile strength from the reinforcing steel, reinforced systems are favorable in construction applications where high strength is desired. However, while reinforced concrete is in service, it can be introduced to contaminants that cause corrosion. Contaminants can leach through the porous matrix of the concrete structure and influence initiation of corrosion products on reinforcement. Corrosion is the primary cause for advanced deterioration of concrete structures. Concrete deterioration has promoted research efforts for the protection of future systems. This …

Enhancement Of The Mechanical Behavior Of Nitinol Wire For Vascular Stent Applications By The Addition Of A Polymer Matrix Composite Coating, Baylie Phillips

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Several clinical studies since 2008 have reported stent failure through mechanical means from inadequate strength, fatigue failure, coating failure via delamination and cracking, and pathological failures. Enhancement of the mechanical performance and stability of the polymer coating has the potential to minimize coating failure, aiding in the prevention of the other failure modes. The present study fabricated a polymer matrix composite coating from poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles on nitinol wires. Five weight fractions of HA (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 wt.% HA) were studied for their influence on the mechanical performance of nitinol. The coatings were …

Characterizing And Modeling The Hydraulic Regime Of The Upper Missouri River, Koby Martin

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Modeling river behavior in software is essential to increase the lifetime of hydraulic structures, while protecting surrounding communities from flood and ice jam events. This research focuses on defining a novel methodology to collect and analyze river discharge, geometry, and landcover data, providing rural communities with a method of modeling river behavior. This includes the collection of critical river information that is not available to the public, and the process for surveying or interpolating geometric constraints. The methodology for modeling rivers in software shows strong correlation with historical data, capturing the full geometry of the river and those structures that …

Enabling On-Device Learning Through Hybrid Edge Computing Frameworks, Md Sharif Ahmed

Electrical Engineering Theses

In recent advancement of technology implementing Machine Learning (ML) algorithms with edge devices has gained remarkable popularity. Enabling Machine Learning (ML) in the edge opened new hybrid branch where edge hardware meets with Machine Learning (ML). Day by day devices are becoming more powerful and capable of doing a lot of computation. These powerful computational capabilities created the way of implementing Machine Learning (ML) on small edge devices. There are diverse ways we can implement machine learning models to the edge. For any embedded prototype, implementation of Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) is making the IoT (Internet of Things) devices intelligent …

Analyzing Heat Generated From Electro-Osmotic Flow Utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics, Jordan Elizabeth Grothe

Honors Thesis

Without extensive vascularization, the transfer of fluid and nutrients through human tissue is limited to diffusion and weak interstitial flow. Electroosmosis, or the flow of fluid driven by an electrical field, has become a promising solution. Scientists have begun applying electricity to human tissue to promote stronger interstitial flow; however, optimization of this process has proven to be a challenge due to ohmic heating. Cells function within a small range of temperatures and exposure to voltages exceeding the threshold will cause cells to degrade and die prematurely. This research seeks to better understand and quantify the range of voltage where …

Investigating The Impact Of Secondary Activation Time On The Adsorption Properties Of Activated Biochar For Arsenic Removal From Wastewater, Achyuth Bharadwaj Rayarao

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Biochar, a naturally occurring and renewable carbon material, becomes porous through activation. Activated biochar is an ideal candidate for use as an adsorbent. The objective of this study is to investigate whether activated biochar derived from Colorado soft pine serves as a better adsorbent and demonstrates enhanced adsorption capabilities after undergoing secondary physical activation at various activation times. The effect of secondary action time on physical adsorption properties drawn from the analysis of isotherm plots, surface areas and pore size patterns were examined by using a physisorption analyzer. Chemical structures were identified using both ultimate and proximate analyses, while porosity …

Analysis And Evaluation Of Different Transformer Architectures For The Protein Sequence Representation And The Corresponding Hypothetical Applications, Mary Mao

Theses and Dissertations

This project is to investigate and assess several Transformer topologies for the modeling of protein sequences and their corresponding uses. Each major model for the protein sequence representations is inspected with its mathematical theory and analyzed for the different performance of the models with various validation repositories.

Rgb Root Matriz Color Dance, Danielle E. Gauthier

Theses and Dissertations

RGB Root Matriz Color Dance (Color Dance) is an immersive, interactive experience that combines poetic phrases and color filters to create a womb-like environment. Designed by Danielle Gauthier, this artistic piece uses a webcam to respond to users’ movements in real time, allowing them to confront and express their emotions through metaphor and dance. Color Dance creates a unique platform for self-discovery and empowerment by fostering a connection between the body and discomforting emotions.

Simulating Information And Communication Applications In Employee Interaction Network Models, Matthew Kanter

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Information and communication technology (ICT) use has been identified throughout its development and evolution with the Internet boom as a net positive tool for most employees and organizations in the working world. Only recently have studies regarding employees’ well-being begun to come to the forefront of research regarding these rapidly evolving technologies, however these are important issues to discuss in the context of work-life boundary management, emotional exhaustion, overwhelming stress levels, and moral disengagement among other employee well-being dimensions. To explore how employees’ well being might be influenced by ICT use, this study conducted a quantitative survey and analyzed a …

Detection Of Unauthorized Transmissions In A Frequency Spectrum Using Wireless Sensor Network, Joel Brinkman, Jannette Gonzalez, Benjamin Roehrig, Dylan Zupec

Honors Capstones

A prototype for a wireless sensor network has been designed to detect and identify unauthorized wireless transmissions in a frequency spectrum. This prototype design is intended to detect unauthorized transmissions within the FM band of frequencies independently at individual nodes with Software Defined Radio receivers and transmit that information to a fusion center for aggregation using a Bluetooth mesh network. Aggregated results will be displayed to the user through a Graphical User Interface at the fusion center.