Engineering Commons^™

Remote Profiling Of Atmospheric Turbulence: Enhanced Resolution With Stacked Rayleigh Beacons In Tardis, Benjamin C. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

A stacked beacon turbulence profiling methodology has been introduced and applied to have increased profiling on the Turbulence and Aerosol Research and Investigation System (TARDIS). The model was derived and demonstrated the applicability through discussion on data processing and inversion processes. The methodology was applied for two different nighttime experiments, one in Summer and one in Fall. C 2 n profiles were derived into the 1300 m altitude ranges for both nights and the summer experiment was compared to a co-located DELTA Sky measurements and LEEDR generated Climatological profiles. The comparison implied promise in the methodology with additional work needed …

Modeling The Acoustic Transmission Line With Applied Damping, Connor C. Getz

Master's Theses

The transmission line is an underappreciated style of loudspeaker enclosure characterized by an acoustic labyrinth stemming from the rear of the speaker driver. In practice, the transmission line enclosure produces airy sound uncharacteristic of other styles, at the cost of more pronounced resonant peaks. The most important practical drawback of this loudspeaker enclosure design is the difficulty of properly applying damping to these enclosures. Ideally, this difficulty can be mitigated using an analytical model that accurately predicts the SPL frequency response of a transmission line loudspeaker system for a given geometry and mass of damping material.

This research takes the …

Modeling And Performance Investigation Of Novel Inorganic Cs4cusb2cl12 Nanocrystal Perovskite Solar Cell Using Scaps-1d, Hironmoy Karmaker, Ayesha Siddique, Barun K. Das, Md N. Islam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

For the next generation of photovoltaic devices, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) appear as a good choice because they are simple and convert energy to electricity very efficiently. Recent years have seen a great deal of interest in organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites due to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Nonetheless, additional commercialization of the Pb element is still restricted by its inevitable toxicity. To address the instability and toxicity of the lead hybrid perovskite, it is imperative to produce entirely inorganic lead-free perovskite nanocrystals. Cs4CuSb2Cl12 offers promising qualities and strong stability against light, heat, and humidity to overcome these drawbacks. It possesses …

Waste Illuminates Worlds: Printed Modular Lamp Design Based On Brick And Clay Tile, Yechen Zhu

Masters Theses

The building industry in the New England area is often in a state of entropy, with abandoned brick buildings contributing to urban decay. The recycling rate of brick and clay tile wastes generated by construction and demolition is only 12.2%, meaning the majority is sent to landfills. The expansion of landfills can lead to significant environmental and community challenges, including increased traffic from waste transport, habitat destruction, ecosystem degradation, and contributions to climate change. Specifically, the Bethlehem landfill in New Hampshire, which is planned to undergo a 5.71-acre lateral expansion through 2026, has already encountered issues such as leachate spills …

Team F16: Autonomous Research Plane, Andrew Sugamele, Andrew Whitacre, Nicholas Toal, Cole Bushur

Mechanical Engineering

The autonomous research plane is a remote-controlled plane used for both in-flight data collection and to explore new manufacturing methods for Design Build Fly, an engineering club on campus. The club does not have the resources or time to implement data collection for their competition plane, so we built a plane in parallel, following similar rules to mimic the work and schedule that the club would use during their season. We first did research and analysis to determine the structure of the plane, geometry of wings, sizing of the tail, and what airfoil to choose. The manufacturing process included making …

Enhancing Entrepreneurial Minded Learning Of Process Control And Heat Transfer Concepts Using Micromoments And Concept Maps, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Ricardo Gomez Gonzalez, Jean M. Andino, Nilza D. Aples, Xiaojing Yuan

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The Entrepreneurially Minded Learning (EML) Framework seeks to infuse an Entrepreneurial Mindset in engineering students. The EML framework is founded on the 3 C’s principles of curiosity, connections, and creating value. Assessing EML efforts, however, is a well-known challenge for many engineering courses that do not have a design component. Through concept maps and micromoment activities, this work seeks to answer the following questions: Does implementing micromoment activities enhance students’ EML in two core areas of chemical engineering, i.e., heat transfer and process controls? A secondary research question is whether introducing a physical device in lectures enhances students’ EML. The …

