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2013

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Articles 1261 - 1290 of 7289

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Charpy Impact Study Of Friction Stir Welded X-65 Steel, David Segrera, Dr. Tracy Nelson Sep 2013

Charpy Impact Study Of Friction Stir Welded X-65 Steel, David Segrera, Dr. Tracy Nelson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Industrial need for a high-strength, ferritic steel exhibiting desirable weldability, malleability, and corrosion resistance properties has led to the development of high strength, low alloy (HSLA) X-65 Steel. This class of steel uses small amounts of alloying material and very little carbon to make it more corrosion resistant than normal carbon-containing steels. As HSLA has gained popularity in automotive, naval, and other industries, the inherent need for better welding processes has arisen.

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A Self-Powered Wireless Microphone, Joel Neff, Dr. Brian D. Jensen Sep 2013

A Self-Powered Wireless Microphone, Joel Neff, Dr. Brian D. Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The idea for our project was to use vibrations from the human vocal folds to harvest energy during speech. This energy would then be used to power a wireless throat microphone, which would acquire a speech signal and then transmit it to a fixed receiver for communications systems. The measurements we took estimated that human vocal folds could produce vibrations with amplitudes on the order of 1-5 m/s2 at the skin surface on the throat. One research study done by Shad Roundy at UC-Berkeley demonstrated that a device capable of producing 300 µW of power could be driven off of …

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Tumor Drug Concentration Due To Ultrasonic Drug Delivery, Bryant Staples, Dr. William Pitt Sep 2013

Tumor Drug Concentration Due To Ultrasonic Drug Delivery, Bryant Staples, Dr. William Pitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The tri-block copolymer, Pluronic P105, has been found to be an ideal ultrasonically activated drug delivery vehicle because it forms micelles with hydrophobic polypropylene oxide cores that sequester hydrophobic drugs (Fig. 1). These micelles release their contents upon the application of low frequency ultrasound [1] such that drugs can be released specifically at the ultrasonicated region (Fig. 2). Such ultrasonically controlled release has been effective against cancer cells in vitro [2] and in vivo [3].

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Effect Of Water Concentration During Polymerization Of A Hydrogel On Swelling And Mechanical Properties, Justin J. Baker, Dr. William Pitt Sep 2013

Effect Of Water Concentration During Polymerization Of A Hydrogel On Swelling And Mechanical Properties, Justin J. Baker, Dr. William Pitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Hydrogels are polymers that absorb water and thus swell in the presence of water and/or body fluids. Hydrogels have been used in many drug-delivery and medical applications.1 One such application is to apply a thin coating of a hydrogel to the outer surface of a hearing aid to eliminate acoustic feedback. Acoustic feedback is the high-pitched squeal caused by an incomplete seal between the hearing aid and the surface of the ear canal. This incomplete seal allows amplified sound to escape and be re-amplified by the hearing aid. By coating a hearing aid with a hydrogel, the humidity and oils …

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Unnecessary Compaction Effort Due To The 95% Fixation, Aaron B. Smith, Dr. Travis Gerber Sep 2013

Unnecessary Compaction Effort Due To The 95% Fixation, Aaron B. Smith, Dr. Travis Gerber

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When soils are compacted, they become stronger and experience less settlement. Because of these improved characteristics, soils are usually compacted to some specified level before a foundation is built on top of them. The difficulty encountered is how to determine what the specified level of compaction should be. Currently, the standard in industry has been to compact almost all foundation soils to a minimum of 95% of the maximum laboratory density. Why do engineers almost without exception choose 95%? As stated by Monahan, (1994) industry appears to be fixated with 95%. Should there be a guideline for selecting what this …

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Earthquakes: How Will Gravelly Soils Respond?, Thomas J. Weaver, Dr. Kyle M. Rollins Sep 2013

Earthquakes: How Will Gravelly Soils Respond?, Thomas J. Weaver, Dr. Kyle M. Rollins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During earthquakes some soils loose their strength and flow like a liquid. This phenomenon is known as liquefaction. For many years, engineers and scientists have been studying the occurrence of liquefaction in silty and sandy soils. Recently, engineers and scientists have learned that gravelly soils can also liquefy under earthquake loadings. Many dams throughout the world have been constructed using gravelly soils. Much work is now being conducted in the United States to determine the safety of earthfill dams under earthquake loadings.

