Engineering Commons^™

Usu Engineering Study Wins Support From American Heart Association | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Dec. 10, 2015 – The American Heart Association is supporting a new study at Utah State University where researchers are developing a technology that may help the human body better protect itself against cardiovascular disease.

Associate Professor of Biological Engineering Jixun Zhan is the chief scientist behind the new study. He and his team are using bacteria to synthesize some of the naturally-occurring compounds found in plants that our bodies already use to combat heart disease.

2015 Fall Engr333 Student Seminar Presentation, Justin Cooper, Ross Tenney, Philip Van Strien, Zach Veenstra, Ayo Ayoola, Hanfei Niu, Kemal Talen, Dalton Veurink, Lance Jensen, Se Ge Jung, Alex Karr, Stephen Lander, Andrew Bouma, Joseph Cha, Mitch Dubois, Jacob Milhorn, Caleb Meindertsma, Dan Devries, Tobin Tarantowski, Zach Carney, Vincent Rovedatti

ENGR 333

File for student presentation, given by students in the Fall 2015 class of ENGR333.

Phase I Evaluation Of Selected Concrete Material Models In Ls-Dyna, Bradley J. Winkelbauer

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Numerous roadside safety systems are configured with reinforced concrete materials, such as bridge railings, median barriers, and roadside parapets. These protective barrier systems are intended to safely contain and redirect errant vehicles as well as prevent impacts into hazardous fixed objects or other geometric features. The analysis and design of these structures may involve impact simulation with finite element software, like LS-DYNA, which includes multiple concrete material models. For such investigations, limited guidance is available for selecting preferred concrete material models and determining appropriate values for specific parameters. This Phase I study investigated the viability and performance of existing concrete …

Master's Thesis Defense By Elizabeth Martinez | Biological Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

The Logan Lagoons, Logan City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility ensures 15 million gallons of wastewater are cleaned and filtered each day. With the implementation of new and stricter wastewater effluent standards, the city of Logan now has to guarantee the phosphorous concentration in the effluent is also reduced. Algal biomass produced and harvested from the lagoons has been proven to affect the way nitrogen and phosphorous are removed while having the potential to be converted to biofuels. Therefore, implementing a secondary type clarifier in the Logan Lagoons would produce clean treated water with a reduced phosphorous concentration, and algae feedstock for …

Meet Micro Joe | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Hydrazine is an unstable, flammable liquid that has been used as a propellant in small spacecraft for decades. But the cost of this unique fuel, its transport, storage, servicing and cleanup of accidental releases can be very high, making it difficult for the commercial space industry to expand.

How Plants Can Make Stormwater Cleaner | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Ever wondered what happens to the surge of stormwater you see racing down your street?

Teaching Computers To See Like We Do | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Nov. 18, 2015 – Recognizing patterns might be easy for some people, but it’s a difficult skill to teach to a computer. Ask Dr. Xiaojun Qi, a faculty member in USU’s Computer Science Department, who was recently promoted to professor for her innovative research in image processing and computer vision.

Fuzzy Logic And Neural Networks - A Glimpse Of The Future, Raymond Manley

The ITB Journal

In 1965 Lofti Zadeh published his paper on fuzzy set theory , putting it forward as a way of more closely realising the human thought process. Many systems developed to aid human activities have been based on definitive , yes/no, type decision making processes. An example is the way all computers are based on the binary logic system where only two possible and separate logic levels are allowed, a logic 1 or logic 0. However, we know from everyday experience that humans think in terms of vague linguistic categories, for example, the weather is fairly good today. "Fairly good" represents …

Dr. Allan Guymon Undergraduate Seminar | Biological Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Photopolymerization has taken an increasing prominent role as a tool in providing unique properties for a wide array of advanced materials. The inherent spatial and temporal control allow great ability to tailor processing conditions and change ultimate properties. This talk will focus on two projects, including work from two Utah State alumni, in which photopolymerization enables directed structure both on the micron and nanometer size scale for unique functionality.

