Engineering Commons^™

Upconversion Photoluminescence In Wsse Alloy Monolayer Under Uniaxial Tensile Strain, Shrawan Roy, Jie Gao, Xiaodong Yang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The optical responses of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (1L-TMDs) can be tuned effectively by using mechanical strain. In this work, the tuning of upconversion photoluminescence (UPL) emission in 1L-WSSe alloy by applying uniaxial tensile strain is investigated. When the uniaxial tensile strain is changed from 0 % to 1.02 %, the peak position of UPL emission has a redshift of around 25.6 nm, and the UPL intensity goes up with an exponential function of the applied strain as the upconversion energy difference is varied from −197 meV to −131 meV. The sublinear power dependence for UPL emission in 1L-WSSe alloy …

Multi-Period Coordinated Planning Of Xfcs In Coupled Tn-Pdn Networks: Integrating Demand Charge Reduction And Pre-Existing Infrastructure, Waqas Ur Rehman, Siyuan Wang, Liheng Lv, Jonathan W. Kimball, Rui Bo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and transportation electrification is encumbered by two chief barriers: i) the limited driving range of EVs in the market today and ii) inadequate charging infrastructure support. This paper aims to address the latter bottleneck and proposes a strategic multi-period coordinated planning model to optimally site and size battery energy storage system (BESS) assisted extreme fast charging stations in a highway transportation network and solar systems in a power distribution network. The proposed approach accounts for pre-existing charging stations, the increasing EV penetration levels, decreasing technology costs, and technological advancements in the future and …

Mitigating Hysteresis In Metal-Coated Fibers Via Optimized Thermal Treatment For Advanced Distributed High-Temperature Sensing Applications, Koustav Dey, Rony Kumer Saha, Bohong Zhang, S. Narasimman, Farhan Mumtaz, Jeffrey D. Smith, Rex E. Gerald, Ronald J. O'Malley, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Metal-coated optical fibers are widely employed in sensing applications owing to their superior mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. However, their calibration at elevated temperatures is hindered by hysteresis, manifested as discrepancies between heating and cooling cycles, primarily caused by residual strain from mismatched thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) between the metal coating and silica cladding. This research introduces an optimal heat treatment procedure aimed at minimizing the impact of the mismatch in TECs between the cladding and the coating materials that causes the residual strain in gold (Au) and copper (Cu) coated fibers for achieving reliable distributed high temperature sensing up …

Integrating Optical And Radiofrequency Interferometry For Enhanced Phase Sensing, Ruimin Jie, Zhaopeng Zhang, Chen Zhu, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Interferometry is a crucial investigative technique used across diverse fields to achieve high-precision measurements. It works by analyzing the phase difference between two interfering waves, which results from variations in optical path lengths within an interferometer. We introduce a novel method for directly measuring changes in the phase difference within an optical interferometer, importantly, with the added advantage of a controllable enhancement factor. This approach is achieved through a two-step process: first, the optical phase difference is encoded into a sub-GHz radiofrequency (RF) signal using microwave-photonic manipulation; then, RF interferometry-assisted phase amplification is implemented at the destructive interference point. In …

Enhancing Measurement Accuracy: The Impact Of Missing Data On Parameter Estimation In Mass-Spring-Damper Systems, Michkath Omanda Bouraima, Steven Thompson, Maciej J. Zawodniok

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In sensor-driven dynamic systems, missing data can severely degrade parameter estimation accuracy. This article investigates the impact of missing data on phase estimation in a mass-spring-damper system using an information-theoretic framework based on the Cramér-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB). Closed-form CRLB expressions are derived for four scenarios: complete data, missing completely at random (MCAR) deletion, MCAR-based imputation, and missing at random (MAR) missingness via a selection-weighted formulation. These bounds are used as theoretical benchmarks to evaluate classical imputation methods (last observation carried forward (LOCF), linear interpolation) and advanced approaches (Kalman filtering, Rauch-Tung-Striebel (RTS) smoothing, Bayesian inference, and transformer-based imputation) through Monte …

