Engineering Commons^™

Designing A Reactor Chamber For Hot Electron Chemistry On Bimetallic Plasmonic Nanoparticles, Bryn Merrill, Bingjie Zhang, Jerry Larue

SURF Posters and Papers

Catalysis provides pathways for efficient and selective chemical reactions by lowering the energy barriers for desired products. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) show excellent promise as plasmonic catalysts. Plasmonic materials have localized surface plasmon resonances, oscillations of the electron bath at the surface of a nanoparticle, that generate energetically intense electric fields which rapidly decay into energetically excited electrons. The excited electrons have the potential to destabilize atoms strongly bound to the catalysts through occupation of antibonding orbitals. Tuning the antibonding orbitals to make them accessible for occupancy by electrons is achieved by coating the AuNP in a thin layer of another …

Allocation Of Public Resources: Bringing Order To Chaos, Lance Clifner

Computational and Data Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Science Olympiad (SO) is a team-based academic competition involving multiple subject areas (Events) with arcane rules governing the team composition. Add to the mix parental contention over which student(s) get on the “All-Star” team, and you have a potentially explosive situation. This project brings order and logic to school-based SO programs and defuses tense milestones through the implementation of an institutional structure that: assigns students to Events based on solicited student preferences for the Events, collects objective student performance data, composes competitive teams based on student performance (aka “Moneyball”), and brings transparency to the Team Selection process through crowdsourcing. The …

A Biomechanical Approach To Investigate The Effects On The Lumbosacral Joint, Pelvis, And Knee Joint While Of Carrying Asymmetrical Loads, During Ground Walking., Tomal Das

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Spinal pain is reasonably considered among the expensive and impairing problems critically disturbing the health of individuals, especially the workforce, in industrially developed countries (Steele et al., 2003). The pain adversely affecting the lumbar region or pelvis is typically considered as low back pain. As per the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke, around 80 percent of grown-ups encounter spinal pain eventually in the course of their lifetime. The possible risk factors include age, fitness level, genetics, weight gain, occupational risk factors such as having a job that expects someone to do lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, distorting the spinal …

A Two-Stage Stochastic Programming Model For Enhancing Seismic Resilience Of Water Pipe Networks, Azam Boskabadi

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Earthquakes are sudden and inevitable disasters that can cause enormous losses and suffering, and having accessible water is critically important for earthquake victims. To address this challenge, utility managers do preventive procedures on water pipes periodically to withstand future earthquake damage. The existing seismic vulnerability models usually consider simple methods to find the pipes to rehabilitate with highest priority. In this research, we develop an optimization approach to determine which water pipes to rehabilitate subject to a limited budget to achieve highest network serviceability after a disaster. We propose a two-stage stochastic mixed integer nonlinear program (MINLP). The MINLP model …

A New Method To Estimate The Impact On The L5/Si Spinal Disc From Speed Lifting Of Unstable Loads, Asymmetrically, Suhaib Al-Lababidi

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Background: The most significant causes of lower back injuries at work are probably from manual lifting activities. Lifting unstable loads pose a significant strain to the lower back and can cause debilitating lumbar spine injuries. The primary function of the vertebral column is to support the upper body. The L5/S1 disc junction located between the lumbar and the sacral regions of the vertebral column is the most critical joint in spine with respect to lifting strain. Because of its position and the amount of upper body weight it handles, it is particularly vulnerable to misalignment, wear and tear, and injury.Lifting …

Krahasimi I Energjisë Fosile Dhe I Energjisë Së Ripërtëritshme Në Kosovë, Visar Bejta

Theses and Dissertations

Një ndër pyetjet thelbësore në rrafshin ekonomik bashkëkohor të shekullit XXI është edhe ajo përkitazi me metodën më efikase të prodhimit të energjisë në mbështetje të sferave të ndryshme jetësore dhe sociale. Burimet fosile të energjisë, në veçanti ato nga qymyrguri, shërbejnë për prodhimin e shumicës së energjisë elektrike në Kosovë, ndërsa një pjesë e vogël përftohet nga burimet e ripërtëritshme. Ndopak më saktësisht, rreth 90-95% e energjisë përftohet nga burimet fosile, teksa pjesa e mbetur gjen prejardhjen në burimet eripërtëritshme.

