Engineering Commons^™

Optimizing Epoxy Nanocomposites With Oxidized Graphene Quantum Dots For Superior Mechanical Performance: A Molecular Dynamics Approach, Prathamesh P. Deshpande, Robert Chan-Jobe, Josh Kemppainen, Gregory Odegard, Ozgur Keles

Michigan Tech Publications

Due to their excellent mechanical properties, epoxy composites are widely used in low-density applications. However, the brittle epoxy matrix often serves as the principal failure point. Matrix enhancements can be achieved by optimizing polymer combinations to maximize intermolecular interactions or by introducing fillers. While nanofillers such as clay, rubber, carbon nanotubes, and nanoplatelets enhance mechanical properties, they can lead to issues like agglomeration, voids, and poor load transfer. Quantum dots, being the smallest nanofillers, offer higher dispersion and the potential to promote intermolecular interactions, enhancing stiffness, strength, and toughness simultaneously. This study employed molecular dynamics simulations to design graphene quantum …

Modular Molecular Design Of Polymerized Pro-Estrogen Materials Enables Controlled Astrocyte Response, Devan L. Puhl, Alexis Ziemba, Samuel A.T. Ellman, Alex Hsu, Jayant Saksena, Penelope Phillips Falcone, Bailey Balouch, Deniz Rende, Tanner Fink, R. Helen Zha, Ryan J. Gilbert, Edmund F. Palermo

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The hormone 17β-estradiol (estrogen or "E2") has demonstrated robust neuroprotective properties in countering oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity, as well as strong neurotrophic properties to promote axonal growth, following injury to the central nervous system (CNS). However, oral or injected E2 is a suboptimal drug, as systemic administration fails to achieve a therapeutic dose at the injury site, in addition to being contraindicated in most male patients. Polymerized pro-drug biomaterials can mitigate these issues by locally releasing small quantities of drug over vastly extended timescales. We sought to study the effect of the biomaterial properties of poly(pro-E2) on astrocyte-surface interactions because astrocytes …

Eyes On The Road: Disentagling Cyclist Mental Workload At Intersections, James Joseph Rawson

Civil Engineering ETDs

In North America, cyclists often share infrastructure with motor vehicles and encounter frequent conflicts with them at intersections. While past research assumes cyclists' experiences mirror those of drivers, most studies focus on roadway segments rather than intersections. This study addresses that gap by, for the first time we are aware of, examining cyclist perceptions at intersections using head and gaze movement data. Leveraging naturalistic data conducted in Albuquerque New Mexico, and statistical techniques, including t-test and repeated measures ANOVA, our findings suggest that – similar to drivers - cyclists do experience greater mental workload when performing turning movements than when …

Design Of A Retaining Wall For M-10 Freeway, Anthony Paul

Honors Theses

The M-10 Freeway, also known as the John C. Lodge Freeway, is bordered by retaining walls at the project location, one section of which required replacement to meet safety and serviceability standards. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this project focused on the redesign and replacement of a 300-foot section of retaining wall along the southeast-bound lanes of M-10, between Curtis Street and Outer Drive. The 20-foot-tall retaining wall also supports traffic loads from the overhead James Couzens Freeway. Through geotechnical and structural design, several alternatives were developed and evaluated. A CIP concrete cantilever wall was selected with a height of 21 …

Development And Evaluation Of Canbench: A Testbed For Assessing The Security Of Automotive Can Buses, Trevor S. Mcclellan

Theses and Dissertations

Modern vehicles rely heavily on electronic control units (ECUs) that communicate via the controller area network (CAN) bus, a protocol developed in the 1980s with minimal security considerations. The growing number of ECUs has heightened the risk of cyberattacks on vehicles. Although CAN bus security has been extensively researched, the CAN standard still lacks built-in security measures. Furthermore, testing proposed security mechanisms is challenging due to the proprietary nature of automotive systems. To address this, an open-source physical testbed was developed using inexpensive, off-the-shelf components to support automotive CAN bus security research. The testbed provides a controlled environment for simulating …

