Engineering Commons^™

Rheology Modification Of Flowable Mortar With Co2, Sean Monkman, Soo Duck Hwang, Kamal Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Rheological Properties of Mortar Samples with Different Additions of CO₂ during Mixing Were Determined. Flowable Cement-Based Mortars at Three Different W/c (0.55, 0.45 and 0.35) Were Produced and the Effects of CO₂ Gas Were Examined on the Fresh Properties of Slump Flow, Yield Stress and Plastic Viscosity. According to the Experimental Results, the Mortar Yield Stress and Plastic Viscosity Increased Faster over Time Than in a Reference System with the Increasing Addition of CO₂ and Greater Effects Were Seen at the Lowest W/c of 0.35 Than at the Others. the Impact of the CO₂ on …

Accelerating The Circular Economy Transition: A Construction Value Chain-Structured Portfolio Of Strategies And Implementation Insights, Radwa Eissa, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Despite the Increasing Recognition of the Potential of Circular Economy (CE) Strategies, their Effective Application to Decarbonize the Construction Value Chain Faces Multiple Challenges. Ambiguity Surrounding CE, stemming from a Lack of Clarity on Actionable Strategies, is a Common Concern. Existing Studies Lack a Holistic Approach for Systematically Integrating CE Principles throughout the Construction Value Chain, resulting in a Scarcity of Information on How to Practically Adopt CE within Projects. This Research Aims to Accelerate CE Adoption by Creating a Value Chain-Structured Portfolio of CE Strategies and Analyzing the Implementation of Such Strategies in Actual Projects. to This End, a …

Pinn-Chk: Physics-Informed Neural Network For High-Fidelity Prediction Of Early-Age Cement Hydration Kinetics, Md Asif Rahman, Tianjie Zhang, Yang Lu

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cement hydration kinetics, characterized by heat generation in early-age concrete, poses a modeling challenge. This work proposes a physics-informed neural network (PINN) named PINN-CHK designed for cement hydration kinetics, to predict early-age temperature rises in cement paste. PINN-CHK leverages data-driven solutions to craft a high-fidelity prediction model, encompassing material properties and maturity functions in cement hydration. Trained on heated cement paste data, it simultaneously fits experimental results and underlying physics, yielding a mesh-free simulation. Incorporating governing partial differential equations (PDEs), and initial and boundary conditions into its loss function, PINN-CHK architecture undergoes rigorous benchmark testing, demonstrating unparalleled predictive accuracy compared …

Meteorological Data Mining And Synthesis For Supplementing On-Site Data For Regulatory Compliance, Ben Sonpon, Shoaib Usman, Joseph Smith, Sarah Kovaleski, Jason Wibbenmeyer

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Many regulatory requirements add significant delay in the licensing of new nuclear power stations. One area of particular interest is the environmental impact of potential atmospheric release. the purpose of this research is to demonstrate effectiveness of meteorological data mining and synthesis from offsite locations to reduce need for onsite data, hence allowing rapid licensing. the automated procedures tested for data mining and extraction of meteorological data from multiple offsite sources and the data analytic tool developed for data fusion are presented here. Three important meteorological parameters from regulatory compliance are considered for this analysis: wind velocity, wind direction, and …

Genetically-Encoded Optical Barcodes For Single-Cell Analysis, Daniel Pritko

All Theses

Cell barcodes are capable of being used to answer many different biological questions. They have been used to track the lineage of cells to identifying the function of a gene. While there are multiple different methods to creating cell barcodes, they are limited in their scalability and application. In a previous publication we propose and computationally prove an optical single-cell barcoding method that bridges fast and scalable readouts with the benefits of genetic encoding. In this approach fluorescent proteins (fps) are combined to form fluorescent barcodes that can then be analyzed using a spectral flow cytometer. Here, we test the …

Predicting Hurricane Evacuation Behavior Synthesizing Data From Travel Surveys And Social Media, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Naveen Eluru, Samiul Hasan, Aron Culotta, Kamol Chandra Roy

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Evacuation behavior models estimated using post-disaster surveys are not adequate to predict real-time dynamic population response as a hurricane unfolds. With the emergence of ubiquitous technology and devices in recent times, social media data with its higher spatio-temporal coverage has become a potential alternative for understanding evacuation behaviour during hurricanes. However, these data are often associated with selection bias and population representativeness issues. To that extent, the current study proposes a novel data fusion algorithm to combine heterogeneous data sources from transportation systems and social media, in a unified framework to understand and predict real-time population response during hurricanes. Specifically, …

