Engineering Commons^™

Wiihopp, Jeff Christian, Ben Hoselton, Derek Simon

Mechanical Engineering

Childhood obesity is becoming a growing problem in the United States. According to the CDC, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years [7]. It can lead to health problems previously reserved for adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. For the team WiiHopp project, we plan to turn a JumpSport mini-trampoline into a controller for the Nintendo Wii console. The hope is to help turn the problem of video games and the laziness surrounding them into an active solution to combat the problem of childhood obesity.

Our goal is to produce an add-on …

Access|Closure Balloon Catheter Redesign Project, Keenan Bamburg, Yvette Castillo, Elizabeth Eskildsen

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Strider, George Cummings, Brian Kreidle, Ricky Lee, Clark Steen

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Beyond Lean: Simulation In Practice, Charles R. Standridge Ph.D.

Open Textbooks

Lean thinking, as well as associated processes and tools, have involved into a ubiquitous perspective for improving systems particularly in the manufacturing arena. With application experience has come an understanding of the boundaries of lean capabilities and the benefits of getting beyond these boundaries to further improve performance. Discrete event simulation is recognized as one beyond-the-boundaries of lean technique. Thus, the fundamental goal of this text is to show how discrete event simulation can be used in addition to lean thinking to achieve greater benefits in system improvement than with lean alone. Realizing this goal requires learning the problems that …

Influence Of Warm Mix Additives Upon High Rap Asphalt Mixes, William Rogers

All Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine the effect of warm mix (WMA) modifiers on asphalt mixes containing high percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Mixes were created using three aggregate sources, four RAP percentages (0%, 20%, 35%, and 50%), and three warm mix modifiers (HMA, zeolite, and Sasobit®). Base binders from the same source (PG 64 -22, 58 -28, 52 -28) and one rejuvenator were used for each mix to ensure the final blended binder grade was at least PG 64 -10.
Specimens were created at HMA or suggested WMA temperatures and tested for rut depth, indirect tensile strength (ITS), …

Vortex Tilting And The Enhancement Of Spanwise Flow In Flapping Wing Flight, Spencer Frank

HIM 1990-2015

In summary the tilting mechanism helps to explain the overall flow structure and the stability of the leading edge vortex.; The leading edge vortex has been identified as the most critical flow structure for producing lift in flapping wing flight. Its stability depends on the transport of the entrained vorticity into the wake via spanwise flow. This study proposes a hypothesis for the generation and enhancement of spanwise flow based on the chordwise vorticity that results from the tilting of the leading edge vortex and trailing edge vortex. We investigate this phenomenon using dynamically scaled robotic model wings. Two different …

Investigation On Interactions Of Unsteady Wakes And Film Cooling On An Annular Endwall, Matthew J. Golsen

HIM 1990-2015

In recent decades, greater interest in the effect of rotational wakes on gas turbine film cooling applications has produced increasing numbers of studies on these unsteady phenomena. Wakes are primarily shed from upstream components such as transition duct walls, stator vanes, and rotors. Studies have shown that in areas of unsteady flow, the best performing parameters in conventional steady investigations may not be the best for unsteady applications. One common method of modeling the unsteady wake interaction in subsonic flows is the use of spoke wheel type wake generators using cylindrical rods to produce the velocity detriment and local increase …

Context-Driven Agents In Computer Supported Cooperative Works, Brian D. Lichtman

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis describes a research project that investigates the level of contextualization needed to successfully build context-driven agents that can manage a cooperative project. Many times in industry, collaborators in a large project may be located vast distances from each other. It is for this reason that management of such projects can often be difficult. The purpose of this research is to design an agent that can take on the role of a project manager (PM) to assist the human project manager. Specifically, this thesis looks to give such project management agents full situational awareness. It is hypothesized that only …

Laser Particulate Counter Calibration To A Micro-Orifice Uniform-Deposit Impactor, Benjamen Fredrich Seely

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In semi-arid regions, like southwest Idaho, snowmelt is a significant source of water. Anthropogenic activities continue to increase demand for this vital natural resource. Water resource managers must be able to quantify both the timing and quality of snowmelt. Atmospheric contaminants can deposit on the snow, altering its physical properties. For example, deposition of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) can cause snow to darken, thereby increasing radiative forcing on the snowpack, potentially causing a change in snowmelt timing.

