Engineering Commons^™

Updating Rainfall Zones And Intensities In Nebraska For Improved Design Of Non-Bridge-Sized Drainage Structures, Rezaul Mahmood, Tirthankar Roy, Chanchal Gupta, Kanak Kanti Kar, William Sorenson

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This study assesses the effectiveness of precipitation zones and Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves used by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) for designing drainage structures. Twenty stations were selected for the analysis of revised IDF curves out of forty-two stations. Datasets have been considered from the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI). By Comparing the new curves with existing ones, the study efforts examine the frequency, duration and severe rainfall. The results show that the IDF curves for various zones and stations varied noticeably from one another. Also, noticed that Zone A and B shows lower rainfall intensities in short to …

Enhancement Of Mechanical, Structural, And Electrical Properties In Advanced Composites And Vat Photopolymerized 3d Printing Nanocomposites, Poom Narongdej

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Advanced composites have gained significant attention across various industries, including aerospace, automotive, clean energy, and healthcare, owing to their exceptional mechanical properties and versatility. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, particularly those reinforced with carbon fibers, are extensively used as structural materials in spacecraft, aircraft, high-performance vehicles, and wind turbines due to their high strength-to-weight ratios, stiffness, durability, and tailorable mechanical characteristics. In healthcare, the advent of additive manufacturing (3D printing) has expanded the utility of advanced composites, enabling precise customization of components to meet patient-specific needs while offering design flexibility and ease of fabrication. Despite these advantages, several challenges hinder the …

Investigation Of Aluminum Hollow Shapes Subject To Torsion, Nora Frederick

Honors Theses

This research investigates the torsional strength of hollow aluminum shapes, specifically fairly stocky square and circular cross-sections made from 6061-T6 alloy. A total of six cross-sections were tested, with six specimens for each cross-section, resulting in 36 tests. Torque and angular deformation data were recorded for each specimen to determine the torque corresponding to full- yield of the cross-section. Additionally, Strand7 finite element models were created to simulate the experimental results and assess whether the torsional behavior could be accurately replicated through numerical analysis. This allows for future research to be conducted using Strand7 or similar finite element software.

The …

How Many Passes Does It Take? An Investigation To Determine The Optimal Number Of Liposome Extrusion Cycles, Kasey Piper

Honors Theses

Liposomes are lipid-based nanoparticles with significant applications in drug delivery and membrane research. One of the most common methods for fabricating liposomes of specific sizes is membrane extrusion, where liposomes are passed through porous membranes to reduce their size. The precise number of passes needed and the factors influencing this process remain unclear. This thesis investigates the relationship between the number of passes through a track-etched polycarbonate membrane and size and lamellarity of extruded liposomes with a focus on lipid type (DOPC, DMPC, Soy PC), membrane pore size (50, 100, 200, 400 nm), and the effect of freeze-thaw cycling. To …

Qualitative Interview Coding, Caroline M. Moore

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This lesson introduces undergraduate students to rigorous thematic analysis as a tool for gaining insights from qualitative interviews. Aimed at students with some familiarity in Design Thinking, it emphasizes the role of interviewing in understanding user experiences and informing human-centered research. This might be the first lesson in a multi-lesson sequence, allowing the next lesson to go deeper into insights of what design researchers gather from their thematic coding. Through a mix of lecture, individual coding, and small-group coding, students learn to distinguish between inductive and deductive coding and apply these methods to sample interviews. The lesson fosters active learning …

Mangroves: A Lesson On Modeling Changing Shorelines, Willa Skye

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This lesson is an overview of storm barriers, specifically mangroves and how they maintain shorelines. It is meant to offer a visual experience of coastline protection and provide a background for deeper understanding about intertidal zones and their conservation. Students will spend time creating a solution to a flooding problem by making a mock coast and storm barrier. To wrap-up the lesson, students will pair up, then reflect on their model and then individually write or draw their takeaways.

Using Design Thinking To Upcycle, Lily Chabica

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This 60-minute lesson introduces the power of design thinking as a tool for sustainability. Through short discussions, visual examples, and a hands-on “Trash Island” design challenge, students will explore how creativity can transform waste into value. The session combines theory (understanding upcycling vs. recycling) with active practice (building prototypes from found materials). By the end, students will connect environmental responsibility to personal agency. They will realize that design can drive everyday impact.