Kosova, tashmë, është në etapën e tranzicionit të energjisë, duke zbatuar dhe jetësuar direktivat dhe caqet e përcaktuara nga …

“Qëndrueshmëria E Prodhimit Të Energjisë Nga Lëndët Fosile Dhe Bre Në Kosove”, Djellza Prebreza

Theses and Dissertations

Zhvillimi i tregut energjetik dhe veqanërisht energjia e ripërtëritshme po zë një rol kyç në Kosovë, kjo mund të çoje njëkohësisht në stabilizimin e ekonomisë së re të vendit. Vetëm nga furnizimi i qëndrushëm, efikas dhe modern me energji mund të sigurohet zhvilliimi i shpejtë i industrive të reja.

Prodhimi i energjisë në Kosovë mbështetet nga lëndët fosile kryesisht qymyrguri, kurse një sasi e vogël e energjisë fitohet nga burimet e ripërtëritshme. Shfrytëzimi i lëndeve fosile ka ndikim të madh mjedisore e kjo na bën të mendojmë për një zgjidhje më të qëndrueshme dhe me më pak ndikim ambiental.

Në …

Openfoam Dakota Interface, Anjali Sandip

Mechanical Engineering Posters and Presentations

Traditionally, multi-physics/phase simulation software programs lack tools for uncertainty quantification and optimization. More recently, there is a growing body of research that has integrated these tools into multi-physics/phase simulation software programs [1-4]. Building on this methodology, the study integrated open-source software programs, OpenFOAM [5] for multi-physics/phase simulations and DAKOTA [6] for optimization and uncertainty quantification. Furthermore, the coupled software was successfully applied to benchmarks. The overarching goal was to develop an open-source framework for multi-physics/phase simulations, optimization and uncertainty quantification. The applications of this open-source framework span several industries ranging from aerospace and energy to healthcare and manufacturing.

Transient Seepage And Slope Stability Analysis In Partially Saturated Earthen Dam, Puneet Bhaskar

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The problem of slope stability in earthen dams is a major concern to geotechnical engineers. Traditionally, the seepage through embankments and other geotechnical structures is estimated using hydraulic properties of saturated soil. In most of the cases, the soil is not fully saturated and use of saturated soil properties can lead to erroneous results. The reliable assessment of slope stability needs comprehensive characterization of both unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties of soil. The coefficient of permeability is a key hydraulic property in solving any flow related problem in geotechnical engineering. The permeability coefficient of unsaturated soil is usually estimated using …

Development Of A Structural Design Methodology For Polymeric Spray Applied Pipe Linings, Zahra Kohankar Kouchesfehani

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Buried culverts are important components of the highway infrastructure. Most large culverts are built decades ago from corrugated metal or reinforced concrete materials and now have reached their design lives. Trenchless renewal techniques can be utilized to enhance load carrying capacity of the existing deteriorated culverts and provide them a new design life. Spray applied pipe lining (SAPL) is a trenchless renewal methodology to renew damaged pipes and culverts by applying layers of liner on the interior surface of the deteriorated host culvert. The development of practical spray applied pipe linings could be of enormous benefit to the Departments of …

Development Of Reductive/Oxidative Treatment Strategy For The Removal Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Water, Akshay Parenky

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The detrimental health effects of halogenated compounds in humans has been well documented, and the frequent occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the water environment is a recent global concern. Feasible and sensible treatment strategies are in dire need for environmental remediation and water treatment. Currently, efficient treatment is only obtained at a small scale and at a high energy cost. This research is presented in three subsections, where decomposition of selected PFAS was evaluated under advanced oxidation techniques. The first study involved decomposition of a polyfluoroalkyl substance, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), in which 2 carbons of …

Analysis Of Barriers Causing Delay In Post-Hurricane Recovery: Experts’ Vs. Public’S Perspectives, Behzad Rouhanizadeh

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Destructive natural disasters such as hurricanes, affect countries around the world. To recover from a hurricane, the managers need to make various decisions; however, what makes the post-hurricane decision making unique is lack of time to make the optimum decision. A comprehensive understanding of barriers to recovery can lead to development of policies that help prevent delays in recovery process and consequently results in resiliency. Although several studies have been performed to identify the recovery barriers, they did not provide a comprehensive review of barriers and their classification. On the other hand, experts and the public commonly have different understandings …

Statistical Models Of Pipe Service Life Towards Artificial Intelligence Based Decision Support, Vahid Eghbalifarkoosh

