Engineering Commons^™

Visible Light Data Transfer (Vldt): A Research Tool For Data Transmission Using Leds, Trevor Carter, Joshua Lynn

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Due to overcrowding of transmission frequencies using visible light as a wireless transmission medium has become a popular idea due to its low congestion. [1] To gain a stronger understanding of this concept we created a device allowing users to perform data transmissions using an LED with various encoding schemes, transmission rate, and potential noise injection selectable by the user.

Weight Lifting Fitness Tracker, Usu Department Of Electrical And Computer Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Keeping track of your fitness has become easier with technology advancements. One area which has not made as much progress is weight lifting. The primary reason for this is it requires more hardware components to keep track of your exercise. This project attempts to create a simple solution to implement a fitness tracker for lifting weights.

Onboard Load Sensor For Use In Freight Railcar Applications, Constantine Tarawneh, Jazmin Ley, Dylan Blackwell, Stephen Crown, Brent Wilson

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Approximately 40% of intercity freight transportation occurs by rail, making it the most widely used method of transporting large commodities. This trend is expected to persist over the next thirty years as our highway systems are strained and experiencing increased congestion and costly delays. Currently, the load of freight railcars is typically measured by weighbridges or retrofitted tracks at isolated locations. This practice is not efficient and limited by the fact that the load of the railcar cannot be monitored continuously, not to mention the inherent inaccuracies of such systems. Hence, there is great merit for an onboard load sensor …

Milk Spoilage Detection Using Ion-Sensitive Field-Effect Transistors, Luke Jarvis, Timothy Kerns, Jacob King

Biological Engineering

Background

• Americans throw away roughly 3.9 billion gallons of milk annually [1].

• Over 30 million tons of CO2 was emitted to produce this wasted milk [2].

• Much of this waste is the result of consumer reliance on inaccurate or misleading expiration labels [3].

• Manufacturers label milk with expiration dates prior to actual spoilage times to avoid lawsuits related to food poisoning.

Problem Statement

• Expiration dates provided to consumers are unreliable. Currently, there are no consumer products that assist consumers in determining actual spoilage of milk.

Planned Solution

• Develop an apparatus to accurately and reliably …

Amending Phb With Algal Biomass To Enhance Biodegradability, Amanda Stoudt, Celeste Hancock, Shawni Bastian, Charles Miller

Biological Engineering

Pollution of the world’s oceans has been taking place for over three centuries and is a growing problem all over the world. At least 60% of this pollution is made of petroleum-based plastic [1]. Plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade and, as a result, causes a number of environmental problems, including:

1. the death of marine mammals and sea birds

2. the release of toxic chemicals

3. disruption of the marine food web

To help reduce the amount of plastic that enters the oceans, scientists and engineers have started to develop biodegradable plastic alternatives. Many of these plastic alternatives …

Facilitation Of Microfluidic Channeling To Generate Concentration Gradients For Cellular Culture, Ryan Hatch, Tanner Hunt, Steven Rupp, Hyrum Wendel

Biological Engineering

This project aims to utilize the advantages of a microfluidic system to generate a testing apparatus that can be used in drug trials to observe the effects of different concentrations of nutrients or drugs on cell growth. With this proposed device drug research companies can save time, materials and money during the research and development phase. Critical aspects of the project include three areas: simulation, fabrication, and validation. This project is supported by GE Healthcare and is a continuation of a senior design project completed in the 2015 school year. By utilizing the COMSOL modeling software to simulate the microfluidic …

Measuring The Effects Of High-Altitude Flight And Upper Atmospheric Radiation On Muscle Cells, Lori M. Caldwell, Annelise Dykes, Katherine Glaittli, Charles Harding

Biological Engineering

As longer space missions become more desirable to public and private institutions, the physiological impact on astronauts must be considered. One of the primary concerns for those spending time in low-gravity environments is the eventual loss of muscle tissue due to atrophy, because a decreased force pulling on muscle fibers leads to marked atrophy in as little as nine days¹ (Fig. 1). This debilitating loss of muscle makes it difficult for homeward-bound astronauts, who are returning to full gravity, to regain their physical strength.

