Engineering Commons^™

Thermoacoustic Refrigerator, Rees Phillip Verleur, Colleen Farrell Mccandless, Anders Matthew Bjork, Yashraj Ashwinkumar Solanki

Mechanical Engineering

In the Thermoacoustic Refrigerator Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering senior project, we designed, built, and tested a thermoacoustic refrigeration system which achieved an average temperature difference of 11.0°C. Our system consists of a resonator tube with an instrumented stack, mounted onto a base with a speaker and amplifier. An external power supply and function generator provide the power and signal to the system, and a thermocouple reader displays the temperature of the top and bottom of the stack. The system consistently achieved a significant temperature difference between the two ends of the stack in various ambient conditions, and it was quick …

Rilem Tc 266-Mrp: Round-Robin Rheological Tests On High Performance Mortar And Concrete With Adapted Rheology—A Comprehensive Flow Curve Analysis, Dimitri Feys, Helena Keller, Khadija El Cheikh, Egor Secrieru, Yannick Vanhove

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A comprehensive testing program was carried out to compare the rheological properties of flowable concrete that can be obtained from different rheometers. The results obtained from seven rheometers using vane or similar geometries are discussed. A comprehensive flow curve analysis is undertaken for further comparison of the various rheometers. Partially, large differences could be observed between the results obtained from the different rheometers. However, the device-specific trendlines are shown to have significant correlations with the overall baseline. Two potential causes of differences between results are highlighted: imposition/registration of torque/rotational velocity and discrepancies between the measured material flow behavior in the …

Mechanical Testing Data From Neutron Irradiations Of Pm-Hip And Conventionally Manufactured Nuclear Structural Alloys, Yaqiao Wu

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article presents the comprehensive mechanical testing data archive from a neutron irradiation campaign of nuclear structural alloys fabricated by powder metallurgy with hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP). The irradiation campaign was designed to facilitate a direct comparison of PM-HIP to conventional casting or forging. Five common nuclear structural alloys were included in the campaign: 316L stainless steel, SA508 pressure vessel steel, Grade 91 ferritic steel, and Ni-base alloys 625 and 690. Irradiations were carried out in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to target doses of 1 and 3 displacements per atom (dpa) at target temperatures …

Impacts Of A Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake On Water Levels And Wetlands Of The Lower Columbia River And Estuary, M. W. Brand, Heida Diefenderfer, J. E. O’Connor, Amy B. Borde, D. A. Jay, Aqeel Al-Bahadily, M. Mckeon, S. A. Talke

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Subsidence after a subduction zone earthquake can cause major changes in estuarine bathymetry. Here, we quantify the impacts of earthquake-induced subsidence on hydrodynamics and habitat distributions in a major system, the lower Columbia River Estuary, using a hydrodynamic and habitat model. Model results indicate that coseismic subsidence increases tidal range, with the smallest changes at the coast and a maximum increase of ∼10% in a region of topographic convergence. All modeled scenarios reduce intertidal habitat by 24%–25% and shifts ∼93% of estuarine wetlands to lower-elevation habitat bands. Incorporating dynamic effects of tidal change from subsidence yields higher estimates of remaining …

Geopolymers: The Green Alternative To Traditional Materials For Engineering Applications, Zahraa Jwaida, Anmar Dulaimi, Nuha Mashaan, Md A. O. Mydin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Researchers have been driven to investigate sustainable alternatives to cement production, such as geopolymers, due to the impact of global warming and climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, they are exploring different methods and waste materials to enhance the mechanical and physical properties of geopolymer and expand its application range. This review paper offers a thorough analysis of the utilization of various waste materials in geopolymer manufacturing and shows the creative contribution of this research to the development of environmentally friendly cement substitutes. The article covers the properties, durability, and practical applications of geopolymer composites made from various …

Microstructural And Mechanical Behavior Investigations Of Nb-Reinforced Mg–Sn–Al–Zn–Mn Matrix Magnesium Composites, Ali Ercetin, Özgür Özgün, Kubilay Aslantaş, Oguzhan Der, Bekir Yalçın, Ercan Şimşir, Muhammad Aamir

