Engineering Commons^™

Fire Protection Engineering Final Report: Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, College Town, Tx, Jonathan Lo

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This report examines the Baylor, Scott & White Medical Center in College Station, TX. This hospital is a 324,070 square feet midrise building of Type I-A construction and Group I-2 occupancy, with a basement and five above-grade floors. Publicly-available, simplified floor plans were obtained from the internet, and a prescriptive- and performance-based analysis was formed around these plans. It should be noted that these online plans may not contain all information and details in that are found in architectural plans, and that assumptions were made in order to ‘fill in the gaps’ and proceed with this report. For example, on …

Atx Storage: Fire And Life Safety Analysis, Perla Salcedo

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

The following report is a fire and hazard protection analysis of a new building. This new building is a self-storage building called ATX Storage locate in Austin, TX. The prescriptive requirements set by the codes and standards used at time of construction of the building have been met. The building has been properly classified with respect to occupancy as S1, Group B and R-3 and construction type II A Sprinklered. Appropriate design for interior partitions and exterior wall have been identified. Interior finish requirements have been analyzed for a better understanding of aesthetics guidelines. Based on the sprinkler drawing calculations, …

The Spheres, Justin Milne

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

The Spheres, an architectural masterpiece surrounded by a high-rise building complex, is in the heart of South Lake Union in Seattle, Washington. The Spheres building pushes limitations in building design on all levels. With hexecontahedron panels tessellated over the façade of its three spherical glass glaze greenhouse globes, the design affords futuristic personality, alongside energy efficacy while sustaining life within the building. While building innovations within The Spheres are certainly notable within all disciplines of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction, the contents of this report refer to fire protection engineering and code consulting elements.

In meeting The Spheres' required fire safety …

A Fire Protection Analysis Of Kipp Academy Of Opportunity, Shahrzad Alaei

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

The purpose of this report is to analyze and assess the life safety and fire protections systems of the KIPP Academy of Opportunity (KAO) charter school located in South Los Angeles. KAO is a 3-story building with a total area of 27,429 ft2 that was originally built in 2003 to serve 400 students.

Two separate fire and life safety assessments were performed in this project to ensure the building meets the requirements by the building code and fire safety standards. The prescriptive based analysis includes assessment of structural design, construction materials, egress design, fire alarm, communication system, fire suppression system, …

Development And Evaluation Of Recurrent Neural Network-Based Models For Hourly Traffic Volume And Annual Average Daily Traffic Prediction, Zadid Khan, Sakib Mahmud Khan, Kakan Dey, Mashrur Chowdhury

Publications

The prediction of high-resolution hourly traffic volumes of a given roadway is essential for transportation planning. Traditionally, automatic traffic recorders (ATR) are used to collect these hourly volume data. These large datasets are time-series data characterized by long-term temporal dependencies and missing values. Regarding the temporal dependencies, all roadways are characterized by seasonal variations that can be weekly, monthly or yearly, depending on the cause of the variation. Traditional time-series forecasting models perform poorly when they encounter missing data in the dataset. To address this limitation, robust, recurrent neural network (RNN)-based, multi-step-ahead forecasting models are developed for time-series in this …

Energy Efficient Network-On-Chip Architectures For Many-Core Near-Threshold Computing System, Chidhambaranathan Rajamanikkam, Jayashankara S. Rajesh, Koushik Chakraborty, Meher Samineni

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Near threshold computing has unraveled a promising design space for energy efficient computing. However, it is still plagued by sub-optimal system performance. Application characteristics and hardware non-idealities of conventional architectures (those optimized for nominal voltage) prevent us from fully leveraging the potential of NTC systems. Increasing the computational core count still forms the bedrock of a multitude of contemporary works that address the problem of performance degradation in NTC systems. However, these works do not categorically address the shortcomings of the conventional on-chip interconnect fabric in a many core environment. In this work, we quantitatively demonstrate the performance bottleneck created …