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Scar Effects On Vocal Fold Vibration, Todd Groesbeck, Dr. Scott Thomson Sep 2013

Scar Effects On Vocal Fold Vibration, Todd Groesbeck, Dr. Scott Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The influence of scarring on the vocal folds is of great interest to the speech community. Surgeons, educators, and vocalists all have interest in understanding what causes vocal fold damage, and how such damage may be repaired. Frequently, repair requires surgery, and the surgery may result in scarring. Scarring results in impaired vibration, thus altering the quality of the individual’s voice.

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Digital Signature Signing Server Archiving Method For Secure Data, Hoan Do, Gorden Romney Sep 2013

Digital Signature Signing Server Archiving Method For Secure Data, Hoan Do, Gorden Romney

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In a world where digital information can be so easily altered it is essential to protect the original content of digital files from unauthorized changes. This is especially important with digital images such as maps or historical documents. If these images are provided to the world for research or public use then proof must be provided showing that no alterations have been made and that the image contains exactly what it should. The DS3 project will create a digital signature system that will uniquely sign digital image files and provide a process to validate each file according to the individual …

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Bioremediation Of Contaminated Groundwater Development Of Bio-Wall Technology, Lyn Bobincheck, Dr. W. Vincent Wilding Sep 2013

Bioremediation Of Contaminated Groundwater Development Of Bio-Wall Technology, Lyn Bobincheck, Dr. W. Vincent Wilding

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Contaminated groundwater results from uncontrolled release of wastes such as fuel and industrial solvents. This contamination is cleaned up through several methods including bioremediation. Current methods of bioremediation include traditional pump and treat, bioventing, and bio-walls. Bio-walls are a new, promising technology described by several researchers.1,2 The purpose of this research was to determine the state of the art bio-wall technology, and to present a bio-wall design which optimizes necessary parameters for bioremediation.

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Visual Based Reverse Engineering, C. Porter Bassett, Dr. C. Greg Jensen Sep 2013

Visual Based Reverse Engineering, C. Porter Bassett, Dr. C. Greg Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Reverse engineering, or the process of taking an implemented idea and taking it back to the design stage, has many applications in many different types of engineering. One common application of reverse engineering is to take a manufactured part, measure its dimensions and shape, and then make new drawings or Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models of the part. When done manually, this is a very tedious process that includes measuring dimensions and manually inputting them into the CAD program. This also leaves a lot of room for human error either on measuring the part or inputting the dimensions. The reverse engineering …

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Ozone Photochemistry In A Natural Gas Basin During Winter: Simulations Of Results From The 2012 Utah Basin Winter Ozone Study, P. M. Edwards, K. J. Akin, J. Degouw, W P. Dubé, J. Gillman, D. Helmig, J S. Holloway, B. Lener, R. Mclaren, D. D. Parrish, J. Peischl, J. M. Roberts, T. B. Ryerson, Randy S. Martin, C. Warneke, E. J. Williams, C. J. Young, S. S. Brown Sep 2013

Ozone Photochemistry In A Natural Gas Basin During Winter: Simulations Of Results From The 2012 Utah Basin Winter Ozone Study, P. M. Edwards, K. J. Akin, J. Degouw, W P. Dubé, J. Gillman, D. Helmig, J S. Holloway, B. Lener, R. Mclaren, D. D. Parrish, J. Peischl, J. M. Roberts, T. B. Ryerson, Randy S. Martin, C. Warneke, E. J. Williams, C. J. Young, S. S. Brown

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The Uintah Basin in northeastern Utah, a region of intense oil and gas extraction, experienced ozone (O3) concentrations above levels harmful to human health for multiple days during the winters of 2009–2010 and 2010–2011. These wintertime O3 pollution episodes occur during cold, stable periods when the ground is snow-covered, and have been linked to emissions from the oil and gas extraction process. The Uintah Basin Winter Ozone Study (UBWOS) was a field intensive in early 2012, whose goal was to address current uncertainties in the chemical and physical processes that drive wintertime O3 production in regions of oil and gas …

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Wind Field Classification For Satellite Scatterometer Fieldwise Wind Estimation, Charles G. Brown, Dr. David G. Long Sep 2013

Wind Field Classification For Satellite Scatterometer Fieldwise Wind Estimation, Charles G. Brown, Dr. David G. Long

