Engineering Commons^™

Vision Of Nuclear Power Deployment In Latin America And The Caribbean: A Focus On Small Modular Reactors And The Regional Experience Of Central Argentina De Elementos Modulares, Alejandra Loreto Alfaro, Florencia Rentería, Camila Araujo

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Increasing the number of nuclear power reactors in the Latin American and Caribbean region presents technical, financial, regulatory, and environmental challenges. Focused on fostering economic stability, growth, and human capacity development, the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) emerges as a key aspect in the region’s energy landscape. The emergence of SMRs represents an opportunity for multidisciplinary cooperation among different sectors. To comprehensively address the challenges related to the protection of nuclear facilities in the region, the Tlatelolco Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty should be strengthened as legally binding instruments to enforce the safety and safeguarding principles integral to the …

Exploring Large Language Models For Summarizing And Interpreting An Online Brain Tumor Support Forum, Christy Muasher-Kerwin, M. Courtney Hughes, Michelle L. Foster, Ibrahiim Al Azher, Hamed Alhoori

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Objective

Methods

An Improved Machining Temperature Prediction Model For Aerospace Alloys: Effect Of Cutting Edge Radius And Tool Wear, Jonathan Theraroz, Oguzhan Tuysuz, Julius Schoop

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Temperature rise during machining impacts the workpiece material properties, residual stresses, surface and sub-surface quality. Experimental, numerical, and analytical methods have been used to predict the temperature fields in the tool, workpiece and chip. Each approach has its limitations: experimental techniques are cumbersome with expensive equipment, and numerical modeling is computationally inefficient. Existing analytical models only consider the effect of wear while ignoring the edge radius, though the latter changes with the flank wear in practice. To address this limitation, this article proposes an improved analytical temperature prediction model for orthogonal machining by introducing discrete linear heat sources on the …

Evaluating Machine Learning Techniques For Breast Cancer Detection: A Comprehensive Review, Owen Kresse, Youssef Kamel Kamel Hassan Rezk, Alaaelddin Ibrahim Said, Rana Hossameldin Mousa, Merna Adel Abdelrahman Ibrahim, Ahmed Fathy Sweed, Tomas Pegorari, Pablo Nakasato, Ainhoa Osa-Sanchez, Itxasne Del Barrio, Francesc Serra Crespí, Keltse Santisteban Ortiz, Naiara Melián Eguia, Mohamed Elsharkawy, Ibrahim Abdelhalim, Begonya Garcia-Zapirain, Ayman El-Baz

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Breast cancer is considered one of the most common types of cancer among women. significant amount of effort done in early detection to increase survival chance since early detection is a challenging task especially in certain breast cancer conditions or using inefficient imaging modalities AI demonstrated significant potential in breast cancer detection algorithms including convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and Transformers, which have achieved highly accurate results but they have some limitations, such as the large amounts of data required for training as CNNs rely on local features, while Transformers focus on global features However, recent research has proposed hybrid models …

Role Of Change Management In The Success Of Architecture And Engineering Firms: Case Study Cairo, Manar M. Samy, Laila Khodeir, Mahmoud El Nably

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Today, we face multiple changes and crises on the environmental, social, and economic levels, such as climate change, limited resources, economic crises, pandemics and lockdowns, wars and conflicts, digitalization and technological evolution, and changing needs of clients and stakeholders. Consequently, embracing change has become a very important factor for business success, such as the architecture and engineering (A/E) industry, which has a big share in the global economy. Despite its importance, the A/E industry is the slowest to adopt changes due to various challenges. This paper aims to investigate the role of change management in the success of A/E firms, …

Quantifying Multidimensional Effects Of Physicochemical Parameters On Pfas Adsorption Using A Hybrid Response Surface Methodology-Machine Learning Approach, Harsh V. Patel, Jazmin Green, John Park, Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, Renzun Zhao

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination has posed a significant environmental and public health challenge due to their ubiquitous nature. Adsorption has emerged as a promising remediation technique, yet optimizing adsorption efficiency remains complex due to the diverse physicochemical properties of PFAS and the wide range of adsorbent materials. Traditional modeling approaches, such as response surface methodology (RSM), struggled to capture nonlinear interactions, while standalone machine learning (ML) models required extensive datasets. This study addressed these limitations by developing hybrid RSM-ML models to improve the prediction and optimization of PFAS adsorption. A comprehensive dataset was constructed using experimental adsorption data, …