This research is to calibrate a laser particulate counter (LPC) to a federal reference standard. The LPC provides real-time PM concentration data and …

An Inertial Measurement System For Hand And Finger Tracking, Edward Nelson Henderson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The primary Human Computer Interfaces (HCI) today are the keyboard and mouse. These interfaces do not facilitate a fluid flow of thought and intent from the operator to the computer. A computer mouse provides only 2 Degrees of Freedom (2DOF). Touch interfaces also provide 2DOF, but with multiple points, making the touch interface far more expressive. The hand has 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DOF)by itself. Combined with the motion of the fingers, the hand has the potential to represent a vast array of differing gestures. Hand gestures must be captured before they can be used as a HCI. Fortunately, advances …

Comparison Of A Recurrent Neural Network Pv System Model With A Traditional Component-Based Pv System Model, Daniel M. Riley, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Photovoltaic (PV) system modeling is used throughout the photovoltaic industry for the prediction of PV system output under a given set of weather conditions. PV system modeling has a wide range of uses including pre-purchase comparisons of PV system components, system health monitoring, and estimation of payback (return on investment) times. in order to adequately model a PV system, the system must be characterized to establish the relationship between given weather inputs (e.g., irradiance, spectrum, temperature) and desired system outputs (e.g., AC power, module temperature). Traditional approaches to system characterization involve characterizing and modeling each component in a PV system …

Avian Hazard Advisory System (Ahas): An Evaluation Of Ahas Accuracy As A Predictive Tool In Bird Strike Risk Assessment For Civil Aviation, Inger Catherine Oyoko

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of bird strikes began when human aviators made their first ventures in flight and joined birds in an already crowded environment. In the decades following these first flights, the bird strike problem has resulted in numerous fatalities and millions of dollars worth of damaged or destroyed aircraft in both civil and military aviation. The problem has been further exacerbated by the technological leaps in the aviation industry such as the increase in the number of aircraft and engines on an aircraft, the introduction of the jet engine, and also faster, quieter more efficient engine design making aircraft harder …

Historic Calculator Project, Will Harris, Dan Marioni, Kevin Webb, Chad Williams

Mechanical Engineering

The Deutsches Museum of Munich, Germany requested add-on components to their mechanical calculator exhibit. The end-goal is to produce an interactive 3D model in software to demonstrate the functions of the Braun-Vayringe Machine (BVM). There will be four students working on this project at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo: two mechanical engineers (Dan Marioni and Will Harris) and two computer engineers (Chad Williams and Kevin Webb).This project involves the coordination of three facilities; the Deutsches Museum, and the Mechanical and Computer Science Departments of Cal Poly. The name of the project is known as the Historic Calculator Project …

Clean Energy Water Disinfection For Small Rural Remote Communities, Nathan Bearden

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The University of Arkansas competed in the 2011 Waste-Management Education and Research Consortium (WERC) competition. The U of A team participated in Task 7, which was titled “Clean Energy Water Disinfection for Small, Remote Rural Communities”. The task looks for a solution to a continuing problem throughout the world: disinfecting water. The task’s problem statement was to develop and a standalone disinfection system that could be used for a small community. It will need at least 3000 gallons of water per day. The solution must address only bacterial disinfection and must be powered by a non-fossil based energy source. Other …

Development Of A State Of The Art Traffic Microsimulation Model For Nebraska, Justice Appiah, Bhaven Naik, Laurence Rilett, Yifeng Chen, Seung-Jun Kim

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Ndor's Actuated Advance Warning Systems, Justice Appiah, Laurence Rilett, Zifeng Wu