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Since near-surface ocean winds affect global climate, several space-borne instruments have been deployed to measure ocean winds. The most widely known of these instruments are the satellite scatterometers, such as the Seasat Scatterometer (SASS), the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT), and the Active Microwave Instruments (AMI) aboard the European Remote Sensing satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2. All of these devices measure near-surface ocean wind by transmitting microwave radiation to the ocean’s surface and then measuring the power level of the radiation scattered back to the satellite. The recorded power measurements provide information on the roughness of the ocean’s surface. Since wind alters the …

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Validation Of Earthquake Simulations And Their Effects On Tall Buildings Considering Spectral Shape And Duration, Ting Lin, Gregory Deierlein, Nenad Bijelic Sep 2013

Validation Of Earthquake Simulations And Their Effects On Tall Buildings Considering Spectral Shape And Duration, Ting Lin, Gregory Deierlein, Nenad Bijelic

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

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Computational Analysis Of Prosthetic Voice-Producing Elements, Britton Olson, Dr. Scott L. Thomson Sep 2013

Computational Analysis Of Prosthetic Voice-Producing Elements, Britton Olson, Dr. Scott L. Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many voice disorders impede normal speech production. In severe cases such as laryngeal carcinoma, the total laryngectomy procedure is required, resulting in the loss of the natural ability to produce sound for speech. In this case synthetic forms of speech are employed. One method of synthetic speech that has demonstrated potential is a “voice-producing element” (VPE) . Recent VPE designs consist of two latex membranes within a cylindrical housing that is placed in the tracheoesophageal wall in a “double-reed” configuration. Air flowing from the lungs between the membranes results in regular, large-amplitude, self-sustained vibrations. The membranes are loaded on the …

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Ultra-Small Scale Hydroelectric As A Supplemental Energy Source, Andrew Thompson, Dr. Daniel Maynes Sep 2013

Ultra-Small Scale Hydroelectric As A Supplemental Energy Source, Andrew Thompson, Dr. Daniel Maynes

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For centuries water has been used as a source of power; from the middle ages where waterwheels were used for simple mechanical tasks to the 21st century where large hydroelectric power plants supply megawatts of electricity to the power grid. In recent decades developing and remote regions in Tibet, Laos, Uganda and parts of Latin America, have begun using small scale hydroelectric generators to provide electricity to their areas. With the rising concerns of greenhouse gas emissions, developed nations have also begun to look into ‘small scale hydro.’1

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Quantum Hall Effect In Monolayer-Bilayer Graphene Planar Junctions, Jifa Tian, Yongjin Jiang, Isaac Childres, Helin Cao, Jiangping Hu, Yong P. Chen Sep 2013

Quantum Hall Effect In Monolayer-Bilayer Graphene Planar Junctions, Jifa Tian, Yongjin Jiang, Isaac Childres, Helin Cao, Jiangping Hu, Yong P. Chen

Birck and NCN Publications

The Hall resistance of a homogeneous electron system is well known to be antisymmetric with respect to the magnetic field and the sign of charge carriers. We have observed that such symmetries no longer hold in planar hybrid structures consisting of partly single layer graphene (SLG) and partly bilayer graphene (BLG) in the quantum Hall (QH) regime. In particular, the Hall resistance across the SLG and BLG interface is observed to exhibit quantized plateaus that switch between those characteristic of SLG QH states and BLG QH states when either the sign of the charge carriers (controlled by a back gate) …

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Development Of Models Of Laryngeal Cartilage Using Mri Images, Brianne Hamilton, Dr. Scott L. Thomson Sep 2013

Development Of Models Of Laryngeal Cartilage Using Mri Images, Brianne Hamilton, Dr. Scott L. Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The study of vocal fold vibration allows for greater understanding of how speech production occurs and of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of associated physiological disorders. Until now an environment to test vocal fold models which are anatomically similar in both form and function has not been available. It was necessary to have a larynx model in which artificial vocal folds can be placed and subjected to conditions found in the human body in order to attain a more comprehensive understanding of vocal folds and their function. This project was part of a team working with Dr. Scott L. Thomson …

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Fiber-Optic Chemical Sensor, John D. Gordon, Dr. Stephen Schultz Sep 2013

Fiber-Optic Chemical Sensor, John D. Gordon, Dr. Stephen Schultz

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) are valuable throughout many industrial and academic settings. These chemicals, however, often raise environmental and health related concerns. For example, chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC’s) are often used as cleaning solvents but have significant ozone depleting potential. In addition, many CHC’s are known human carcinogens, requiring restrictions to their use.