The Association Between The Multidimensional Evaluation Of Attitudes Toward Security Recommendations And The Intention Of Following Those Recommendations, Miguel A. Toro-Jarrin, Pilar Pazos, Miguel A. Padilla

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This study focused on the attitudes toward security recommendations as determinants of compliance with these recommendations in the workplace. It aimed to determine whether attitudes toward an overall concept (security recommendations in organizations) are associated with Information Security (IS) actions. We also examined the relationship between various dimensions of attitudes toward security recommendations and IS actions that follow these recommendations. We conducted a national survey of American workers. Six hundred and eighty-two responses were retained. We also collected demographic data to explore their moderating role in the relation between predictors and IS action-intention. The survey included four workplace scenarios and …

Effects Of The Upwind Spanwise Heterogeneous Terrain On The Wind Resource Distribution, Haosen H.A. Xu, Tianxiang Yu, Raúl Bayoán Cal, Xiaowei Zhu

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wind energy has become increasingly crucial among renewable energy resources, and as the prerequisite for effective wind energy utilization, accurate wind resource assessments are hence prominent. Topography significantly affects near-surface wind fields and is thus an essential factor to be considered for wind resource assessment. However, few studies have addressed the wind resource distribution downwind of spanwise-heterogeneous terrains, which are frequently encountered in both natural and urban environments. To fill this gap, large eddy simulations were performed to investigate wind distributions over a uniform terrain downwind of terrains featuring spanwise-alternating strips of low and high surface roughness, and the high …

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production From Plastic Waste On Bifunctional Catalysts, Kamryn Culp

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Catalytic hydrocracking was studied as a chemical recycling method for converting mixed plastic polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste into sustainable aviation fuel-range hydrocarbons. Addressing both plastic pollution and aviation-related CO₂ emissions, bifunctional Ni- and Pt-based catalysts supported on Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ were evaluated under 30 bar hydrogen pressure at 250 °C. The inclusion of PVC, often regarded as a catalyst poison due to chlorine content, was examined at 1 wt% and 5 wt% to assess catalyst tolerance to it and resulted performance. Reaction rates and product selectivity were analyzed using gas chromatography. Results show that Ni/TiO₂ outperformed other …

Examining Correlations Between Inhibition Efficiency And Compound Properties For Corrosion Inhibitors On Carbon Steel Rebar In Concrete, Nicole Langenfeld

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will look to determine if correlations exist between the inhibition efficiency and particular chemical properties of different corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel rebar in concrete affected with chlorides. Examining the inhibition efficiency of different corrosion inhibitors and attempting to find correlations or a general rule of thumb for what denotes a better corrosion inhibitor would be valuable. This similar concept has been seen with Lipinski's rule of 5 where he created a general guide to predict if compounds were orally active in humans. Since little information is readily available and no known correlations exist for corrosion inhibitors on …

Automatic Hole Saw Testing For Mk Morse, Jason Watson, Justin Zapotoczny

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

M.K. Morse has a hole saw tester they use for their hole saw product line. The tester currently requires constant operator attention for a process that could be automated. The goal of this project is to create a new hole saw tester that can run without the need for an operator's complete attention and give reliable data for the hole saws.

Individual Design Task Final Report Security Design, Ciarrah Bell

Honors Academy

"The Environmental Services Campus project is a comprehensive development designed to support the City of Springfield’s Environmental Services operations, with a focus on functionality, sustainability, and safety. The campus includes administrative office space, staff parking, a maintenance vehicle garage, and educational facilities aimed at community outreach. A component of the project is establishing site-wide security that not only protects personnel and assets but also integrates seamlessly with the architectural and environmental goals of the facility.

