Engineering Commons^™

Deriving Analytical Design Constraints For Absolute & Relative Encoding Schemes In Functional Subnetworks, Cody W. Scharzenberger-Braet, Alexander Hunt

Student Research Symposium

As neural networks have become prolific solutions to modern problems, there has been a congruent rise in the popularity of the numerical machine learning techniques used to design them. While they are highly generalizable, numerical methods tend to produce networks that act as inscrutable “black boxes,” making it difficult to interpret their behavior. One solution to the problem of network transparency is to use analytical techniques, but these methods are underdeveloped compared to their numerical alternatives. In order to enhance the viability of analytical techniques, this work extends previous efforts to quantify the impact that non-spiking neural encoding schemes have …

Revitalizing Turtle Creek Park, Michael Hardyway, Ethan Harm, Abbey Jacoby, Casey Stephenson

Final Reports in ENST 411: Environmental Community Projects

We current ENST 411 students, Abbey Jacoby, Michael Hardyway, Ethan Harm, and Casey Stephenson have chosen to work with Jim Knight, East Buffalo Township, the Merrill Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy, and many others in an attempt to revitalize Turtle Creek Park for a plethora of reasons. Three of us are majoring in biology, and two are majoring in environmental science, which makes much of the information and techniques relevant in Turtle Creek applicable to our courses of study. This project included heavy hands on work which allowed us students to leave a memorable and impactful influence on the Lewisburg …

Chiroptical Second-Harmonic Tyndall Scattering From Silicon Nanohelices, Ben J. Olohan, Emilija Petronijevic, Ufuk Kilic, Shawn Wimer, Matthew Hilfiker, Mathias Schubert, Christos Argyropoulos, Eva Schubert, Samuel R. Clowes, G. Dan Pantoş, David L. Andrews, Ventsislav K. Valev

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Chirality is omnipresent in the living world. As biomimetic nanotechnology and self-assembly advance, they too need chirality. Accordingly, there is a pressing need to develop general methods to characterize chiral building blocks at the nanoscale in liquids such as water-the medium of life. Here, we demonstrate the chiroptical second-harmonic Tyndall scattering effect. The effect was observed in Si nanohelices, an example of a high-refractive-index dielectric nanomaterial. For three wavelengths of illumination, we observe a clear difference in the second-harmonic scattered light that depends on the chirality of the nanohelices and the handedness of circularly polarized light. Importantly, we provide a …

Effects Of Magnetite Particle Morphology On Adsorption Of Copper Ions From Aqueous Solutions, Alisa Hashley

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Adsorptive processes can be used for metal contaminant removal. This work addresses magnetite, a magnetic iron oxide, as the adsorbent for use in an adsorptive removal system, known as the continuous flow material recovery system (CFMR), developed by Leitzke et al. [1]. Though the system is effective in removing contaminants from aqueous solution, efforts to further improve efficiency are being made. One way to improve the efficiency of the CFMR is to analyze the magnetite particles being used and investigate how the particle properties effect adsorption. The author’s research is presented and discussed here to describe the effects magnetite particle …

Liquid-Phase Adsorption Of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate On Poly(Ether Imide) And Its Metal Hydroxide-Integrated Composites, Sukanta K. Mondal, Peter O. Aina, Ali A. Rownaghi, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Understanding the Adsorption Behavior of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate (DMMP), a Key Simulant for Some Nerve Agents, is Crucial for Developing Effective Protective Measures and Ensuring Environmental Safety Against Harmful Chemical Warfare Agents. This Study Systematically Explores the Liquid-Phase Adsorption of DMMP over Branched Poly (Ether Imide) (Ultem) and its Ce (OH)4/Zr (OH)4 Metal Hydroxide Composites. Utilizing UV-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy, the Adsorption Process Was Monitored over Time to Analyze the Interplay between Various Ultem-Based Composites and DMMP Molecules. Nonreactive Ultem Materials Were Experimentally Identified as Suitable Adsorbents for Liquid-Phase DMMP Capture, Providing a Novel Avenue for Protective Filtration Technologies. It Was Found …

Evaluating Neuroimaging Modalities In The A/T/N Framework: Single And Combined Fdg-Pet And T1-Weighted Mri For Alzheimer’S Diagnosis, Peiwang Liu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

With the escalating prevalence of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the need for early and precise diagnostic techniques is rising. This study delves into the comparative efficacy of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) and T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in diagnosing AD, where the integration of multimodal models is becoming a trend. Leveraging data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we employed linear Support Vector Machines (SVM) to assess the diagnostic potential of these modalities, both individually and in combination, within the AD continuum. Our analysis, under the A/T/N framework's 'N' category, reveals that FDG-PET consistently outperforms T1w-MRI across …

