Engineering Commons^™

Emulsion Stability, Rheological Properties, And Combustion Characteristics Of Waterjojoba Biofuel Emulsion, Ihab Mohamed Ayad

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis comprehensively investigates the stability, rheological properties, and engine performance implications of water in jojoba biodiesel (WJBD) emulsion. The research delves into multiple aspects, including the influence of diverse surfactants and water concentrations on emulsion stability. It also yields valuable insights into the development of stable water in jojoba biodiesel emulsions, specifically tailored for diesel engines. These insights contribute significantly to the body of knowledge of positioning emulsion fuels as viable alternative to traditional diesel fuels. The anticipated benefits include notable reductions in emissions. Importantly, this study underscores the critical importance of considering emulsion stability, both during storage and …

Flexible Strain Gauge Sensors As Real-Time Stretch Receptors For Use In Biomimetic Bpa Muscle Applications, Rochelle Jubert

Student Research Symposium

This work presents a novel approach to real-time length sensing for biomimetic Braided Pneumatic Actuators (BPAs) as artificial muscles in soft robotics applications. The use of artificial muscles enables the development of more interesting robotic designs that no longer depend on single rotation joints controlled by motors. Developing robots with these capabilities, however, produces more complexities in control and sensing. Joint encoders, the mainstay of robotic feedback, can no longer be used, so new methods of sensing are needed to get feedback on muscle behavior to implement intelligent controls. To address this need, flexible strain gauge sensors from Portland company, …

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Hydrogen Production Via Various Pv-Assisted Electrochemical Water Splitting Techniques, Achyuth Ravilla, Ilke Celik

Student Research Symposium

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photovoltaic-electrochemical (PV-EC) water-splitting technologies have emerged as cost-effective options for large-scale green hydrogen production in industrial applications. Solar to hydrogen (STH) efficiencies of these technologies have reached up to 20% and several pathways have been explored to drive down the cost of hydrogen using these technologies to less than $2/kg. However, the environmental impact assessment of these technologies for industry-scale deployment has not been explored in previous studies. This study assesses the environmental impacts of PEC and PV-EC technologies by conducting a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment. The functional unit considered for this assessment is 1 kg of …

Performance-Based Risk Assessment For Large-Scale Transportation Networks, Anteneh Deriba, David Y. Yang

Student Research Symposium

Efficiently assessing the risk of asset failure due to deterioration or extreme events is crucial for transportation asset management. Traditional methods often lack effectiveness in directly evaluating system performance-based risks, facing challenges like the exponential increase in system states and the emergence of low-probability high-consequence events ("grey swan" events). To address these, this paper introduces a novel performance-based risk assessment approach for large-scale transportation networks, inspired by the Transitional Markov Chain Monte Carlo (TMCMC) method. This method transforms the risk assessment problem into a high-dimensional posterior distribution, with system risk acting as the normalization factor (evidence). It also provides risk-based …

Reducing Switching Noise And Losses In Two-Stage Electric Power Converters, Abhijeet Prem

Student Research Symposium

Advancements in semiconductor devices are enabling the design of better electrical power converter systems. Wide Bandgap (WBG) switching devices from Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride can operate at high temperatures, voltages, and frequencies with faster turn-on/off periods, improving converter performance over silicon devices. However, WBG technology is still new, and the rapid switching transitions of these devices lead to issues such as voltage overshoots, ringing, and electromagnetic interference, which need to be addressed for widespread adoption. This work introduces a new control method for reshaping the switching voltages, which overcomes the disadvantages of fast transition time without increasing the system's …

Plasma Ion Source, Nathan K. Davis

Student Research Symposium

It is well known that a plasma can be created with both high input power and ultra low pressure. The challenge is in creating these same plasma characteristics with both lower power while maintaining a higher pressure. We have developed an ion beam by careful manipulation of magnetic and electric fields. Magnetic fields are used to accelerate ambient electrons to ionize the low pressure gas into a plasma. Electric fields are used to extract the ions into a focused beam. To achieve these initial ionizations, an artificial vacuum is created to reach low enough pressures to ionize the gas. A …

Characterization Of Chopped Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites Produced Using Fused Deposition Modeling, Jonathon Tran, Rachel Shubella