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Pedestrian Countdown Timers On Safety And Efficiency Of Operations At Signalized Inersections, Anuj Sharma, Jacob Schmitz

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Application Of The Empirical Mode Decomposition On The Characterization And Forecasting Of The Arrival Data Of An Enterprise Cluster, Linh Bao Ngo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Characterization and forecasting are two important processes in capacity planning. While they are closely related, their approaches have been different. In this research, a decomposition method called Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) has been applied as a preprocessing tool in order to bridge the input of both characterization and forecasting processes of the job arrivals of an enterprise cluster. Based on the facts that an enterprise cluster follows a standard preset working schedule and that EMD has the capability to extract hidden patterns within a data stream, we have developed a set of procedures that can preprocess the data for characterization …

Fabrication Of Composite Nanomaterials For Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells, Benjamin Seth Newton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A material with the precise combination of amorphous silicon and polycrystalline silicon would be able to take advantage of the high absorption capabilities of amorphous silicon and the electron transport capabilities of polycrystalline silicon. Polycrystalline nanostructures in the form of wires can also take advantage of other properties of light absorption, trapping and scattering inherent in nanowire structures. These properties of high absorption and electron transport in one device would lead to advances in the search for highly efficient low cost solar cells and sensors. In this work a thin film material composed of an array of polycrystalline silicon nanostructures …

Location-Aware Traffic Management On Mobile Phones, Sarath Krishna Mandava

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The growing number of mobile phone users is a primary cause of congestion in cellular networks. Therefore, cellular network providers have turned to expensive and differentiated data plans. Unfortunately, as the number of smartphone users keeps increasing, changing data plans only provides a temporary solution. A more permanent solution is offloading 3G traffic to networks in orthogonal frequency bands. One such plausible network is open Wi-Fi, which is free by definition. As Wi-Fi networks become ubiquitous, there are several areas where there is simultaneous Wi-Fi and 3G coverage. In this thesis, we study the feasibility of offloading 3G traffic to …

Automated Digital Machining For Parallel Processors, Joshua Tarbutton

All Dissertations

When a process engineer creates a tool path a number of fixed decisions are made that inevitably produce sub-optimal results. This is because it is impossible to process all of the tradeoffs before generating the tool path. The research presents a methodology to support a process engineers attempt to generate optimal tool paths by performing automated digital machining and analysis. This methodology automatically generates and evaluates tool paths based on parallel processing of digital part models and generalized cutting geometry. Digital part models are created by voxelizing STL files and the resulting digital part surfaces are obtained based on casting …

Performance Analysis And Fitness Of Gpgpu And Multicore Architectures For Scientific Applications, Mohammad Bhuiyan

All Dissertations

Recent trends in computing architecture development have focused on exploiting task- and data-level parallelism from applications. Major hardware vendors are experimenting with novel parallel architectures, such as the Many Integrated Core (MIC) from Intel that integrates 50 or more x86 processors on a single chip, the Accelerated Processing Unit from AMD that integrates a multicore x86 processor with a graphical processing unit (GPU), and many other initiatives from other hardware vendors that are underway.
Therefore, various types of architectures are available to developers for accelerating an application. A performance model that predicts the suitability of the architecture for accelerating an …

4-(N,N-Diethylamino)Benzaldehyde Thiosemicarbazone As Corrosion Inhibitor For 6061 Al - 15 Vol. Pct. Sic(P) Composite And Its Base Alloy, G M. Pinto, J Nayak, A N. Shetty

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The inhibitive action of 4-(N,N-diethylamino)benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (DEABT) on the corrosion behavior of 6061 Al -15 vol. pct. SiC(p) composite and its base alloy was studied at different temperatures in sulfuric acid medium containing varying concentrations of it, using Tafel extrapolation and AC impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Results showed that DEABT was an effective inhibitor, showing inhibition efficiency of 80 % in 0.5 M sulfuric acid. The adsorption of DEABT on both the composite and the base alloy was found to be through physisorption obeying Langmuirs adsorption isotherm.The thermodynamic parameters such as free energy of adsorption and activation parameters were calculated.