Confronting Indecision, Lane Allison Murray

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This course aims to increase students' understanding of indecision and how to confront it. The class provides insight into how the fear of the unknown holds people back from making decisions and about understanding one's values as a means to combat indecision. Students and teachers alike explore instances of indecision and evaluate their own impulses & thought processes by reflecting on the deeper reasons for their choices. Students will increase their comfort level of asking themselves and their peers questions about the values that guide them and, in doing so, strengthen their relationships with themselves and others.

Smart Qos-Aware Resource Management For Edge Intelligence Systems, Minoo Hosseinzadeh

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

There are several definitions for Smart Cities. One common key point of these definitions is that smart cities are technologically advanced cities which connect everything in a complex urban environment including infrastructure, information, and even people to cope with the crucial problems linked with the urban life such as traffic, pollution, city crowding, health, and poverty. Central to this vision are the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data, where interconnected devices with sensors collect vast amounts of data for informed decision-making. However, the rapid expansion of IoT devices challenges efficient data processing while meeting diverse Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements; for …

Optimization, Machine Learning, And Networking Solutions For Cyber-Physical Systems, Xu Tao

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) represent a transformative paradigm that integrates sensing, computation, and actuation through networked systems to enable intelligent, context-aware applications across various domains. Despite their growing potential, CPS still face critical challenges, particularly in maintaining reliable, low-latency communication and efficient data processing in resource-constrained and dynamic environments. These challenges are further magnified in rural or remote deployments, where traditional network infrastructure is often unavailable or unreliable. This dissertation addresses these challenges through the development of optimization and inference algorithms that enhance network performance in Software-Defined Networks (SDN), using techniques such as reinforcement learning and network tomography for efficient routing. …

Photocatalytic Performance Of Ba₀.₈Ca₀.₂Tio₃ Composite For Norfloxacin Removal In Aqueous Solutions, Raj Mohanty, Swayam Aryam Behera, Asima Subhadarshini, Binita Nanda, P. Ganga Raju Achary

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study investigates the degradation of norfloxacin using a Ba0.8Ca0.2TiO3 (BCTO) perovskite composite synthesized via a simple solid-state method. Variety of characterization techniques, including photoluminescence spectra, powder X-Ray Diffraction, UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectra, FE-SEM and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectra confirm the structural and optical properties of BCTO. Electrical characterization further elucidates its conductive properties. The BCTO composite demonstrates an impressive 87% degradation rate of norfloxacin, attributed to its reduced electron-hole recombination, enhanced light harvestation, and improved charge carrier mobility. Kinetic studies indicate that the degradation process adheres to a pseudo-first-order model, with BCTO outperforming both pure BaTiO3 and conventional photocatalysts. These …

Improving The Mechanical Performance Of 45s5 3d Scaffolds Through The Particles Of Barium Titanate Ceramics, Surirat Yotthuan, Usanee Pantulap, Nuttawan Sawangboon, Ornuma Tungsanguan, Ekarat Meechoowas, Kansiree Kaewmorakot, Nathaporn Uthaichai, Theerachai Bongkarn

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Bioglass® 45S5 is widely used in bone tissue engineering due to its excellent bioactivity. However, its low mechanical strength remains a major limitation. In this study, 25 wt% barium titanate (BaTiO3; BT) was incorporated into 45S5 scaffolds to improve mechanical performance and modulate bioactivity. The 3D scaffolds were fabricated using the foam replication method and exhibited interconnected porosity, with average pore sizes of 471 ± 94 μm (45S5) and 598 ± 58 μm (45S5/BT25), closely resembling human bone. The addition of BT increased the density and compressive strength of the scaffolds to 2.89 ± 0.18 g∙cm‒3 and 2.0 ± 0.2 …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Silica Nanoparticles From Solar Panel Glass Cullet, Pathomporn Ussawanawachat, Nithiwach Nawaukkaratharnant, Apirat Theerapapvisetpong

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The rapid growth of solar energy as a renewable resource has led to a significant increase in discarded solar panels. Recycling their glass components, especially fine cullet fragments, remains a major challenge due to impurity levels and processing limitations. This study proposes a sustainable approach to recycle solar panel glass cullet into high-purity silica nanoparticles using alkali fusion followed by acid precipitation. Process conditions including cullet to NaOH ratio, fusion temperature, and surfactant addition were optimized. The highest silica yield of 60.26% was achieved at a 1:1.4 cullet to NaOH ratio and 500℃. Polyethylene glycol (PEG 1000) was used as …

Laser Ablation Behavior And Ablation Threshold Of Entropy-Controlled Perovskite Coatings, Shuo Wang, Junyang Lu, Mengqing Zhang, Jiayi Zheng, Tong Zhang