Forecasting Building Energy Consumption With Deep Learning: A Sequence To Sequence Approach, Ljubisa Sehovac, Cornelius Nesen, Katarina Grolinger

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

Energy Consumption has been continuously increasing due to the rapid expansion of high-density cities, and growth in the industrial and commercial sectors. To reduce the negative impact on the environment and improve sustainability, it is crucial to efficiently manage energy consumption. Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including widely used smart meters, have created possibilities for energy monitoring as well as for sensor based energy forecasting. Machine learning algorithms commonly used for energy forecasting such as feedforward neural networks are not well-suited for interpreting the time dimensionality of a signal. Consequently, this paper uses Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) to capture time …

Production Optimization Of Ring-Banded Spherulitic Crystals Of Poly (3-Butylthiophene-2,5-Diyl) Using Controlled Solution Evaporation, Frederick Paul Henderson Iii

Materials Engineering

Conductive polymers can carry a charge due to the presence of excess electrons along the carbon backbone. By growing these polymers into crystals, the usual insulative isotropic matrix that polymers form will be replaced with anisotropic regions where conduction is possible parallel to the crystal lattice growth direction. In previous research, while growing sphere shaped crystals it was observed that a few would exhibit rings that formed parallel to the circumference of the sphere. In this project, the conditions to produce this ring structure were examined by looking at two polymer solutions (with carbon disulfide or dichlorobenzene as solvent) and …

A Study And Simulation Of Flux Induced Corrosion In Copper Tubing Used For The Distribution Of Potable Water, Daniel O. Benham

Materials Engineering

Water side corrosion within copper plumbing can occur due to a wide variety of unwanted circumstances. Through the controlled immersion of six ¾” copper tubing samples with five utilizing a unique industry standard soldering flux, this investigation associates residual flux deposits with the initiation of pitting in copper. Water stagnation in a copper potable water distribution system, typically associated with an infrequently used faucet, is a condition highly prone to copper pitting. A test apparatus designed to produce a partially stagnant flow condition with scheduled electrolyte flushes every 3 days was developed and constructed to contain 6 test samples for …

The Impact Of Preheat On 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel Welds, Angelee G. Q. Breuninger, Iris I. Li, Cristian V. Sion

Materials Engineering

The goal of this project is to determine the relationship between preheat temperature and phase balance of austenite and ferrite in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of a dissimilar thickness weld made of Sandvik SAF 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS). Various preheat temperatures were applied (no preheat, 63°C, 98 °C, 141 °C, 181 °C, and 214 °C) to a 2-inch thick plate that was welded to a 0.072-inch thin sheet, with a 0.125-inch standoff, using manual gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Welding variables (voltage, amperage, and travel speed) were recorded and thermocouples were placed along the backside of the weld, …

Investigation Of The Encapsulation Efficiency Of Hexanal In Y-Cyclodextrin Metal Organic Frameworks, Travis J. Lang

Materials Engineering

Nanoporous materials have been extensively studied for applications such as drug delivery and organic compound storage. The nanoporous material of this study is a metal organic framework (MOF) which is a coordination of metal ions with organic binders. The structure created by this coordination can be used to absorb organic compounds, such as plant growth regulators, and subsequently release the organic compounds over a prolonged period to extend the storage life of foods. This study is examining the encapsulation efficiency of hexanal in γ-cyclodextrin metal organic frameworks (γ-CDMOFs) as a mechanism for potential active packaging applications. γ-CDMOFs were synthesized by …

Moisture Characterization Of Thermoplastics And Thermosets For Use As Matrices In Fiber Reinforced Composites, Kieran Hook, Ray Hsu

Materials Engineering

Epoxy matrix composites are widely used in aerospace industry for lighter aircraft while thermoplastic-matrix composites have traditionally been underutilized despite their excellent fracture resistance, impact strength, and the ability to be recycled. Toray Advanced Composites (Morgan Hill, CA) wants to investigate the structural integrity of thermoplastic matrices in common aircraft operating environments. An experiment was conducted to observe the effect of moisture absorption on thermoplastic composites’ mechanical strength. PEEK, PPS, and PEI matrices were compared to an epoxy matrix in this experiment. Samples were submerged in 160ºF distilled water to accelerate moisture absorption. For two months, the changes in mass …