Non-Invasive, Inductive Electrodes For Application In Brain Computer Interfaces, Colin Ecsedy, Justin Marriott, Andrew Parker

Biological Engineering

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) have proved to be a major factor in facilitating motor recovery, recovery of hearing and vision loss, and other debilitating conditions and diseases (Nicolas-Alonso, 2012). This is accomplished by measuring neurological signals and interpreting that information into a desired action. The most common method of sensing neurological activity for BCI is by either surface or implanted electrodes that are either prone to unreliability or are dangerously invasive (Alpert, 2008). Part of this unreliability is based on the low specificity of the electrode method, requiring many pairs of electrodes to accurately detect signals in a particular area. By …

Optimization Of (2s)-Naringenin Production In Escherichia Coli, Logan Sherman, Zach Thomas, Cameron Zabriskie

Biological Engineering

Flavonoids, which are naturally occurring in plants, are known for their many health-promoting properties¹. These compounds have many applications for treatment of various health complications, but current processing limits their availability². Research in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering has been combined to make flavonoids easier to obtain by growing them in microorganisms³. Naringenin has been of particular interest in production because it is a precursor to many other flavonoid compounds⁴. While much research has been done on ways to optimize the production of naringenin from the amino acid L-tyrosine, a pathway has …

Optimized Bioproduction Of Resveratrol Using Genetically Modified Escherichia Coli, Scott Draper, Daniel Erickson, Brian Hoffmann

Biological Engineering

Resveratrol is a phenylpropanoid with many promising health benefits as an antioxidant (1). It is produced naturally in various plant species such as grapes, peanuts, and some berries.

The production of resveratrol through plants can be a long and expensive process (2). Producing resveratrol via microorganisms could be a way to eliminate these problems and thereby lower the cost (3,4). E. coli can be used to produce this compound in several hours, compared to several months of growing plants.

This project includes the analysis of several major growth parameters in E. coli that were designed and tested to achieve the …

Oxygen-Controlled Growth Chamber For Hypoxic Study, Dallon Durfey, Jared Theurer, Justus Clark

Biological Engineering

The purpose is to design a product that will allow researchers to more effectively and efficiently research the effects of low oxygen conditions on cell growth. The effects of hypoxic conditions on cell growth are studied in the research of Dr. Elizabeth Vargis at Utah State University. The process for this type of research has been practical and non-quantitative. Hypoxic conditions were introduced by simply closing the flask tightly with the included lid. The effects of cell growth were noted when the cap was closed, however, there were no quantifiable data to demonstrate oxygen concentrations over time. With the introduction …

Pairing Of Anaerobic And Aerobic Treatment Of Petroleum Wastewater, Zachary Fica, Alan Hodges, Jessica Vandarlin, Jordan Wanlass

Biological Engineering

Develop a novel treatment strategy for petroleum wastewater that meets the following State of Utah effluent guidelines:

• 25 mg/L BOD (38 mg/L COD)

• 25 mg/L TSS

Secondary objectives would include, but are not limited to:

• Reduction of nitrogen to at or below 10 mg/L

• Reduction of phosphorus to at or below 1 mg/L

• Production of value-added products

Electrospun Spiderskin Bandage For Epidermal Protection And Recovery, Danielle A. Gaztambide, Ana Laura Licon, Michael D. Paskett, Samuel T. Briggs, Randolph V. Lewis

Biological Engineering

Natural spider silks have long been recognized for their combination of incredible strength and elasticity. Spider silks are more elastic than nylon, tougher than Kevlar, and stronger than steel by weight. Due to an inability to farm spiders, much work has been done to produce spider silks in transgenic hosts for large–scale production. This work was done using recombinant spider silk proteins (rSSps) produced in transgenic goat milk.