Numerical Simulation Of Heat Transfer In Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis (Shs)-Based Calcination Of Limestone, Sayee Srikarah Volaity, Shubham Agrawal, Srinivas Kilambi, Patrick Phelan, Aditya Kumar, Narayanan Neithalath

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Calcination of limestone, a high temperature (∼900 °C) process that emits 44 % of the mass of limestone as CO₂, is a critical process in the production of many industrially important materials. To soften the CO₂-related impacts of traditional calcination, and to enable ultrafast synthesis of lime, a novel approach based on self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) has been put forward. SHS uses exothermic heat released by the combustion of fuel intermixed with the reactants to advance the reaction, and hence requires the provision of lower external temperatures. This study introduces a microstructure-guided modeling approach to understand …

Compositionally Complex Diborides: Competing Solubility During Sintering And Properties, Laura Silvestroni, Carlo Baldisserri, Jacopo Matteo Tabaglio, Nicola Gilli, Jeremy Watts, Steven M.I. Smith, Gregory E. Hilmas, William G. Fahrenholtz

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An ultra-high temperature ceramic based on ZrB2, TiB2, and SiC was hot pressed to full density at 1850 °C. Addition of 5 vol% of different metal-compounds, in the form of HfC, VC, NbC or CrB2, increased the densification temperature to 1910 °C. The resulting compositionally complex ceramics had homogeneous microstructures with boride grains exhibiting core-shell features. The shell was a solid solution containing variable amounts of the three metals. Notably, TiB2 remained as a discrete phase in the reference material and in the presence of the V- and Cr- based additions, whilst it dissolved into the main ZrB2-based grains for …

Ute Mri For Assessing Demyelination In An Mtbi Mouse Model: An Open-Field Low-Intensity Blast Study, Yajun Ma, Qingbo Tang, Xin Cheng, Jiyo S. Athertya, David Coughlin, Eric Y. Chang, Catherine E. Johnson, Jiankun Cui, Zezong Gu, Jiang Du

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a leading cause of long-term disability. Following mTBI, secondary chemical cascades and neuroinflammation can result in myelin damage, significantly impairing cognitive function. This study aims to assess demyelination in mice with mTBI induced by open-field low-intensity blast (LIB) using a novel three-dimensional short repetition time adiabatic inversion recovery UTE (3D STAIR-UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence. Thirty male C57BL/6 mice, with 15 experiencing mTBI and 15 serving as sham controls, were included in this study. Behavioral tests were performed starting at 5 days post-injury to assess motor activity and anxiety-like responses followed by STAIR-UTE …

Analysis Of Radial Inlet Distortion On Transonic Fan Performance, Tyler M. Reedy

Theses and Dissertations

Improving fan design and performance prediction requires an understanding of the impacts of inlet distortions. Inlet distortion describes any non-uniform distribution in the flow, usually referring to deviations in pressure and temperature. Using full annulus Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) simulations, the effects of both hub and tip radial distortions on the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Rotor 4 fan are analyzed. Overall performance, total pressure (Pt) distortion transfer, and total temperature (Tt) distortion generation are presented and compared for three operating points: near-stall, design, and choke. Hub radial inlet distortion magnitudes of 15% and 20%, and a tip radial …

Evaluating The Potential For Reusing Process Waste Fiber, Elisha Ewing

Honors Theses

This study was born out of curiosity around the potential use of reject materials from the papermaking screening system for molded fiber product development. The team sought to explore the technical feasibility of this concept and develop a proposed design for mill implementation. The project supports the common papermaking objective of reducing fiber loss from the stock preparation process.

The project assessed first the technical feasibility through laboratory testing and trials. The team dedicated time to characterizing screen reject samples from local mills and running trials using the good fibers extracted from the samples. Molded fiber products were successfully created …

Nanostructured Transition Metal Oxides For Electrochemical Co2 And Methane Conversion, Olumide O. Oladoyin

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Rising atmospheric CO₂ and CH₄ drive climate change, prompting research into their electrochemical conversion to valuable products. This study investigates electrodeposited nanostructured transition metal oxides (TMOs), unary (CuO, Co₃O₄) and dual (Cu-Co oxide) as catalysts for CO₂ reduction and CH₄ oxidation under ambient conditions. Fabricated on various substrates (Cu foil, SS316, carbon paper) and characterized by SEM, their electrochemical performance was evaluated via cyclic voltammetry.

