Engineering Commons^™

Optical Measurements Of Diesel Soot Formation, Michael Joseph Richards, Dr. Dale Tree

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to aid in the research of Kenth Svensson, PhD. student at BYU. I was able to perform many vital tasks in preparation for data acquisition. The proposal which we submitted named three tasks which were measuring and mapping the temperature gradient within a combustion chamber, mapping the mass of the fuel as a function of injection duration and pressure, and calibrating a CCD camera. A partial summary of Svensson’s research topic and objectives is provided below to help others understand the importance of this research.

Apparatus To Measure The Performance And Manufacturability Of The Multiple-Layer Floating-Opposing Arm Centrifugal Force Clutch, Derek Wright, Dr. Robert Todd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Centrifugal force clutches are used around the globe in devices from washing machines to garden tillers. Considering methods of reducing the cost of such clutches, the Utah Center of Excellence for Compliant Mechanism Research developed a fully compliant version, known as the Floating- Opposing Arm Centrifugal Force (FOA) Clutch. Unfortunately, the thickness required for the FOA clutch to perform competitively with comparable clutches makes manufacturing solid FOA clutches slow and costly. To overcome this difficulty, the clutch may be produced as stackable thin layers that sum to the desired performance characteristics. A testing apparatus is required to quantify the performance …

Comparison Of The Variance In The R-Value Calculated Using The Power Law In If Steel To Experimental Measurements, Craig Przybyla, Dr. Brent Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As advances in engineering and technology increasingly require engineers and scientists to work in smaller length scales, they must have a greater understanding about how materials and their properties behave at these scales. This is true particularly in the field of mechanical engineering with the development of MicroElectroMechanical Systems or MEMS. These are tiny mechanical systems that are only measured in micrometers and that can only be seen with the aid of high powered microscopes. In order to build MEMS that are reliable and perform as they should, engineers not only must have an understanding of the material properties of …

Static Stability Of Micro-Air Vehicles, Stephen Griffiths, Nathan Knoebel, Daniel Reimann, Jon Ostler, Dr. Jerry Bowman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this research was to find the optimal combination of three static stabilityenhancing features: dihedral angle, vertical position of center of gravity, and tail volume ratio.

Workforce Assessment Of The Inland Waterways Industry: A Survey Of Current And Future Training And Personnel Needs, Lenahan O'Connell, Timothy J. Brock

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report describes the findings of a preliminary review of the workforce needs of the inland waterways industry, which currently confronts a human resources crisis and must recruit more people who can work their way up to the skilled positions on towboats. The looming surge in retirements will present a significant hurdle—especially as its large cohort of baby boom river pilots and captains reach retirement age. The industry will need to recruit, train, and retain competent personnel for a very demanding and important set of jobs. While many people can handle the tasks of a deckhand, only a minority will …

Space Environment-I Lecture - Powerpoint Presentation, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

Professor Bob Twiggs PowerPoint lecture on Space Environment presented on October 14, 2013.

Space Systems Engineering Sse 120 - Space Lecture, Fall 2013, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

Professor Bob Twiggs' preview questions for his space lecture on Space Systems Engineering SSE 120 delivered on October 14, 2013.

Calibration Of Seawinds On Adeos-Ii Via The Quikscat Calibration Ground Station, Spencer Haycock, Dr. David G. Long

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A scatterometer is essentially an orbiting radar aimed at the Earth’s surface. It can be used to study weather patterns, track icebergs, observe polar sea ice, detect climatic changes, and estimate environmental factors such as vegetation and soil moisture. Correct calibration of the scatterometer is essential in order to yield accurate measurements of these data.

Black Liquor Pyrolysis, Jarom D. Webster, Dr. Thomas H. Fletcher

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The black liquor recovery boiler is the largest and most expensive piece of equipment in a modern pulp mill. Inside this boiler, black liquor is burned to produce electricity for the mill and also to recover spent chemicals. Black liquor combustion occurs in three stages: drying, pyrolysis, and char combustion. Understanding black liquor pyrolysis is an important step to controlling and improving the efficiency of the recovery boiler.

Mri Rf Receiver And Transmitter Design, David A. Thayer, Dr. Travis E. Oliphant

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Radiofrequency (RF) transmitters and receivers are a critical component in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These are the components used for imaging. The goal of this project was to design an RF transmitter and receiver. Both were successfully designed and implemented.

Lemmings: A Student Animation, Craig Paul Van Dyke, Dr. Brent R. Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Lemmings brought together eighteen students for one full year to work on a 5 minute computer animation. Such a learning experience broke the bonds of a normal artistic and technical education; it became a lesson in teamwork, leadership and hard work. The entire animation was student run and directed.

Catalyst Regeneration/Wax Solubility, Steven Gale Smith, Dr. Calvin Bartholomew

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Catalysts are widely used throughout many industries to decrease reaction time and make processes economically favorable. In the synthetic fuels industry a catalyst is used to convert carbon monoxide gases (CO) to hydrocarbon liquids (CnH2n+2). In this process, the catalyst becomes coated with the heavier hydrocarbon products. This coating is a wax and deactivates the catalyst (inhibits the catalyst from reacting). The catalyst is currently one of the largest expenses for this process and prevents the process from being competitive with natural fuels. Hence, a method to remove the waxes from the catalysts was studied. The process of removing the …

Anisotropic Etching In Silicon And Other Materials Using A Reactive Ion Etcher, Justin Henrie, Dr. Aaron Hawkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Microfabrication technology has been one of the major areas of advancement of technology from the latter half of the twentieth century until today. Initially, microfabrication wasn’t a new concept—it started as a way to make large, complex electronic circuits smaller, and therefore more durable and less power-consuming. With advances in microfabrication techniques, we are starting to be able to not only manufacture solid-state electronic devices on a microscopic scale, but also mechanical devices with moving parts that operate at incredible speeds.

