Engineering Commons^™

Review Of Cyclic Voltammetry Measurements For Uranium In Flinak Molten Salt, Jackson Ivory

Reviews, Analyses, and Instructional Studies in Electrochemistry (RAISE)

The electrochemical behavior of uranium FLiNaK molten salts is explored, focusing on cyclic voltammetry (CV) as a powerful tool for redox characterization and diffusion studies. Through a comprehensive review of recent research, the study highlights the significance of CV in understanding electrode kinetics, material compatibility, and process optimization in molten salt environments. The findings underscore the potential of FLiNaK molten salt reactors in advancing nuclear energy technologies, fuel processing, and waste management strategies. Collaborative interdisciplinary efforts are emphasized to address challenges and accelerate innovation in electrochemical methods for nuclear applications.

Model Of The Effect Of Voltage On Contact Angle In An Electrolytic Cell Reaction, Aaron Essilfie

Reviews, Analyses, and Instructional Studies in Electrochemistry (RAISE)

This paper investigates the hypothesis that the contact angle at the meniscus of an electrode-electrolyte can be altered during a redox reaction through the coupled understanding of electrowetting and capillarity rise. Recent studies in electrowetting have focused on dielectric surfaces but research on contact angle at the electrode-electrolyte surface is lacking. The study employs a basic electrolytic cell. By applying principles of electrowetting and capillary rise the research aims to understand the relationship between applied voltage and contact angle, to advancements in electrochemistry and microfluidics.

An Overview Of How To Measure The Kinetic Properties Of An Anode Material For The Chlorine Evolution Reaction, Cameron Vann

Reviews, Analyses, and Instructional Studies in Electrochemistry (RAISE)

The process of generating chlorine gas using electrolysis in aqueous systems is well established. However, a new process requires chlorine to be generated at high temperatures using molten salt. This harsh environment requires a new study of anode materials for the chlorine evolution reaction. Anode materials can be compared by their kinetic parameters, the transfer coefficient α and the exchange current i0. The basic theory of these properties as they relate to the chlorine evolution reaction has been detailed and an analysis method for finding these effective parameters has been shown and demonstrated.

Optimization Of Ethylbenzene Production Facility, Chance Ferrell

Honors Theses

Ethylbenzene is a foundational organic compound used as a reactant in styrene production. The objective of this thesis is to present the optimization of the in-house production process of ethylbenzene, aiming to avoid external procurement for the downstream styrene manufacturing facility. The process underlines a strategic approach to enhance the yield and cost efficiency of the production of ethylbenzene. An economic analysis revealed a promising net present value of approximately $57.6 million. This thesis not only proposes a viable route for internal ethylbenzene generation but also discusses optimizing the chemical production processes for enhanced efficiency and sustainability.

Design And Application Of Phase-Separating Peptides In Cytosolic Drug Delivery, Huihao Wang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This research investigates the design and application of phase-separating peptides for direct cytosolic drug delivery. Novel peptides (GHGXY)4, with variable amino acids, were synthesized using microwave-assisted chemistry to enhance phase separation and membrane fusion. In vitro experiments utilizing advanced imaging techniques demonstrated the peptides' capability to form coacervates and facilitate direct cargo, DNA, mRNA, and protein, delivery into the cytosol, bypassing traditional cellular barriers. The study also explores the role of inhibitor Bafilomycin and NH4Cl in phase-separating peptides functionality, offering significant insights into their delivery mechanisms. This research underscores the potential of phase-separating peptides in improving therapeutic delivery strategies.