Recently, spider silks have been recognized for their biocompatibility and lack of immunogenicity. Their incredible strength and ability to safely be in contact with the body makes them highly desirable for use …

Synthesizing Microcarriers As A Platform For The Pharmaceutical Delivery Of Quercetin For Antiviral Applications, Taylor Eggertsen, Arther Hart, William Johnson

Biological Engineering

This project aims to increase quercetin bioavailability and antiviral activity against cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV is the leading viral cause of birth defects in the U.S. Ganciclovir, the current treatment for CMV infection, exhibits cytotoxicity in pregnant women and other immunocompromised populations. Quercetin is a naturally derived compound with antioxidant, anti-cancer, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties and exhibits anti-CMV activity (Cotin, 2012). Low solubility and rapid metabolic breakdown result in low bioavailability, however (Thilakarathna, 2013). Pluronic-F127 capped poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and chitosan-capped alginate microbeads are investigated as microcarriers to provide time-release antiviral treatment for congenital CMV. Quercetin, PLGA, chitosan, alginate, and Pluronic …

Minimization Of Quantum Circuits Using Quantum Operator Forms, Martin Lukac, Michitaka Kameyama, Marek Perkowski, Pawel Kerntopf

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this paper we present a method for minimizing reversible quantum circuits using the Quantum Operator Form (QOF); a new representation of quantum circuit and of quantum-realized reversible circuits based on the CNOT, CV and CV† quantum gates. The proposed form is a quantum extension to the well known Reed-Muller but unlike the Reed-Muller form, the QOF allows the usage of different quantum gates. Therefore QOF permits minimization of quantum circuits by using properties of different gates than only the multi-control Toffoli gates. We introduce a set of minimization rules and a pseudo-algorithm that can be used to design circuits …

Marine Mammal Tracks From Two-Hydrophone Acoustic Recordings Made With A Glider, Elizabeth T. Küsel, Tessa Munoz, Martin Siderius, David K. Mellinger, Sara L. Heimlich

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A multinational oceanographic and acoustic sea experiment was carried out in the summer of 2014 off the western coast of the island of Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea. During this experiment, an underwater glider fitted with two hydrophones was evaluated as a potential tool for marine mammal population density estimation studies. An acoustic recording system was also tested, comprising an inexpensive, off-the-shelf digital recorder installed inside the glider. Detection and classification of sounds produced by whales and dolphins, and sometimes tracking and localization, are inherent components of population density estimation from passive acoustics recordings. In this work we discuss the equipment used …

Real-Time Internal Temperature Estimation And Health Monitoring For Igbt Modules, Ze Wang

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Field experiences have demonstrated that power semiconductor devices, such as insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), are among the most fragile components of power electronic converters. Thermomechanical stresses produced by temperature variations during operational and environmental loads are the major causes of IGBT degradation. As the devices are often operated under complex working conditions, temperature variations and the associated damage are difficult to predict during the converter design stage. A promising approach—online health monitoring and prognosis for power semiconductor devices—that can avoid device failure and effectively schedule maintenance has attracted much interest.

This dissertation research focused on real-time accurate internal temperature estimation …

The Discrete Spring Transform: An Innovative Steganographic Attack, Aaron T. Sharp

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Digital Steganography continues to evolve today, where steganographers are constantly discovering new methodologies to hide information effectively. Despite this, steganographic attacks, which seek to defeat these techniques, have continually lagged behind. The reason for this is simple: it is exceptionally difficult to defeat the unknown. Most attacks require prior knowledge or study of existing techniques in order to defeat them, and are often highly specific to certain cover media. These constraints are impractical and unrealistic to defeat steganography in modern communication networks. It follows, an effective steganographic attack must not require prior knowledge or study of techniques, and must be …