Robustness Of Trajectory Prediction Neural Network Models, Guocheng He

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The application of autonomous vehicles in real life relies on trajectory prediction models based on perception and observation of the surrounding scene. The deep neural network model has been widely proven to provide relatively stable and excellent performance in various scenarios. Many formal approaches are used as verification of the prediction results of DNN models, where Conformal Prediction is one which can provide statistical safety guarantee region for DNN models. However, so far, no research has shown that conformal prediction possesses satisfactory robustness in dealing with purposed adversarial attacks. In this paper, we propose an adversarial attack approach against trajectory …

Fabrication Of Two-Dimensional Material-Based Nano-Capacitors Using Bismuth Selenite (Bi2seo5) To Study Its Dielectric Properties, Major Kc

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

In recent years, the demand for high-performance micro and nanodevices has surged, necessitating the exploration of novel dielectric materials to replace conventional silicon dioxide. Following the continuation of the Moorse law, as device dimensions reduce to nanoscale levels, the properties of silicon dioxide can degrade, leading to issues such as increased leakage current and reduced gate control. Materials with superior electrical properties, such as higher dielectric constant, lower leakage current, and better thermal stability allowing for the development of faster, more efficient, and more reliable devices are in higher demand than ever. Two-dimensional layered semiconductor nanomaterials represented by compounds such …

Quality Assurance And Quality Control For Reinforced Concrete Inspections, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

Ensuring the safety and longevity of structures is paramount in concrete construction projects. Cases like the Big Dig ceiling collapse, which occurred on July 10, 2006, when a concrete ceiling panel measuring 20' x 40' and debris weighing 26 short tons (52,000 lb) fell within Boston's Fort Point Channel Tunnel, underscore this importance (Wald, M. L., 2007). Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) are crucial in mitigating such risks. QA ensures that materials and methods meet predetermined performance, design, and reliability standards specified in contracts and customer arrangements. On the other hand, QC is a strategic process businesses use …

Pso Scoring Instruction Guide, Adrian Gentry, Tiantian Li, Eric Holloway, Kerrie A. Douglas, Julie P. Martin

School of Engineering Education Working Papers

This document is a scoring guide to assist higher-education administrators, faculty, and researchers who wish to use the Professional Skills Opportunities instrument (PSO). There are four aspects, or factors, that the PSO is intended to measure relative to engineering undergraduate students’ opportunities to practice professional skills and an overall PSO score. Detailed scoring instructions are provided. The PSO was developed to assess students’ opportunities to develop and practice a range of professional skills. Utilizing a rigorous instrument development process, the PSO was shown to be a tool that can reliably and validly be used to assess engineering undergraduate students' professional …

Evaluating The Effect Of Noise On Secure Quantum Networks, Karthick Anbalagan

Master's Theses

This thesis focuses on examining the resilience of secure quantum networks to environmental noise. Specifically, we evaluate the effectiveness of two well-known quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols: the Coherent One-Way (COW) protocol and Kak’s Three-Stage protocol (Kak06). The thesis systematically evaluates these protocols in terms of their efficiency, operational feasibility, and resistance to noise, thereby contributing to the progress of secure quantum communications. Using simulations, this study evaluates the protocols in realistic scenarios that include factors such as noise and decoherence. The results illustrate each protocol’s relative benefits and limitations, highlighting the three-stage protocol’s superior security characteristics, resistance to interference, …

Influence Of Four Veterinary Antibiotics On Constructed Treatment Wetland Nitrogen Transformation, Matthew V. Russell, Tiffany L. Messer, Deborah A. Repert, Richard L. Smith, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, Ariel P. Reed

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The use of wetlands as a treatment approach for nitrogen in runoff is a common practice in agroecosystems. However, nitrate is not the sole constituent present in agricultural runoff and other biologically active contaminants have the potential to affect nitrate removal efficiency. In this study, the impacts of the combined effects of four common veterinary antibiotics (chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, lincomycin, monensin) on nitrate-N treatment efficiency in saturated sediments and wetlands were evaluated in a coupled microcosm/mesocosm scale experiment. Veterinary antibiotics were hypothesized to significantly impact nitrogen speciation (e.g., nitrate and ammonium) and nitrogen uptake and transformation processes (e.g., plant uptake and …