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In this dissertation, through utilizing various artificial intelligence-based as well as statistical models, an effort has been made to investigate the deterioration of sewer pipes. Once the deterioration rates of sewer pipes are estimated, by assuming failure criteria, as specified in the dissertation, the associated service lives for the sewer pipes can therefore be estimated. However, it should be noted that for different sewer pipes and based upon the availability of suitable data, and due to various failure modes that could transpire in various sewer pipes, the results will thus be subjected to uncertainties and variations. In other words, depending …

A Decision Support System For Success Of Post-Hurricane Reconstruction Of Transportation Infrastructures, Elnaz Safapour

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In the aftermath of hurricanes, when reliable transportation systems are vital, the chaotic and complex environment creates multiple uncertainties and risks in the reconstruction of transportation infrastructures. Damaged transport infrastructures decrease the timeliness of emergency responses and recovery procedures, and make it difficult for authorities, who are under excessive pressure and are struggling to find the financial resources to reconstruct them on time and within budget. The aim of this research was to develop a decision support system that would improve the cost and schedule performance, as well as reduce the number and extent of rework in post-hurricane reconstruction of …

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Right Of Way Process Review (Phase I), Christopher W. Van Dyke, Bryan Gibson, Robin Baskette, Jeff Jasper, Candice Y. Wallace, Steven Douglas Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

From the Executive Summary:

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is responsible for planning, developing, constructing, and maintaining a prodigious inventory of roadway and bridge assets throughout the state. Project development is a complex process involving the coordination of numerous divisions and preconstruction disciplines across the Cabinet. On many projects, right-of-way (ROW) acquisition presents many challenges. Frequently, the ROW process is found on the critical path, meaning that it effectively governs a project’s overall duration. In some cases — especially on more complex projects — acquiring the ROW may take several years. Recognizing the need to shorten the duration and improve …

Update To Methodology For Setting Speed Limits In Urban Areas: Spr 827, Miguel Figliozzi, Avinash Unnikrishnan, Jaclyn S. Schaefer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many cities in Oregon are requesting a comprehensive review of speed zoning guidelines and existing procedures for streets with high volumes of active travelers. The main goal of this research is to develop recommendations for alternate criteria for setting speed zones on roadways with a high percentage of active travelers. Literature pertaining to factors affecting operating speed, speed and safety, speed management, and current speed zone practices is reviewed. The selection of the site and performance criteria is discussed. Qualities and characteristics of the speed data utilized are given. Distinctions between neighborhood and non-neighborhood greenways are noted. A before and …

Advancing Water Resources Systems Modeling Cyberinfrastructure To Enable Systematic Data Analysis, Modeling, And Comparisons, Adel Mohammad Kheir Abdallah

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Water resources systems models aid in managing water resources holistically considering water, economic, energy, and environmental needs, among others. Developing such models require data that represent a water system’s physical and operational characteristics such as inflows, demands, reservoir storage, and release rules. However, such data is stored and described in different formats, metadata, and terminology. Therefore, Existing tools to store, query, and visualize modeling data are model, location, and dataset-specific, and developing such tools is time-consuming and requires programming experience. This dissertation presents an architecture and three software tools to enable researchers to more readily and consistently prepare and reuse …

Evaluating The Hydraulic Performance Of Digital Photogrammetry-Derived 3-Dimensional Models Of A Hydraulic Structure Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Tyler J. Ashby

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research investigated the combination of aerial imagery, photogrammetry, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Two 3D models of an 8-ft ramp flume were developed from aerial imagery using a commercial photogrammetry software. The GCP model was developed using ground control points (GCP) to improve and measure the model's accuracy. The Non-GCP model used GCPs as check points, which only measure the model's accuracy. The horizontal and vertical errors were, respectively, 0.39 in. and 0.73 in. for the GCP model, and 5.37 in. and 2.80 in. for the Non-GCP model.