Using Micromoments And Concept Maps To Enhance Entrepreneurially Minded Learning Of Indoor Air Pollution Control, Jean M. Andino, Erick Salvador Vasquez-Guardado, Ricardo Gomez Gonzalez, Xiaojing Yuan, Nilza D. Aples

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Micromoments targeted toward indoor air quality were introduced to students in an Air Quality Engineering course to enhance their entrepreneurial mindset. Three micromoment activities, i.e., “Question Frenzy”, “Make It Relevant”, and “How Do We Make It Better?” that are linked, respectively, to the curiosity, connections, and creating value elements of EM were deployed in the class in the context of the use of a Corsi Rosenthal cube (a do-it-yourself structure that has recently become popular as an inexpensive way to reduce indoor particle pollution). Students generated concept maps pre-and post- micromoment intervention using the freely available CMap Tools software. The …

Mechanical Environment Influences Muscle Activity During Infant Rolling, Danielle N. Siegel, Safeer F. Siddicky, Wyatt D. Davis, Erin M. Mannen

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

An infant's musculoskeletal and motor development is largely affected by their environment. Understanding how different mechanical environments affect an infant's movements and muscle use is necessary to inform the juvenile products industry and reduce incidents involving inclined nursery products each year. The purpose of this study was to determine how the coordinated movements and corresponding muscle activation patterns are affected by different mechanical environments, specifically the back incline angle. Thirty-eight healthy infants (age: 6.5 ± 0.7 months; 23 M/15 F) were enrolled in this IRB-approved in-vivo biomechanics study. Surface electromyography sensors recorded muscle activity of the erector spinae, abdominal muscles, …

Modeling And Design Parameter Optimization To Improve The Sensitivity Of A Bimorph Polysilicon-Based Mems Sensor For Helium Detection, Sulaiman Mohaidat, F. M. Alsaleem

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Helium is integral in several industries, including nuclear waste management and semiconductors. Thus, developing a sensing method for detecting helium is essential to ensure the proper operation of such facilities. Several approaches can be used for helium detection, including based on the high thermal conductivity of helium, which is several times higher than air. This work utilizes the high thermal conductivity of helium to design and analyze a bimorph MEMS sensor for helium sensing applications. COMSOL Multiphysics software (version 6.2) is used to carry out this investigation. The sensor is constructed from poly-silicon and SiO₂ materials with a trenched …

The Effects Of Lead, Copper, And Iron Corrosion Products On Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria And Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Veronika Folvarska, San Marie Thomson, Zihao Lu, Maya Adelgren, Adam Schmidt, Ryan J. Newton, Yin Wang, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Antibiotic resistance is a public health crisis. Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are present in drinking water distribution systems. Metals are known selective pressures for antibiotic resistance, and metallic corrosion products are found within drinking water distribution systems due to the corrosion of metal pipes. While corrosion products are a source of metals, the impact of specific corrosion products on antibiotic resistance has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of six corrosion products—CuO, Cu₂O, Pb₅(PO₄)₃OH, β-PbO₂, Fe₃O …

Polypropylene As Partial Fine Aggregate Substitute In Concrete, Samuel E. Royston, Chrisitan G. Achkar, Nicholas B. Tabarez

Architectural Engineering

The objective of this project is to discover a structurally effective method in repurposing recyclable plastic waste through its partial substitution for traditional fine aggregate in concrete.

Results obtained from analysis indicate a 25 percent compressive strength reduction with polypropylene at a 10 percent partial substitution for total sand content. This material successfully performed as an alternative, presenting a ductile mode of failure.

