Engineering Commons^™

Overview Of Nigeria’S Infrastructural Development, Muhammad Onoruiza Audu, Otu Muhammed Adeiza

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s infrastructural development from 2014 to 2023, focusing on significant achievements and recurring challenges. The study examines key projects in transportation, energy, and housing, such as the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan railways, the Azura-Edo Power Plant, and urban road upgrades. Persistent issues, including insufficient funding, regulatory inefficiencies, regional disparities, and security challenges, are also assessed. Using a mixed-methods approach that incorporates a literature review, data analysis, and stakeholder perspectives, the research evaluates the social and economic effects of these initiatives. The findings provide strategic recommendations to improve infrastructure quality and accessibility, promote sustainable practices, …

Determination Of The Kinetic Parameters Of Cholesterol Oxidation Using Cholesterol Oxidase From Streptomyces Sp., Meka Saima Perdani, Heri Hermansyah, Muhamad Sahlan, Dwini Normayulisa Putri, Teguh Pambudi, Anggi Khairina Hanum Hasibuan

Makara Journal of Technology

Cholesterol oxidase (CO) was successfully produced from Streptomyces sp. via the submerged fermentation method, and 69 U/mL enzyme activity was obtained. This study aimed to determine cholesterol oxidation kinetics and the production of CO as a catalyst. The enzyme was diluted to 0.15, 0.075, and 0.00375 U/mL for the oxidation reaction. The substrate was also prepared in three concentrations: 3.23, 6.46, and 12.93 mM. The optimization of conditions for enzymatic cholesterol oxidation was investigated through measurement of the effect of initial cholesterol and enzyme concentrations. Cholesterol concentration was rapidly measured via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The kinetics of CO were …

Effect Of Different Pressures On Polymer Flow At A Contraction Path: A Real-Time Numerical Approach, Muhammad Afiq Azmi, Zulkifli Mohamad Ariff, Raa Khimi Shuib, Arjulizan Rusli, Ku Marsilla Ku Ishak, Mohamad Danial Shafiq, Zuratul Ain Abdul Hamid, Zulfirdaus Zakaria, Muhamad Husaini Abu Bakar, Muhammad Khalil Abdullah

Makara Journal of Technology

The complexity of polymer flow through a contraction arises from the simultaneous occurrence of shear and elongational strains near the entrance of the contraction path (die). Although this phenomenon has been extensively studied, the effect of plunger motion on the flow toward the contraction path remains underexplored. This study investigated the rheological behavior of thermoplastic polymers at a contraction flow path to enhance the understanding of their flow and rheological behavior, including variations in velocity, pressure, viscosity, and shear rate under varying loads. Polypropylene (PP), a semicrystalline polymer with a low melting point, was used as the test material. The …

Exploring Blockchain Technology: Applications And Insights Across Multiple Fields, Zarella Valentina Burbano Vallejo, Edgar Dario Obando Paredes

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Blockchain is a digital recording technology where each block contains encrypted data linked to previous blocks, forming an immutable and transparent sequence. This review systematically analyzes the applications and evolution of blockchain technology across multiple sectors from 2021–2023. peer-reviewed articles focused on key areas such as finance, healthcare, energy, and supply chain management. The findings highlight blockchain's transformative potential, including its ability to enhance security through encryption and decentralization, improve trust and data integrity, and eliminate intermediaries, enabling faster transactions and cost reduction. However, challenges such as scalability issues, high energy consumption in cryptocurrency mining, privacy concerns due to the …

A Statewide Geographic Information System (Gis) As A Predictive Tool For Locating Deeply Buried Archeological Deposits In Nebraska: Phase Iii-The Sandhills Region, Anthony L. Layzell, Rolfe D. Mandel, John Swigart, David T. Williams

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This project developed a GIS to assist with the identification of deeply buried cultural deposits in alluvial settings across the Sandhills region of Nebraska. Soil survey data, previous geoarchaeological investigations, landform position, and other information was used to rank the potential of any stream valley setting as low, low-moderate, moderate-high, or high potential to contain buried cultural deposits. While the presence of buried soils does not necessarily translate to presence of buried archeological sites, the potential for such sites is far greater in buried soils. The GIS can be used by NDOT and other agencies with statutory historic preservation obligations, …

Evaluation Of Impact Energy In Composites Using Acoustic Emission Sensing Technique, Li Ai, Tanner Mesaric, Sydney Flowers, Sydney Houck, Joshua Widawsky, Paul Ziehl