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research focuses on the fabrication and characterization of TAZ532-xNb composites, employing high-purity, micron-sized powders of Mg, Sn, Al, Zn, Mn, and Nb as the raw materials. These powders were subjected to a paraffin coating process aimed at mitigating oxidation. The formation of composites was achieved via hot pressing and was followed by surface preparation and analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). An X-ray diffraction (XRD) study was conducted to identify the microstructural phases. Quantitative assessments including the theoretical density, actual density, and relative density were computed, and their fluctuations in relation to the increasing Nb …

Optimization Of Station-Skip In A Cyclic Express Subway Service, Jingfeng Yang, Hai Wang, Jiangang Jin

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

With rapid population growth and increasing demand for urban mobility, metropolitan areas such as Singapore, Tokyo, and Shanghai are increasingly dependent on public transport systems. Various strategies are proposed to improve the service quality and capacity of bus and subway systems. Express trains—i.e., trains that skip certain stations—are commonly used because they can travel at higher speeds, potentially reduce travel time, and serve more passengers. In this paper, we study cyclic express subway service (CESS), in which express trains provide routine transport service with cyclic (periodic) station-skip patterns that can be used in daily service. We propose an exact Mixed …

Numerical Simulation Of Concrete Beams With Discontinuity Regions Reinforced With Nonmetallic Reinforcing Bars, Amena Mohammad Ousama

Theses

Nonmetallic Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bars are considered a viable alternative to the conventional steel reinforcement because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and noncorrosive nature. This research aimed to investigate the nonlinear structural behavior of GFRP-reinforced concrete beams with discontinuity regions (D-regions) through numerical analysis. Three-dimensional (3D) numerical models were developed to simulate the nonlinear structural behavior of GFRP-reinforced deep beams with and without web openings. The models adopted realistic constitutive laws that accounted for the nonlinear behavior of the materials used. Predictions of the numerical models were validated against published experimental data. A parametric study was conducted to …

Performance Enhancement Of Photovoltaic-Thermal Modules Using A New Environmentally Friendly Paraffin Wax And Red Wine-Rgo/H2o Nanofluid, Hossein Nabi, Mosayeb Gholinia, Mehdi Khiadani, Abdellah Shafieian

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Photovoltaic/thermal systems are one of the most efficient types of solar collectors because they absorb solar radiation and generate electricity and heat simultaneously. For the first time, this paper presents an investigation into the impact of red wine-rGO/H2O nanofluid and paraffin wax on the thermohydraulic properties of a photovoltaic/thermal system. The study focuses on three innovative nonlinear arrangements of the serpentine tubes. The effects of these materials and configurations are analyzed through numerical simulations. To improve the performance, environmentally friendly materials, including red wine-rGO/H2O nanofluid and paraffin wax, have been used. Various performative parameters such as electrical and thermal efficiency …

Time-Domain Shielding Effectiveness Analysis Based On Dgtd Method Accelerated By Local Time-Stepping And Parallel Techniques, Zheng Lang Jia, Huan Huan Zhang, Da Zhi Ding, Lei Zhao, Qiang Ren, Li (Lijun) Jun Jiang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The discontinuous Galerkin time-domain (DGTD) method accelerated by local time-stepping (LTS) and parallel techniques is employed to analyze the time-domain shielding effectiveness (TDSE) of metallic enclosures. The detailed formulations and implementation procedures of the DGTD method and LTS and parallel techniques are introduced. Numerical results validate the correctness of the proposed method. Moreover, the influence of various design parameters of the metallic enclosure, including aperture dimensions, wall thickness, spacing of aperture arrays, etc., on the TDSE are analyzed by the proposed method. Some rules are given for the design of the enclosure with rectangular apertures from the perspective of TDSE. …

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Computer Vision For Structural Vibration Measurement And Condition Assessment: A Concise Survey, Kai Zhou, Zequn Wang, Yi Qing Ni, Yang Zhang, Jiong Tang