In addition to the GCP and Non-GCP models, two hybrid 3D …

The Role Of Carbonate Minerals In Arsenic Mobility In A Shallow Aquifer Influenced By A Seasonally Fluctuating Groundwater Table, Jeremy Jensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Arsenic (As) is a poison historically used to great effect before modern detection methods rendered it obsolete. However, the largest mass poisoning in human history occurred due to groundwater in the Bengal Basin contaminated by natural sources of As. Since that time, research has determined that As is found in groundwater worldwide. This includes aquifers located in basin-filled valleys of the western United States. One of these valleys is the Cache Valley Basin located in Northern Utah. This semi-arid region contains carbonate-rich soils and is heavily influenced by snowmelt and seasonal runoff. Previous studies have found that 15% of private …

Cytomegalovirus Inhibition By Pluronic-Encapsulated Quercetin And Synergy With Ganciclovir, Ian Wadsworth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading viral cause of birth defects worldwide and leads to a variety of complications. Ganciclovir is the most common anti-CMV drug used but often causes severe side effects. Quercetin, a plant pigment, shows anti-CMV activity that may provide a less toxic alternative to ganciclovir, or when co-administered, reduce ganciclovir treatments. However, a drug carrier is needed to deliver quercetin for CMV treatment. In this study, three Pluronic polymers (P123, F127, and F68) were investigated as a quercetin drug delivery system (DDS) for CMV treatment.

All selected Pluronics successfully encapsulated quercetin at varying degrees of efficacy. …

Transient Thermal Modeling Of Bioprocessing Equipment, Cody M. Cummings

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Bioprocessing is leveraging cells to produce high value, lifesaving products. Precise environmental control is needed to maintain integrity of the bioprocessing production process. Temperature control requires both appropriate equipment choice and correct control parameter selection. To aid in the equipment selection process, enable better understanding of equipment capacity, and enable optimization of control parameters, a transient thermal model of both heat transfer characteristics and control systems was created in silico.

Effect Of Calcination Time On The Physicochemical Properties And Photocatalytic Performance Of Carbon And Nitrogen Co-Doped Tio2 Nanoparticles, Emile Salomon Massima Mouele, Mihaela Dinu, Franscious Cummings, Ojo O. Fatoba, Myo Tay Zar Myint, Htet Htet Kyaw, Anca C. Parau, Alina Vladescu, M. Grazia Francesconi, Sara Pescetelli, Aldo Di Carlo, Antonio Agresti, Mohammed Al-Abri, Sergey Dobretsov, Mariana Braic, Leslie F. Petrik

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The application of highly active nano catalysts in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) improves the production of non-selective hydroxyl radicals and co-oxidants for complete remediation of polluted water. This study focused on the synthesis and characterization of a highly active visible light C–N-co-doped TiO2 nano catalyst that we prepared via the sol-gel method and pyrolyzed at 350 °C for 105 min in an inert atmosphere to prevent combustion of carbon moieties. Then we prolonged the pyrolysis holding time to 120 and 135 min and studied the effect of these changes on the crystal structure, particle size and morphology, electronic properties and …

Evaluating The Crosstalk Current And The Total Radiated Power Of A Bent Cable Harness Using The Generalized Mtl Method, Yansheng Wang, Ying S. Cao, Dazhao Liu, Richard W. Kautz, Nevin Altunyurt, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a general formulation of the generalized multiconductor transmission line (GMTL) method to model a parallel cable harness including straight and bent wires. The parallel cable harness here indicates the uniform cross-sectional wire distribution. The GMTL equations are solved recursively based on the perturbation theory. This GMTL method facilitates an accurate evaluation of the current distributed on a cable harness. On top of that, the current obtained in a radiation problem is decomposed into two traveling currents, i.e., the positive-going and the negative-going currents, based on the least-squares method. With the decomposed currents, the steepest descent method is …

The Kinetic Study Of Dpt Using Mathematica As An Efficient Optimization Tool, M. H. El Dewaik, Mamdouh Gadalla, M. A. Radwan, M. A. Sadek, Hany A. Elazab

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mathematica is a powerful program for computing both numeric and algebraic calculations as well as graphing two- and three-dimensional curves and surfaces. It is used increasingly in many fields of science now such as physics, engineering, chemistry and even biology because of the fast interaction of mathematics with almost the fields of science nowadays. Synthesis of Cyclotetramethylene Tetramine through the action of nitrating mixture formed of ammonium nitrate and fuming nitric acid on hexamine in presence of acetic acid, acetic anhydride and p-formaldehyde has been proven. The pathway is relatively long and Hexamine Dinitrate and Dinitro Pentamethylene Tetramine (DPT) are …