Faculty Publications

A major challenge faced by composite materials is impact, which can result in unexpected damage and degradation. Impact events can cause significant structural damage that may not be immediately visible, leading to a reduction in the material’s mechanical properties and overall performance. This paper presents an impact assessment method using acoustic emission (AE) sensing technology. The primary goal of this approach is to determine the extent of impact damage on composite components by analyzing AE signals produced under operating stress conditions. An advanced algorithm is proposed to predict the probability that the damage falls into various damage categories, providing a …

Physics-Informed Heterogeneous Spatiotemporal Graph Neural Network For Reservoir Simulation, Ahmed A.M.A. Abdullah

LSU Master's Theses

Reservoir simulation is the state-of-the-art method for predicting the flow of petroleum reservoir fluids in porous media. It provides an accurate and unbiased prediction of the performance of petroleum reservoirs under different operating conditions. Despite its advantages, reservoir simulation is computationally expensive; with typical full-field simulation models running for several hours. This limitation is worsened when simulating reservoirs with several equations for each cell, such as multiphysics or compositional reservoir simulation. The goal of this research is to provide a fast and accurate spatiotemporal machine-learning model that incorporates discretized governing mass balance equations for training. To achieve this, we propose …

In Situ Preparation Of Silver Nanoparticles/Organophilic-Clay/Polyethylene Glycol Nanocomposites For The Reduction Of Organic Pollutants, Amina Sardi, Bouhadjar Boukoussa, Aouicha Benmaati, Kheira Chinoune, Adel Mokhtar, Mohammed Hachemaoui, Soumia Abdelkrim, Issam Ismail, Jibran Iqbal, Shashikant P. Patole, Gianluca Viscusi, Mohamed Abboud

All Works

This work focuses on the preparation and application of silver nanoparticles/organophilic clay/polyethylene glycol for the catalytic reduction of the contaminants methylene blue (MB) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in a simple and binary system. Algerian clay was subjected to a series of treatments including acid treatment, ion exchange with the surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTABr), immobilization of polyethylene glycol polymer, and finally dispersion of AgNPs. The molecular weight of polyethylene glycol was varied (100, 200, and 4000) to study its effect on the stabilization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the catalytic activity of the resulting samples. The results showed that the catalyst with …

Design, Control, And Evaluation Of A Photovoltaic Snow Removal Strategy Based On A Bidirectional Dc-Dc Converter For Photovoltaic–Electric Vehicle Application, Salma Elakkad, Mohamed Hesham, Hany Ayad Bastawrous, Peter Makeen

Electrical Engineering

A novel self-heating technique is proposed to clear snow from photovoltaic panels as a solution to the issue of winter snow accumulation in photovoltaic (PV) power plants. This approach aims to address the shortcomings of existing methods. It reduces PV cell wear, resource loss, and safety risks, without the need for additional devices. A self-heating current is applied to the solar panel to melt the snow covering its surface, which is then allowed to slide off the panel due to gravity. The proposed system consists of a bidirectional DC-DC converter, which removes the snow cover by heating the solar PV …

Dynamic Analysis Of Additively Manufactured Tensegrity Structures, Keivan Davami, Russell A. Rowe, Ben Gulledge, Jesse Park, Ali Beheshti, Anthony N. Palazotto, Fariborz Tavangarian, Sadie Beck

Faculty Publications

Herein, we present an analysis, design, and experimental testing of modular prestressed pin-jointed structures constructed from bistable units and inspired by the classical triangular tensegrity prism. Tensegrity structures, characterized by a combination of tension members (cables) and compression members (bars) in a self-equilibrated state, have gained significant attention in engineering over the past two decades due to their unique nonlinear mechanical behavior. The discontinuity of the compression members in tensegrity structures leads to a slightly different failure behavior compared to their lattice structure counterparts, with unprecedented applications. However, traditional fabrication and assembly methods have posed challenges for their widespread adoption. …

Movian: Advancing Human Motion Analysis With 3d Visualization And Annotation, Trudi Di Qi, Isaac Browen, David Zhang, Hector M. Camarillo-Abad, Franceli L. Cibrian