Tellurium Enrichment In Copper Tailings: A Mineralogical And Processing Study, José L. Corchado-Albelo, Lana Alagha

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

As the global demand for tellurium (Te) increases, it is crucial to develop efficient recovery methods that consider existing supply streams. This research combines gravity separation and froth flotation processes to enhance the recovery of Te minerals from tailings produced during the beneficiation of copper porphyry ores. Prior to processing, a systematic and comprehensive characterization study of copper tailing (CT) samples was conducted to examine the deportment of Te minerals in different mineral phases and to understand their locking and liberation behavior. Characterization techniques included inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and TESCAN's integrated mineral analysis (TIMA). Copper tailing characterization …

Meteorological Data Mining And Synthesis For Supplementing On-Site Data For Regulatory Compliance, Ben Sonpon, Shoaib Usman, Joseph Smith, Sarah Kovaleski, Jason Wibbenmeyer

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Many regulatory requirements add significant delay in the licensing of new nuclear power stations. One area of particular interest is the environmental impact of potential atmospheric release. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate effectiveness of meteorological data mining and synthesis from offsite locations to reduce need for onsite data, hence allowing rapid licensing. The automated procedures tested for data mining and extraction of meteorological data from multiple offsite sources and the data analytic tool developed for data fusion are presented here. Three important meteorological parameters from regulatory compliance are considered for this analysis: wind velocity, wind direction, and …

Design And Development Of Uio-67-Coated Pim-1-Based Composites And Demonstration Of Their Detoxification Performance, Sukanta K. Mondal, Peter O. Aina, Ali A. Rownaghi, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polymer-supported MOF composites have emerged as versatile candidates for various separation and catalytic applications. In this study, we demonstrate design and development of UiO-67-coated Ce(OH)₄@PIM-1 composites via dip-coating, drop-casting, solid-phase coating, and supramolecular assembly, and assess their preparation-structure-performance relations. The catalytic performance of the composites was investigated through hydrolysis of dimethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP), as a nerve agent simulant. The findings revealed that while dip-coating method was unable to achieve a thick and uniform coverage of the MOF layer on the Ce(OH)₄@PIM-1, the supramolecular assembly gave rise to 16 wt.% MOF loading and the composite prepared …

Examination And Improvement Of The Taguchi-Based Nanofluids Impact On Co2 Absorption Using Al2o3 Nanoparticles, Safa Waleed Shakir, Saif Saleh Hussein, Shaymaa Hasan Khazaal, Hyder Akram Al-Naseri, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, Rana Najah Hachim, Muthanna Hikmat Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this study, a batch absorption reactor was used to evaluate the nanofluid of a binary aqueous solution of monoethanolamine and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (MEA/AMP) with nanoparticles of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) as a solvent used to remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from simulated flue gas. Furthermore, the application of the Taguchi experiment design method determined the optimal conditions for the absorption process. This research focuses on the CO₂ absorption process and the optimal conditions related to nanoparticle addition. The main effects of using nanofluid were investigated. The concentration of nanoparticles, nanoparticle size, and stirrer speeds were …

Heat Treatment Post-Processing For The Improved Mechanical Properties Of Scalmalloy® Processed Via Directed Energy Deposition, Rachel Boillat-Newport, Sriram Praneeth Isanaka, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

As high-strength aluminum alloys present several processability issues with additive manufacturing (AM), Scalmalloy®, an Al-Mg-Sc-Zr-based alloy, has been developed. This alloy is age-hardenable, allowing it to precipitate out a strengthening precipitate phase, Al3(Sc,Zr). The manufacturer recommends a single-stage aging treatment at 325 °C for 4 h; however, the majority of the literature studies utilize a powder bed processing known as selective laser melting (SLM) over powder-fed processing directed energy deposition (DED). This study addresses the lack of information on heat treatments for DED fabrication by exploring the application of artificial aging temperatures of 300–400 °C for 2, 4, and 6 …

Carbon Capture And Renewable Energy Policies: Could Policy Harmonization Be A Puzzle Piece To Solve The Electricity Crisis?, Mahelet G. Fikru, Fateh Belaïd, Hongyan Ma

