Engineering Commons^™

Electromagnetic Radiation Shield For Spacecraft, Oseas Hudy-Velasco

Honors Theses

To protect astronauts from high-energy radiation during long-duration missions, an electromagnetic radiation shield was designed and sized for the Orion spacecraft with physical dimensions at a 1:100 scale and magnetic fields and particle energies at a ∼1:10833.3 scale. The electromagnetic radiation shield was simulated in the multi-physics software Comsol using the Magnetic Fields and Particle Tracing modules. The scale model used a DC amperage of 60 A with a 9-turn solenoid wound in three layers and the full-size system used a DC amperage of 6500 A and a 5-layer solenoid of 390 turns per layer. These models generated magnetic fields …

Compressed Air Systems Evaluation And Improvement, Lukas Swoboda

Honors Theses

This project was centered on recommending a new air compressor system for the Fluid System Connectors division of Parker Hannifin in Otsego, Michigan. The recommended compressor for the plant is a 250hp variable speed drive Ingersoll Rand Compressor. It is recommended that this compressor, along with two 35hp compressors already purchased by Parker be tied together using an automated system. In addition to the compressor, a flow controller was recommended to be implemented into the system.

Given that leaks are also a problem in the system, it is recommended that the majority of air leaks in the system be fixed …

Land, Air, Sea, Rover (Lasr) - Unmanned Vehicle, Gabriel Prescinotti Vivan

Honors Theses

This senior design project encompassed the optimization of a previously built quadcopter, as well as the design of new components for additional functions and increased range of operations. The previous vehicle was designed to operate as a helicopter, land rover, and submarine. Although the vehicle operates successfully in these three environments, it is not very successful on transitioning between them, i.e. cannot take off from underneath water. This year’s project goals included optimizing the current vehicle so that it could transition seamlessly between its functions and adding an additional function: to be able to rover at the bottom of a …

Design Of Force Versus Displacement Test Stand, Andrew Fritchley

Honors Theses

Performing mechanical design around sensors is a critical skill which all engineering students should be familiar with. Of equal importance is gathering and correctly interpreting electrical data from engineering tests. The aim of this project is to design a force versus displacement test stand for applications related to the measurement of spring force-displacement correlation. The design uses a strain gauge load cell, and a magnetic linear encoder to provide accurate, repeatable force and travel measurements. A mechanical design to mount each sensor was created based initial project constraints. Finite element analysis was performed on all critical components to ensure that …

Evolution Of Mg Az31 Twin Activation With Strain: A Machine Learning Study, Andrew D. Orme

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Machine learning is being adopted in various areas of materials science to both create predictive models and to uncover correlations which reveal underlying physics. However, these two aims are often at odds with each other since the resultant predictive models generally become so complex that they can essentially be described as a black box, making them difficult to understand. In this study, complex relationships between microstructure and twin formation in AZ31 magnesium are investigated as a function of increasing strain. Supervised machine learning is employed, in the form of J-48 decision trees. In one approach, strain is incorporated as an …

Christian Morrill Awarded Scholar Of The Year, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Christian Morrill, an engineering ambassador and biological engineering student, was named Scholar of the Year at the 60th annual Robins Awards.

Weau Usu Chapter Qualified For The National Student Design Competition | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

The Water Environment Association of Utah (WEAU) USU student chapter has qualified for the national student design competition hosted by the Water Environment Federation (WEF).

Initial Beam Access Schemes For Millimeter Wave Cellular Networks, Mohammed Jasim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Millimeter wave technologies present an appealing solution for increasing data throughputs as they provide abundant contiguous channel bandwidths as compared to conventional microwave networks. However, millimeter wave technologies suffer from severe propagation limitations and channel impairments such as atmospheric attenuation and absorption, path and penetration losses, and blockage sensitivity. Therefore, phased arrays and beamforming technologies are necessary to compensate for the degraded signal levels due to the aforementioned factors. Namely, base stations and mobile stations utilize directional transmission in the control- and data- plane for an enhanced channel capacity, which results in initial access challenges due to the absence of …

Sensor Technologies For Intelligent Transportation Systems, Juan Guerrero-Ibáñez, Sherali Zeadally, Juan Contreras-Castillo

Information Science Faculty Publications

Modern society faces serious problems with transportation systems, including but not limited to traffic congestion, safety, and pollution. Information communication technologies have gained increasing attention and importance in modern transportation systems. Automotive manufacturers are developing in-vehicle sensors and their applications in different areas including safety, traffic management, and infotainment. Government institutions are implementing roadside infrastructures such as cameras and sensors to collect data about environmental and traffic conditions. By seamlessly integrating vehicles and sensing devices, their sensing and communication capabilities can be leveraged to achieve smart and intelligent transportation systems. We discuss how sensor technology can be integrated with the …

Strategic Implications Of Blockchain, William R. Adams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis introduces blockchain, the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, and discusses how best to conceptualize it relative to other technologies. Following an explanation of the fundamentals of blockchain, also known as the distributed ledger, I identify the characteristics of the technology. Building upon blockchain’s inherent strengths and limitations, I explore potential business applications of blockchain. Finally, I recommend that leaders continue to track the development and adoption of blockchain technology, even if they decide that implementing it does not align with their organization’s strategy at present.