Mechanical Properties Of Stir-Mixed Sicp-Reinforced Aluminium Composites, R Buntan, D Phuenchomphu, P Sukmoung, K Doomao, O Anunapiwat, T Patcharawit

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Aluminium composites have found their strength in engineering applications such as automotive, electrical and light-weight applications. To achieve uniform microstructure and good mechanical properties, the fabrication techniques are prime factors in controlling wettability and porosity problems. This research therefore aimed for studying microstructure-mechanical property relation of SiCp-reinforced 356 aluminium composites fabricated by a cost-effective stir casting process, to which three elemental additions, Al-5Ti-B, Sr, and Mg,were investigated. Furthermore, effects of SiCp additions (0-15 wt.%) and T6 heat treatment (530C/12h + 155C/4 h) on mechanical properties of the composites were also studied. The 356 aluminium ingot was melted at 700C then …

Analysis Of The Import, Export, And Bioavailability Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus Within Pineview Reservoir, Brady K. Worwood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was conducted to provide new and useful data about Pineview Reservoir and its watershed, produce water and phosphorus (P) budgets for Pineview Reservoir, test the validity of conclusions made in the Pineview Reservoir Total Maximum Daily Loading (TMDL) document, and create estimates of nitrogen (N) loading to the reservoir from both surface and ground water sources. The production of the water and P budgets, as well as the N loading estimates, was accomplished by measuring flow, nitrate, ammonium, total phosphorus (TP), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) that was entering and exiting the reservoir through surface water sources and …

A Framework For Developing And Integrating Effective Routing Strategies Within The Emergency Decision Support System, Joseph W. Yu

Master's Theses

In recent years transportation professionals have shown increasing interest in evacuation planning. With the advances in computing technologies it is possible to simulate urban transportation networks with great detail. These details from the traffic simulation model can be used for devising strategies for evacuation and emergency response in case of a disaster.

This thesis describes the modeling, calibration, and validation of the VISSIM traffic simulation model coded for downtown San Jose. The network is then used to test various evacuation scenarios to assess evacuation strategies that would be effective in case of a human-caused disaster.

The network modeled in the …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, December 2011, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Nonlinear Aerodynamic Corrections To Blade Element Momentum Model With Validation Experiments, Robert S. Merrill

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Blade element momentum theory is well suited for propeller analysis during the early stages of design. The analytic blade element momentum model is presented along with a proposed nonlinear improvement. The analytical model makes small angle assumptions which are known to be inaccurate under some conditions. The nonlinear model avoids these assumptions. The results of the analytical and nonlinear models are compared against each other. The differences between these are most prevalent on lower pitch propellers at high advance ratios. A wind tunnel validation test is outlined. Results of the validation test and other published data from the University of …

Aircraft Longitudinal Control Experiment, Dustin Schaff

Aerospace Engineering

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and analysis of an experiment that demonstrates the stability and control system characteristics of an aircraft constrained at the center of gravity in an air flow field. Given a set of basic requirements, the physical system (including the airframe, wings, tail, and mounted ball bearing) was designed, modeled, and manufactured. With the aircraft placed in front of a fan and allowed to rotate freely with the ball bearing, an angular rate sensor and servo motor to the deflect the elevator may be connected to any computer using an analog/digital Data Acquisition (DAQ) device to …

Effect Of Size Reduction Parameters In Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Process, Brian Breneman

Biomedical Engineering

Within pharmaceutical manufacturing, size reduction is one of the most extensively used and vital unit operations. Size reduction in tablet production is achieved primarily through milling procedures, which allows for attaining product uniformity, optimizing product solubility, and improving bioavailability. Additionally, powders with a narrow range of size distribution can obviate problems in downstream processing as pertains to blending, compression, and coating as well as improve drug performance¹. The purpose this study was to characterize the effect of various size reduction parameters as a result of the pharmaceutical milling process on a lactose wet granulation formulation and chemically active …