Three material alternatives - polypropylene, polyethylene, and rubber - were substituted for a percentage of sand. These materials underwent concrete cylinder crushing tests to determine their ultimate crushing strength, with the intent of identifying the most effective …

Cardboard Concrete Column Formwork, Danny Shrestha, Joelle Schalesky

Architectural Engineering

This project is an exploration of cardboard as a potential material for construction formwork for concrete columns. Multiple material tests were conducted to explore the behavior of cardboard and concrete. Multiple specimens of cardboard were tested for modulus of elasticity, moment of inertia, and tensile strength. Concrete was tested for its apparent lateral fluid pressure under vibration. Cardboard formwork was then designed and constructed based on these tested behaviors. The final design of the formwork consisted of folding cardboard sheets lined with hardboard, supported by wood studs, and tied by plastic banding straps.

Ultimately, two concrete columns―8' and 10' in …

Moment Monument, Brayden Alec Martinez, Carsten Walker Huber, Gaspar Emmanuel Solorio, Jared Thomas Schieferle

Architectural Engineering

We designed our project, dubbed the Moment Monument, in part to live out our dream of applying engineering and design skills towards creating a lasting impression on Cal Poly’s campus, as well as to develop a visual aid for future engineering students in steel design classes. The Moment Monument is in the Experimental Structures Laboratory, which is a space in the university’s ‘Poly Canyon’ that is reserved for students to build and test different applications of architecture, structural engineering, and construction. In recent years, it has been diffi cult to receive approval to build in the canyon due to high …

Kinomatic Hip Arthroplasty Pelvic Tilt, Emily Wolfert, Teddy Alberton, Sydney Dresser

Biomedical Engineering

Kinomatic is a startup company that provides custom preoperative surgical plans for orthopedic surgeons. The surgical plans are intended for total hip and knee arthroplasty to provide patient-specific measurements and implant sizing. Surgeons can view the surgical plans as 3D models in virtual reality with an Oculus Quest 2 headset or as a PDF summary. Most patients receive a diagnostic anterior-posterior (AP) x-ray that allows their surgeon to determine if they are eligible for a total hip or knee replacement. After diagnosis, the patient can also choose a Kinomatic surgical plan to provide their surgeon with additional data points before …

Design, Modeling, And Testing Of A Novel Inductor For Electric Vehicles: Iron Nitride Soft Magnetic Composites, Cody Krawczyk, Lauren Walker

Materials Engineering

The purpose of this study is to develop a processing method to reduce the porosity of toroidal inductors, whose cores are composed of soft magnetic composites (SMCs) with 65 vol.%, 75 vol.%, and 85 vol.% iron nitride (γ′-Fe₄N) and to validate the results with a COMSOL^TM model. Using hot-pressing as the main process of manufacture, fourteen samples were fabricated and eight were wound with Litz wire. Four samples of 75 vol.% and four samples of 85 vol.% were fabricated by mixing the Fe₄N powder and epoxy at 150^oC and initially pressing at 5 …

Characterization Of High Albedo Ground Surface Treatments For Energy Harvesting By Bifacial Photovoltaic Power Plants, Roma C. Chatripally, Matthew Honda, James Vance

Materials Engineering

Bifacial photovoltaic (bPV) cells have higher solar efficiency than monofacial photovoltaic (mPV) cells due to having two sides of active layers. bPV cells also require less space to produce equivalent electricity, which is useful for solar farms that want to maximize energy output per unit area. Placing a sheet of highly reflective material on the surface beneath bPV cells further increases their efficiency due to increasing the amount of solar radiation that reaches the underside of the bPV cells. This study explores the effects of natural outdoor weathering, solar altitude angle, and accelerated exposure to UV radiation on the albedos …

Barcode Medication Administration (Bmca): 2023-24, Krishan R. Patel, Carlos E. Sosa, Mary Grace Sy

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The Barcode Medication Administration is an important system implemented within a hospital. It is the process in which nurses and other healthcare professionals prescribe and distribute medication to the patients. It aids in organizing which patient got prescribed which medication from which doctor and provides records on who was given care by who. The whole BCMA system is a multi-step process from getting the medication prescribed, to the nurses having to pick up the medication from the medication cabinet, and then having to scan the patient and the medication to finally administer medications.