Potential Impact Of Proposed Medical Device On Hospital Acquired Anemia, Sam Menzie

Masters Theses

Evacuated tubes are the industry standard for drawing blood and have improved phlebotomist and patient safety as well as paved the way for laboratory automation. Current practices using evacuated tubes do not allow caregivers to control the volume of blood drawn, leading to blood waste in hospital settings. This overdrawing of blood has led to the prevalence of iatrogenic anemia, or hospital acquired anemia (HAA). HAA represents a significant risk to patients, leading to increased adverse conditions, and a higher consumption of hospital resources. This study seeks to model the efficacy of a potential new medical device. The proposed device …

Development Of Protocol To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The Labor Assist Device, Samantha M. Spurr

Masters Theses

The Labor Assist Device (LAD) was designed to reduce the muscle fatigue experienced by women during childbirth to decrease the number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries and injuries to nurses. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a protocol for a future study to assess the effectiveness of the LAD at reducing muscle fatigue. While multiple parameters were investigated in this pilot study, the major parameter needed to develop the future protocol is the muscle fatigue rate in women contracting their muscles to simulate pushing during labor. The muscle fatigue rates are estimated in this study using a surface electromyography …

Enhancing Fpga Synthesis For Space Applications: Performance Evaluation Of Scalehls In The Adapt Project, Ruoxi Wang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates the application of ScaleHLS, a high-level synthesis (HLS) tool, to enhance Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) synthesis for space applications, with a focus on the Antarctic Demonstrator Advanced Particle-astrophysics Telescope (ADAPT) project. The study explores how ScaleHLS optimizes the transformation of C code into FPGA-compatible designs to improve computational efficiency and resource utilization.

The research details the process of adapting ADAPT's computational algorithms for FPGA using ScaleHLS, emphasizing the tool's effectiveness in streamlining the code-to-hardware translation. A performance evaluation highlights significant improvements in resource management and operational speed, demonstrating the tool's impact on FPGA synthesis.

These findings illustrate …

Integrating Implantable Bci Devices Within Bci2000 Using A Unified Framework And Toolchain For In-Vivo Research, Dhruva Mehta

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The field of neurotechnology research has a bright and promising future as more devices are created. However, there are still many gaps in the field as the potential for neuromodulation grows. Devices such as the Micro-Leads StimZ system and the Ripple Grapevine/Summit system help bridge that gap by allowing for a broader variety of closed-loop neuromodulation experiments to be implemented thanks to their portability and versatility. Despite these devices being on the market, however, there needs to be a method to collaborate and interact with them across multiple research institutions. BCI2000 helps to address that by creating a standardized working …

Structured Light Radial-View Endoscope Imaging Development For Evaluation Of Human Tissue, Xiyan Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we improved an existing structured light methodology to more accurately estimate tissue optical properties imaged in a single snapshot. The developed approach is a major enhancement of the traditional three-phase spatial frequency domain imaging system: It greatly simplifies the operational procedure while also maintaining high accuracy in optical property measurements .

Leveraging this improved approach, we have developed a low-cost, compact, and radial-view endoscope prototype. This prototype combines affordability with high functionality and a user-friendly design. To assess the performance and reliability of our endoscope, we conducted comprehensive evaluations involving tissue-mimicking phantoms, as well as ex vivo …

Bibliometric Review Of The Landscape And Thematic Structure Of Research On Sustainable Mining In Asean, 1942–2022, Nathatai Janjirawatna, Sirisuhk Rakthin, Philip Hallinger

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This bibliometric review addressed the lack of consolidated information on the current state of sustainable mining in the ASEAN region. The review analyzed bibliographic data associated with 539 Scopus-indexed documents on sustainable mining in ASEAN nations published through the end of 2022. Descriptive statistics identified a great disparity in the scope of research on sustainable mining practices across the ASEAN countries. Surprisingly, a significant portion of the extant research on sustainable mining in the region has been authored by scholars from outside of ASEAN. Keyword analyses highlighted several emerging research topics including life cycle assessment, conservation of natural resources, climate …

Ultra‐Fast Finite Element Analysis Of Coreless Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines, Yaser Chulaee, Dan Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Large‐scale design optimisation techniques enable the design of high‐performance electric machines. Electromagnetic 3D finite element analysis (FEA) is typically employed in optimisation studies for accurate analysis of axial flux permanent magnet(AFPM) machines, which require extensive computational resources. To reduce the computational burden, a FEA‐based mathematical method relying on the geometric and magnetic symmetry of coreless AFPM machines is proposed to estimate the machine performance indicators using the least number of FEA solutions, thereby significantly lowering the running time. This method is generally applicable to AFPM machines with low saturation effects and cogging torque as exemplified for a printed circuit board …