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Human motion analysis, including data visualization and annotation, is crucial for understanding human behavior and intentions during various activities, aiding in the development of innovative tools that support independent living. Current wearable sensing technology provides rich 3D spatial movement data but generates multimodal complex datasets that require specialized skills for effective analysis. Despite the need, limited research exists on tools for effective visualization and easy annotation of such complex motion data. MoViAn (Motion Data Visualization and Annotation) is an innovative 3D data analysis system offering enriched visual representations of 3D human motion data (e.g., gaze, hand movements), along with an …

Measuring And Improving Api Usability And Quality: A Comprehensive Framework And Empirical Study, Sultan Alanazy

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Cloud computing provides on-demand access to flexible computing resources, enabling rapid application deployment without substantial infrastructure investment. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) play an important role in ensuring the success of cloud applications. The primary users of APIs are the extensive community of application programmers who search, read, and understand APIs before integrating them into their applications or systems. In addition, developers often turn to online API support when seeking help. Problems in such support can result in incorrect API usage and integration problems. There is an urgent need to measure API usability and support issues to identify, characterize, and assess …

Microwell Fabrication For Impedance And Ac Measurements Of Isolated Ventricular Cardiomyocytes, Fallon Wenck

Multidisciplinary Studies Theses and Dissertations

Electrophysiological behavior of human hearts have been extensively studied for hundreds of years. Even with elucidation of not just biological function, but also time and frequency-dependent current flow, the sheer intricacy of in vivo cardiac tissue function remains somewhat enigmatic. All while heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for over a century, with its rates of occurrence still increasing annually [1]. Thus, new research techniques and tools to quantify cardiac function are still being pursued at smaller and smaller scales to decrease research/innovation time, cost, and diagnostic ambiguity. In fact, it remains incredibly …

Analyzing Handwriting Legibility In Children Using Smart Vs. Traditional Pen, Franceli L. Cibrian, Lauren Min, Yingying 'Yuki' Chen, Kayla Anderson, Oscar Gutierrez, Lizbeth Escobedo

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Handwriting, traditionally acquired through paper, pen, or pencil, is crucial for children’s development, learning, and communication. The legibility of letters holds crucial implications for children’s composition and even self-esteem. In order to ensure legibility, timely input from educators and parents is essential, although it primarily depends on their experience. With current technological advancements, smartpens, augmented with sensing capabilities, could offer a novel approach providing feedback. However, it is unclear if the smartpen’s weight and form factor could affect children’s handwriting legibility is unclearsmartpen’s weight and form factor could affect children’s handwriting legibility. This study involves 16 children aged 9 to …

Towards A Multimodal Approach For Assessing Adhd Hyperactivity Behaviors, Franceli L. Cibrian, Lauren Min, Vitica Arnold

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent childhood psychiatric condition that needs an assessment of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness symptoms. Particularly in young children, hyperactivity-impulsivity stands out as a primary concern. However, those behaviors may or may not be evidenced when a child is in a small room, one-on-one with a single adult. Therefore, Ambient Intelligence technology that supports data collection in a natural setting, paired with expert human decision-making can potentially improve the quality of assessments. In this paper, we conduct a literature review and analysis to align ADHD assessment criteria with potential sensor technologies to collect …

Simulation Of Cascade Failure In Urban Rail Transit Hypernetworks Based On Hypergraph Theory, Zijin Han, Mingjun Qian, Xixian Wang, Kaiyue Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In order to enhance the resilience of urban rail transit networks to ensure stable operations and passenger safety in the face of emergencies, hypergraph theory is introduced to construct a hypergraph based urban rail transit hypernetwork model, and a nonlinear load-capacity cascading failure model based on passenger flow weighting is established. In response to the passenger evacuation process at actual transportation network stations, a load redistribution mechanism is proposed, taking into consideration both the network level and the importance of passenger flow. To address scenarios where stations in actual traffic networks can still accommodate loads during shutdowns, a node …

A Fast Federated Learning-Based Crypto-Aggregation Scheme And Its Simulation Analysis, Boshen Lü, Xiao Song

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To solve the problem of increased computation and communication costs caused by using homomorphic encryption (HE) to protect all gradients in traditional cryptographic aggregation (cryptoaggregation) schemes, a fast crypto-aggregation scheme called RandomCrypt was proposed. RandomCrypt performed clipping and quantization to fix the range of gradient values and then added two types of noise on the gradient for encryption and differential privacy (DP) protection. It conducted HE on noise keys to revise the precision loss caused by DP protection. RandomCrypt was implemented based on a FATE framework, and a hacking simulation experiment was conducted. The results show that the proposed …