The current BCMA system implemented at the …

Metallurgical Impact Of Switching From Hammer Units To Hydraulic Presses For Forging, Cole Hawker, Jacob Reed

Materials Engineering

Carlton Forge Works (CFW) is evaluating the retirement of its hammer units in favor of hydraulic presses to address safety concerns in forging aerospace components. This paper investigates the metallurgical implications of this transition, emphasizing the importance of superior microstructures and meeting industry standards and customer requirements. The alloys in question are Titanium-6Al-4V (Ti64) and Inconel 718 (INCO 718), which comprise a majority of CFW’s production. Ti64's high specific strength and thermal stability make it ideal for aerospace applications, while INCO 718 is recognized for superior high-temperature creep performance. Defects like freckles and white spots in INCO 718 are analyzed …

Supermileage Competition: Vehicle Chassis, Enrico Miguel Sangalang, Walter Oppelt, Adam Ponce, Vincent Corella

Mechanical Engineering

The Supermileage Urban Concept Vehicle Chassis Project was proposed by the Cal Poly Supermileage club. The goal of this project is to deliver a fully assembled vehicle chassis by the end of the 2023-2024 school year to be used by the club in the 2025 Shell Eco-Marathon competition. The competition requires a four-wheeled vehicle to comply with various requirements outlined in the Shell Eco-Marathon rulebook, such as dimensions and some safety requirements. The team selected a backbone-style chassis as the design direction. This design consists of a main structural beam that supports all other chassis and vehicle components. This main …

Advanced Wildfire Hose Clamp, Sean King, Christopher Tokarse, Connor Buchinski, Isaac Maddox-White

Mechanical Engineering

This report describes in detail the manufacturing, assembly, and testing of our hose clamp. We start with a review of the changes we have made to our design since our last report, namely a new automatic latching system, and continue with our manufacturing and assembly processes. Then we detail our testing procedures that we created to evaluate how well our design meets user needs and discuss the results of our tests. Unfortunately, our design did not meet our residual flow rate criteria and showed excessive leaking when clamped, so we end with some discussion of the issues our design has, …

A New Design Strategy For Sizes Of Polymer Gel Treatments Derived From A Comprehensive Assessment Of Their Case Histories, Munqith Aldhaheri, Abdullah Almansour, Na Zhang, Mingzhen Wei, Baojun Bai

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The incentive to revive brownfield oil production extends the interest to apply polymer gel treatments in injection wells. Virtually, volumes of previous remediations implemented in similar reservoir types are used to size new jobs. Such an analogy-based design procedure imposes a need to evaluate the most frequent designs for each reservoir type based on a comprehensive field survey. This survey provides a new treatment sizing strategy for polyacrylamide-polymer bulk gels by reviewing their field applications in 653 injection wells. The new strategy proposes using the average and most frequent gel volumes per reservoir type as an initial estimate of the …

Lithospheric Evolution Of The South-Central United States Constrained By Joint Inversion Of Receiver Functions And Surface Wave Dispersion, Tuo Wang, Stephen S. Gao, Kelly H. Liu, Kevin L. Mickus, Ling Chen

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the present study, we use broadband seismic data recorded by 190 stations of the EarthScope program's Transportable Array to construct a 3-D shear wave velocity model for the upper 180 km using a non-linear Bayesian Monte-Carlo joint inversion of receiver functions (RFs) and Rayleigh wave dispersion curves. Ambient noise and teleseismic data are used for obtaining Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves. A resonance removal filtering technique is applied to the RFs contaminated by reverberations from the thick sedimentary layers that cover most of the region. Our observations of the higher crustal shear velocities (∼3.40 km/s) beneath the Sabine …

Ace Mentor Program - Central Coast Chapter, Brayden Samuel Groshart

Construction Management

For my senior project, I established a chapter of the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program in San Luis Obispo, California. This program provides high school students with hands-on experience and exposure to careers in the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. The program spanned eight weeks, balancing theoretical knowledge and practical application. The curriculum began with sessions on the fundamentals of architecture, engineering, and construction. In order to expose the students to real world practices, we organized tours of an architecture firm, an engineering firm, and an active construction site. These visits allowed students to engage with professionals, observe …