Microstructural Transformation Of Cold-Sprayed Grcop-42 For Rocket Engine Combustion Chamber Liners, Mason Souther

Materials Engineering

Rocket engines have always relied on high-conductivity copper liners to protect structural components from extreme thermal loads produced by combustion. Forged NARloy-Z has been the material of choice for decades but increasing cost of its constituent silver and high waste in the machining process has reduced the alloy’s cost effectiveness. Aerojet Rocketdyne wants to determine the viability of cold-spray additively manufactured GRCop-42 as a replacement alloy to reduce liner cost. Screening tests were performed to observe the microstructural development and microhardness changes of cold-sprayed GRCop-42 after being subjected to multiple stages of the typical heat treatment of a combustion chamber …

Weld Fracture Between C450 Stainless And C300 Maraging Steels In Golf Club Heads, Emily Oreste, Shea Costner

Materials Engineering

This project studied fractures along the weld on the face of TaylorMade metalwood golf clubs. The weld joint investigated was between investment cast C450 stainless steel and hot rolled C300 maraging steel that had been joined by plasma arc welding (PAW). Cracking in the welds between these two metals was discovered during in-house prototype testing. To understand the differences between the clubs with intact weld joints and clubs with fractured weld joints, the microstructures throughout the weld zones were imaged and a grid of microhardness values of the entire sample cross-section was generated. The images and hardness values were analyzed …

Investment Cast C450 Microstructural Characterization In Golf Club Heads, Kenneth Yin-Fai Lau

Materials Engineering

Two types of tensile bars were observed in this study of golf iron heads for TaylorMade Golf. As-cast and as-cast then machined tensile bars. The tensile bars underwent tensile tests to observe tensile strength, percent elongation, and fracture mechanisms. Furthermore, the hardness of the tensile bars was also taken despite seeing no difference in sample types. However, the as-cast samples did not consistently meet the requirements of percent elongation > 10.00% as there was a sample with 0.00% and another with 1.26%. These samples also showed brittle fracture, instead of the desired cup-and- cone ductile fracture. To investigate further, transverse sections …

Minimizing The Dimensional Change In Two Component Epoxy Based Thermoset Adhesives Through Adapting Mix Ratio And Initial Crosslink Density, Jefferson Peter Norman

Materials Engineering

Meissner Filtration uses amine-hardened epoxy as a high-performance adhesive to encapsulate hollow fiber membranes at the ends of rigid filter housings. Dimensional change of the epoxy while curing can result in residual stress formation that is detrimental to the manufacturing of the filter and causes structural integrity issues when the filter is used in industrial processes where heating and cooling cycles are implemented. The residual stresses can cause cracks, microscopic fractures, and delamination from the housing, resulting in failure of the filter. The goal of this project was to evaluate how changes in processing conditions could minimize dimensional variability due …

Non-Toxic Soil Thickeners For Reducing Mudslide Intensity, Miranda Miao, Isaac Blackburn, Erika Haley Yao

Materials Engineering

Non-toxic food thickeners were investigated as a solution for thickening mud to mitigate the effects of mudslides. All soil was obtained from a site on the California Polytechnic State University campus where a mudslide occurred in 2017. Guar gum was mixed into the soil at 1 wt% and 10 wt% of the moisture content in the soil. Whey protein was mixed into the soil at 2 wt% and 19 wt% of the moisture content in the soil. The soils’ liquid limit was found using the Casagrande cup testing method. Liquid limit testing indicated that thickeners raised the liquid limit, most …

Mechanical Tear Testing And Failure Analysis Of Armordillo® Textile For Future Comparison With Next Generation Replacement Textiles, Jordan Bryce Pohl