Cu-Co oxide showed superior CO₂ reduction, leveraging the strengths of individual oxides. Co₃O₄ exhibited higher current densities for CH₄ oxidation, with SS316 proving the best substrate. Catalyst composition, morphology, and substrate significantly influenced efficiency. While …

Analysis Of Pistachio Shell-Derived Activated Porous Carbon Materials For Hydrogen Adsorption, Setareh Elyasi, Nishar Hameed, Peter J. Mahon, Saulius Juodkazis, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer, Tawanda Matamba, J. Vongsvivut, Nisa V. Salim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Developing efficient storage materials is critical for advancing the hydrogen economy. In this study, we aim to utilize plant-based biomass as a sustainable source for fabricating porous carbon (PC) and subsequently employing it for hydrogen adsorption. For the first time, we synthesize highly porous carbon materials from pistachio shells as precursor materials for efficient hydrogen storage. Experiments were conducted to chemically activate pistachio shells using two different agents, sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl), at varying ratios. This study evaluates the effectiveness of these chemical activation agents in enhancing the surface area of PC and, consequently, its hydrogen adsorption …

The National Cybersecurity Teaching Coalition: Expanding Cybersecurity Education Opportunities, Paul Wagner, Melissa Dark, Robert Honomichl, Filipo Sharevski, Sandra Leiterman

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The increasing prevalence of cybersecurity threats and the shortage of qualified professionals necessitate innovative solutions for cybersecurity education at all levels. Despite the expansion of post-secondary cybersecurity programs, employer dissatisfaction with graduates and a lack of standardized introductory curricula highlights the need for structured secondary education pathways. The National Cybersecurity Teaching Coalition (NCTC) and its National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) address this gap by equipping high school educators with the necessary knowledge and credentials to teach cybersecurity effectively. NCTA offers an 18-credit cybersecurity graduate certificate program to ensure teachers are competent and confident to develop and teach cybersecurity curriculum with …

Unleaded Aviation Fuel: Assessing Stakeholder Perceptions And Preparing An Organization For Change, Ryan Guthridge, Nicholas D. Wilson, Brandon Wild

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Since the Clean Air Act of 1996 banned the use of leaded fuel for automotive applications, leaded aviation gasoline (AVGAS) has become one of the leading sources of lead pollution in the nation due to the volume of AVGAS consumed in general aviation applications (GAMA, 2019). The Federal Aviation Administration has recently recognized this concern with the establishment of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, which was formally established in February 2022 to foster an important campaign to research and inform the general aviation community on the process for transitioning to unleaded AVGAS. This essay seeks to inform …

12 - Hydrogen Energy Lab, Xiaoyu Zhang

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Research Lab Showcase

01 - Design Of Ion-Sieve For Selective Adsorption Of Lithium From Geothermal Brine, Agyare Asante, Abigail Berardi, Jayla Standin, Elliott Walker, Alvin Spruill, Ujjwal Pokharel, Sandeep Kumar

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries necessitates efficient and sustainable lithium extraction technologies. Geothermal brines provide an alternative lithium source; however, their complex ionic composition challenges selective lithium recovery. Hydrogen manganese oxides (H₄Mn_4.5O₁₂) are widely studied as lithium-ion sieves due to their high selectivity for lithium ions. Still, its structural instability and manganese dissolution during adsorption-desorption cycles limit long-term performance. This study introduced zirconium (Zr) doping into the spinel-type Li₄Mn₅O₁₂ precursor through a one-step calcination process (450 °C for 24 hours at 10 °C min^-1), ensuring an …

Enhancing Organizational Resilience Through Fatality Prevention At Vulcan Materials Company, Ross Boeker

ASEM Capstones

2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Project

A Dynamically Efficient Predictive Controller For Voltage Stability In A Dc To Dc Boost Converter, Giovanni Reyna

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Reliable voltage regulation has become a critical issue with increase demand in modern power electronic applications. This study presents a Model Predictive Controller (MPC) for voltage regulation in DC-to-DC boost converters. A closed loop analytical MPC framework is created with the purpose of computing optimal duty cycles to maintain a stable output voltage under varying load conditions, input changes, and disturbances.