Student Research Symposium

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) process which can create parts with complex geometries in their final shape without need for additional specialized tools or devices. The FDM process builds parts by adding material layer by layer only where it is needed, saving energy, costs, production time for complex parts, and minimizing waste. Fiber reinforcement can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of a polymer material and depends significantly on the fiber length distribution and fiber orientation distribution of the final part. In this research, we investigated the various infill patterns of FDM printed Markforged onyx which is …

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Recycling Processes For Perovskite Solar Cells, Juan P. Herrera, Jules Freeman, Achyuth Ravilla, Ilke Celik

Student Research Symposium

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising option for solar energy generation. However, it is essential to consider the environmental impact of these innovative photovoltaic (PV) technologies as the industry moves towards commercialization. Researchers are currently exploring ways to recycle PSCs to recover valuable materials and reduce their environmental impact at the end of their life. To ensure the sustainability of PSCs, this study evaluates and compares the environmental impacts of five recently developed recycling approaches. The Tool for Reduction and Assessment of Chemicals (TRACI) method was utilized to measure environmental impacts in categories such as acidification (kg …

Pulse Modulation In Braided Pneumatic Actuators Mimics Contractile Behavior Of Biological Muscles, Mohamad Elzein

Student Research Symposium

Advancements in robotics and bioengineering aim to emulate biological muscle systems through robotic actuators, blending mechanical strength with biological adaptability. A lesser-explored aspect is mimicking the pulse-like control characteristic of biological muscles, which contract in response to action potentials from motoneurons, with muscle contractile force relying heavily on the timing between these potentials. This study explores the effect of pulse lengths and the gaps between pulses on braided pneumatic actuators (BPAs), which mimic the nonlinearity and dynamic response of biological muscles. It hypothesizes that artificial muscles utilizing pulse-based control will exhibit a similar force dependency on the intervals between pulses …

Self-Balancing Robot Leg, Ben Bolen

Student Research Symposium

Research in the Agile and Adaptive Robotics Lab involves the creation of biomimetic robots. To this end, we developed a self-balancing robot leg actuated with braided pneumatic actuators (BPAs)—a type of pneumatic artificial muscle. These BPAs, akin to human muscles, exhibit properties such as high strength-to-weight ratio and tunable passive stiffness. An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was placed on top of the tibia for feedback and the tibia and foot were connected with a hinge joint. The orientation of the ankle joint was controlled with an Arduino microcontroller sending commands to the proportional pressure valves supplying the BPAs. Leg balance …

Deriving Analytical Design Constraints For Absolute & Relative Encoding Schemes In Functional Subnetworks, Cody W. Scharzenberger-Braet, Alexander Hunt

Student Research Symposium

As neural networks have become prolific solutions to modern problems, there has been a congruent rise in the popularity of the numerical machine learning techniques used to design them. While they are highly generalizable, numerical methods tend to produce networks that act as inscrutable “black boxes,” making it difficult to interpret their behavior. One solution to the problem of network transparency is to use analytical techniques, but these methods are underdeveloped compared to their numerical alternatives. In order to enhance the viability of analytical techniques, this work extends previous efforts to quantify the impact that non-spiking neural encoding schemes have …

Revitalizing Turtle Creek Park, Michael Hardyway, Ethan Harm, Abbey Jacoby, Casey Stephenson

Final Reports in ENST 411: Environmental Community Projects

We current ENST 411 students, Abbey Jacoby, Michael Hardyway, Ethan Harm, and Casey Stephenson have chosen to work with Jim Knight, East Buffalo Township, the Merrill Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy, and many others in an attempt to revitalize Turtle Creek Park for a plethora of reasons. Three of us are majoring in biology, and two are majoring in environmental science, which makes much of the information and techniques relevant in Turtle Creek applicable to our courses of study. This project included heavy hands on work which allowed us students to leave a memorable and impactful influence on the Lewisburg …

Chiroptical Second-Harmonic Tyndall Scattering From Silicon Nanohelices, Ben J. Olohan, Emilija Petronijevic, Ufuk Kilic, Shawn Wimer, Matthew Hilfiker, Mathias Schubert, Christos Argyropoulos, Eva Schubert, Samuel R. Clowes, G. Dan Pantoş, David L. Andrews, Ventsislav K. Valev