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The protection threshold of laser ablation resistant materials lags behind the development of laser power density. Single-functional laser ablation resistant materials can no longer meet the practical needs. High-entropy perovskites with infinite chemical composition, tunable bandgap structure, and efficient thermal management capabilities provide new ideas for developing novel high-reflectivity and low-thermal-conductivity multifunctional laser ablation resistant materials. Herein, leveraging these unique advantages of high-entropy perovskites in optics and thermodynamics, four entropy-controlled perovskite coatings, Ba(Zn1/2Ta1/2)O3 (BZTO), Ba(Zn1/3Ta1/3Nb1/3)O3 (BZTNO), Ba(Zn1/4Ta1/4Nb1/4Ti1/4)O3 (BZTNTO) and Ba(Zn1/5Ta1/5Nb1/5Ti1/5Zr1/5)O3 (BZTNTZO) are designed. Through time-dependent laser ablation experiments, the optical and thermal properties are comprehensively evaluated. And laser ablation behavior …

Downstreaming Of Natural Materials Huta Ginjang Quartz Sand Doped With Nd2o3 For Laser Medium Application, Juniastel Rajagukguk, Jakrapong Kaewkhao

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The QSBoBa glasses with chemical formula 10 Quartz sand + (50-x) B2O3 + 10BaO + 30Na2O + xNd2O3 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mol%) were prepared by a conventional melt-quenching technique. The successfully fabricated glass samples will be analyzed based on their physical, structural, optical and luminescent properties. The XRD and FTIR spectra have been included to observe the complete structural properties. Optical absorption spectra revealed several characteristic transitions, with a prominent hypersensitive transition 4I9/2→4G5/2 at 584 nm, indicating an increasing asymmetry and disorder at higher Nd3+ concentrations. The photoluminescence emission spectra demonstrated strong radiative transitions of …

Crack Development Of Electroplated Niw Alloys And Their Wettability And Tribological Properties, Jidsucha Darayen, Suwat Ploypech, Martin Metzner, Claudia Beatriz Dos Santos, Petch Jearanaisilawong, Yuttanant Boonyongmaneerat

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study investigates how sodium tungstate concentration (20–46 wt.%) and current density (40–60 A/dm²) affect the microstructure, wettability, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of electrodeposited Ni-W coatings. Results show that increasing current density markedly raises crack density (from <100 to >400 cracks/cm²), while tungstate concentration has minimal effect. XRD confirms Ni-W solid solution formation, with higher tungsten content refining grains and increasing hardness—peaking at 900 HV at 50 A/dm² (an 80% rise from 500 HV at 40 A/dm²). However, excessive stress at 60 A/dm² leads to microcracking and hardness plateauing (~650–700 HV). Higher crack density improves wettability (contact angle ~17°), enhancing lubricant …

Upcycled Waste-Derived Triboelectric Nanogenerator For Sustainable Energy Harvesting, Archana Panda, Basanta Kumar Panigrahi, Subhendu Pati, Sunit Gourav Mohanty, Kushal Ruthvik Kaja

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The proliferation of disposable paper-based materials in laboratories has raised significant environmental concerns due to their rapid discard and accumulation. This study explores the upcycling of commonly discarded laboratory waste, specifically butter paper and polyurethane (PU) foam, into a single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for mechanical energy harvesting. The fabricated device employs butter paper as the positive triboelectric layer and PU foam as the negative layer, with an aluminium tape electrode. Electrical tests reveal a peak voltage of 21 V and current of 47 nA, reaching a maximum power of 438 nW at 500 MΩ load. The TENG demonstrates stable performance …

The Effects Of Starting Microstructure On The Results Of Double Intercritical Annealing Process Of 0.107%C-2.39%Mn-0.453%Si Dual Phase Steel, Wichayut Chumoung, Nithi Saenarjhan

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study investigates and compares the effects of the starting microstructure on the double intercritical annealing (DIA) process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 0.11%C-2.39%Mn-0.45%Si dual phase steel. The specimens were austenitized, followed by water quenching (WQ) or air cooling (AC), then DIA at 730°C. For the WQ method, high cooling rate results in the formation of a high strength martensitic structure. Conversely, AC method yields a moderate cooling rate, forming a bainitic structure. After single intercritical annealing (SIA), the microstructure transformed into ferrite and martensite. WQ method specimens contain high stress concentration, leading to earlier recrystallization compared to …

Effects Of Thickness On The Performance Of Sno2 Gas Sensors Using Low-Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic, Montri Aiempanakit, Kittiyaporn Singsumphan, Chutima Nakmuk, Cheewita Suwanchawalit, Manatsawee Srirak, Kata Jaruwongrungsee, Anurat Wisitsoraat, Monrudee Liangruksa, Chawarat Siriwong