To evaluate the performance of the MPC we set the controller against a comparative analyzing with a traditional cascading proportional integral (PI) controller. The proposed controller design is specifically targeted to improve dynamic efficiency during the converter’s transient events. …

Antenna Analysis Using Mixed Computer Platforms (Aacp), Keith H. Bova

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This thesis reviews the design, implementation, and benchmarking of commercially available, previous generation (CAPG) computer systems, and how they can be used with computational electromagnetics. The thesis focuses on their architecture, performance, and practical applications. It begins with an overview of CAPG system components, including different node types such as login/controllers, compute nodes, block storage, and object storage. The process of assembling these systems is outlined. The conjugate gradient method and direct linear solvers were benchmarked. The performance of CAPG systems is compared with modern computing architectures. A detailed analysis provides recommendations for designing CAPG systems around the performance of …

The Development Of Electroanalytical Methods For Molten Salt Mixtures Under Static And Flowing Conditions, Ranon Fuller

Theses and Dissertations

Electroanalytical methods have the potential to characterize molten salt systems in situ, determine physical properties such as diffusion coefficients and standard potentials, and measure kinetic and corrosion rates. Due to experimental difficulties of working with molten salts including high temperatures and high natural convection, transport, kinetic, and corrosion rates, many precise, consistent methods have yet to be established. In this work, we describe methods to precisely calculate standard reduction potentials, characterize molten salt solutions containing multiple lanthanides by reduction potentials and metal deposition mechanisms, calculate the number of electrons exchanged in metal deposition using SWV, calculate diffusion coefficients using CV, …

Single-Entity Protein Electrochemistry Of A Diffusion-Limited Enzyme, Ziwen Zhao, Nikolaos Kostopoulos, Sagar Ganguli, Paul Bergstrom, Alina Sekretareva

Michigan Tech Publications

In this work, we present single-entity protein electrochemistry (SEPE) experiments on catalase, along with a theoretical model to simulate its enzymatic activity and predict the experimentally observed current responses. We perform SEPE measurements at various enzyme concentrations and use protein film voltammetry to investigate the origin of the observed electrochemical signals in SEPE. The modeling approach we develop combines finite element simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics with random walk simulations in MATLAB. The enzyme is represented as a partially active sphere, with an arc on the surface corresponding to the enzyme’s diffusion channel leading to the active site. Notably, the model …

Two-Layer Formulation For Long-Runout Turbidity Currents: Theory And Bypass Flow Case, Hongbo Ma, Gary Parker, Matthieu Cartigny, Enrica Viparelli, S. Balachandar, Xudong Fu, Rossella Luchi

Faculty Publications

Turbidity currents, which are stratified, sediment-laden bottom flows in the ocean or lakes, can run out for hundreds or thousands of kilometres in submarine channels without losing their stratified structure. Here, we derive a layer-averaged, two-layer model for turbidity currents, specifically designed to capture long-runout. A number of previous models have captured runout of only tens of kilometres, beyond which thickening of the flows becomes excessive, and the models without a lateral overspill mechanism fail. In our framework, a lower layer containing nearly all the sediment is a faster, gravity-driven flow that propels an upper layer, where sediment concentration is …

04.14.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Updated CITI Training Courses

Science Celebration

IHL Prepayment Approval

Ultrahigh Electric Charge Density Harvested From Pre-Compressed Ferroelectric Ceramics, Sergey I. Shkuratov, Jason Baird, Alexander S. Shkuratov, Christopher S. Lynch

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ferroelectric elements of high-power electrical generators, utilizing the ability of ferroelectric materials to produce electric charge under mechanical stress, are subjected to either high-pressure shock or moderate-pressure impact loading. The results are reported herein on experimental investigations of a different mode for the generation of a high electric charge density, one that utilizes pre-compressed ferroelectric ceramics. Hard PZT 52/48 (Navy Type I/PZT-4) ferroelectric ceramic specimens were subjected to static uniaxial compressive stress parallel to polarization. At the moment of operation, the output terminals of the specimens were connected to an external circuit, and the applied stress was quickly removed, resulting …