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Polyurethane (Pu) Foam Synthesis And Lean Manufacturing An Effective Business Suitable In Developing Countries, Sebastian Acosta, Danny Parades, Dr. Robert Todd Sep 2013

Polyurethane (Pu) Foam Synthesis And Lean Manufacturing An Effective Business Suitable In Developing Countries, Sebastian Acosta, Danny Parades, Dr. Robert Todd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our ORCA project was motivated by the realization that many South American countries have not taken full advantage of the polyurethane industry. The manufacturing of PU and its applications may contribute to the economic and social growth in less-developed nations. This may be accomplished if this potential industry is appropriate for development by small/medium enterprises and other business partnerships. The main goal of our ORCA research project was to learn by study and personal experience if the synthesis of PU foam truly is a suitable business in developing nations.

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Correlating Thomboembolism To Individual Platelet Aggregation Rate, Luke Werrett, Dr. Kenneth Solen Sep 2013

Correlating Thomboembolism To Individual Platelet Aggregation Rate, Luke Werrett, Dr. Kenneth Solen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objective of this research project was to identify a correlation between a traditional platelet activity test using an aggregometer, and a new test that measures interactions between blood and man-made materials in a simulated blood flow environment. A correlation between these data would give artificial organ recipients and open-heart surgery candidates a more thorough risk analysis of their situation, and indicate the need for caution or additional medication.

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The Mechanism Of Gravity Induced, Counter-Current Flow Of Oil And Water In Porous Beds, Kari Cook, Dr. Hugh Hales Sep 2013

The Mechanism Of Gravity Induced, Counter-Current Flow Of Oil And Water In Porous Beds, Kari Cook, Dr. Hugh Hales

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Computerized simulation of the flow in underground petroleum reservoirs is widely used by oil companies to optimize the production of oil and gas. Such simulations are known in the Industry as “reservoir simulation”. They are based on Darcy’s Law, smoothly varying flow potentials, and the assumption that all phases move uniformly through the pore spaces. It seems possible that at low flow rates, such as those resulting when gravitational forces predominate, a different mechanism applies. The more dense phases may move downward in some pores, while the lighter fluids move upward through others. This would result in much more rapid …

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Coastal Wind Retrieval Using Satellite Scatterometer Data, Michael Owen, Dr. David Long Sep 2013

Coastal Wind Retrieval Using Satellite Scatterometer Data, Michael Owen, Dr. David Long

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The SeaWinds scatterometer aboard the QuikSCAT satellite has been functioning to measure radar backscatter over the ocean since its launch in 1999. The backscatter data from the scatterometer is used to infer wind speeds over the ocean and is vital to ocean wind measurement as the satellite covers nearly the entire ocean daily. Backscatter measurements made by QuikSCAT in the vicinity of land are contaminated by land as it is generally much more reflective than ocean. Land contamination of backscatter measurements causes wind speeds near the coast to be vastly overestimated and to be so inaccurate as to be useless. …

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Impedance Detection Of Biological Molecules In Microfluidic Channels, Daniel Evans, Dr. Aaron Hawkins Sep 2013

Impedance Detection Of Biological Molecules In Microfluidic Channels, Daniel Evans, Dr. Aaron Hawkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

At the current time, the most sensitive detection methods for biological molecules are based on fluorescent tags. This requires the use of optical sources and detectors as well as the introduction of a fluorophore that can be attached to a molecule of interest. In light of these challenges, my research goal was to create a sensitive method of detection based on electrical impedance measurements rather than optical measurements. In theory, this technique has the potential for providing a detection method that can be easily implemented on multiple parallel channels on a microfluidic chip.