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Chirality is omnipresent in the living world. As biomimetic nanotechnology and self-assembly advance, they too need chirality. Accordingly, there is a pressing need to develop general methods to characterize chiral building blocks at the nanoscale in liquids such as water-the medium of life. Here, we demonstrate the chiroptical second-harmonic Tyndall scattering effect. The effect was observed in Si nanohelices, an example of a high-refractive-index dielectric nanomaterial. For three wavelengths of illumination, we observe a clear difference in the second-harmonic scattered light that depends on the chirality of the nanohelices and the handedness of circularly polarized light. Importantly, we provide a …

Structured Light Radial-View Endoscope Imaging Development For Evaluation Of Human Tissue, Xiyan Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we improved an existing structured light methodology to more accurately estimate tissue optical properties imaged in a single snapshot. The developed approach is a major enhancement of the traditional three-phase spatial frequency domain imaging system: It greatly simplifies the operational procedure while also maintaining high accuracy in optical property measurements .

Leveraging this improved approach, we have developed a low-cost, compact, and radial-view endoscope prototype. This prototype combines affordability with high functionality and a user-friendly design. To assess the performance and reliability of our endoscope, we conducted comprehensive evaluations involving tissue-mimicking phantoms, as well as ex vivo …

Evaluating Neuroimaging Modalities In The A/T/N Framework: Single And Combined Fdg-Pet And T1-Weighted Mri For Alzheimer’S Diagnosis, Peiwang Liu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

With the escalating prevalence of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the need for early and precise diagnostic techniques is rising. This study delves into the comparative efficacy of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) and T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in diagnosing AD, where the integration of multimodal models is becoming a trend. Leveraging data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we employed linear Support Vector Machines (SVM) to assess the diagnostic potential of these modalities, both individually and in combination, within the AD continuum. Our analysis, under the A/T/N framework's 'N' category, reveals that FDG-PET consistently outperforms T1w-MRI across …

Effects Of Magnetite Particle Morphology On Adsorption Of Copper Ions From Aqueous Solutions, Alisa Hashley

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Adsorptive processes can be used for metal contaminant removal. This work addresses magnetite, a magnetic iron oxide, as the adsorbent for use in an adsorptive removal system, known as the continuous flow material recovery system (CFMR), developed by Leitzke et al. [1]. Though the system is effective in removing contaminants from aqueous solution, efforts to further improve efficiency are being made. One way to improve the efficiency of the CFMR is to analyze the magnetite particles being used and investigate how the particle properties effect adsorption. The author’s research is presented and discussed here to describe the effects magnetite particle …

Liquid-Phase Adsorption Of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate On Poly(Ether Imide) And Its Metal Hydroxide-Integrated Composites, Sukanta K. Mondal, Peter O. Aina, Ali A. Rownaghi, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Understanding the Adsorption Behavior of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate (DMMP), a Key Simulant for Some Nerve Agents, is Crucial for Developing Effective Protective Measures and Ensuring Environmental Safety Against Harmful Chemical Warfare Agents. This Study Systematically Explores the Liquid-Phase Adsorption of DMMP over Branched Poly (Ether Imide) (Ultem) and its Ce (OH)4/Zr (OH)4 Metal Hydroxide Composites. Utilizing UV-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy, the Adsorption Process Was Monitored over Time to Analyze the Interplay between Various Ultem-Based Composites and DMMP Molecules. Nonreactive Ultem Materials Were Experimentally Identified as Suitable Adsorbents for Liquid-Phase DMMP Capture, Providing a Novel Avenue for Protective Filtration Technologies. It Was Found …

Enhancing Fpga Synthesis For Space Applications: Performance Evaluation Of Scalehls In The Adapt Project, Ruoxi Wang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates the application of ScaleHLS, a high-level synthesis (HLS) tool, to enhance Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) synthesis for space applications, with a focus on the Antarctic Demonstrator Advanced Particle-astrophysics Telescope (ADAPT) project. The study explores how ScaleHLS optimizes the transformation of C code into FPGA-compatible designs to improve computational efficiency and resource utilization.

The research details the process of adapting ADAPT's computational algorithms for FPGA using ScaleHLS, emphasizing the tool's effectiveness in streamlining the code-to-hardware translation. A performance evaluation highlights significant improvements in resource management and operational speed, demonstrating the tool's impact on FPGA synthesis.