From Errors To Excellence: A New Paradigm For Safety In Construction, Ryan Maraffi

ASEM Capstones

2025 ASEM 620 Capstone Project

An Analysis Of The Encryption Algorithms Proposed For The Mqtt Protocol On Resource Constrained Iot Devices, John Joseph Keenan

Theses and Dissertations

As more IoT devices are used to gather data and automate devices throughout the world, more security solutions are needed to keep these devices and the data they transmit secure. Many of these devices use the MQTT protocol, which does not encrypt the transferred data by default. The TLS/SSL protocols are the standard proposed solution for encrypting this traffic, but many resource constrained IoT devices do not have enough resources to run these protocols efficiently. Because of this, many other encryption algorithms have been proposed or designed for resource constrained IoT devices running the MQTT protocol, but very limited research …

Robust Inner Knuckle Print Recognition System Using Densenet201 And Inceptionv3 Models, Haitham Salman Chyad, Tarek Abbes

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Texture features and stability have generated significant interest in biometric recognition. The inner knuckle print is distinctive and difficult to fake, making it extensively used in individual identification, criminal investigation, and various other domains. In recent years, the rapid progress of deep learning technology has created new prospects for internal knuckle recognition. This paper proposes a robust inner-knuckle-print recognition system (RIKP-RS) depending on two deep learning (DL) models. This paper focuses on the key components of the inner surface of the hand namely the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, index finger, and thumb finger that are used for human …

Improving Heart Attack Prediction Accuracy Performance Using Machine Learning And Deep Learning Algorithms, Mosleh Hmoud Al-Adhaileh, Mohammed Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Mashhadani, Eidah M Alzahrani, Theyazn H.H. Aldhyani

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Accurate classification of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is of utmost importance for cardiologists to provide appropriate treatments. Diagnosing and predicting cardiovascular conditions are crucial medical responsibilities in this context. The healthcare sector is increasingly utilizing deep learning (DL) and machine learning (ML) algorithms due to their ability to identify patterns in data. Diagnosticians may reduce the number of misdiagnoses by using DL and ML techniques for the categorization of cardiovascular disease incidence. To reduce the mortality linked to CVDs, this research offers a unique model that properly predicts and classifies these problems. This research presents approaches such as deep learning, random …

Solving Multidimensional Fractional Telegraph Equation By Using Yang Hussein Jassim Method, Naser Rhaif Swain, Hassan Kamil Jassim

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

This study employs the Young Hussein Jassim (YHJ)technique to examine the exact solutions of the space-time telegraphequation analytically (ST-TE). The YHJ approach is an innovative andappealing hybrid transformation integration method, effectivelycombining the HJ and Young methods. Through a simplified iterativeprocess with minimal computational requirements, this approach quicklyprovides convergent, sequential solutions. The reliability of the methodis demonstrated by applying it to two case studies of the ST-TE withinthe framework of the Tania derivative, which includes the definition ofnon-singular kernel functions. The study also includes extensivecomparisons between approximate, exact, and relevant literature-basedsolutions to assess the technique's accuracy andeffectiveness. Graphical representations illustrate the …

A Lightweight U-Net Model For Accurate Skin Lesion Segmentation, Fallah H. Najjar, Karrar A. Kadhim, Farhan Mohamed, Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, Asniyani Nur Haidar Abdullah

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

In this paper, a new lightweight U-Net deep learning-based neural network designed for the segmentation of skin lesions is proposed. Segmentation of skin lesions is the most critical step in computer-aided dermatology diagnosis for the early detection of melanoma and other diseases. However, we address the difficulty related to the precise definition of the lesion margins with an eye on the computation cost. We have demonstrated the state-of-the-art performance of DeepSkinSeg in most metrics on dermoscopic images using the PH2 and Human Against Machine (HAM10000) datasets. The metrics of the DeepSkinSeg model were robustness measured as the Intersection over Union …