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The electricity market crisis, driven by factors such as increased energy demand, rising fuel prices, aging infrastructure, and greenhouse gas emissions, requires a multifaceted approach including the strategic implementation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, which despite high costs and potential adverse impact on renewable investments, can allow the use of fossil fuels to maintain grid stability, and simultaneously lower carbon footprint. Across the world, several nations are designing financial incentives and improving regulatory frameworks to reduce barriers to the deployment of CCS. However, it is not clearly understood whether and to what extent such policy support would affect …

Tectonic Implications Of Seismic Anisotropy Layering Beneath The Southern Tibetan Plateau Revealed By Integrated Shear Wave Splitting And Receiver Function Analyses, Cong Shen, Stephen S. Gao, Fansheng Kong, Kelly H. Liu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

To investigate continental dynamics underneath the south-central Tibetan plateau, which composes the Himalayan, Lhasa, and Qiangtang blocks, we have conducted comprehensive examinations of seismic azimuthal anisotropy in the crust using receiver functions (RFs) and crustal and mantle anisotropy using teleseismic shear wave splitting (SWS) analysis. In the Qiangtang block, the observed predominantly E-W fast orientations from RF and SWS analyses with similar magnitude are interpreted as resulting from eastward crustal flow with minor contributions from the mantle. In the Lhasa block, the crustal anisotropy is approximately N-S oriented, which is parallel to the strike of rift basins and southward crustal …

Design And Simulation Of A Micro-Coiled Digitally-Controlled Variable Inductor With A Monolithically Integrated Mems Switch, A. Sharaf, Sh M. Eladl, A. Nasr, M. Serry

Faculty Journal Articles

This work introduces the design, analysis, simulation, and a standard MEMS fabrication process for a three-dimensional micro-coil with a magnetic core and a digital switch configuration using a completely integrated, fully MEMS-compatible process to achieve a digitally controlled inductance. The proposed design can also be utilized as a micro-transformer. The proposed design consists of five identical 3D coils and their corresponding MEMS switches. These coils are digitally controlled to achieve a variable inductor ranging from one-fifth of the coil inductance up to five times the coil inductance. A standard five-layer Polymumps process is proposed to fabricate the micro-coils and the …

Influence Of Aggregate Properties On Skid Resistance Of Pavement Surface Treatments, Alireza Roshan, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Skid resistance is a critical aspect for traffic safety since it significantly influences vehicle control and minimizes the distance required for emergency braking. The surface characteristics of pavements play a pivotal role in determining skid resistance. To achieve the optimal skid resistance performance, the pavement must sustain a specific level of friction. Thus, it is advantageous to apply surface treatments in areas that require enhanced friction. This study investigates the impact of factors such as the aggregate source, size, morphological properties, and abrasion levels on the skid resistance and frictional characteristics of a high-friction surface treatment (HFST). A complete investigation …

Indefinability Of Effective Stress For Unsaturated Soils, Xiong Zhang, Sandra Houston

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

For decades, researchers have searched for an unsaturated soil effective stress that performs analogously to effective stress for saturated soils and provides some simplifications over net stress and suction approaches. A recent debate is whether problems identified with unsaturated soil effective stress can be resolved via elastoplastic analyses. Effective stress equations are reviewed and categorized as being based on volume change, shear strength, yield, or degree of saturation. These equations are evaluated for consistency with saturated soil effective stress expectations using the Barcelona basic model (BBM), simplified into an integrated elastoplastic framework using the modified state surface approach (MSSA). Under …

Exploring Healthcare Chatbot Information Presentation: Applying Hierarchical Bayesian Regression And Inductive Thematic Analysis In A Mixed Methods Study, Samuel Nelson Koscelny

All Theses

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, significantly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. While contributing to over 691,000 deaths in 2021 alone in the United States (U.S.), it also imposes immense economic burden on the healthcare system, costing approximately $131 billion annually. One way to address this issue is for increased self-care behaviors and medication adherence, both of which require sufficient health literacy. Despite the importance of health literacy, 90% of U.S. adults struggle with health-related subjects. Overcoming the issues associated with health literacy requires addressing the …

A Benchtop Analysis Of Pressure Offloading Associated With Custom Socket Inlays In Transtibial Prostheses, Sarah G. Hill