These findings illustrate …

Integrating Implantable Bci Devices Within Bci2000 Using A Unified Framework And Toolchain For In-Vivo Research, Dhruva Mehta

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The field of neurotechnology research has a bright and promising future as more devices are created. However, there are still many gaps in the field as the potential for neuromodulation grows. Devices such as the Micro-Leads StimZ system and the Ripple Grapevine/Summit system help bridge that gap by allowing for a broader variety of closed-loop neuromodulation experiments to be implemented thanks to their portability and versatility. Despite these devices being on the market, however, there needs to be a method to collaborate and interact with them across multiple research institutions. BCI2000 helps to address that by creating a standardized working …

Fabrication Of Two-Dimensional Material-Based Nano-Capacitors Using Bismuth Selenite (Bi2seo5) To Study Its Dielectric Properties, Major Kc

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

In recent years, the demand for high-performance micro and nanodevices has surged, necessitating the exploration of novel dielectric materials to replace conventional silicon dioxide. Following the continuation of the Moorse law, as device dimensions reduce to nanoscale levels, the properties of silicon dioxide can degrade, leading to issues such as increased leakage current and reduced gate control. Materials with superior electrical properties, such as higher dielectric constant, lower leakage current, and better thermal stability allowing for the development of faster, more efficient, and more reliable devices are in higher demand than ever. Two-dimensional layered semiconductor nanomaterials represented by compounds such …

Quality Assurance And Quality Control For Reinforced Concrete Inspections, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

Ensuring the safety and longevity of structures is paramount in concrete construction projects. Cases like the Big Dig ceiling collapse, which occurred on July 10, 2006, when a concrete ceiling panel measuring 20' x 40' and debris weighing 26 short tons (52,000 lb) fell within Boston's Fort Point Channel Tunnel, underscore this importance (Wald, M. L., 2007). Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) are crucial in mitigating such risks. QA ensures that materials and methods meet predetermined performance, design, and reliability standards specified in contracts and customer arrangements. On the other hand, QC is a strategic process businesses use …

Pso Scoring Instruction Guide, Adrian Gentry, Tiantian Li, Eric Holloway, Kerrie A. Douglas, Julie P. Martin

School of Engineering Education Working Papers

This document is a scoring guide to assist higher-education administrators, faculty, and researchers who wish to use the Professional Skills Opportunities instrument (PSO). There are four aspects, or factors, that the PSO is intended to measure relative to engineering undergraduate students’ opportunities to practice professional skills and an overall PSO score. Detailed scoring instructions are provided. The PSO was developed to assess students’ opportunities to develop and practice a range of professional skills. Utilizing a rigorous instrument development process, the PSO was shown to be a tool that can reliably and validly be used to assess engineering undergraduate students' professional …

Evaluating The Effect Of Noise On Secure Quantum Networks, Karthick Anbalagan

Master's Theses

This thesis focuses on examining the resilience of secure quantum networks to environmental noise. Specifically, we evaluate the effectiveness of two well-known quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols: the Coherent One-Way (COW) protocol and Kak’s Three-Stage protocol (Kak06). The thesis systematically evaluates these protocols in terms of their efficiency, operational feasibility, and resistance to noise, thereby contributing to the progress of secure quantum communications. Using simulations, this study evaluates the protocols in realistic scenarios that include factors such as noise and decoherence. The results illustrate each protocol’s relative benefits and limitations, highlighting the three-stage protocol’s superior security characteristics, resistance to interference, …

Influence Of Four Veterinary Antibiotics On Constructed Treatment Wetland Nitrogen Transformation, Matthew V. Russell, Tiffany L. Messer, Deborah A. Repert, Richard L. Smith, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, Ariel P. Reed

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The use of wetlands as a treatment approach for nitrogen in runoff is a common practice in agroecosystems. However, nitrate is not the sole constituent present in agricultural runoff and other biologically active contaminants have the potential to affect nitrate removal efficiency. In this study, the impacts of the combined effects of four common veterinary antibiotics (chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, lincomycin, monensin) on nitrate-N treatment efficiency in saturated sediments and wetlands were evaluated in a coupled microcosm/mesocosm scale experiment. Veterinary antibiotics were hypothesized to significantly impact nitrogen speciation (e.g., nitrate and ammonium) and nitrogen uptake and transformation processes (e.g., plant uptake and …