Online Lifelong Optimal Adaptive Control Of Partially Uncertain Strict Feedback Discrete-Time Systems With Application To Quadrotor Uavs, Maxwell Geiger, Sarangapani Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article considers the infinite time horizon optimal adaptive tracking control of partially uncertain strict feedback discrete-time (DT) systems with application to quadrotor uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). First, the strict feedback DT system is transformed into an equivalent affine nonlinear DT system in terms of the tracking error dynamics. The optimal adaptive tracking control problem is solved using an augmented system approach, where a horizon of future bounded reference trajectory points is used in the augmented state, when compared to using a single point. It is assumed that the internal dynamics of the strict feedback system are unknown, but the …

Effect Of Process Parameters On Thermal Response Of An Oxy-Fuel Burner/Injector Panel In An Electric Arc Furnace Via Fiber Optic Sensors, Mobashir Ahmed, Rony Kumer Saha, Koustav Dey, Todd Sander, Jie Huang, Ronald J. O'Malley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modern oxy-fuel burner/injectors in electric arc furnaces (EAFs) play a critical role in scrap melting, liquid steel refining, and slag foaming. However, varying operational modes, combined with dynamic process conditions, such as arcing and slag behavior, can expose the injector panel surface to intense thermal conditions that can compromise efficiency and safety. Conventional monitoring techniques, including cooling water temperature measurements and thermocouples, fail to capture localized thermal anomalies due to their limited spatial resolution and susceptibility to electromagnetic interference. In this study, four high-resolution Rayleigh backscattering-based fiber optic sensors, interrogated via optical frequency domain reflectometry, were embedded in top and …

Sapphire Optical Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Based On Dispersive Microwave-Photonic Frequency-Time Domain Analysis, Ruimin Jie, Chen Zhu, Farhan Mumtaz, Koustav Dey, Bohong Zhang, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sapphire fiber Bragg gratings (SFBGs) have attracted growing interest for high temperature sensing in harsh environments, yet their interrogation typically relies on optical spectrum measurements, demanding a high-resolution optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) that is bulky, expensive, and constrained in acquisition speed. Moreover, the inherently multimode nature of sapphire fiber further complicates spectrum-based demodulation, thereby limiting the achievable sensing resolution. In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a microwave-photonic interrogation approach for SFBG sensors. Instead of measuring the optical reflection spectrum, the complex frequency response in the microwave domain of an SFBG is acquired using a vector network analyzer (VNA) …

Corrections To: Enhancing Measurement Accuracy: The Impact Of Missing Data On Parameter Estimation In Mass-Spring-Damper Systems (Ieee Transactions On Instrumentation And Measurement (2026) 75 (1–12) Doi: 10.1109/Tim.2026.3676091), Michkath Omanda Bouraima, Steven Thompson, Maciej J. Zawodniok

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the above article [1], a wording ambiguity appears in Proposition 4 regarding the description of the missing at random (MAR) mechanism. The published sentence states that the probability of observing the kth sample depends on the realized measurement value. This wording may be interpreted as dependence on the current unobserved value y[tk], which could suggest a missing not at random (MNAR) mechanism. The intended MAR mechanism is that the observation probability for the kth sample depends only on previously observed measurement information, such as y[tk-1], and not on the current unobserved value y[tk]. Therefore, the corrected wording clarifies that …

Resolving Stiffness Trade-Offs In Simultaneous Pressure And Vibration Sensing Using A Corrugated-Tube Fiber-Optic Sensor, Yizheng Chen, Yan Tang, Jie Huang, Qi Zhang, Biyao Shi, Zewei Wu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article proposes and experimentally demonstrates a corrugated-tube-based fiber-optic sensor capable of measuring pressure, vibration, or both simultaneously. To address the limited sensitivity of conventional diaphragm-based designs, the sensor incorporates an optimized corrugated tube that balances the conflicting stiffness requirements for pressure and vibration measurements. The corrugated tube, acting as a mechanical transducer, is integrated with an extrinsic fiber-optic Fabry–Perot interferometer (EFPI). The EFPI cavity is formed between a reflective surface at the sealed end of the corrugated tube and the cleaved end face of an optical fiber fixed within a mounting assembly. In this configuration, displacement of the corrugated …