Microstructure, Texture Evolution And Mechanical Properties Of Vt3-1 Titanium Alloy Processed By Multi-Pass Drawing And Subsequent Isothermal Annealing, Xiaofei Lei, Limin Dong, Zhiaqiang Zhang, Yujing Liu, Yulin Hao, Rui Yang, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Microstructure, texture evolution, and mechanical properties of Ti–6Al–1.5Cr–2.5Mo–0.5Fe–0.3Si (VT3-1) titanium alloy processed by multi-pass drawing and subsequent isothermal annealing were systematically investigated. A fiber-like microstructure is formed after warm drawing at 760 °C with 60% area reduction. After isothermal annealing, the samples deformed to different amounts of area reduction show a similar volume fraction (80%) of α phase, while the sample deformed to 60% exhibits a homogeneous microstructure with a larger grain size (5.8 μm). The major texture component of α phase developed during warm drawing is centered at a position of {φ₁ = 10°, φ = 65°, φ …

Sensitivity Analysis For Justification Of Utilising Special Purpose Machine Tools In The Presence Of Uncertain Parameters, Ana Vafadar, Kevin Hayward, Majid Tolouei-Rad

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Decision-makers in manufacturing area frequently face machine tool selection problem under uncertainty due to competitive market changes. Special purpose machines (SPMs), a relatively new class of reconfigurable machine tools, are used to react quickly to changes. Justification of utilising these machines vs. other machine tools requires a technique to investigate the sources of uncertainties. In this work, sensitivity analysis is utilised to investigate the sources of these uncertainties and errors which may reveal new insights for evaluating a machine tool. An illustrative example is provided to show the sensitivity of parameters on the economic performance of SPMs compared to the …

Nanoscale In Photocatalysis, Zhaohui Wang, Hongqi Sun

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Rationally harvesting sunlight to carry out chemical reactions, for example, photochemistry and photocatalysis, has appeared as a beautiful episode within the long history of solar-energy utilization by human beings. Before solar-driven chemical processes approach the scale of solar panel or solar thermal application, considerate efforts are still required from effective collaborations among academia, industries, and governments. Over past few decades, the photocatalysis frontier has been continuously explored by means of interdisciplinary research. Emerging understanding in the nanoscale is most likely to lead photocatalysis into the future.

Determination Of Forming Ability Of High Pressure Die Casting For Zr-Based Metallic Glass, Lehua Liu, Jiang Ma, Chunyan Yu, Xiusong Huang, Liangju He, Laichang Zhang, Peijie Li, Zhiyuan Liu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Large-sized industrial grade Zr₅₅Cu₃₀Ni₅Al₁₀ bulk metallic glass (BMG) was fabricated by a two-step arc-melting process and adding a trace of rare earth yttrium elements. A model to calculate critical cooling rate for forming BMG was established by considering the effect of pressure. Based on the model, the most important indicator, namely the critical size of forming BMG, for design and fabrication of BMG components by high pressure die casting (HPDC) is determined in consideration of different processing parameters, including the pressure and casting temperature. Theoretical calculation and numerical simulation indicated that increasing applied …

Ferric Carbide Nanocrystals Encapsulated In Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes As An Outstanding Environmental Catalyst, Chen Wang, Jian Kang, Ping Liang, Huayang Zhang, Hongqi Sun, Moses O. Tadé, Shaobin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes encapsulating iron carbide (Fe₃C) nanocrystals (Fe₃C@NCNT) were fabricated by a simple and direct pyrolysis method using melamine and ferric chloride as the C, N and Fe precursors. The surface morphology, structure and composition of the Fe₃C@NCNT materials were thoroughly investigated. The nanomaterials were employed as novel catalysts for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation; outstanding efficiency, high stability and excellent reusability were observed in the catalytic oxidation of organics. The encapsulated Fe₃C nanoparticles played a key role in the emerging synergetic effects of the carbide and the protective graphitic layers. In addition, …

Enhanced Corrosion And Wear Resistance Properties Of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Ni-Based Composite Coating By Laser Cladding, Jianbo Lei, Chuan Shi, Shenfeng Zhou, Zhenjie Gu, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

To enhance the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of Ni-based coatings, carbon fibers reinforced nickel-based composite coatings (CFs/Ni) were fabricated on the surface of 1Cr13 stainless steel by laser cladding (LC). The microstructure characteristics, microhardness, wear and corrosion performances of the composite coatings were investigated. The results show that CFs can effectively improve the corrosion and wear resistances of Ni-based coatings. With increasing laser scanning speed, the morphology of CFs in composite coatings is more integral and the corrosion and wear resistances of the composite coatings are improved. Especially, when laser scanning speed is increased to 8 mm/s, the average …