The primary focus of the Security IDT is the development and implementation of a comprehensive security strategy for the entire site. This includes designing and …

Leveraging Intrinsic Properties For Classification Of Coal Seams Towards Spontaneous Combustion Proclivity And Predicting Susceptibility Using Machine Learning: Smart And Sustainable Mining Approach, Siddhartha Agarwal, Pradeep K. Gautam, Yuhao Zou, Rishabh Dwivedi, Durga C. Panigrahi, Cihan H. Dagli, A. Singh

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mine fires and other hazards caused by spontaneous coal combustion are a pervasive and longstanding issue in Jharia coalfields, India. This study proposes a novel approach to classify coal seams based on their propensity to spontaneous combustion using the intrinsic properties of 30 coal samples from different seams. This method eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming experimental determinations of susceptibility indices (SI) such as crossing point temperature (CPT), critical air blast (CAB), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). All clustering models, viz. hierarchical, k-means, and multidimensional scaling, aptly classify coal seams into three categories: highly risky, medium risky, and low …

Integrating Aerodynamic Behavior In The Design Process Through Digital Tools: An Architectural Pedagogic Exercise, Mahmoud M. Elghawaby

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Analyzing air movement in open spaces is essential for developing livable environments and fostering unique atmospheres. By visualizing this intangible element, designers can enhance spatial quality and explore innovative solutions. This article examines the integration of aerodynamic simulations of air movement into the design process of an architectural graduation project conducted at the Grenoble School of Architecture, in collaboration with the Cresson research team and the Design by Research Lab. The project focuses on designing living bridges over the Nile in Cairo as part of an international architecture competition.The pedagogical exercise comprised theoretical lectures complemented by simulation sessions, designed to …

Handling Emerging Sources Of Non-Determinism: Proportional Control With Quantum Noise, And Lyapunov-Based Economic Model Predictive Control To Address Stability, Profitability, And Dynamics Of Nonlinear Systems Under Cyberattack, Keshav Kasturi Rangan

Wayne State University Dissertations

The fundamental objective of process control is to establish safe process operating conditions while ensuring minimal economic loss. One of the fundamental challenges of achieving this objective is non-determinism from various sources that can create unexpected process behavior. A traditional goal in industrial process control is the rejection of disturbances, which are time-varying process inputs that are not directly modified by the control system. Other sources of uncertainty can include measurement inaccuracies/noise and changes in process dynamics as a plant operates. Many techniques have been developed to ensure notions of stabilization and safety despite these sources of stochasticity for both …

Using Telemetry To Assess Operator Effects On Hydraulic Shovel Energy Efficiency. Part Ii: Assessing Operator Effects, Noah Adekunle Aluko, Kwame Awuah-Offei

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this second part of a two-part series, this study investigates whether operator practices significantly affect the energy efficiency of hydraulic shovels, using detailed telemetry data. Rather than assuming this relationship, the research systematically tests it through a combination of statistical and regression analyses. First, Welch's and Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA confirm that operators differ significantly in their energy efficiency (p = 0.0000). Next, correlation analysis links parameters identified in Part I to energy per unit loading rate, and difference regression analysis determines which parameters most strongly influence efficiency variations. The results show that differences in payloads are the primary driver of …

Understanding The Usefulness Of Self-Escape Technologies In Underground Mining: Perspectives Of Metal/Nonmetal Miners, Eugene A. Gyawu, Kwame Awuah-Offei, D. A. Baker

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Research on mine self-escape often focuses on coal mining, while perspectives from underground metal/nonmetal miners remain understudied despite their distinct emergency response challenges and unique operating environments. Using a scenario-based survey approach, this study evaluated underground metal/nonmetal miners' perceptions of the usefulness of 18 hypothetical self-escape interventions and how these perceptions are influenced by worker characteristics. Employment type was the strongest predictor of usefulness ratings, with hourly employees rating several self-escape interventions significantly higher than salaried employees, including those related to improving self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) and tethered guidance systems. The data suggested potential trends where perceived usefulness increased with more …

Evaluating Feasibility Of Incorporating Fuel Cell Drive Trains Into Existing Haul Trucks, Ayorinde Akinrinlola, Kwame Awuah-Offei, Abdullah Al Moinee

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hydrogen, as a fuel source in material handling, has become a viable option for achieving carbon reduction targets. The objective of this work was to apply vehicle drive train and energy simulation in MATLAB/Simulink to guide a discussion of the challenges and opportunities of incorporating hydrogen fuel cell drive trains into the current form factors of mine haul trucks. We built and validated a model based on the Komatsu 830-E truck and used it to estimate the hydrogen requirements for typical short-haul, medium-haul, and long-haul cycles; in the short-haul case (cycle time = 852 s) the truck consumed 23.6 L …