Critical Node Identification Method For Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Cluster Considering Localized Features, Chenglong Shi, Xiang Hua, Dong Wang, Jinjin Zhang, Tianqi Jiang, Yuanzhang Dang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the problem that the UAV cluster critical node identification methods focus on the global network and ignore the correlation between nodes and their local features, a critical nodes identification method for unmanned aerial vehicle cluster considering local features is proposed. An unmanned aerial vehicle cluster network model is constructed based on complex network theory. The Laplacian energy is introduced to evaluate the importance of node within two hops, and information entropy is combined to evaluate the importance of node in a specific motif to comprehensive identify the critical nodes. Simulation results demonstrate that this method identifies critical …

Optimization Of Urban Agglomeration Transportation Network Evacuation Paths, Bowei He, Chengbing Li, Shida Nie, Jialin Wang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Given the complexity of the internal transportation network structure within urban agglomerations and the presence of numerous alternative routes, this paper proposes an enhanced ant colony algorithm to address the evacuation path problem of urban agglomeration transportation networks. A comprehensive urban agglomeration transportation network model is constructed, in which the issue of virtual transfer edges within the urban scope is considered and a weighting function is constructed taking into account the travelling time cost and the transferring time cost. Optimizations are applied to the ant colony algorithm, constructing an adaptive adjustment of state transitions and an information pheromone update …

A Threat Assessment Method In Uncertain Dynamic Environments, Mei Yang, Bingkun Wang, Zhongjie Zhang, Yan Zeng, Jian Huang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: A threat assessment method based on priori information and dynamic observation results is studied for the existence of dynamic uncertainty in complex war systems. The data mining is applied to obtain prior knowledge on the battlefield situation and construct an equipment-related confidence matrix. The sensor model is constructed to dynamically update the number of blue-side entities under the current situation by using the Bayesian method and considering both intelligence and observation results. The threat evaluation indicators and their weights are determined, and the TOPSIS method is used to finish the threat assessment. This method can well describe the complex …

Research On Adaptive Scheduling Of Single-Arm Cluster Tools For Throughput Ratio Of Multiple Wafer Types With Concurrent Processing, Chunrong Pan, Yu Cui, Wenqing Xiong, Hao Zhou, Jiliang Luo

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Concurrent processing makes the wafer fabrication process prone to deadlocks and completion node ambiguity. A Petri net model is established to describe the system operation process by taking for the single-arm cluster tools for fully parallel processing of two wafer types as the research object, and a control strategy is developed to avoid the system deadlock. Based on the Petri net model, the temporal properties of the system is analyzed based on earliest starting strategy, and the action cycle sequence of robot is determined during the monitoring cycle for different scenarios of lot switching in a single production monitoring …

Research On Latent Space-Based Anime Face Style Transfer And Editing Techniques, Haixin Deng, Fengquan Zhang, Nan Wang, Wancai Zhang, Jierui Lei

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address issues such as image distortion and style uniformity in existing anime style transfer networks within the field of image simulation, we propose the TGFE-TrebleStyleGAN (textguided facial editing with TrebleStyleGAN) for anime facial style transfer and editing. This framework leverages vector guidance within the latent space to generate facial imagery and incorporates a detail control module and a feature control module to constrain the aesthetic attributes of the generated images. The images generated by the transfer network serve as style control signals and constraints for fine-grained segmentation. Text-to-image generation technology captures correlations between styletransferred images and semantic information. …

Research On Digital Twin Simulation Method Of Industrial Robot Integrated With Reinforcement Learning, Tianyue Miao, Lu Wang, Jiaxiao He, Nenggang Xie

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In response to the lack of comprehensive functionality and limited application scenarios in the current field of industrial robot digital twin systems, which results in low versatility, a method for constructing a digital twin system for industrial robots with high versatility is proposed. A four-dimensional system architecture for the digital twin is designed, and the components and functions of the four-dimensional system are analyzed, based on the system level planning of the four-dimensional system, the concept of integrating reinforcement learning into the virtual replacement of real concept is defined. By constructing a multi-attribute virtual model and using TCP communication …