Hybrid Rib And Air Core Arrow Waveguides Fabricated In A Thin Membrane Covered Trench, Seth Brent Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this work is the development of hollow core Anti-Resonant Reflecting Optical Waveguides (ARROWs) fabricated in a membrane covered trench. This technique is a new approach at building more efficient hollow core waveguides for integration into various platforms that involve liquid or gases. These structures are built on silicon wafers using standard microfabrication techniques, including plasma etching to form trenches. Four waveguide designs are demonstrated, which have different numbers of thin film reflecting layers. Research and manufacturing were conducted in BYU's Integrated Microelectronic Laboratory (IML). A brief history of past work at BYU on hollow core ARROW devices …

Nodes For Modes: Nodal Honeycomb Metamaterial Enables A Soft Robot With Multimodal Locomotion, Yusuf Dikici, Kathryn Daltorio, Ozan Akkus

Faculty Scholarship

Soft-bodied animals, such as worms and snakes, use many muscles in different ways to traverse unstructured environments and inspire tools for accessing confined spaces. They demonstrate versatility of locomotion which is essential for adaptation to changing terrain conditions. However, replicating such versatility in untethered soft-bodied robots with multimodal locomotion capabilities have been challenging due to complex fabrication processes and limitations of soft body structures to accommodate hardware such as actuators, batteries and circuit boards. Here, we present MetaCrawler, a 3D printed metamaterial soft robot designed for multimodal and omnidirectional locomotion. Our design approach facilitated an easy fabrication process through a …

Improving Ethics Surrounding Collegiate-Level Hacking Education: Recommended Implementation Plan & Affiliation With Peer-Led Initiatives, Shannon Morgan, Dr. Sanjay Goel

Military Cyber Affairs

Cybersecurity has become a pertinent concern, as novel technological innovations create opportunities for threat actors to exfiltrate sensitive data. To meet the demand for professionals in the workforce, universities have ramped up their academic offerings to provide a broad range of cyber-related programs (e.g., cybersecurity, informatics, information technology, digital forensics, computer science, & engineering). As the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of hackers evolve, the knowledge and skillset required to be an effective cybersecurity professional have escalated accordingly. Therefore, it is critical to train cyber students both technically and theoretically to actively combat cyber criminals and protect the confidentiality, integrity, …

Using Digital Twins To Protect Biomanufacturing From Cyberattacks, Brenden Fraser-Hevlin, Alec W. Schuler, B. Arda Gozen, Bernard J. Van Wie

Military Cyber Affairs

Understanding of the intersection of cyber vulnerabilities and bioprocess regulation is critical with the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning in manufacturing. We detail a case study in which we model cyberattacks on network-mediated signals from a novel bioreactor, where it is important to control medium feed rates to maintain cell proliferation. We use a digital twin counterpart reactor to compare glucose and oxygen sensor signals from the bioreactor to predictions from a kinetic growth model, allowing discernment of faulty sensors from hacked signals. Our results demonstrate a successful biomanufacturing cyberattack detection system based on fundamental process control principles.

Characterizing Advanced Persistent Threats Through The Lens Of Cyber Attack Flows, Logan Zeien, Caleb Chang, Ltc Ekzhin Ear, Dr. Shouhuai Xu

Military Cyber Affairs

Effective cyber defense must build upon a deep understanding of real-world cyberattacks to guide the design and deployment of appropriate defensive measures against current and future attacks. In this abridged paper (of which the full paper is available online), we present important concepts for understanding Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), our methodology to characterize APTs through the lens of attack flows, and a detailed case study of APT28 that demonstrates our method’s viability to draw useful insights. This paper makes three technical contributions. First, we propose a novel method of constructing attack flows to describe APTs. This abstraction allows technical audiences, …

Generative Machine Learning For Cyber Security, James Halvorsen, Dr. Assefaw Gebremedhin

Military Cyber Affairs

Automated approaches to cyber security based on machine learning will be necessary to combat the next generation of cyber-attacks. Current machine learning tools, however, are difficult to develop and deploy due to issues such as data availability and high false positive rates. Generative models can help solve data-related issues by creating high quality synthetic data for training and testing. Furthermore, some generative architectures are multipurpose, and when used for tasks such as intrusion detection, can outperform existing classifier models. This paper demonstrates how the future of cyber security stands to benefit from continued research on generative models.

Machine Learning Security For Tactical Operations, Dr. Denaria Fields, Shakiya A. Friend, Andrew Hermansen, Dr. Tugba Erpek, Dr. Yalin E. Sagduyu

Military Cyber Affairs

Deep learning finds rich applications in the tactical domain by learning from diverse data sources and performing difficult tasks to support mission-critical applications. However, deep learning models are susceptible to various attacks and exploits. In this paper, we first discuss application areas of deep learning in the tactical domain. Next, we present adversarial machine learning as an emerging attack vector and discuss the impact of adversarial attacks on the deep learning performance. Finally, we discuss potential defense methods that can be applied against these attacks.