Igem Vs. The Cheese Killer | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Cheese manufacturing is under attack by a type of virus called bacteriophages. The viruses infect bacteria used in the dairy fermentation process that yields our beloved cheese and yoghurt. Utah State’s 2015 International Genetically Engineered Machines, or iGEM, team has been researching ways to fight back against the virus. The iGEM event is a competition that promotes student involvement in real world synthetic biology research.

Dr. Catherine E. Brewer Research Presentation | Biological Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Biomass resources are available all around us and are frequently underutilized. These resources can come in the form of agricultural residues like pecan shells or cotton gin trash, forest residues, invasive species like tumbleweed and salt cedar, yard waste, organic materials and nutrients in wastewater, and even garbage on spacecraft. There are many opportunities to use these resources to meet our feed, water, and energy needs—with the right engineering. Thermochemical processes, namely pyrolysis, torrefaction, and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), provide platforms to convert low-value materials into heat, power, liquid fuels, adsorbents, fertilizers, and soil amendments. In this presentation, Dr. Brewer will …

Engineering Thinking | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Nov. 2, 2015 - It’s no surprise: engineering courses are tough. Professors assign complex homework problems that can take hours to solve, and for some the experience feels like drinking from a fire hose.

Most engineering programs begin with a handful of rigorous courses in statics and dynamics that can be stumbling blocks for some. This has engineering education experts looking for retention solutions and rethinking how these difficult courses are taught.

A Smarter Baby Monitor | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Nate Ruben and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Jake Gunther can see something on the surface that most people can’t. The two are developing a new technology that uses a video camera to detect a person’s heartbeat. It’s not the first time engineers have tried to remotely measure a heartbeat signal. Medical technology experts have been at it for years with different designs that tether a child or his bedding to an electronic device that alerts parents to the possibility of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.

Tandemonium | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Nov. 2, 2015 — Jay Lindstrom’s love for biking and Laura Birkhold’s enthusiasm for a hands-on project made designing a side-by-side quadricycle perfect for their senior design project. Along with their team members and representatives from Common Ground Outdoor Adventures and Icon Health & Fitness, the group of mechanical engineering students set out to build a unique tandem cycle they dubbed ‘Tandemonium.’

Bs News November/December

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Farewell Bruce Bishop | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Oct. 31, 2015 – For Bruce Bishop, a cozy retirement is still a ways off. On his last official day of work in June, the former dean and professor of civil engineering was waist deep in activities at the Water Lab and taking on a new project to showcase the College of Engineering across South America.

Engineering Answers: Elegant Solutions Start With Simple Ideas | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Courtney Richards was inspired to create her solar-powered backpack while working as a report writer for a paleontologist. While on long surveys both her camera and GPS would often run out of power making it impossible to do her job properly. She realized the problem could be solved with a portable power supply system which she created for her senior project.

New Research Lab Making A Splash | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Nov. 1, 2015 – WARNING: You will get wet. The mechanical engineering students who work inside one of Utah State’s newest research centers don’t mind getting the occasional work-related soak. The whole lab is one giant splash zone and the creative workshop of newly-hired assistant professor of mechanical engineering Dr. Tadd Truscott.

Going Back To Teton Dam | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Oct. 30, 2015 - Standing at a lookout on the upper banks of the Teton River in Southeastern Idaho, a handful of civil engineering students try to imagine the giant structure that should be standing firmly in front of them.

All About The Buzz | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Oct. 30, 2015 – On a warm spring day at the USU Organic Farm, computer science professor Dr. Vladimir Kulyukin delivers a few puffs of sweet-smelling pine cone smoke into one of his beehives and gently opens the top. Everything appears normal, but it’s not your average backyard beekeeping setup. Kulyukin’s hives are equipped with electronics that monitor temperature, audio and video —all powered by solar energy and controlled by a credit card-sized Raspberry Pi computer.

A Legacy Of Gratitude | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Nov. 1, 2015 - It was standing room only at an Aug. 25 special event where the College of Engineering honored two fellow Aggies and longtime supporters who are helping more young people graduate with a degree in engineering.

Faculty, students and university officials gathered to celebrate the ongoing support of Richard and Moonyeen Anderson of Wellsville, Utah. At the special ceremony, Mr. Anderson and USU President Stan Albrecht pulled the cords on a 30-foot-wide veil, uncovering the new name of the 12-year-old engineering classroom building.