Research On Multi-Objective Gait Planning Of Biped Robot Based On Virtual Prototype, Yankai Zhang, Xuesong Wang, Yubin Jin, Dongsheng Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: A multi-objective gait optimization method based on virtual prototype is proposed to address the difficulty of balancing personalisation and performance in gait planning for bipedal robots. A scale prototype of a planar underactuated biped robot is created according to the body structure of Chinese people, and an identification approach is used to determine the robot's exact inertial parameters. A virtual prototype of the robot is created, and three optimization goals—speed, energy use, and stability are developed. Using the enhanced NSGA-II algorithm, the Pareto optimal solution set for the robot multi-objective gait planning issue is produced. Numerous gaits that conform …

Investigating Catalytic Conversion Of Lignin To Valuable Products, Jialiang Zhang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Lignin is a complex, random, and heterogeneous biopolymer in lignocellulosic biomass. It has significant potential for conversion into valuable chemicals and fuels. However, its natural recalcitrant structure has made selective depolymerization challenging. This dissertation presents a detailed investigation into the mechanisms of lignin disassembly and structural evolution under various catalytic and solvent conditions. The research spans three key studies. In Chapter 2, operando magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to study reaction pathways and kinetics of lignin model polymers during catalytic hydrogenolysis. We used a Ni-Al2O3 catalyst in methanol under high temperature and pressure, and …

Investigating Catalytic Conversion Of Lignin To Valuable Products, Jialiang Zhang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Lignin is a complex, random, and heterogeneous biopolymer in lignocellulosic biomass. It has significant potential for conversion into valuable chemicals and fuels. However, its natural recalcitrant structure has made selective depolymerization challenging. This dissertation presents a detailed investigation into the mechanisms of lignin disassembly and structural evolution under various catalytic and solvent conditions. The research spans three key studies. In Chapter 2, operando magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to study reaction pathways and kinetics of lignin model polymers during catalytic hydrogenolysis. We used a Ni-Al2O3 catalyst in methanol under high temperature and pressure, and …

Sloshing Analysis Of An Isothermal Fluid In A Cylindrical Tank For Cryogenic Tank Design Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, Dillon Freeman

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This paper investigates the capability of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics to model the free surface sloshing response of an isothermal fluid in a cylindrical geometry. Eleven frequencies for two horizontal driving amplitudes (0.5 mm & 2.0 mm) were validated against experimental results and the influence of the starting direction of the tanks acceleration on the steady state response was investigated. The SPH results reproduced the overall behaviour of the experimental data closely over the range of frequencies tested, but produced higher amplitudes with greater variance in the region of the tanks natural frequency. Furthermore good symmetry was observed between sidewalls for …

Development Of A Computational Model To Assess Wave Overtopping Performance Of Floating Structures Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, Emily Knott

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Wave overtopping in foul weather presents a hazard to sailors and offshore workers. Predicting the overtopping performance of a ship or structure is important to safety and performance but existing methods are either low accuracy or computationally expensive, and every design must be analysed separately. Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) may be used in the creation of less computationally expensive numerical simulations for overtopping analysis.

This paper extends upon the basic SPH method to incorporate wave generation and rigid body motion, enabling the wave overtopping performance of fixed and floating structures to be determined in two dimensions. This extended model was …

Capacity Of Self Compact Concrete Walls Using Attapulgite As A Partial Replacement Of Cement Under One Way And Two Way Action Restriction, Wissam Kadhim Alsaraj, Luma Abdul Ghani Zghair, Akhlas Hashem Mohammed

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This investigation about the structural performance of sustainable self-compact concrete walls exposed to eccentric axial regularly dispersed loading, including the effect of aspect ratio (AR) and slenderness ratio (λ) by one-way and two-way action. The experimental program includes testing ten wall panels, the eccentricity of the loading system equivalent to one-sixth of depth. These wall panels are separated into four groups, each one consisting of three specimens. first and second groups clarify the aspect ratio (H/L) effect. The results indicated for decreasing AR from (0.75 to 0.625), (0.625 to 0.5), and (0.75 to 0.5), the increase of final load is …

Exploring The Benefits Of Feature Selection Based On Bat Algorithm And Deep Learning In Brain Cancer Diagnosis, Noor Fawzi Shafiq

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Brain cancer is considered one of the most dangerous types that must be treated as soon as possible. Therefore, it is necessary to detect brain cancer in its early stages to enhance the diagnosis of the condition. This study proposes to combine the bat algorithm (BA) with deep learning methods to identify and classify brain tumors in medical images accurately.

In this paper, the bat algorithm was used to select distinctive features from the input brain images. The Bat Algorithm (BA) is a metaheuristic optimization algorithm that mimics the echolocation behavior of bats. It efficiently explores the feature space to …