Materials Engineering

ArmorDillo^® is a heavy-duty, waterproof textile designed to protect valuable equipment against outdoor elements such as rain, dirt, salt, ultraviolet rays, and damage from other external factors that is manufactured by Transhield^® USA and is currently in service with many branches of the United States Armed Forces, primarily the United States NAVY. Due to emerging security threats to classified military hardware the US NAVY through the United States Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) is actively researching and sourcing a textile replacement for ArmorDillo^® to meet these threats. This study investigates the mechanical durability of ArmorDillo^® under …

Cervis: Cervical Cancer Early Response Visual Identification System, Julia Lanoha, Claire Hultquist, Rosie Mcdonagh, Hallie Mcnamara

Bioengineering Senior Theses

The goal of CERVIS is to make a substantial, positive impact in the cervical cancer screening space through the development of a minimally invasive, cost effective solution that enables women in low-resource settings to test for cervical cancer on a frugal and effective platform. In the developed world, there are a variety of options that can aid in early detection, including Pap smears. However, due to the high cost and laboratory requirements that accompany this procedure, women in low-resource settings rarely have access to this preventative care or regular screenings for cervical cancer. Using new research about the changes in …

Mud Loss Estimation Using Machine Learning Approach, Abo Taleb T. Al-Hameedi, Husam H. Alkinani, Shari Dunn-Norman, Ralph E. Flori, Steven Austin Hilgedick, Ahmed S. Amer, Mortadha Alsaba

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Lost circulation costs are a significant expense in drilling oil and gas wells. Drilling anywhere in the Rumaila field, one the world's largest oilfields, requires penetrating the Dammam formation, which is notorious for lost circulation issues and thus a great source of information on lost circulation events. This paper presents a new, more precise model to predict lost circulation volumes, equivalent circulation density (ECD), and rate of penetration (ROP) in the Dammam formation. A larger data set, more systematic statistical approach, and a machine-learning algorithm have produced statistical models that give a better prediction of the lost circulation volumes, ECD, …

Reducing Construction Costs Through Effective Field Communication And Administration, Gabriel B. Dadi, Roy E. Sturgill Jr., Steven Waddle, Steven Douglas Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Falling Road Fund receipts have placed added strain on the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) already-underfunded highway program. Revenue declines have increased the urgency of improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Cabinet’s operations. One method KYTC can use to realize greater cost savings is improving the administration of construction projects. Effective field communication and administration helps control construction costs, enhances quality, and minimizes delays and claims. One challenge the Cabinet will need to confront to more effectively administer projects, however, is the loss of institutional knowledge associated with staff attrition. The report documents KYTC current methods for project staffing, communication, …

Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis Of Long-Span Cable-Stayed Bridges With Train-Bridge And Cable Coupling, Zhihui Zhu, Lidong Wang, Michael T. Davidson, Issam E. Harik, Anand Patil

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Span lengths of newly constructed cable-stayed railway bridges continue to show increases relative to those of older bridges. Accompanying such increases is the importance of ensuring that vibrations of long-span cable-stayed bridges satisfy both safety and serviceability requirements, particularly for bridges that support train passages. In contrast to modern design of bridges that support roadway vehicles, current methods for analyzing cable-stayed railway bridges do not yet typically account for coupling effects that may occur between cables and the surrounding bridge structure during train passages. This paper presents a computational framework for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of railway bridges based on …

High Speed Roll-To-Roll Printable Transistor Enabled By A Pulsed Light Curable Cnt Ink, Harish Subbaraman

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper reports the first high speed roll-to-roll printable transistor using a carbon nanotube (CNT) semiconducting layer. The transistor is made possible through the development of a pulsed light curable CNT ink compatible with typical drop on demand inkjet cartridges. This CNT ink uses a xylene based solvent with methanol, glycerin, and Triton X-100 modifiers to create an evaporable solution with appropriate absorption spectra for a mercury or xenon flash lamp with strong energy transmission in the UVB to mid visible light range, allowing the solution to absorb the energy from the flash lamp and evaporate. Transistor dimensions were defined …