Securing The Void: Assessing The Dynamic Threat Landscape Of Space, Brianna Bace, Dr. Unal Tatar

Military Cyber Affairs

Outer space is a strategic and multifaceted domain that is a crossroads for political, military, and economic interests. From a defense perspective, the U.S. military and intelligence community rely heavily on satellite networks to meet national security objectives and execute military operations and intelligence gathering. This paper examines the evolving threat landscape of the space sector, encompassing natural and man-made perils, emphasizing the rise of cyber threats and the complexity introduced by dual-use technology and commercialization. It also explores the implications for security and resilience, advocating for collaborative efforts among international organizations, governments, and industry to safeguard the space sector.

A Computational Investigation Into Thermo-Kinetic Parameters Governing The Decomposition Of Bio-Oil Model Compounds, Ali Huseein Aljefri

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Among notable products from thermal degradation of biomass are simple oxygen-containing aromatics. These compounds typically appear in high loads in collected bio-oil derived from biomass. As such, it is important to comprehend the decomposition chemistry of this category of compounds. This thesis takes on board a general approach to report thermo-kinetic parameters that govern decomposition of a selected set of bio-oil model compounds in two distinct systems: firstly radical-derived pathways in the gas phase and secondly thermal degradation in their condensed media. The first is attained through accurate density functional calculations while the second is accomplished through the use of …

Determining The Exit State Of Centrifugal Pumps And Compressors, Chase Oliphant

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Meanline performance models have a rich history in the design of radial flow pumps and compressors. These models are typically based on point data, such as static pressures and temperature measurements at walls, along with occasional traverses to capture additional flow field details. These point measurements, while valuable, do not fully characterize the internal flow behavior within the machine. The Two-Zone model, developed by Japikse and others, is a meanline model based on these measurements to predict machine performance. It posits that the flow at the impeller exit consists of two distinct zones: a primary zone assumed to be isentropic …

Investigation Of Poly(Olefin Sulfone) Depolymerization And Its Dust Mitigation Abilities For Potential Use On Spacecraft, Alexandra Stapley, Walter Paxton, David Allred

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The ubiquity of particulate contamination requires dust mitigation techniques to provide low-scatter surfaces and edges on sensitive optical devices in space. Poly(olefin sulfone)s have been shown to photodegrade with the assistance of a photobase generator when exposed to UV light (254 nm) and heat (120°C). These may be applicable to minimizing dust on optical surfaces for space applications. However, their behavior in vacuum has not been fully characterized. We synthesized poly(2-methyl-1-pentene sulfone) (PMPS) and poly(1-hexene sulfone) (PHS) with and without a photobase generator. We studied the photodegradation (172 nm or 254 nm) of thin films in vacuum. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was …

Creating Models Of Inter-Panel Slipping In Rolled Gossamer Arrays, Nathan Coleman

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Many deployable satellite systems benefit from having low mass and high surface area, which has led to the proliferation of gossamer structures in space-based applications. Gossamer structures are characterized by lightweight, low stiffness membranes, which can flex and roll to compactly stow. An effect of rolling a gossamer structure is that there is tangential separation along adjacent panels as they roll, resulting in relative motion between panels. To aid designers in predicting and accommodating this motion, a method for modeling the slippage between adjacent panels that occurs while rolling is presented. This analytical slippage model and algorithm is a function …

Discovering What Cannot Be Seen: Dust Attenuation Modeling In Early-Type Galactic Nuclei, Nonnie Bash, Benjamin Boizelle

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Black holes (BHs) are believed to reside at the center of every luminous galaxy. Increasingly accurate techniques are now seeking to expand the BH census. Most of these primary techniques account for extended masses by using a stellar luminosity profile derived from optical or near-IR imaging. About 10% of early type galaxies (ETGs) contain a circumnuclear, dusty disk that obscures much of the stellar light originating from behind this thin disk. Few studies have accurately accounted for dust obscuration, or even acknowledged its effect on a BH mass measurement. In this work, we introduce a sample of ETGs with wide …