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study develops SnO2-based gas sensors integrated with a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) micro hotplate for ethanol detection. SnO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple precipitation method, and sensing layers with varying thicknesses around 0.24 µm, 0.71 µm, and 1.20 µm were applied to evaluate their influence on performance. The results show that the optimal configuration is a 0.71 µm layer, offering high sensitivity, fast response, and efficient recovery. Operating at a low voltage of 3.2 V, the sensors exhibit low power consumption, suitable for portable and battery-operated applications. The gas-sensing mechanism relies on changes in resistance due to interactions …

Atmospheric Corrosion Of Hot Dip Galvanized Structural Steel Exposed To The Tropical Climate Of Thailand, Adithep Bunphot, Pakawat Sancharoen, Somnuk Tangtermsirikul, Taweep Chaisomphob

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Hot dip galvanized steels were tested in the atmospheric tropical climate environments of Thailand for 12 month from March 2021 to March 2022. Three locations were studied, i.e. a rural area at Saraburi in the central part, an industrial area at Chonburi in the eastern part, and a coastal/urban area at Songkhla in the southern part of Thailand. The thickness loss of the galvanized steel samples was measured by the weight loss method. Types of corrosion products observed on the samples were zincite, wulfingite, hydrozincite, and simonkolleite. All of them were found on the sample at Songkhla. Three of them, …

Lactic Acid-Assisted Complexation For Enhanced Lithium Extraction And Its Application To Spent Libs, Sibananda Sahu, Niharbala Devi

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

A novel approach for complexing lithium with lactic acid to enhance extraction efficiency and its application to spent LIBs was proposed in this study. Key parameters influencing the extraction were systematically examined, including lactic acid concentration, pH of the aqueous phase, concentration of extractant, diluent selection, phase ratio between organic and aqueous phase, and stripping efficiency. Lithium extraction showed a remarkable improvement, rising from 16% to 43%, as the lactic acid concentration enhanced from 0.01 mol∙L‒1 to 1.0 mol∙L‒1. This was achieved using D2EHPA (0.1 mol∙L‒1)  at a maintained pH of 6.5. Maximum lithium extraction of 84.5% was observed at …

Development Of Ceramic Based Novel Materials For Application In Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (Ltsofc) – A Critical Review, Kaliappan Tamilselvan, Arputharaj Samson Nesaraj

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

In the field of renewable energy, fuel cell research has emerged as a promising source of energy for the future. Fuel cells utilize fuels more efficiently compared to other energy generation systems. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems are gaining prominence due to their applications in military operations, mobile power supplies, and stationary power generation. Significant research efforts are being made to lower the operating temperature of SOFCs from 1000℃ to approximately 600℃, leading to the development of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LTSOFCs). This is being achieved by selecting alternative electrode and electrolyte materials, particularly ceramics, to enhance their …

The Effect Of Asphalt Emulsion On The Properties Of Fly Ash Based Geopolymers, Natcha Prommityat, Chiravoot Pechyen, Pitak Laoratanakul, Benya Cherdhirunkorn

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This research aimed to study the effect of asphalt emulsion (AE) on the properties of fly ash based geopolymers. Solid waste materials used for the production of geopolymer were coal fly ash (FA) 70 wt% and bagasse ash (BA) 30 wt%. Alkaline solution used for the geopolymerization reaction was the mixture of 10 M NaOH and Na2Sio3

with the ratio of 1:2. The liquid and solid (L/S) ratios of 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8 were prepared. The AE of 1 wt%, 3 wt% and 5 wt% were added into the raw materials mixtures. Then, the mixed slurry was casted into a …

Antibacterial, Self-Adhesive Guar Gum/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Tannic Acid Conductive Hydrogels For Flexible Strain Sensors, Noppanan Putdon, Somnuk Theerakulpistut, Rawit Jittham, Pornnapa Kasemsiri

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

In this research, a multifunctional strain sensor with antibacterial properties and self-adhesion capabilities was developed using guar gum (GG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and tannic acid (TA). The incorporation of TA into GG-PVA hydrogel-based strain sensors was investigated to evaluate its effects on mechanical and electrical properties, self-adhesion, and antibacterial activities. The anti-bacterial activities against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were enhanced with the increasing content of TA. The adhesive strength was observed in the range of 1.20 ± 0.10 kPa to 5.05 ± 0.23 kPa, and the values tended to increase as TA content increased. The …