All Theses

Approximately 78% of people with lower limb amputations are dissatisfied with the comfort of their prostheses (Quintero-Quiroz & Perez 2019). In the case of lower limb amputations, the residual limb tissue bears far more weight than it was before the amputation. The pressure put on the soft tissue of the residual limb causes discomfort (Brown et al. 2021). In previous work, custom inlays were created, which fit inside the prosthesis and offload pressure, with the goal of helping to increase the comfort and satisfaction of the prosthesis user (Brown et al. 2021). In this project, a benchtop prosthetic socket loading …

Improving Expressive Capacity Of Deep Neural Networks, Clayton Harper

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Deep learning has had remarkable success in a variety of fields. However, architectures often rely on hyperparameter searches and heuristics for improved model performance. Performing hyperparameter searches is an arduous task--often time-consuming and potentially expensive to run on accelerated hardware. As a result, practitioners often rely on heuristics which may lead to sub-optimal results. In the context of deep learning, hyperparameters are set by the user prior to the training process and remain fixed. Deep learning uses gradient descent to learn complex feature representations from data, limiting human intervention. While the weights of the architecture can learn directly through data …

Investigating Near-Field Radiative Heat Transfer With Titanium Carbide Mxenes And Slanted Columnar Thin Films, Sean Luke Murray

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This work investigates the mechanisms to manipulate and control the magnitudes of Near-Field Radiative Heat Transfer (NFRHT) using two-dimensional materials and nanostructured surfaces. NFRHT occurs when the geometrical features of the radiating objects or the separation distance between interacting bodies are comparable to or lower than the characteristic thermal radiation wavelength. NFRHT magnitudes surpass the blackbody limit by several orders of magnitude due to phenomena such as photon tunneling and new modes of energy transfer, like surface polaritons. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how material properties and surface nanostructures affect NFRHT.

The first part of this work examines the …

Review Of Fourth-Order Predictive Modeling And Illustrative Application To A Nuclear Reactor Benchmark. I. Typical High-Order Sensitivity And Uncertainty Analysis, Dan Gabriel Cacuci, Ruixian Fang

Faculty Publications

This work (in two parts) will review the recently developed predictive modeling methodology called “4th-BERRU-PM” and its applicability to nuclear energy systems as exemplified by an illustrative application to the Polyethylene-Reflected Plutonium (acronym: PERP) OECD/NEA reactor physics benchmark. The acronym 4th-BERRU-PM designates the “Fourth-Order Best-Estimate Results with Reduced Uncertainties Predictive Modeling” methodology, which uses the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) principle to incorporate fourth-order experimental and computational information, including fourth (and higher) order sensitivities of computed model responses to model parameters, while yielding best-estimate results with reduced uncertainties for the first fourth-order moments (mean values, covariance, skewness, and kurtosis) of the optimally …

Introduction To Neuroengineering, Mercedes Terry, Abigail Tubbs, Blair Dupre, Brandon Fugger, Enrique Alvarez Vazquez

Open Educational Resources

"Introduction to Neuroengineering" serves as a comprehensive guide to the fast evolving field at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and technology. This book covers foundational concepts like neuron structure, action potentials, and neural modeling, moving through advanced topics like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neurostimulation, and imaging technologies (EEG, MEG, fMRI). Each chapter combines theory with practical exercises and lab examples, accessible through a GitHub repository to enhance hands-on learning. Aimed at students, educators, and professionals, this resource offers a foundation and inspiration for innovation in neuroengineering, promoting ongoing exploration in this impactful field.

Exploring Telehealth Utilization Through Data Analytics, Statistical Analyses, And Machine Learning Techniques, Aysenur Betul Cengil

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the utilization of telehealth services, initially focusing on the Arkansas healthcare system and then extending the analysis nationwide. It aims to understand the factors influencing telehealth adoption and its impact on healthcare delivery. After examining telehealth utilization in Arkansas from 2018 to 2022, the research utilizes a comprehensive dataset from Epic Cosmos, which includes a wide range of patient and visit data from multiple healthcare facilities across the United States from 2018 to 2023. This timeframe allows for a detailed analysis of telehealth trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In Chapter 2, we analyze key …

Transforming Construction? Evaluation Of The State Of Structural 3d Concrete Printing In Research And Practice, Alireza Hasani, Sattar Dorafshan