Nash Equilibrium Strategies For Multicluster Pursuit–Evasion Game With Disturbances: A Prescribed-Time Convergence Approach, Lei Xue, Xian Yu, Yongbao Wu, Jian Liu, Changyin Sun, D. C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article investigates the problem of prescribed-time Nash equilibrium (NE) seeking for a multicluster pursuit–evasion game (PEG) subject to external disturbances. To mitigate the impact of disturbances and reach the NE within a user-defined prescribed time, a prescribed-time disturbance observer (PTDO) is devised to estimate and compensate for them. Based on this observation, a novel control algorithm is developed, which facilitates collaboration among multiple pursuers to capture multiple evaders within the prescribed time. It is theoretically demonstrated that the designed algorithm ensures prescribed-time convergence to the NE of the multicluster PEG with disturbances. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to verify …

Lidar-Based Framework For Detecting Suspicious Human Activities, Ahd Aljumah, Charalampos Antoniadis, Hakim Ghazzai, Nawfal Guefrachi, Ahmad Alsharoa, Gianluca Setti

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study explores the development of Human Activity Recognition (HAR) systems capable of identifying suspicious activities to enhance security in public spaces. We propose an innovative solution that integrates LiDAR sensors with deep learning technologies. Our method employs advanced models operating on LiDAR point cloud, PV-RCNN for human detection, and LidarGait++ for classifying activities into categories such as standing or walking (non-suspicious) and sneaking or fighting (suspicious). Due to the scarcity of suitable real-world datasets for training such systems, we utilize a 3D simulation tool, Blender, to create realistic environments and generate labeled point cloud data. This synthetic dataset allows …

Deep Learning Approach For Microwave Imaging Based On Deep Convolutional Asymmetric Encoder-Decoder Structure And Physics-Induced Loss, He Ming Yao, Shiji Song, Michael Kwok Po Ng, Lijun Jiang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, we introduce an innovative deep learning (DL) methodology designed for real-time quantitative microwave imaging (MWI). Our approach is centered around the utilization of a deep convolutional asymmetric encoder-decoder structure (DCAEDS), which requires only a single-frequency far-field measurement of the electromagnetic (EM) scattered field as input and subsequently predicts the contrasts (permittivities) of the target materials. During the offline training process, we incorporate an EM forward solver specifically crafted to compute the EM scattered field generated by the predicted target contrasts (permittivities) produced by the DCAEDS. The DCAEDS is seamlessly integrated with this EM forward solver to optimize …

Effect Of Sample Properties On Short-Circuited Waveguide Measurements For Materials Characterization, Alexander Hook, Jared Sinkey, Kristen M. Donnell

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Microwave materials characterization measurements can be performed using a number of well-established approaches. One such approach, the filled transmission line approach featuring a short-circuited rectangular waveguide (SC-RWG) sample holder, is known to have sample placement restrictions related to measurement viability. This work focuses on this approach and addresses the measurement restrictions within the context of sample length and dielectric properties. The complex reflection properties, S11, of a sample placed in a SC-RWG sample holder are studied to quantitively define when a sample must be offset from the SC-end. The impact of the sample holder is also studied from a measurement …

Using A Record Player Inspired Probe System To Investigate Adhesion And Friction Of Tire Rubber At Micrometer Length Scales, Kyle J. Galigher, Brendan Schmitt

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

We will be using the principles behind how a record player turns physical grooves into electrical signals to develop a device that can be used to measure the surface of tires. The device will be capable of measuring the surface roughness of rubber samples from both new and worn tires, in order to compare the differences between them. It will be operable at varying speeds, and will produce electrical signals that correspond to the bumps along the surface of the rubber. The design will be carried out and optimized with the use of SolidWorks modeling, finite element analysis, motion analysis, …

Hvac Design And Calculations, Sarah Walters, Sarah Beyea

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project studies Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for a car dealership located in Seguin, Texas. The building construction and architectural drawings were provided by EPIC Engineering Group. Comprehensive load calculations were done on the building in order to calculate necessary airflows throughout the building. Three possible HVAC design solutions were compared: Rooftop Units (RTUs), rooftop units paired with Variable Air Volume (VAV) Terminals with electric reheat, and Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) paired with a Dedicated Outdoor Air Unit (DOAS). Energy modeling was completed to compare the utility costs and energy consumption of each system. A comprehensive weighted …

Made On Mars: Design And Manufacturing Of Structural Polymer-Regolith Composites, Pailey M. Vitale