Mechanochemical Synthesis Of Ni(Ii)-Tptz Complexes With Co-Ligands: Spectroscopy, Dft, And Biological Studies, Deepak Senapati, Anulipsa Priyadarshini, Debadutta Samal, P. Ramesh Babu, Satyanarayan Sahoo, Narayan Chandra Bera, Raghabendra Samantaray, Jagannath Panda, Rojalin Sahu

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

New mixed-ligand Ni(II) complexes [Ni(tptz)(1,10-phen)] (1), [Ni(tptz)(2-Mimd)2] (2), and [Ni(tptz)Imd)2] (3) were synthesized via a green, solvent-free mechanochemical approach using ball milling. The primary ligand used was 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz), with secondary ligands being 1,10-phenanthroline, 2-methyl imidazole, and imidazole, respectively. Structural characterization by IR, UV-Visible, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction, supported by DFT calculations, revealed a distorted square planar geometry for complex 1 and distorted tetrahedral geometries for complex-2 and complex-3. Notably, bathochromic shifts in the UV-Vis spectra confirm metal-ligand charge transfer transitions and extended π-delocalization. Powder XRD analysis determined average crystallite sizes of 17.86 nm (1), 25 nm (2), …

Liquid-Liquid Extraction Of Nd(Iii) Using [P66614][Cy272] Ionic Liquid, Prasanjit Das, Kali Sanjay, Niharbala Devi

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study explores the extraction of Nd(III) from synthetic solutions using the ionic liquid [P66614] [Cy272]. Key extraction parameters, including the effect of phase contact time, initial pH, salting-out agents, extractant concentration, and temperature, were systematically optimized. Results revealed that a phase contact time of 15 min, an initial pH of 2.14, and 0.2 mol∙L‒1 NaCl as a salting-out agent and extractant concentration of 0.015 mol∙L‒1 [P66614][Cy272], achieved maximum extraction efficiency of 99.7%. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed the process is to be exothermic, spontaneous, and entropy-driven, highlighting the strong complexation between Nd(III) and the ionic liquid [P66614][Cy272]. Stripping tests revealed that …

Cross-Facility Reliable Deep Learning Based Beef Marbling Assessment Via Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Regression, Samuel Vinson, Dongyi Wang

2025 Research Poster Competition

Beef is one of the most important sources of animal protein and plays a crucial role in daily diets to support muscle growth, energy production and overall health. Historically, each beef carcass was evaluated by 3-5 skilled United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) meat graders, which are still considered as the gold standard for grading. Since 2009, electronic imaging grading systems have been approved by the USDA and have been gradually adopted in the grading facilities. Accurate and consistent beef grading plays a critical role in maintaining the quality, market value, and consumer trust in U.S. beef products. The USDA …

Cnns And Transformers For Visual Understanding: From Feature Alignment To Image Captioning, Xuehao Liu

Doctoral

Deep learning has developed rapidly since the introduction of Deep Belief Networks during the past decade. As an area of machine learning, it still has many open challenges. Among these open challenges is the issue of transparency, with deep learning models known as black boxes. Both explainability of a model for understanding the decision making process, and the transparency of the relationship between the input and output are crucial for understanding a model. The understanding of models can build trust between AI systems and humans, verify models behavior, and identify potential biases or errors.

Navigating Human-Robotic Interaction Challenges In Teaching-By-Demonstration, Shakra Mehak

Doctoral

The advancement in interdisciplinary research domains, like robotics and HRI, presents a challenging task. It is an exception rather than the norm for research to extend beyond the boundaries of individual disciplines and encompass the challenges presented by other fields of study. This project is part of ”Collaborative Intelligence for Safety Critical Systems” (CISC), which is a Marie Curie Training Network funded by the European Commission to hire and train researchers with the expertise and skillset necessary to carry out the major tasks required to develop a Collaborative Intelligence system. The program encompasses four overarching themes: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human …

Twitter-Based Osint For Cyber Event Analytics, Dakota S. Dale, Kylie Mcclanahan, W. Sky Elder, Qinghua Li

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is often regarded as a critical component for cybersecurity intelligence gathering to secure cyber infrastructures. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media progress and become more commonplace, we have the unique opportunity to collect and analyze information from social media in real time. In this paper, we propose an AI-based framework for automatically filtering the Twitter stream for cybersecurity information, analyzing the natural language to aggregate the tweets around specific cybersecurity events, and certifying the information. The system's applications range from discovering events security operators may not have been aware of to helping operators investigate on-going events …