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Additive manufacturing in construction has witnessed exponential growth over the recent years. In this paper, advancements in 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) in additive construction are explored. The authors synthesize the states of research and practice of 3DCP technology for construction through an extensive examination of 137 projects and various publications. Insights are provided into the key factors influencing 3DCP structural performance. The technology is shown to be advantageous, although with varying benefits observed in different cases, including but not limited to reduced cost, labor requirements, material, and construction time. Nevertheless, challenges, such as limited control over the quality, unexplored long-term …

Penetration Thresholds Of Porcine Limbs For Low Sectional Density Projectiles In High-Rate Impact, Joseph Lesueur, Jared Michael Koser, Carolyn E. Hampton, Michael Kleinberger, Frank A. Pintar

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

With similar prevalence to injuries from fires, stings, and natural disasters, soft tissue injuries may occur from fireworks, industrial accidents, or other explosives. Surgeons are less familiar with treating high-velocity penetration from small debris, which may increase the chance of infection and subsequent fatality. Penetration risk curves have been developed to predict V₅₀, the velocity with 50% probability of penetration, for various sized projectiles. However, there has been limited research using nonmetallic materials to achieve lower density projectiles less than 1 g cm−2, such as sand or rocks.

Material and Methods

To emulate the size and density …

Engineering The Properties Of Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Through Solid State Solutions, Robin Conner

All Theses

Magnesium aluminate spinel solid state solutions were prepared via the coprecipitation method and calcined in air at 900 °C for 2 h. The manipulation of magnesium aluminate spinel’s microstructure through the formation of solid state solutions with zinc and gadolinium substituting for magnesium was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FTIR) confirmed the formation of a single cubic crystalline phase. The luminescence properties were investigated by radioluminescence (RL) under X-ray excitation and thermoluminescence (TL) measurements. In the case of zinc, all concentrations of the solid state solutions showed similar luminescence with bands at …

Fault Detection And Location In Renewable-Fed Distribution Systems Using Low Voltage Sensors, Bushra Farhat

All Theses

The penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) into the Electric Power System (EPS) is increasing. These (DERs) are mostly inverter-based resources (IBRs) that are integrated into (EPS) at the distribution level. Therefore, it has become necessary to leverage the integration of (IBRs) for both commercial and residential distribution systems through the deployment of Microgrid (MG). However, existing distribution systems that use fuses for sensing and isolating faults are not equipped to handle protection of microgrids where fault currents are fed from multiple sources and can flow downstream or upstream. Bulk of the protection schemes proposed in literature are heavily dependent …

Understanding The Microstructure And Tribological Performance Of Cocrfeni-Based High Entropy Alloys, Ali Azarmi

All Theses

Due to their higher wear resistance compared to conventional alloys, high entropy alloys (HEAs) are now being considered as candidates for parts undergoing sliding contact during their lifetimes. While the engineering field has built some knowledge related to the performance of selected high entropy alloys, such as the CoCrFeNi alloy, more research is needed to determine if (how) expansions from four to five principal alloying elements alter the performance compared to the initial alloy. In this study, we started this research effort by investigating the relative performance of CoCrFeNiMn and CoCrFeNiTi with respect to CoCrFeNi. The two primary alloying elements …

Local Charge Distortion Due To Cr In Ni-Based Concentrated Alloys, Jacob Fischer

All Theses

Due to the presence of multiple elements consisting of a range of atomic radii, local lattice distortion (LLD) is commonly observed in concentrated (and high entropy) alloys. However, since these elements also have diverse electronegativities, recent works show that atoms can have a range of atomic charges. In this work, using density functional theory (DFT), we investigate electronic charge distribution in face centered cubic (FCC) Ni-based alloys and find significant charge-density distortion in HEAs. Specifically, Cr atoms have large charge density distortion that results in a wide range of bond lengths, atomic charges, and electronic density of states in Cr-containing …

Trust: The Inertia Taxonomy Of Trust And Learning Outcomes Of Trust Building Exercises, Ann B. Lyons

All Theses

This study investigates United States construction professionals’ view of trust in the workplace. In particular the focus is on building trust through trust building exercises. In order to accomplish this, a literature review was conducted focusing on trust in the worldwide construction industry. This was followed by interviews with US construction professionals who focus on team building. These interviews informed a survey sent to a wide variety of US construction professionals. The survey had two sections of content questions, 1. view of trust indicators and 2. perception of trust building exercises. Finally, experts in the field of construction team building …