Reasonable Construction Method For Grade Ⅳ Surrounding Rock In Single‑Hole Four‑Lane Super‑Span Highway Tunnel, Li Heyin, Gao Jingming, Li Yanfeng, Xun Wenjie, Dong Fangfang, Zhang Jiangang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to study the reasonable constr uction method of super-span highway tunnels，the Xinghuacun No.1 tunnel included in the reconstruction and expansion project of the Xiaocaohu –Urumqi section of the Lianyungang –Khorgos Expressway in Xinjiang was studied.The numerical simulation method was used to analyze the deformation and stress of the supporting structure of the Grade tisurrounding rock in the super-span highway tunnel constructed by the center diaphragm （CD） method，the upper-bench CD method，and the three-bench and seven-step excavation method.Under the premise that the deformation and the stress of the supporting structure met the design requirements，the advantages and disadvantages of each construction …

Intelligent Bridge Lifecycl E Maintenance System Based On Long‑Term Inspection, Ye Zhiwei, Zhang Jiaxin, Tan Haishan, Fan Lei, He Wen, Dong You, Wu Wanglin

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The current bridge maintenance sy stem in China primarily relies on bridge inspection data to prioritize the state of bridges and allocate a limited budget accordingly.This strategy focuses on repairing bridges with low performance，concentrating on restorative maintenance but ignoring preventive maintenance.In view of the total lifecycle cost，the repair-oriented method may require a lower initial investment but leads to significant resource consumption in the mid to late stages.Based on existing highway bridge maintenance systems，an intelligent maintenance system relying on Chinese standards and bridge inspection data and combining repair and prevention was developed.The system model mainly consisted of two modules：the bridge performance …

Mechanical And Deformation Characteristics Of Piles In Coastal Soft Soil Areas Considering Softening Effect, Wang Fei, Yan Yu, Jiao Lidong, Shen Fengqi, Chen Lu, Liu Jianhua

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to discuss the mechanical and deformation behavior of piles in coastal soft soil areas under horizontal load，the corresponding simplified mechanical model was established according to the loading characteristics of piles in coastal soft soil areas.Secondly，the softening effect of coastal soft soil was considered to modify the existing p-y curve model.On this basis，the differential equation of pile deflection in coastal soft soil areas was derived，and its internal force and displacement were solved by the transfer matrix method.A nonlinear calculation method of piles in coastal soft soil areas considering the softening effect was obtained.Finally，the influence of softening parameters，pile diameter，and elastic …

Experimental Study On Fracture Performance Of Emulsified Asphalt Cold Recycled Mixture, Chu Chenfeng, Deng Jun, Zhou Chen, Wang Zi ’Ang, Kuang Ao, Liu Hongfu

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Cracking in emulsified asphalt cold recycled pavements is one of the main constraints on their large-scale application in road engineering.To study the fracture performance indicators of cold recycled asphalt mixture and the improvement measures of crack resistance performance，this study investigated three types of mixtures：ordinary emulsified asphalt，basalt fiber，and styrene-butadiene rubber （SBR） modified emulsified asphalt.This study conducted a four-point bending strength test on notched beams，and acoustic emission tests of the beam with prefabricated cracks were carried out to evaluate the fracture performance of three different emulsified asphalt cold recycled mixtures in road engineering.The evaluation criteria included strain energy release rate，stress intensity factor，energy …

Experiment On Strength And Deformation Characteristics Of Marine Silt Cement Soil And Their Relationship, Deng Wu, Liu Weizheng, Chen Tie, Ge Mengyuan

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to study the compre ssive，flexural，and shear strength and deformation characteristics of marine silt cement soil，a series of laboratory mix ratio tests were carried out，so as to test the changes in unconfined compressive strength fcu，flexural strength ff，normalized shear strength τqg，normalized principal stress difference （σ1‒σ3）/σ3，and compression modulus Es under different dosage of curing agents，curing ages，and cement-to-lime ratios.In addition，the correlation between different parameters was investigated.The results show that the performance of the improved samples with cement and lime is 2%‒17% higher than that with cement alone under the same dosage.The strength of cement soil is proportional to the dosage and age …

Study On Compression Characteristics Of Solidified Mud‑Sand Mixed Fillers Considering Particle Breakage, Han Chao, Yu Yuezhong, Bai Bin, Xu Zhihao, Zhang Xianmeng, Liu Yinying, Kong Shuoying