Expanded Fabrication Of Terahertz Metal Mesh Filters, Jared E. Payne, Joseph Eddy, Hunter R.J. Stevenson, Brad Ferguson, Ryan T. Beazer, Gregory N. Nielson, Stephen M. Schultz

Utah Space Grant Consortium

A metal mesh filter is fabricated by creating metallic squares on a dielectric substrate. This capacitive metallic filter is fabricated using direct write laser ablation consisting of a femtosecond laser in combination with a high numerical aperture objective. A galvanometer beam scanning system is implemented to improve filter size by 12.5x from the previously demonstrated 2x2 mm filter. The transmission and reflection characteristics are discussed.

Constant-Thickness Accommodation By Pattern Modification For Origami Flashers, H. Pruett, S. Magleby, L. Howell

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Thickness accommodation is one of the most significant challenges in creating an origami flasher array. If it is a membrane array, thickness accommodation is generally simpler as panel deformation allows the array to wrap about itself with relative ease. However, for rigid-panel arrays, thickness accommodation is considerably more complicated. This works develops thickness accommodation techniques that yield origami-inspired mechanisms of constant thickness and high-volume efficiency. In this paper, current methods for accommodating thickness in flashers are presented and issues associated with those methods are discussed. Two methods for accommodating thickness in flashers such that panels are constant thickness are proposed.

Optimizing Turbulence Generation For Studying The Dynamics Of Particle Laden Flows, Rhett T. Parry, Tim Berk

Utah Space Grant Consortium

In order to extend the study of particle dynamics into a turbulent fluid regime, novel apparatuses must be developed to simulate desired environments. Synthetic jets are a compact and adaptable tool to generate turbulent flows, however, current studies on synthetic jets are not focused on generating optimal turbulence. Our study seeks to understand how important physical parameters influence the generation of turbulence. By relating far field behavior to near field influence, the parameters that govern a synthetic jet can be specified to produce a jet with desired flow characteristics. We find scalings of velocity, momentum flux, and energy flux that …

Modeling The Effects Of Retinal Thinning And Oxidative Stress During Space Travel, Dillon Weatherston, Dylan Nelson, Justin Jones, Elizabeth Vargis

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Spaceflight causes both physical and chemical changes within the subretinal tissue, particularly the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch’s membrane. Changes such as layer thinning and increases in oxidative stress are both implicated in vision loss caused by spaceflight. While these changes can lead to cell death, the mechanistic impact that these changes have on retinal function are unknown. To isolate the physical alterations to the subretinal tissue caused by space travel, we utilized a tunable in vitro model of Bruch’s membrane and primary porcine RPE cells. Initial results showed that while thinner models can be constructed, they are difficult …

Evaluation Of Clinical Features Of Venturi Adapters For Cpap In Procedural Sedation, Trey Blackwell, Joseph Orr, Derek Sakata, Kai Kuck

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Research has shown that CPAP therapy reduces airway obstruction and oxygen desaturation during procedural sedation. However, the cost and real estate associated with a non-invasive ventilator render this an impractical approach. A Venturi adapter is an alternative device for administering CPAP, which amplifies oxygen flows to produce high flows sufficient for CPAP with cheap and compact hardware. A clinically useful Venturi adapter will generate low noise levels, exhibit high efficiency for generating pressures with low oxygen flows, and minimally dilute the end-tidal carbon dioxide sample for monitoring. To meet these needs, we designed and resin-printed a custom Venturi adapter for …

Developing Membrane Hinges To Enable Predictable And Reliable Arrays For Spacecraft, Mitchel Skinner, Andrew Geyser, Brandon Sargent, Spencer Magleby, Larry Howell

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Deployable space structures that incorporate thin, flexible solar cells allow for innovative designs that are capable of high stowing efficiency. The purpose of this work is to present an approach to predicting the deflection of deployable space structures with flexible panels connected with thin sheets as a function of their material properties, geometry, and applied moments. Related methods are described. An analytical model and finite element analysis are compared and validated with a physical model. The end angle, coordinates, and radius of curvature of each segment are calculated and the results are compared. Important factors related to the reliability of …