A Review Of The Seismic Isolation Design Procedure, Francisco Garcia

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The current design procedure for seismic isolation bearings for bridges is a simplified method that assigns the bearings with an elastic stiffness. Bridges subjected to ground motions actually act in a hysteric, nonlinear fashion when force is plotted against displacement. The goal of this research was to gain further insight as to whether simplifying seismic isolation bearings to a simplified stiffness is adequate or not. Design procedures were followed in the modeling of a bridge with seismic isolation. Linear modal time history analyses and with nonlinear direct integration time history analyses of ground motions were compared. At the conclusion of …

Industry Requirement Gap Analysis For Sustainable Construction Technology, Parya Nickbeen

Civil Engineering ETDs

As sustainable construction becomes a standard necessity in the construction industry, construction engineering and management programs seek to integrate sustainable construction concepts and skills into their degree programs. The aim of this research is to identify industry-required competencies and recognize the possible gaps between industry skills demands and the education provided by academia for sustainable construction technologist jobs. In this study, industry requirements for sustainable construction technologist (mid-level) positions were identified through the analysis of job advertisements, literature review, job analysis (i.e., Developing a Curriculum-DACUM- process), and surveys. Results from the DACUM process provided a categorization of 4 main duties …

1920 - California's Greatest Opportunity - Reclaiming An Empire--The Valley Of California, Col. R. B. Marshall

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

Col. Marshall proposed a state-wide engineering project that would provide irrigation water to 12,000,000 acres of land in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Livermore and Concord valleys, as well as water for Los Angeles, San Francisco and Bay cities. The water would come from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. He envisioned an increase in the State valuation of $6,000,000,000. Additionally hydro-electric current generation would furnish all the power necessary for construction as well as supply more power than would be needed for use on electric railroads, in municipal lighting, for manufacturing, and for domestic use in homes, and …

Electrical And Material Properties Of Hydrothermally Grown Single Crystal (111) Uo2, Christina L. Dugan, George Glenn Peterson, Alyssa Mock, Christopher Young, J. Matthew Mann, Michael Nastasi, Mathias Schubert, Lu Wang, Wai-Ning Mei, Iori Tanabe, Peter A. Dowben, James Petrosky

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

The semiconductor and optical properties of UO₂ are investigated. The very long drift carrier lifetimes, obtained from current-voltage I(V) and capacitance-voltage C(V) measurements, along with the well-defined optical properties provide little evidence of an abundance of material defects away from the surface region. Schottky barrier formation may be possible, but very much dependent on the choice of contact and surface stoichiometry and we find that Ohmic contacts are in fact favored. Depth resolved photoemission provided evidence of a chemical shift at the surface. Density functional theory, with the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE) functional, indicates a band gap of a 2.19 eV …

The Water Entry Of Multi-Droplet Streams And Jets, Nathan B. Spiers, Zhao Pan, Jesse Belden, Tadd T. Truscott

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Water entry has been studied for over a century, but few studies have focused on multiple droplets impacting on a liquid bath sequentially. We connect multi-droplet streams, jets and solid objects with physical-based scaling arguments that emphasize the intrinsically similar cavities. In particular, the cavities created by the initial impact of both droplet streams and jets on an initially quiescent liquid pool exhibit the same types of cavity seal as hydrophobic spheres at low Bond number, some of which were previously unseen for jets and droplet streams. Low-frequency droplet streams exhibit an additional three new cavity seal types unseen for …

Algal Biofuel: The Future Of Green Jet Fuel In Air Transportation, Rajee Olaganathan

Publications

The aviation industry is one of the major contributors for the greenhouse gases. As air travel has become inevitable in this modern era, and fossil fuel usage is not sustainable, it is essential to produce renewable fuel and commercialize it to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. In order to produce an alternate aviation biofuel a lot of industrial and academic collaborations have been developed worldwide. The main concern of this collaborative research is to produce aviation biofuel from renewable resources with low environmental impacts, and which is sustainable at an economically viable price. This mini-review briefly discusses the biotechnological approaches …