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Zero Power Shock Sensors Using Bistable Compliant Mechanisms, Brett Hansen, Dr. Stephen Schultz Sep 2013

Zero Power Shock Sensors Using Bistable Compliant Mechanisms, Brett Hansen, Dr. Stephen Schultz

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There are various applications for shock sensors, ranging from cell phones, to postal packaging, to automobile safety designs. These devices are designed to indicate when a predetermined threshold of impact force has been experienced. The designs of these sensors are varied. Some employ electrical stimuli while others utilize magnetic force. Much of the fabrication complexity and cost comes from the packaging and need to supply power to the sensor. To make practical the wide spread, every day use of shock sensors (i.e. postal packages), the sensors must be very cheap to make and require no electrical power. Therefore, there is …

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Development Of Synthetic Composite Materials To Simulate Vocal Fold Tissue, Allyson Pulsipher, Dr. Scott Thomson Sep 2013

Development Of Synthetic Composite Materials To Simulate Vocal Fold Tissue, Allyson Pulsipher, Dr. Scott Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Over the past 25 years, research has been done to analyze the response of vocal fold tissue to tensile loading. Although the research provided better understanding of vocal fold behavior, there has been significant variability in the results of each research endeavor. Many factors may have contributed to the differences, such as dissimilar experimental set-ups, difficulty of obtaining and analyzing vocal fold samples, etc. However, the most significant factor of variance is most likely related to the structure of the tissue itself.

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Palatometer, Art Krahenbuhl, Dr. Brian Jensen Sep 2013

Palatometer, Art Krahenbuhl, Dr. Brian Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The palatometer is a device previously designed by Dr. Sam Fletcher to aid in his work of speech therapy. The device consists of a series of sensors laid out on a grid that is attached to a mold of the user’s palate. As the user talks, the sensors react to the places where the tongue touches and sends a signal through wires to a processing chip, housed in a little black box. This black box is suspended around the user’s neck, and relays the data from the mouth to a computer that creates a digital representation of the sensor’s information …

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The Effects Of A User Interface On Productivity The Whiteboard Lms, Jeremiah Jackson, Dr. Barry Mark Lunt Sep 2013

The Effects Of A User Interface On Productivity The Whiteboard Lms, Jeremiah Jackson, Dr. Barry Mark Lunt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Common among modern universities, BYU included, is usage of Learning Management Systems, commonly known as LMS. LMS are electronic classrooms, often online, that allow for the learning process to continue outside of the traditional classroom setting. For several years, BYU has strived to use the Blackboard LMS to enhance the student experience. Unfortunately, many students and teachers dislike the program, and only use it sparingly, if at all. Initial interviews with students and teachers revealed that the problem behind Blackboard was that it has a poor user interface. Without proper training and/or experience using it, the features of Blackboard can …

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Thermal Management Of Lithium Iron-Phosphate Batteries, Nicholas V. Riedel, Perry Carter Sep 2013

Thermal Management Of Lithium Iron-Phosphate Batteries, Nicholas V. Riedel, Perry Carter

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The BYU Electric Vehicle Competition Team (EVCT) elected to use Lithium-iron phosphate batteries as the power source for their streamlined electric race car. This car will be used to attempt a land speed record for electric vehicles under 1800 lbs at the Bonneville Salt Flats in August 2008. These batteries were chosen because they were light-weight and relatively durable. However, there was some concern about using them in place of a more durable battery, like lead acid, because of the extreme temperatures and high electrical loads which the batteries would experience during a run.

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A Model Worth A Thousand Pictures, Tyson Triplett, Paul Skaggs Sep 2013

A Model Worth A Thousand Pictures, Tyson Triplett, Paul Skaggs

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Model-making is an essential part of the Industrial Design profession. An idea, no matter how good, is only as valuable as you are able to present it to others. Model-making can be seen as a language by which we share and validate our ideas as designers. More than that, it is a universal language that everyone understands no matter origin, education, or level of understanding. For this reason, we spend more time learning to convince others of our concepts than generating those ideas. A common saying around the department is: “If a picture is worth a thousand words then a …

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A Course Grain Model For Protein-Surface Interactions, Shuai Wei, Thomas A. Knotts Iv Sep 2013

A Course Grain Model For Protein-Surface Interactions, Shuai Wei, Thomas A. Knotts Iv

Faculty Publications

The interaction of proteins with surfaces is important in numerous applications in many fields—such as biotechnology, proteomics, sensors, and medicine—but fundamental understanding of how protein stability and structure are affected by surfaces remains incomplete. Over the last several years, molecular simulation using coarse grain models has yielded significant insights, but the formalisms used to represent the surface interactions have been rudimentary. We present a new model for protein surface interactions that incorporates the chemical specificity of both the surface and the residues comprising the protein in the context of a one-bead-per-residue, coarse grain approach that maintains computational efficiency. The model …

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