Chemical Herding: Using Chemical Reactions To Steer Colloidal Particles, Mark N. Mcdonald, Cameron K. Peterson, Douglas R. Tree

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Creating the next generation of dynamic colloidal materials that change their structure based on external stimuli may require the capability to precisely manipulate colloidal particles. Colloidal particles can be manipulated using a variety of forces, such as electric, magnetic, and optical, but so far chemical reactions have received less attention. We consider here a novel paradigm for using a chemically active colloidal particle to interact with other, passive colloids and precisely manipulate colloidal particles in a microfluidic device, a strategy which we dub “chemical herding”. Specifically, we show in simulation that chemical herding can be used to move a small …

Novel Apparatus For Studying The Effect Of Gravity On The Dynamics Of Particle Laden Flows, Ryan Lewis, Tim Berk

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Dust is a major concern for NASA Lunar and Martian missions due to its abrasive nature tendency to cover equipment. However, little is known how dust behaves in low gravity environments. This paper studies the methodology and validation of a novel apparatus that will simulate low gravity using upward coulomb forces. A parametric study found that the optimized charging parameters to create a charged particle stream, using corona discharge, was a wire-plate spacing of 25 mm at 8 kV and 30 mm at 9 kV. Future work will expand the platform to simulate low gravity in turbulent conditions.

Rr Lyrae Variable Star Light Curves As Audible Sound, Isaac Bentley, Jonathan Barnes

Utah Space Grant Consortium

RR Lyrae stars have light curves that look similar to sound waves inspiring curiosity as to how they might audibly sound. Differences in the composition of RR Lyrae, a property called metallicity, creates slight differences in their light curves. We aim to first convert these light curves to audio, and secondly, see if the difference in metallicity is perceptible. We did this by using publicly available magnitude data taken at several instances of time to create the light curve for one cycle. We processed this data using a Python script to produce a Fourier fit and sound file.

Production Of Steel From Lunar Regolith Through Carbonyl Iron Refining (Cir), Collin T. Andersen, John F. Otero, Olivia Dale, Christian Norman, Cole Walker, Jason Sheets, Talon Townsend, Juliana Ortiz, Olivia Slane, Hong Yong Sohn, Michael F. Simpson, Zhigang Z. Fang

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Transporting equipment to the moon is extremely cost-prohibitive, and competition is fierce over a limited cargo volume. Freight impediments are circumvented if the required material can be harvested, processed, and shaped at the destination. The hostile and remote environment constrains candidate technologies to establish a production pipeline with minimal equipment volume and a low dependence on consumables.

Rr Lyrae Variable Stars From The Gaia Dr3 Dataset In The Palomar 5 Stream, Jacob Best, Jonathan Barnes

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Palomar 5 is a stellar stream orbiting the Milky Way galaxy. Using RR Lyrae variable stars, which are standard candles, the structure of stellar streams can be investigated. Results on the distribution of RR Lyrae variable stars in Palomar 5 have been obtained by Price-Whelan et al. (2020), hereafter PW, using the second data release (DR2) from the Gaia spacecraft mission, but have not been obtained for the third data release (DR3). Using DR3 we investigate whether additional RR Lyrae stars might be identified as part of the stream. Some may be, and these stars have similar locations and proper …

Microgravity Mobility: Redesigning Footwear And Intravehicular Activity Infrastructure For Space Stations, Bennett Graff

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Currently, on the International Space Station, the most commonly used foot restraints are handrails. This presents ergonomic challenges as astronauts try to maintain their position in a microgravity environment, which is exacerbated for astronauts with a predisposition to repetitive strain injuries.

Relevant contexts could include an astronaut with a preexisting medical condition such as early-onset osteoporosis (1 in 5 women over 50) or any astronaut traveling in deep space or spending extended time in microgravity, as this causes a significant decrease in bone density over time. Astronauts Scott Kelly and Don Petit specifically articulated the problematic nature of the current …