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Human exploration of Mars is constrained by harsh environmental conditions and the prohibitive cost of transporting materials from Earth. Long-term sustainability requires the local production of mechanical and structural components using resources available on Mars, thereby minimizing payload mass. This project investigates polymer–regolith composites derived from atmospheric CO₂ and mineral-rich regolith as a pathway toward in-situ manufacturing. These composites, when compatible with additive manufacturing, could replace imported plastics, enable on-demand fabrication, and support closed-loop recycling systems. The objective is to design and evaluate polymer–regolith composites that maintain mechanical integrity and environmental resistance under Martian conditions, including extreme temperature swings, radiation …

Active Altitude Control For High Powered Rockets, Henry Allen, Jason Secora, Charles Williams, Donavon Sanchez, Caleb Nedoma

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) is the premier collegiate high power rocketry competition in the world hosted by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA). The Akronauts Rocket Design team has been competing in IREC since 2015 and have won several awards. The main goal of IREC is to launch a rocket to a specified altitude of 10k, 30k, or 45k ft while carrying a payload and successfully recover with little to no damage.

The control of a typical high-powered rocket is purely passive; the center of pressure of the rocket must be behind the center of gravity with respect …

Energy Efficient Windows Using Pvme, James S. Bronstrup

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This Honors Project aims to improve window energy efficiency using the thermoplastic polymer PVME (polyvinyl methyl ether), which displays temperature-dependent transparency that can be adjusted by mixing it with water and salt to reduce heat transfer through a window. The objective is to determine the optimal PVME water-salt ratios for placement inside a windowpane, evaluate energy savings compared to a traditional argon-filled window, and compare estimated costs. A small-scale model will test different concentrations for various climates, with heat transfer measured by temperature indicators via a LabQuest. Building on research by Yang Zhou at Nanyang Technological University, who used a …

Microscopic Insights On Shear Rheology Of Polyampholyte Ionomers Via Molecular Simulations, Kyle Vonscio

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Ionomers are polymers that contain a small fraction of charged groups. The ionic attraction of charged groups allows ionomers to act similarly to crosslinked polymers. Depending on the strength of electrostatic interactions and structure of the ionomers, different dynamics and rheological responses can be observed. With moderate attraction between ions, these noncovalent crosslinks can be broken when heated, allowing ionomers to flow and show the strength of a crosslinked network at low temperatures. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations will be performed under shear in the xy-plane and the macroscopic rheology and conformation of the polyampholyte ionomer will be determined. The …

A 1d Symmetric Interior Penalty Discontinuous Galerkin Solver In Rust, William Aey

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This honors project will build a 1D Symmetric Interior Discontinuous Galerkin (SIPDG) solver in Rust for Stum-Liouville type problems such as the Poisson equation, with Robin, Dirichlet, and Neumann boundary conditions. The work will cover the full pipeline: starting from the strong form of the PDE, deriving the DG weak form, implementing element and interface operators, and assembling or apply the discrete operator. Rust's safety and concurrency (e.g, via Rayon) will be used to explore serial and parallel performance. A test-driven development approach will be used to maintain a strong suite of tests. The project will result in a documented …

Determining Critical Micelle Concentrations Of Standard Surfactants And Rhamnolipids, Kathryn E. Kunz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My proposed project will study the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of rhamnolipids using the pendant-drop and drop-weight methods. First, the critical micelle concentrations of ionic and nonionic common surfactants will be tested. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) will be used as an ionic surfactant and Tween 20 will be used as a nonionic surfactant. The critical micelle concentrations will be determined using the pendant-drop and drop-weight methods. The experimental results from the standard surfactants compared to their accepted values will be tested to assist with determining a more suitable approach. Completing the tests will provide a better understanding of critical micelle …

Ai-Based Porosity Detection In Babbitt Bore Turning, Kaylee Leggett, Hannah Adams Gemmell, Kaisa Shingleton

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For this project, an external company reached out to the University of Akron requesting assistance with defect detection during their vertical turning operations. As babbitt is removed in a vertical turning process, it occasionally reveals defects, mainly porosity, which can lead to costly downstream failures of the part. Current inspection techniques involve use of dye penetrant, which is time consuming, labor intensive, unergonomic, and a source of human error. The goal of the project is to create an alternative inspection method using an AI-based machine-learning model. After the turning operation, a camera is deployed to perform an in-place inspection, taking …