Slo Water Treatment Facility Grill Retrofit, Liam Dolan

Construction Management

The San Luis Obispo Water Treatment Facility is a vital facility that provides water to all of San Luis Obispo. The facility runs twenty-four hours a day and constantly has long shifts for those who work there. The water treatment facility has a small, rusted Santa Maria grill that is rarely used because of its condition, and they were in need of a new grill that employees could use to make lunches. The water treatment facility has plans to build an outdoor dining space for employees, and my goal for this retrofitted grill project is to help enhance that space …

Construction Of Concrete Shear Wall & Modular Foundations - Procurement And Quality Control, Justin J. Coffin

Construction Management

This project details the planning, construction, quality control, and logistics processes throughout the construction of a concrete shear wall and modular footings. The project focused on constructing the wall and footings as they were designed to ensure they meet strength parameters to be used in the High Bay Lab at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo for seismic testing. The complex designs, encompassing dense rebar gages and post tensioned bars, required extensive hours of labor and quality control. This paper will cover the main phases of the construction process and how they were acquired. Furthermore, the considerations taken …

Construction Of Lightly Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall And Footings, Luke Jackson Method

Construction Management

This paper details the construction of two cast in place foundations as well as a lightly reinforced cast in place wall. The project, located inside the high bay, provides the Architectural Engineering (ARCE) department with an opportunity to test Fiber Reinforced Polymer wrap as a retrofitting option for walls dating back to pre-1980s. Due to site conditions, and project design, this project required extensive planning and communication within our team, faculty advisors, and shop technicians. This paper will discuss the phasing of construction and procurement of material that was required for the completion of this project. It also aims to …

Resources To Support Adu Construction, Eleanor Rheingans

Construction Management

This survey examines whether cities with a higher number of online resources will result in a higher proportion of ADU permits and a lower wait time for approval. Some cities have offered online resources directly related to the ADU permitting and construction process. The seven online resources were selected based on interviews with developers. Data used is from 2018 to 2023. Other factors seem to affect the number of permits issued more than resources the cities post for public access. While developers do want the resources cities are currently offering, there are some gaps, particularly records of past permit costs …

Designing, Estimating, And Building A Deck And Overhang For The Paso Robles Police Department Shooting Range, Nicklaus Amil Zenner, Benjamin Henry Gallagher

Construction Management

This paper covers the design, estimating, and construction process by a team of students from Cal Poly to provide a deck and overhang for the Paso Robles Police Department Shooting Range. The project, initiated in the winter of 2024, aimed to provide a durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing deck and overhang suitable for a barbecue and lounge area. The paper focuses on the design and estimation phases, as well as material procurement and construction. Through meetings with the client, the team developed a design that met the police department's criteria for functionality, durability, and cost. The design process involved collaboration …

Skip The Grid: Navajo Nation Solar Power Project, Nathan Kealy Haub

Construction Management

Skip the Grid, an initiative aimed at empowering communities in need was brought to life through the collaborative efforts of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) students, industry partners like SOLV Energy, and the educational non-profit organization Heart of America (HOA). This project was a true testament to the power of teamwork and innovation. Our mission was to assist families of school-aged children in the Navajo Nation by providing them with solar energy systems, including batteries and lighting. We aimed to create a lasting impact by equipping these families with essential resources. In addition, we integrated educational …

San Luis Obispo High School Ffa Barn Demolition: Disposal Of Material, Jake B. Schulman

Construction Management

San Luis Obispo High School’s FFA program needed to upgrade its deteriorating pig barn, involving three key scopes of work: demolition of the existing structure, proper disposal of materials, and reconfiguration of pig pens and water lines. This project required skills in demolition, framing, and plumbing, all of which our team learned during construction management courses at Cal Poly. The demolition entailed the complete removal of a barn with metal roof panels, wood trusses, joists, studs, and plywood sheathing. Proper disposal of these materials was crucial and will be detailed in this paper, with a brief discussion on demolition and …