Potential Impact Of Proposed Medical Device On Hospital Acquired Anemia, Sam Menzie

Masters Theses

Evacuated tubes are the industry standard for drawing blood and have improved phlebotomist and patient safety as well as paved the way for laboratory automation. Current practices using evacuated tubes do not allow caregivers to control the volume of blood drawn, leading to blood waste in hospital settings. This overdrawing of blood has led to the prevalence of iatrogenic anemia, or hospital acquired anemia (HAA). HAA represents a significant risk to patients, leading to increased adverse conditions, and a higher consumption of hospital resources. This study seeks to model the efficacy of a potential new medical device. The proposed device …

Development Of Protocol To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The Labor Assist Device, Samantha M. Spurr

Masters Theses

The Labor Assist Device (LAD) was designed to reduce the muscle fatigue experienced by women during childbirth to decrease the number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries and injuries to nurses. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a protocol for a future study to assess the effectiveness of the LAD at reducing muscle fatigue. While multiple parameters were investigated in this pilot study, the major parameter needed to develop the future protocol is the muscle fatigue rate in women contracting their muscles to simulate pushing during labor. The muscle fatigue rates are estimated in this study using a surface electromyography …

Robustness Of Trajectory Prediction Neural Network Models, Guocheng He

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The application of autonomous vehicles in real life relies on trajectory prediction models based on perception and observation of the surrounding scene. The deep neural network model has been widely proven to provide relatively stable and excellent performance in various scenarios. Many formal approaches are used as verification of the prediction results of DNN models, where Conformal Prediction is one which can provide statistical safety guarantee region for DNN models. However, so far, no research has shown that conformal prediction possesses satisfactory robustness in dealing with purposed adversarial attacks. In this paper, we propose an adversarial attack approach against trajectory …

Bibliometric Review Of The Landscape And Thematic Structure Of Research On Sustainable Mining In Asean, 1942–2022, Nathatai Janjirawatna, Sirisuhk Rakthin, Philip Hallinger

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This bibliometric review addressed the lack of consolidated information on the current state of sustainable mining in the ASEAN region. The review analyzed bibliographic data associated with 539 Scopus-indexed documents on sustainable mining in ASEAN nations published through the end of 2022. Descriptive statistics identified a great disparity in the scope of research on sustainable mining practices across the ASEAN countries. Surprisingly, a significant portion of the extant research on sustainable mining in the region has been authored by scholars from outside of ASEAN. Keyword analyses highlighted several emerging research topics including life cycle assessment, conservation of natural resources, climate …

Ultra‐Fast Finite Element Analysis Of Coreless Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines, Yaser Chulaee, Dan Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Large‐scale design optimisation techniques enable the design of high‐performance electric machines. Electromagnetic 3D finite element analysis (FEA) is typically employed in optimisation studies for accurate analysis of axial flux permanent magnet(AFPM) machines, which require extensive computational resources. To reduce the computational burden, a FEA‐based mathematical method relying on the geometric and magnetic symmetry of coreless AFPM machines is proposed to estimate the machine performance indicators using the least number of FEA solutions, thereby significantly lowering the running time. This method is generally applicable to AFPM machines with low saturation effects and cogging torque as exemplified for a printed circuit board …

Reasonable Construction Method For Grade Ⅳ Surrounding Rock In Single‑Hole Four‑Lane Super‑Span Highway Tunnel, Li Heyin, Gao Jingming, Li Yanfeng, Xun Wenjie, Dong Fangfang, Zhang Jiangang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to study the reasonable constr uction method of super-span highway tunnels，the Xinghuacun No.1 tunnel included in the reconstruction and expansion project of the Xiaocaohu –Urumqi section of the Lianyungang –Khorgos Expressway in Xinjiang was studied.The numerical simulation method was used to analyze the deformation and stress of the supporting structure of the Grade tisurrounding rock in the super-span highway tunnel constructed by the center diaphragm （CD） method，the upper-bench CD method，and the three-bench and seven-step excavation method.Under the premise that the deformation and the stress of the supporting structure met the design requirements，the advantages and disadvantages of each construction …