Design New Stage For Vacuum Pin On Disk, Miranda Boyd

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For my senior design project, I am redesigning the moving stage for the vacuum pin-on-disk test used in the Akron Engineering Tribology Lab. This system is used to evaluate bearings and lubricants for aerospace applications under controlled vacuum conditions. The current stage design limits flexibility when adjusting for different testing parameters, so my goal is to develop a new movable stage that allows for varying weights and loads to be applied accurately and safely. The redesigned stage will improve test efficiency, adaptability, and precision, ensuring the system can accommodate a wider range of experimental conditions and materials while maintaining compatibility …

Printer For Music Box, Chad Lewis, Caleb Murawski, Zion Smith, Bryan Tibbs

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The traditional method of creating music box sheet music involves manually punching holes into a paper strip using a hand-operated hole punch. This process involves precise knowledge of each note’s location and the ability to achieve perfect accuracy for hours.

The goal of this system is to automate this process, significantly reducing the time required while greatly improving the accuracy of the resulting music box playback. The user simply uploads a MIDI file of their choice into a user-friendly application. Here, the file is modified based on the user’s needs and sent to an automated hole-punching system to punch the …

Crashheart, Ellie Riekert, Kennady Skidmore, Madison Furino

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to develop an XR (extended reality) iPad training system to improve pediatric crash cart preparedness among nurses and clinical staff at Akron Children’s Hospital. In emergencies such as respiratory failure or shock, quick and accurate access to crash cart supplies is vital, yet opportunities for hands-on practice are limited. Current nurse training relies on PowerPoint instruction or costly physical simulations, reducing engagement and skill retention. Our interactive XR solution replicates the crash cart’s layout and contents, allowing users to practice identifying and retrieving critical items in a realistic environment without using physical supplies. The system will be …

Seat Belt Data Collection Methods: A Comparison Between States And National Guidelines, Madison R A Richards

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Thousands of fatalities related to vehicle crashes occur every year. One method to reduce fatalities is to encourage seat belt use compliance. To promote statistics regarding seat belt use, there first must be reliable data on seat belt compliance and this comes from good survey design.

This report is a comparative analysis of seat belt data collection methodologies for Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, in addition to an evaluation of how each state aligns with standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The framework for this analysis focuses on NHTSA’s five core survey design requirements: selection of observation …

Security Onion Ids Case Study: Detecting And Investigating Threat Traffic Using Suricata, Zeek, And Pcap Evidence, Daryna Myroniuk

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A key component of cybersecurity is network intrusion detection, which is used to examine network traffic for any malicious activity. Many organizations deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) but still face challenges such as validating detections, investigating alerts in a timely manner, and producing clear and repeatable evidence of what has occurred, especially when live traffic capture may be limited to risks, permissions, or privacy concerns. The goal of this project was to use Security Onion, which includes Suricata and Zeek to create and demonstrate a controllable and manageable evidence-based IDS investigation workflow. This project is focused on deploying and validating …

Analyzing Network Traffic And Data Exfiltration Via Smb In Post-Vm Escape Scenarios, Noah M. Disanza

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Virtual machines (VMs) play a crucial role in modern IT infrastructure environments by providing isolation and enhanced security, among other things, for both personal and corporate systems. VMs are heavily rely upon to safely test malware, manage infrastructure, and reduce risk to host systems. This reliance is so substantial that the idea of reducing risk to the host system is believed to be erasing risk entirely. However, this mindset has shown to be challenged time and time again by the emergence of exploits known as virtual machine escapes. These exploits allow malicious actors to break out of the virtualized environment …

Lumacurve Control System Update, Jacob Kustra, Caleb Wengerd

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The existing track heater control system used by Lumacurve has become outdated and requires frequent maintenance due to inconsistent operation and component failures. This project aims to modernize the system through the implementation of a programmable logic controller (PLC), infrared non-contact temperature sensing, and an automated pneumatic ejection mechanism.

The redesigned system improves temperature monitoring accuracy and reduces operator intervention by automatically ejecting heated plastic tracks from the heater once the desired temperature is reached. An emergency ejection subsystem is also incorporated to safely clear tracks from the heater in the event of improper operation or system faults. Additional emphasis …