Michigan Tech Publications

With the rapid advance in camera sensor technology, the acquisition of high-resolution images or videos has become extremely convenient and cost-effective. Computer vision that extracts semantic knowledge directly from digital images or videos, offers a promising solution for non-contact and full-field structural vibration measurement and condition assessment. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as flying robots or drones, are being actively developed to suit a wide range of applications. Taking advantage of its excellent mobility and flexibility, camera-equipped UAV systems can facilitate the use of computer vision, thus enhancing the capacity of the structural condition assessment. The current article aims …

Analytical Study Of Silane-Based And Wax-Based Additives On The Interfacial Bonding Characteristics Between Natural Rubber Modified Binder And Different Aggregate Types, Ashiru Sani, Mohd Rosli Mohd Hasan, Khairul Anuar Shariff, Najib Mukhtar, Mohammad Nishat Akhtar, Ikenna D. Uwanuakwa, Qingli Dai, Tracy Leh Xin Wong

Michigan Tech Publications

The modification of asphalt binder with natural rubber latex (NR) significantly improves the rutting and fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures. However, NR-modified binder is prone to low workability and wettability due to its high viscosity. Therefore, this research focuses on examining the influences of silane and wax-based additives on the wettability of natural rubber-modified binders and the binder-aggregates adhesion performances. In this study, experimental and analytical approaches were used. The contact angles of asphalt binder were measured using a goniometer through the sessile drop method with three solvents: deionised water, formamide, and glycerol. The C++ algorithm was adopted to compute …

Identifying Adhesion Characteristics Of Metal-Polymer Interfaces: Recent Advances In The Case Of Electroplated Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Arief Yudhanto, Xiaole Li, Ran Tao, Ruslan Melentiev, Gilles Lubineau

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Applying thin metallic coating layers on the surface of polymeric parts or structures (metallization) that is generally performed via electroplating process aims to improve both mechanical integrity and design aesthetics. The mechanical integrity of the electroplated polymeric parts, which is greatly controlled by the strong interfacial adhesion between metal and polymer, can be measured using standardized tests, such as tape test and peel test, among others. However, various factors pertaining to the electroplating and the nature of these standardized tests affect our interpretation on the identified metal–polymer adhesion. In this paper, we reviewed the recent advances in the effective electroplating …

Incentivizing Electric Vehicle Adoption Through State And Federal Policies: Reviewing Influential Policies, Joshua Sabata, Subhaditya Shom, Ahmad Almaghrebi, Anne Mccollister, Mahmoud Alahmad

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

All-electric vehicles (EVs), battery-powered EVs (BEVs), and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVS) are gaining market share and increasing in popularity with the buying public because the battery range (longer) and cost (lower) have reached sweet spots, the charging infrastructure is more robust, and concern with global cli­mate change is high. In 2013, only 100,000 EVs were sold in the United States, but by 2022, approximately 800,000 have been purchased. A similar growth is seen in EV sup­ply equipment (EVSE), i.e., EV charging stations, with 19,742 documented EV charging station locations in the United States in 2013 to 50,054 documented EV charging …

Gyroless Nanosatellite Attitude Determination Using An Array Of Spatially Distributed Accelerometers, Kory J. Haydon

Master's Theses

The low size and budget of typical nanosatellite missions limit the available sensors for attitude estimation. Relatively high noise MEMS gyroscopes often must be employed when accurate knowledge of the spacecraft’s angular velocity is necessary for attitude determination and control. This thesis derived and tested in simulation the “Virtual Gyroscope” algorithm, which replaced a standard gyroscope with an array of spatially distributed accelerometers for a 1U CubeSat mission. A MEMS accelerometer model was developed and validated using Root Allan Variance, and the Virtual Gyroscope was tested both in the open loop configuration and as a replacement for a gyroscope in …

Implementation Of Topology Optimization Into The Mechanical Design Process, Nolan Clapp

Master's Theses

Topology Optimization is a lightweighting method based on finite element analysis that produces a part with optimum material distribution in the design space. Results from topology optimization often have organic shapes and curves that are difficult if not impossible to machine with traditional subtractive manufacturing methods. This paper analyzes the implementation of the Solidworks® Topology Optimization add-in into the mechanical design process and discusses required postprocessing to ensure manufacturability of the optimized part though a case study on two example parts. Results of traditional optimization, topology optimization and “selective” optimization (optimization using the results from topology optimization to selectively remove …