Gradient In Microstructure And Mechanical Property Of Selective Laser Melted Alsi10mg, Yujing Liu, Zeng Qian Liu, Y Jiang, G.W Wang, Yang Yang, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

It is known that metal parts can be made stronger, tougher and better wear resistance by introducing gradient microstructure. This work reports the cooling rate of melt pool induced discrepancy in microstructural gradient and element distribution during selective laser melting (SLM), thereby resulting in decrease in microhardness and wear resistance from surface to inside with a range of ∼100 μm of SLM- manufactured AlSi10Mg alloy. The cooling rate in the top surface of melt pool reaches ∼ 1.44 × 10⁶ K/s, which is much higher than that at the bottom ( ≤ 1 × 10³ K/s). Such a …

Resistivity Profiles Of Perth Soil In Australia In Leak-Detection Test, Lopa M. Pandey, Sanjay K. Shukla, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The use of a suitable leak-detection system for the prevention and mitigation of pollution due to lining system failures is integral to the proper management of landfill facilities. This paper briefly summarises various methods of leak detection that are currently being practised. The details of a newly developed leak-detection technique are also presented. The tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the new technique by use of controlled leakage. The resulting resistivity profiles for Perth soil in Australia were obtained at 10 min. This method is found to be effective in detecting and locating liner leakage issues within 30 …

Cradg: A Chaotic Radg Security System, Salah Albermany, Maryam Nathim, Zahir Hussain

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A high-performance ciphering algorithm is presented. The proposed method combines old school ciphering (Reaction Automata Direct Graph (RADG)) with chaotic systems to obtain higher level of security. Chaotic sequences are highly sensitive to any changes in their parameters, adding a higher level of security to the proposed approach, called CRADG.

Fretting Wear Behaviors Of Aluminum Cable Steel Reinforced (Acsr) Conductors In High-Voltage Transmission Line, Xingchi Ma, Lei Gao, Junxi Zhang, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This work reports the fretting wear behavior of aluminum cable steel reinforced (ACSR) conductors for use in high-voltage transmission line. Fretting wear tests of Al wires were conducted on a servo-controlled fatigue testing machine with self-made assistant apparatus, and their fretting process characteristics, friction force, wear damage, and wear surface morphology were detailed analyzed. The results show that the running regime of Al wires changes from a gross slip regime to a mixed regime more quickly as increasing contact load. With increasing amplitudes, gross slip regimes are more dominant under contact loads of lower than 30 N. The maximum friction …

Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors For Mainstream Industrial Processes, Gary Allwood, Graham Wild, Steven Hinkley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper reviews fiber Bragg grating sensing technology with respect to its use in mainstream industrial process applications. A review of the various types of sensors that have been developed for industries such as power generation, water treatment and services, mining, and the oil and gas sector has been performed. A market overview is reported as well as a discussion of some of the factors limiting their penetration into these markets. Furthermore, the author’s make recommendations for future work that would potentially provide significant opportunity for the advancement of fiber Bragg grating sensor networks in these mainstream industries.

An Investigation Into Spike-Based Neuromorphic Approaches For Artificial Olfactory Systems, Anup Vanarse, Adam Osseiran, Alexander Rassau

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The implementation of neuromorphic methods has delivered promising results for vision and auditory sensors. These methods focus on mimicking the neuro-biological architecture to generate and process spike-based information with minimal power consumption. With increasing interest in developing low-power and robust chemical sensors, the application of neuromorphic engineering concepts for electronic noses has provided an impetus for research focusing on improving these instruments. While conventional e-noses apply computationally expensive and power-consuming data-processing strategies, neuromorphic olfactory sensors implement the biological olfaction principles found in humans and insects to simplify the handling of multivariate sensory data by generating and processing spike-based information. Over …