Laser Metal Deposition Of An Alcocrfeniti₀.₅ High-Entropy Alloy Coating On A Ti6al4v Substrate: Microstructure And Oxidation Behavior, Wenyuan Cui, Wei Li, Wei Ting Chen, Frank W. Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ti6Al4V has been recognized as an attractive material, due to its combination of low density and favorable mechanical properties. However, its insufficient oxidation resistance has limited the high-temperature application. In this work, an AlCoCrFeNiTi_0.5 high-entropy alloy (HEA) coating was fabricated on a Ti6Al4V substrate using laser metal deposition (LMD). The microstructure and isothermal oxidation behaviors were investigated. The microstructure of as-deposited HEA exhibited a Fe, Cr-rich A2 phase and an Al, Ni, Ti-enriched B2 phase. Its hardness was approximately 2.1 times higher than that of the substrate. The oxidation testing at 700⁰C and 800⁰C suggested that the HEA coating …

A Review On Metallic Alloys Fabrication Using Elemental Powder Blends By Laser Powder Directed Energy Deposition Process, Yitao Chen, Xinchang Zhang, Mohammad Masud Parvez, Frank W. Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The laser powder directed energy deposition process is a metal additive manufacturing technique, which can fabricate metal parts with high geometric and material flexibility. The unique feature of in-situ powder feeding makes it possible to customize the elemental composition using elemental powder mixture during the fabrication process. Thus, it can be potentially applied to synthesize industrial alloys with low cost, modify alloys with different powder mixtures, and design novel alloys with location-dependent properties using elemental powder blends as feedstocks. This paper provides an overview of using a laser powder directed energy deposition method to fabricate various types of alloys by …

Lateral Migration Of A Ferrofluid Droplet In A Plane Poiseuille Flow Under Uniform Magnetic Fields, Md Rifat Hassan, Cheng Wang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The lateral migration of a two-dimensional (2D) viscous ferrofluid droplet in a plane Poiseuille flow under a uniform magnetic field is studied numerically by using the level set method. Focusing on low droplet Reynolds number flows (Re_d ≤ 0.05), several numerical simulations are carried out to analyze the effects of magnetic field direction and strength, droplet size, and viscosity ratio on the lateral migration behavior of the droplet. The results indicate that the magnetic field direction plays a pivotal role in the trajectory of lateral migration of the droplet and the final equilibrium position in the channel. When the …

An Aggregated And Equivalent Home Model For Power System Studies With Examples Of Building Insulation And Hvac Control Improvements, Huangjie Gong, Evan S. Jones, Dan M. Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Introducing new technologies into existing residences provides opportunities for the utility to enhance a community's power system performance. To validate the benefits of such technologies, an energy model is required in which their integration with a community's power system may be simulated. It can be difficult or impossible to properly model a power system without sufficient sample data. This paper proposes a method that uses Gaussian kernel density estimation (GKDE) to calculate the aggregated net power flow of a community's distribution system with only limited sample points at each time step. Example case studies that confirm the usefulness of the …

Application Of Optimized Laser Surface Re-Melting Process On Selective Laser Melted 316l Stainless Steel Inclined Parts, Jafar Ghorbani, Jianzhi Li, Anil K. Srivastava

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Lower surface quality of selective laser melting (SLM) manufactured parts remains to be a key shortcoming particularly for high performance functional components. In this paper, the authors utilized Box–Behnken methodology to explore the effect of laser surface re-melting process parameters. The process parameters are:laser power, laser exposure time, laser point distance, and shell layer thickness. The experiments were conducted using Renishaw AM-250 machine. SLM manufactured parts with inclination of 45˚ up-skin were treated with a given surface roughness using laser surface re-melting (LSR). The optimization of process parameters was conducted using response surface methodology and the validation tests was carried …

Improved Ballistic Limit Equations For High-Speed Non-Aluminum Projectiles Impacting Aluminum Dual-Wall Spacecraft Systems, William P. Schonberg

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

One of the major design considerations of earth-orbiting spacecraft is the damage that might occur from an impact by a micrometeoroid or orbital debris particle. Ballistic limit equations (BLEs), which predict the response of spacecraft components under impact, are one of the key components of any micrometeoroid / orbital debris risk assessment calculation. However, given that a limited number of BLEs have been developed, analysts will sometimes use a BLE to assess the impact projectile made of a material that was not used in the development of that BLE. This paper presents the results of a two-part study that focused …