Control Of The Electroporation Efficiency Of Nanosecond Pulses By Swinging The Electric Field Vector Direction, Vitalii Kim, Iurii Semenov, Allen S. Kiester, Mark A. Keppler, Bennett L. Ibey, Joel N. Bixler, Ruben M. L. Colunga Biancatelli, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Reversing the pulse polarity, i.e., changing the electric field direction by 180°, inhibits electroporation and electrostimulation by nanosecond electric pulses (nsEPs). This feature, known as “bipolar cancellation,” enables selective remote targeting with nsEPs and reduces the neuromuscular side effects of ablation therapies. We analyzed the biophysical mechanisms and measured how cancellation weakens and is replaced by facilitation when nsEPs are applied from different directions at angles from 0 to 180°. Monolayers of endothelial cells were electroporated by a train of five pulses (600 ns) or five paired pulses (600 + 600 ns) applied at 1 Hz or 833 kHz. Reversing …

Contextually Dynamic Quest Generation Using In-Session Player Information In Mmorpg, Shangwei Lin

Master's Theses

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are one of the most

popular genres in video games that combine massively multiplayer online genres with

role-playing gameplay. MMORPGs’ featured social interaction and forms of level pro-

gression through quest completion are the core for gaining players’ attention. Varied

and challenging quests play an essential part in retaining that attention. However,

well-crafted content takes much longer to develop with human efforts than it does to

consume, and the dominant procedural content generation models for quests suffer

from the drawback of being incompatible with dynamic world changes and the feeling

of repetition over time. …

Autonomous Attitude Consensus For Nanosatellite Formations In Leo, Laird J. Mendelson

Master's Theses

Consensus strategies are examined as a possible approach to achieving attitude alignment for a large, close-proximity formation of nanosatellites in low earth orbit (LEO). An attitude-only distributed consensus approach is selected for further consideration due to its comparatively low data transmission requirements. The convergence of a connected network of satellites to the attitude agreement subspace under this control law is shown using a Lyapunov stability approach with a set of idealizing assumptions. A moderate-fidelity simulation demonstrates the performance of the control law under realistic conditions that violate those assumptions. Particular emphasis is placed on the conditions that arise from the …

Coupled Boundary Conditions For Modeling Airbreathing Engines, Adam Louis Waldemarson

Master's Theses

Modeling the flight conditions of an aircraft that utilizes an airbreathing propulsion system necessitates a method to account for the increase in energy introduced into the flow. Current methods for modeling engines either assign fixed conditions on flat faces on the intake and exhaust through a manual process with the use of external models or attempt to model the flow through the engine within the simulation using complex and computationally expensive geometry and solvers. The method presented attempts to provide an intermediate option to model airbreathing engines through coupling the intake and exhaust boundary conditions with a parametric engine model. …

Effects Of Concussion And Visuomotor Metrics On Nhl Performance: An Explainable Ai Approach, Michael T. Moschitto

Master's Theses

Cognitive motor integration (CMI), the simultaneous coordination between cerebral function and motor output, is known to deteriorate following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). This thesis explores the relationship between mTBI, CMI, and the performance of elite athletes in the National Hockey League (NHL). The approach focuses on examining the predictive value of various supervised Machine Learning (ML) models with an emphasis on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) models. Since the ML solution is intended to complement human scouting decisions, we evaluate the experiments based on both interpretability and accuracy on a limited class imbalanced dataset. The contributions of this research …

Range-Doppler Map Processing Chain For Marine Radar On Fpga Of An Rfsoc, Nickolas W. Ogilvie

Master's Theses

To improve the accuracy and resolution of the measurements, radar systems employ increasingly complex, resource-intensive signal processing, larger bandwidths, and higher carrier frequencies. However, implementing these improvements requires more expensive, complex electronics that are larger and use more power. Using RFSoC (Radio Frequency System on Chips) in radars can address these challenges. By combining processors, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and RF data converters into a single integrated circuit, RFSoCs allow for radar electronics that are physically smaller, use less power, and are simpler to design. As using RFSoCs to perform RF data conversion for radars has been already …