Supplying Vegas | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Oct. 30, 2015 – The community of Las Vegas, Nev., is acting to assure a reliable water supply by building new intake facilities at Lake Mead. After a series of drought years dropped Lake Mead levels to historic lows, the Southern Nevada Water Authority is moving forward with an ambitious project to keep the water flowing, and they’re turning to the Utah Water Research Lab to help do it right.

Spac 2015 Announcement | Electrical And Computer Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

IEEE USU Student Branch is excited to announce SPAC 2015: The Practice of Innovation. The Student Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC) will be held on March 28, 2015. We are putting on this event to help students get connected with industry and better prepare them for their future careers.

The 2015 program includes speakers from IEEE and a key speaker who works as a Disney Imagineer. We are planning multiple workshops, such as technical discussions by companies and current innovators, Arduino and/or soldering workshops, and python and MATLAB workshops. During the conference, there will be tables set up for students …

Tackling Salinity In The Colorado River One Ion At A Time | Biological Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

10/27/2015 - It’s one of the most overtaxed waterways on the planet, and its shrinking flow is only part of the problem.

The Colorado River travels 1,500 miles through seven U.S. states before reaching the Gulf of California. Throughout its long journey the river supplies water for approximately 40 million people and is used to irrigate more than five million acres of land in the Western U.S. and Mexico.

Process Optimization To Enhance Quality And Quantity Of Transiently Expressed Proteins | Biological Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Transient transfection is a method to introduce foreign DNA into a healthy cell population. Transient transfection can be accomplished by chemical, mechanical, and electrical delivery. Although foreign DNA is not incorporated into the host cell genome, host cell machinery is used to transcribe and translate the gene of interest. This presentation will illustrate the enhancement of transgene production through reagent optimization and feeds and show benefits of transient work, such as, eliminating the need for generation of a stable engineered cell line; allowing the process scaleability; and decreasing the time for generation of comparable amounts of product.

Igem Jamboree | Biological Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

The 2015 iGEM Giant Jamboree was an inspiring and enjoyable experience for members of Utah State’s iGEM team. Sara Gertsch, Chad Nielsen, Alex Torgesen, and Tom Overbeck traveled to Boston with Dr. Charles Miller for the 11th annual Jamboree from September 24th to September 28th and presented on this year’s team project, “LactoWare: Reprogramming Lactic Acid Bacteria to Fight Malicious Viruses.” The project was well received, and the judges awarded the team a silver medal.

When not involved in the oral presentation and two poster sessions, team members were able to attend presentations by other teams and workshops that provided …

Vikram Hemanathan, Linda J. Hanes

International Alumni

When Vikram Hemanathan came to Western Michigan University in 2006, he initially planned for an engineer’s life of logic and analytics, but a lifelong love of the theater became his greater calling.

The Application Of Gage R&R Analysis In S Six Sigma Case Of Improving And Optimizing An Automotive Die Casting Product’S Measurement System, Qizheng Ren

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

With the rapid development of automation technology in automotive manufacturing processes, massive and efficient production is a current trend. Therefore, measurement systems with accurate and automated measuring instruments are sought by automotive companies and suppliers. However, the problematic measuring instruments with unreliable accuracy and stability lead to erroneous measurements and wrong quality decisions that cause manufacturers huge profit losses. An effective method called “measurement system analysis” can be applied to define and eliminate erroneous measurements to ensure adequate reliability. An automotive transmission die casting parts supplier called company T was suffering a serious profit loss due to the erroneous measurements …

What Are The Long-Term Affects Of Spaceflight On Human Muscle Tissue? | Biological Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Sept. 28, 2015 - Biological engineering doctoral candidate Charles Harding wants to know how long-term spaceflight can affect human muscle tissue. It’s an increasingly important topic as scientists and engineers move closer to manned space flights to Mars.

Growing Algae In Produced Water | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

LOGAN, Utah, Sept. 15, 2015 – The wastewater evaporation ponds that support the oil and natural gas extraction industries in the Uintah Basin may soon help spur the development of alternative bio-based fuels.