Cracking The Code: Harnessing Serpentinization-Driven Micro-Crack Networks For Hydrogen Generation And Subsurface Resource Recovery, U. Mutlu, G. Boitnott, A. Lisjak, J. Ha, O. Mahabadi, P. Connolly, B. N. Tunnell, T. Sherizadeh, S. Nowak, J. E. Olson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study focuses on simulating volume-increasing processes caused by natural hydrogen-generating serpentinization, a reaction in which olivine and pyroxene typically transform into serpentine minerals. The volume increase leads to crack propagation along grain interfaces and new crack generation within unreacted crystals (aka grains). The interplay between thermo-hydro-mechanicalchemical (THMC) conditions plays a critical role in the initiation, propagation, and coalescence of various fracture surfaces, which enhances permeability and can accelerate serpentinization and hydrogen production rates. In the scenarios considered, chemical reactions between formation brine and reactive minerals result in volumetric expansion, generating stress and promoting the propagation of micro-cracks. Our results …

Aperiodically Intermittent Dynamic Event-Triggered Control For Predefined-Time Synchronization Of Stochastic Complex Networks, Lei Xue, Haoyu Zhou, Yongbao Wu, Jian Liu, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, the problem of practical predefined-time synchronization in mean square (PTSMS) of stochastic complex networks (SCNs) is investigated through dynamic event-triggered control (E-TC). Different from the existing literature, this paper considers the dynamic E-TC in an a periodically intermittent control framework and employs the average control rate, which makes it easier to satisfy the conditions of the theorem. In comparison to existing finite-time and fixed-time synchronization, by introducing the time-varying function, it can be guaranteed that all states of SCNs achieve the practical PTSMS within a preset time without calculating the convergence time. Combined with stochastic analysis theory, …

An Intelligent Robotic System For Multi-Sensory Cognitive Fatigue Detection To Assist Persons With Paralysis In Activities Of Daily Living, Enamul Karim

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Assistive robotics is a promising area for improving the quality of life of people with paralysis, specifically through assistance in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Current state-of-the-art assistive robotic systems do not have the capability to dynamically modulate their functionality according to the cognitive fatigue level of the user, which can negatively impact their effectiveness and usability in real-life settings.

This dissertation explores an adaptive robotic framework that adjusts its behavior depending on the cognitive fatigue level of users. The system operates in three different modes, and switches between Fully Controlled, Semi-Autonomous, and Fully Autonomous modes. The overall goal is …

Fair And Sustainable Machine Learning: A Holistic Approach To Data Quality, Efficiency, And Resource-Aware Training, Zahidur Rahim Talukder

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The increasing reliance on distributed, privacy-sensitive data has driven the emergence of Federated Learning (FL) as a transformative paradigm for collaborative machine learning. By enabling multiple client devices to train a shared global model without transferring raw data, FL offers significant privacy advantages. However, real-world deployments of FL are constrained by critical challenges such as data heterogeneity, client unreliability, and hardware disparities. These factors lead to uneven model convergence, degraded global accuracy, and fairness issues that threaten FL's scalability and inclusivity in diverse environments.

This dissertation investigates these challenges and proposes three novel algorithmic frameworks to advance the state-of-the-art in …

Exploring Emerging Memory Technologies For Enhancing Data Center Applications, Zhen Lin

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The rapid evolution of memory and storage technologies is fundamentally reshaping the design of operating systems and data management. Emerging devices such as persistent memory, NVMe SSDs, and Compute Express Link (CXL)--enabled hybrid memory modules introduce new opportunities for high-performance, cost-efficient data management, yet they also expose limitations in traditional software abstractions. File systems, originally designed for slow block-based devices, incur excessive overhead on ultra-low-latency media, while block-level caches suffer from metadata and eviction inefficiencies. Moreover, hardware-managed tiering provides transparency but restricts adaptability across workloads. These challenges highlight the need to rethink caching and tiered memory management across multiple system …

Study On Motion Prediction Analysis Of Large Vessels Entering Kaohsiung Port Second Harbor, Li-Heng Cheng, Hsing-Yu Wang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Pilotage is a primary service offered by ports, ensuring the safe passage of entering and exiting vessels. This study applied motion prediction analysis to large vessels navigating the constrained waterways of Kaohsiung Port’s second harbor. To address the needs of pilots and port operators, a simplified planar motion equation was developed that incorporated speed over ground and rate of turn (ROT) as primary variables. The model relied on inputs of limited navigational data, enabling pilots to predict changes in heading and position over time and determine the conditions for safe harbor entry. Vessel paths and turning angles were analyzed to …