Non-Premixed Transversely Oscillating Plane Jet Flames In Co-Flowing Air Streams, Reuben Mwanza Kivindu, Rong Fung Huang, Ching Min Hsu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study examined the flame behavior and thermal structure of non-premixed transversely oscillating plane jet flames. A V-shaped fluidic oscillator was installed with deflection plates to merge alternately issued pulsating jets, and induce transverse oscillations of the merged jet. Co-flowing air streams were supplied with two planar air jets arranged next to the burner. Isothermal jet frequencies were detected using single hot-wire anemometry. Flame behaviors were studied using photographic techniques. Flame temperatures were measured using a finewire type-R thermocouple, and combustion concentrations of products were measured using a gas analyzer. The Strouhal number for the transversely oscillating jet shows an …

The Investigation Of The Two-Phase Thermosyphon Performance Limit, Chih-Chung Chang, Zun-Long Huang, Yuan-Ching Chiang, Sih-Li Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In a steel plant, waste heat recovery systems of hot-blast furnace are characterized by high-temperature exhaust gas from a hot stove that flows through heat pipe heat exchangers. By heating gas in a hot stove and combustion air in a blast furnace, stable and balanced heat exchange efficiency is achieved in this system. The thermosyphon, which is also known as a gravitational heat pipe, uses latent heat to transfer the heat. In this article, heat pipe performance limits, including entrainment and boiling limits, are experimentally and theoretically investigated. Heat pipe tube lengths of 130 mm, 200 mm, and 300 mm …

Design Of An Intelligent Damping Controller Of Statcom With Hvdc For Large Offshore Wind Farm, Kai-Hung Lu, Hsin-Chuan Chen, Yu Su, Qiangqiang Xu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This paper proposes the design of an Intelligent Damping Controller (IDC) for a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), linking to a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line, where a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)- based offshore wind farm (OWF) is connected. This IDC consists of a critic network with the proposed Functional Link based Recurrent Fuzzy Neural Network (FLRFNN) and Genetic Algorithm Hybrid Time Varying Particle Swarm Optimization (GAHTVPSO) algorithm. A single-machine infinite-bus and a multi-machine hybrid power system were used for test the system stability. GAHTVPSO approach is developed to adjust the learning rates to improve the learning capability. …

Passive Fuzzy Control For Lift Feedback Fin Stabilizer Systems Of A Ship Via Multiplicative Noise Based On Fuzzy Model, Chih-Ming Chang, Wen-Jer Chang, Cheung-Chieh Ku, Fung-Lin Hsu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This paper proposes a passive fuzzy controller design methodology for stabilization of the nonlinear lift feedback fin stabilizer system of a ship. The proposed design approach is developed based on multiplicative noised Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model and parallel distributed compensation control technique. Applying the Itô’s formula and the sense of mean square, the sufficient conditions are developed to analyze the stability and to design the controller for stochastic nonlinear systems. The sufficient conditions derived in this paper belong to the linear matrix inequality forms which can be solved efficiently by convex optimal programming algorithm. Besides, the passivity theory is applied to …

Nonlinear Hydrostatic Analysis Of The Floating Structure Considering The Large Angle Of Inclination, Kwang-Phil Park, Ju-Hwan Cha, Namkug Ku

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

When ships are flooded or equipped with a heavy object, the floating structures are excessively inclined, and the immersion, heel, and trim affecting the hydrostatic restoration performance are very large. In those cases, the assumption that the position and orientation are independent of each other is not valid. Therefore, nonlinear governing equations were formulated by sequential linearization to calculate the static equilibrium position of floating structures with excessive inclination. The equations are represented using a plane area, a primary moment, and a moment of inertia of the water plane area, and the immersion, heel, and trim are fully coupled. The …

Modeling The Interdependencies Of Energy And Water In New Mexico: Historic Drivers, Hydrologic Impacts, And Energy Requirements, Catherine M. Zemlick 5774203

Civil Engineering ETDs

There is increasing need to understand the interdependencies between energy resource development and water resources, particularly in arid regions with vast energy reserves like New Mexico. The state has a long history of energy resource development, including both uranium and fossil fuels. These activities have and continue to impact scarce water resources. There exist gaps in knowledge regarding the drivers of historic uranium mining and the uncertainties inherent in past estimates of groundwater impacts because of mining activity and in current understanding of the energy required to manage water in the oil and gas industry. Although uranium has not been …

Thermal Performance Improvement By Spiky Twisted Tapes For Loop Thermosyphon With Ncg, Shyy Woei Chang, Wei Ling Cai

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Thermal performance improvement for a two-phase loop thermosyphon (TPLT) with non-condensable gas (NCG) was attempted by fitting twin spiky ribbed twisted tapes (SRTTs) in the evaporator. The startup process and the steady-state boiling flow structures, boiling heat transfer rates, thermal resistance networks at various heater powers, and condenser thermal resistances were examined with 40% molar fraction of air in the TPLT. With treated water as the working fluid at an evaporator volumetric filling ratio of 50%, all tests were performed at subatmospheric pressures. The thermal performance improvement achieved by using SRTTs in the evaporator was determined by comparing the test …