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The mixed filler of solidified mud and sand provides an ideal solution for the resourceful disposal of wasted engineering mud，and the compression characteristics of filling engineering are closely related to the strength characteristics and particle breakage characteristics of mixed fillers.This study conducted large size compression tests on mixed fillers with different particle gradations and established a discrete element method （DEM） model that incorporated particle breakage for the side-limited compression tests of solidified mud-sand mixed fillers.The changes in the compression modulus of the mixed fillers and the amount of solidified soil particle breakage during compaction were investigated.The study placed a special …

Mechanical Performance Of Uhpc Building Envelope Based On Topological Optimization And Modular Composition, Zhou Zhixuan, Jiang Youbao, Liu Jun, Xiang Yi, Zhou Hao

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To ensure a safe，aesthetic，and lightweight building envelope，an ultra-high performance concrete （UHPC） building envelope and its node connection mode were proposed based on topological optimization and modular composition.Firstly，the UHPC building envelope was optimized by using the method of minimizing structural compliance subjected to given material volume constraints，and the mechanical performance before and after optimization was compared.The modular design was adopted，and the optimization result of the most unfavorable stress area in the model was taken as the basic configuration unit.Then，UHPC tenon and mortise nodes were proposed，which could be simply assembled into modules.By considering the weak mechanical performance of nodes，the finite element analysis …

Key Techniques For Demolition Of Multi‑Span Continuous Arch Bridge With Concrete‑Filled Steel Tubes, Wan Chengf U, Zeng Wenli

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Taking the demolition project of Jianhu Bridge as the research background，the demolition of arch bridges with concrete-filled steel tubes under complex conditions was studied.First，the current bridge demolition methods and application status were introduced，and three bridge demolition schemes were put forward according to the difficulties of the bridge demolition.The appropriate demolition scheme for the bridge was selected after comparison，and the sequence of arch bridge demolition was explained.Then，the stress characteristics of the bridge at each construction stage were analyzed，and the theoretical and measured displacement and stress at the most unfavorable stage during demolition were compared.Finally，the influence of material strength and temperature on …

Parameter Sensitivity Analysis Of Single‑Tower Cable‑Stayed Bridge With Mixed Beam, Chen Kongliang, Ye Jianxin, Xu Yufeng, Huang Zhuobin, Guo Fengtao

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To improve the efficiency of the review simulation model of the bridge monitoring unit and study the influence of different parameters of the single-tower mixed beam cable-stayed bridge on the bridge ’s completed state in the construction process，this paper，taking the cable-stayed bridge of Tongji Road in Foshan with a span of （200+68+46） m as the engineering background，adopted the single control variable method and response surface-Monte Carlo method for sensitivity analysis.Taking the main beam alignment，main tower alignment，main beam stress，and the variation of cable-stayed bridge force as control objectives，this paper studied the influence of the variation of main beam weight，initial tensile force，and …

Design And Installation Technology Of Hanging Basket For Long‑Span Concrete Girder Cable‑Stayed Bridge, Zeng Xianliu, Pang Jianguo, Chen Cheng

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The main bridge of Zhungeer Yellow River Super Major Bridge is a （160+440+160） m double tower double cable plane full floating system concrete grider cable-stayed bridge.The main beam is a 28.4m wide double box prestressed concrete structure.It was constructed by cantilever pouring with a front fulcrum hanging basket.The maximum weight of the cantilever pouring section is 5 800 kN.To ensure the integral rigidity of the hanging basket，the hanging basket bearing platform adopted the steel box girder structure.The long and large components were connected by high-strength bolts made in sections to facilitate the transportation and installation of the hanging basket.The hanging …

Research On Road Performance Of Carbonaceous Shale Subgrade Filler, Zhang Mengjin, Huang Yafei, Wu Qian, Mao Xuesong, Zhang Jianxun, Chen Xinyi, Wang Yueyue

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The application of carbonaceous shale for subgrade filling not only alleviates the shortage of subgrade filler in carbonaceous shale distribution areas but also meets the strategic requirements of “resource conservation and saving ” and “green development ” for infrastructure construction in China.However，such rocks are weak and susceptible to weathering and disintegration，and they exhibit significant strength deterioration when exposed to water.To fully apply them，their performance must be comprehensively understood.In this paper，the basic properties of the carbonaceous shale were studied，and filler gradation was designed.The tests on compaction characteristics of the filler and particle crushing characteristics after compaction，RCBR （California bearing ratio ） variation …