Scratching Behavior Of Copper-Niobium Nanolaminates, Matthew C. Peterson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Metal nanolaminates are known in material science for their unique mechanical properties and high strength due to their interface behavior. Cu/Nb nanolaminates specifically are studied for their uses in electronics due to their good conductivity and superior tensile strength compared to copper conductors, as well as their radiation resistance in radioactive environments. Currently, most molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of Cu/Nb simulations are axially loaded. This work attempts to characterize the scratching behavior of Cu/Nb nanolaminates with varying indenter size, temperature, speed, and layer thickness. The coefficient of friction (CoF), friction force, normal force, and material removal were then compared. A …

Optimal Tissue Clearing Of Gastric Cancerous Organoids Imaged Via High Resolution Light Sheet Microscopy, Lauren D. Lieu

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

While the rate of surviving a myocardial infarction has increased in the past 60 years from 60% to 90%, the rate of Americans developing chronic heart disease such as heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertensive heart disease has risen. This has led to the development of imaging technology such as Light Sheet Microscopy (LSM) and Light Field Microscopy (LFM) to study heart contractility and congenital heart disease via models such as cancerous organoids or Zebrafish. However, LSM and LFM results are highly dependent on the quality of the staining and cleared samples. This study looks to add to the growing field …

Citizen-Centric Building Energy Retrofits: Understanding And Supporting Citizens As Occupants, Participants, Decision-Makers, And Learners In Home Energy Retrofits, Nikhil Singh Yaduvanshi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Residential building retrofits remain significantly under-adopted despite substantial technological advances, economic incentives, and policy efforts, creating a critical gap between technical potential and actual implementation in achieving climate goals. Assessment of citizen involvement in building retrofit processes plays a critical role in formulating effective home retrofit program designs to ensure maximum adoption rates and avoid energy waste. Although, existing retrofit programs and decision-making models recognize the importance of citizen involvement, the extent of citizen capabilities and the effects of citizen-centered approaches on retrofit adoption and building performance has not been comprehensively examined. The adoption and success of retrofit programs depends …

The Development Of Sustainable Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Concrete Mix Design With Low Maintenance Cost, Kentesha L. High

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation presents the mix design of polypropylene SYN-FRC as an alternative to traditional concrete mixtures in construction roadways. The primary scope of work was to develop and implement a pavement system at The University of Texas at Arlington, specifically designed for the Dallas area, to minimize long-term maintenance. Additionally, the project aimed for expeditious construction to avoid traffic closure during new construction and maintenance. It also involved evaluating the pavement performance, providing the City of Dallas with specifications for the mix design of SYN-FRC. The sustainability of the synthetic fiber mix design for concrete roadways, compared to traditional concrete, …

Signal Analysis Of Calcium Dynamics In Pancreatic Cells, Abhidha Kunwar

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling plays a critical role in insulin secretion from pancreatic βcells. Photo-biomodulation (PBM) of red or near-infrared wavelengths is applied to enhance cellular metabolism and Ca²⁺ activity in pancreatic cells. This study aims to rigorously analyze how PBM influences calcium dynamics in pancreatic cells by applying the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), converting Ca²⁺ spiking patterns to the frequency domain to determine dominant oscillatory behaviors. Using a calcium-binding fluorophore, Ca²⁺ activity was acquired before and after PBM at 810 nm, processed with a machine learning algorithm, and further analyzed in MATLAB using FFT to assess changes in calcium signal …

Photonic Crystal Devices For Chip Scale Sensing Systems, Yudong Chen

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This thesis investigates the design and integration of photonic crystal (PC) structures for compact, high-performance optical platforms, with a focus on applications in gas sensing, on-chip lasers, and flat optics. Chapter 1 introduces the fundamental principles of PC design and simulation, highlighting their potential to replace bulky components in micro-gas chromatography (µGC) systems through miniaturization and integration. Chapter 2 explores PC-based nanobeam lasers, including the Lambda-Scale Embedded Active-Region Photonic Crystal (LEAP) laser, which demonstrates strong optical confinement and energy-efficient operation, with energy consumption as low as 8 fJ/bit. These laser designs are evaluated for their suitability in low-power, high-speed on-chip …