Fpga Implementation Of Improved Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm Based On Pheromone Diffusion Mechanism For Path Planning, Chen-Chien Hsu, Wei-Yen Wang, Yi-Hsing Chien, Ru-Yu Hou

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

An improved ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm is proposed in this paper for improving the accuracy of path planning. The main idea of this paper is to avoid local minima by continuously tuning a setting parameter and the establishment of novel mechanisms by means of partial pheromone updating and opposite pheromone updating. As a result, the global search of the proposed ACO algorithm can be significantly enhanced to derive an optimal path compared to the conventional ACO algorithm. The simulation results of the proposed approach perform better in terms of the short distance, mean distance, and success rate towards optimal …

Ranking Of Human Senses In Relation To Different In-Flight Activities Contributing To The Comfort Experience Of Airplane Passengers, Joyce Bouwens, Suzanne Hiemstra-Van Mastrigt, Peter Vink

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Bubb, Bengler, Grünen, and Vollrath (2015) identified six environmental comfort factors and ordered them from most important to least important (smell, light, vibrations, sound, climate and anthropometry). This paper attempts to verify whether this suggested order of comfort-related factors also applies to the expectations of aircraft passengers. For this purpose, two studies were carried out. First, a survey was conducted among 183 aircraft passengers between 19 and 64 years old. In this survey, respondents were asked to rank six comfort factors by selecting the most important factor from 15 pairs of factors (e.g. light versus smell). The respondents indicated anthropometry …

Spectro-Electrochemical Platforms For Dynamic Analyses Of Catalytic Cascade Systems, Nalin I. Andersen

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

The development of spectro-electrochemical platforms that facilitate the dynamic analyses of complex catalytic cascade systems was explored in this research. These systems facilitated multiple modalities of catalysts and were used as platforms for monitoring catalytic transformations quasi-in situ. The analytical platforms allowed for the characterization of intermediates and products using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The design and fabrication of these devices proved to be reproducible, made of materials that can be manipulated for multiple applications, and incorporate fluid mechanics, electrochemistry, and multimodal catalysis. Microfluidic technology offers capabilities for understanding catalytic cascade systems by providing precise dynamic control of …

An Embedded Sensory System For Worker Safety: Prototype Development And Evaluation, Chunhee Cho, Jee Woong Park

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

At a construction site, workers mainly rely on two senses, which are sight and sound, in order to perceive their physical surroundings. However, they are often hindered by the nature of most construction sites, which are usually dynamic, loud, and complicated. To overcome these challenges, this research explored a method using an embedded sensory system that might offer construction workers an artificial sensing ability to better perceive their surroundings. This study identified three parameters (i.e., intensity, signal length, and delay between consecutive pulses) needed for tactile-based signals for the construction workers to communicate quickly. We developed a prototype system based …

Assessment Of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Operations In The National Airspace System, Kabir O. Kasim

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

The operation of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) in the National Airspace System requires a careful consideration of the operating philosophies to ensure a safe outcome for all users. Small UAS operations are explored while the associated risks and benefits from the operations are reviewed. The operation of sUAS in self-separation airspace is discussed by an examination of the concept of autonomous flight rules (AFR). This includes a presentation of the basic principles of AFR and an explanation of the requirement for a sense-and-avoid system. Current and future uses of sUAS are presented to highlight the benefits from their use. …

Pilot Visual Detection Of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Suas) Equipped With Strobe Lighting, Ryan J. Wallace, Jon M. Loffi, Samuel M. Vance, Jamey Jacob, Jared C. Dunlap, Taylor A. Mitchell

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

When operating under Visual Flight Rules, pilots primarily rely on visual scanning to avoid other aircraft and airborne collision threats. Records from the Federal Aviation Administration indicate that near encounters with unmanned aircraft are on the rise, reaching 1,761 reported unmanned aircraft system (UAS) sightings or near-misses in 2016. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of pilot visual detection of UAS platforms that were equipped with strobe lighting. A sample of 10 pilots flew a general aviation aircraft on a scripted series of five intercepts with a small UAS (sUAS) that was equipped with strobe lighting. Participants were asked …

Development Of Wireless Sensing Unit For Environmental Noise Monitoring, Taylor Rink

17th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance (2018)

Locations with large amounts of environmental noise can raise stress and blood pressure, as well as decrease productivity, for all peoples subjected to it. In order to better quantify these noise levels, it is important to fully understand the patterns and levels of noise through data collection and analysis. Wireless sensor networks offer one method for autonomously gathering and processing levels of noise pollution in densely populated areas. In this study, a wireless sensing unit (WSU) was developed that was capable of collecting and transmitting noise data. This WSU was comprised of a Teensy microcontroller development system, a sound detecting …