Gold Tree Solar Farm - Machine Learning To Predict Solar Power Generation, Jonathon T. Scott

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Solar energy causes a strain on the electrical grid because of the uncontrollable nature of the factors that affect power generation. Utilities are often required to balance solar generation facilities to meet consumer demand, which often includes the costly process of activating/deactivating a fossil fuel facility. Therefore, there is considerable interest in increasing the accuracy and the granularity of solar power generation predictions in order to reduce the cost of grid management. This project aims to evaluate how sky imaging technology may contribute to the accuracy of those predictions.

The Soul Annoyed Robot: A Senior Project Report, Dayton Andrew Muxlow, Christian Johansen

Computer Engineering

Our goal for this senior project was to create a competitive robot designed to com- pete in Roborodentia 2019. Our project started during the Winter 2019 quarter, and ended with the competition on May 18, 2019. During that time, we developed an accurate solenoid shooting mechanism, an elevated conveyor belt to carry poker chips, and a servo arm to scoop in stacks of poker chips. These hardware compo- nents were attached to a circular differential-drive wooden base designed to be easy to control. We also planned out our match strategy and implemented this strategy with software written in C/Wiring to …

Planr.: Planar Learning Autonomous Navigation Robot, Gabrielle S. Santamorena, Daniel Kasman, Jesus Mercado, Ben Klave, Andrew Weisman, Anthony Fortner

Computer Engineering

PLANR is a self-contained robot capable of mapping a space and generating 2D floor plans of a building while identifying objects of interest. It runs Robot Operating System (ROS) and houses four main hardware components. An Arduino Mega board handles the navigation, while an NVIDIA Jetson TX2, holds most of the processing power and runs ROS. An Orbbec Astra Pro stereoscopic camera is used for recognition of doors, windows and outlets and the RPLiDAR A3 laser scanner is able to give depth for wall detection and dimension measurements. The robot is intended to operate autonomously and without constant human monitoring …

Design And Development Of Wireless Power Transmission, Harvindren Rajan

Manipal Journal of Science and Technology

In the era of technology, there is a constant increase in the demand for wireless technology which is environment-friendly. To use the wired network, lots of cables and ports are required to transfer the power. The users also feel that the wired network is messier and untidier. It is also not convenient for public use. Moreover, charging cables of the mobile phone usually will be fragile and breakable at some time due to the careless and poor handling by the users, wired network causes inconvenience to the users. In this project, the main objectives are to design and implement a …

Transition Practices In Hrm Functions: A Review, R Krishnaveni

Manipal Journal of Science and Technology

Crossing a decade of the 21st century, the paradigm of Human Resources is seen evolving with the strategic gene induced into it. There seems to be a radical shift descending as the corporate sector calls on its HR team to become strategic rather than administrative. This transferal eventually requires the metrics employed by these HR teams not to be just operationally reactive but to be aligned to evidence-based strategic thinking. On realizing the trend for a prescriptive metric model for effective HR analytics, this study has designed a conceptual framework for a basic metric model that assists IT-HRM professionals in …

Analysis Of Power Losses Of Different Buck Converters For Led Application, Srividya R

Manipal Journal of Science and Technology

A buck converter efficiently step-downs the voltage level. Financial power transformation expands the robustness of battery, loss of heat energy is lowered and aides in building smaller devices. This can be used in household and industrial areas. The activity of numerous converters relies upon the switching properties of the power elements. Many buck converters utilize the second MOSFET instead of a diode. When the diode turns ON in buck converter, losses occur in the diode, which are called conduction losses, which keep increasing when the ON time of diode increases. Hence, the efficiency of the converter decreases due to these …

Future Of Workforce – The Changing Scenario, Suprabha Kr

Manipal Journal of Science and Technology

No abstract provided.