New Constant-Force Mechanism Configurations, Bart D. Frischknecht, Dr. Larry L. Howell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In machine design it is often desirable to correlate output force with displacement. Incorporating a translational spring into the design creates a linear relationship between force and displacement. In contrast, if a constant output force is desired independent of displacement, solutions include pneumatic or hydraulic systems or complicated systems of weights or springs. A simple lightweight mechanical device that exhibits constant-force output over a significant displacement would have the potential of replacing complicated current systems. It could also provide an improved solution for systems where a constant-force output is desirable but has not yet been proven feasible.

Civil Engineering And Construction News, Georgia Southern University

Civil Engineering & Construction: News & Publications (2011-2022)

• Dr. Junan Shen Presenting at the First International Recycled Rubber Products Technology Conference
• New Faculty Being Recognized

The Integration Of Small Diameter Isotrussô Structures To A Bicycle Frame, Rodney B. Boynton, Dr. David W. Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In order to fully explore the capabilities of the IsoTrussÔ Structure in a light weight application it was decided to replace not only the main tubes of a bicycle frame, but the rear tubing as well. Several of the initially proposed steps to this process have been completed and show good sign of meeting the performance requirements necessary of a high end, light weight mountain bike frame.

The Graftsweep Tool: A Multi-Axis Multi-Sweep Tool For Creating An All-Hexahedral Finite Element Mesh, Matthew Earp, Dr. Stephen E. Benzley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a method of performing mathematical analysis on complex geometry used extensively by both scientists and engineers. An important step in performing the analysis is the mesh generation process. This is the process of dividing a volume into small individual elements (finite elements). Currently there are two common shapes for these elements: tetrahedrons and hexahedrons. Due to the fact that tetrahedrons are a much simpler geometric shape, many robust tetrahedral meshing algorithms have been produced and find a wide range of uses. For solid modeling problems however, hexahedrons are the element of choice. Unfortunately there has …

Behavior Of Stacked Ortho-Planar Springs In Cvt’S, Marc P. Christenson, Dr. Robert H. Todd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Compliant mechanisms are mechanical devices that achieve their motion from the deflection of flexible members rather than rigid links and moveable joints. One such mechanism using compliant design is an ortho-planar spring.

High Field Breakdown Characteristics Of Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Transistors, Man Prakash Gupta, Ashkan Behnam, Feifei Lian, David Estrada, Eric Pop, Satish Kumar

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The high field properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) network thin film transistors (CN-TFTs) are important for their practical operation, and for understanding their reliability. Using a combination of experimental and computational techniques we show how the channel geometry (length L_C and width W_C) and network morphology (average CNT length L_t and alignment angle distribution θ) affect heat dissipation and high field breakdown in such devices. The results suggest that when W_C ≥ L_t, the breakdown voltage remains independent of W_C but varies linearly with L_C. The breakdown power varies …

Fatigue Testing A Laminated Compliant Clutch, Daniel Brown, Dr. Robert H. Todd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Compliant mechanisms derive motion from flexible segments, rather than from joints. A BYU student, Nathan Crane, used compliant design concepts to develop a prototype centrifugal clutch.1 Manufacturing considerations led to a design incorporating many layers rather than a single solid piece.2 Further testing verified the engagement RPM and torque capacity of the clutch.3

Microfluidic Valves Made From Polymerized Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate, Gregory P. Nordin

Faculty Publications

Pneumatically actuated, non-elastomeric membrane valves fabricated from polymerized polyethylene glycol diacrylate (poly-PEGDA) have been characterized for temporal response, valve closure, and long-term durability. A ∼100 ms valve opening time and a ∼20 ms closure time offer valve operation as fast as 8 Hz with potential for further improvement. Comparison of circular and rectangular valve geometries indicates that the surface area for membrane interaction in the valve region is important for valve performance. After initial fabrication, the fluid pressure required to open a closed circular valve is ∼50 kPa higher than the control pressure holding the valve closed. However, after ∼1000 …

High Frequency Combustion Instability Suppression Through The Application Of Varying Bands Of White Noise, John W. Bennewitz

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Satellite Configuration For Neo Management, Luke Burgess, Grant Bergstue, Spencer Cole, Richard Fork

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

The Santa Clara, 2013-10-10, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

Nasa Msfc Summer Internship 2013 5.5m Composite Cryotank Sump Door Fabrication, Markus Murdy

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

The Design Of The Chargersat-1 Rtos, Mason Manning

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Developing The Chargersat-1 Electrical Power System, Matt Rodencal

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Experimental Investigation Of Orifice-Induced, Cavitation Feedline Instabilities, Matthew A. Hitt

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Ambient: Affordable Microsatellite Based Internet Access And Environmental Monitoring, Tyler Maddox

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Defect Detectability Improvement For Conventional Friction Stir Welds, Chris Hill

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.