Neural Compression Inference Accelerator: A Cost And Energy-Effective Alternative To Conventional Machine Learning Inference Methods, Matthew Wallace

Master's Theses

Recent developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence have sparked an influx of workloads that require specialized computer hardware for cloud services. The hardware running machine learning models predominantly consists of graphics processing units (GPUs) and tensor processing units (TPUs). However, these com- ponents are expensive for cloud services to purchase, costly for customers to rent, prone to price spikes, and energy-intensive. In this research we show that both cloud services and customers would benefit from utilizing field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to alleviate the aforementioned challenges. An FPGA can be configured as a machine learning accelerator, operating similarly to …

Finfet Based Low Power Techniques For The Power Management Of Iot Devices, Anna Merine George, S Y Kulkarni Dr.

Manipal Journal of Science and Technology

The ability of IoT devices to self-power is a crucial requirement for achieving self-sustainability. The design of such a system requires a notable maintenance cost that emphasizes the demand for developing battery-less IoT devices. This paper presents a novel FinFET-based power management circuitry for an IoT application. Energy management is addressed by coupling low-power features in hardware with low-power system-level techniques. The market demand and surge in portable electronic devices have pushed the semiconductor industry to create circuit designs functioning at Low Voltage (LV) for Low Power (LP) consumption. Leakage power has become a severe problem in LV and LP …

Lighting Industry-University Collaboration: Enabling Collaborator-Based Evaluation Of Performance, Amardeep M. Dugar

Manipal Journal of Science and Technology

This paper explores a theoretical framework, the antecedent factors that shape it, and a practical interactive study for formalizing industry-university collaborations in the field of lighting. The framework uses an identity paradigm – an educational identity for the lighting industry and an entrepreneurial identity for universities. It further argues that such an identity exchange provides better avenues to address the performance of industry-university collaborations. These collaborations are viewed as learning interactions and decisions based on knowledge transfer between individuals from the lighting industry and universities. The proposed interactive study using survey research will be designed to enable participating individuals from …

Improving Autonomous Vehicles Operational Performance Using Resilience Engineering, Johan Fanas Rojas

Dissertations

Autonomous vehicles are expected to revolutionize the transportation industry by providing a safer and more efficient means of transportation. However, as autonomous vehicles are deployed on public roads, they are exposed to significant risks, both in terms of safety and system performance. Recent studies have highlighted a range of errors and accidents associated with autonomous vehicles, underscoring the need for a systematic approach to improve their operational resilience. Resilience engineering, a discipline focused on designing and analyzing complex systems to better cope with unexpected events and disruptions, offers a promising framework for addressing these challenges. Despite the potential benefits of …

Enabling Energy Efficiency In Connected And Automated Vehicles Through Predictive Control Techniques, Farhang Motallebiaraghi

Dissertations

The transportation sector is a significant contributor to global energy consumption and emissions, necessitating the development of sustainable transportation systems. In this regard, connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) have emerged as a potential solution to transform the transportation industry. By harnessing advanced mapping and location technologies, Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication, CAVs offer the promise of improving efficiency, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing safety and comfort. However, the adoption of CAVs also brings about various challenges, including energy efficiency concerns that need to be addressed to fully realize their potential benefits. This dissertation investigates energy-efficient control techniques for transportation …

Design And Analysis Of Asymmetric “String-Of-Pearls” Common Repeating-Ground-Track Satellite Constellations For Missions Requiring Regional Coverage, Nathaniel Choo

Theses and Dissertations

Satellite constellation design must balance many factors that emerge from multiple sources, including environmental hazards and competing mission objectives. The dynamic nature of space systems makes the problem of ‘optimal’ satellite constellation design even more challenging. Restricting satellite constellation designs to predefined geometric frameworks can alleviate many challenges associated with the design problem; however, it raises an important question: which geometric framework performs best for each mission set? This research leverages simulations, metaheuristics, and mathematical programming techniques to address this question for missions focusing on Earth-observation of one or more regions.

First, this research captures the current state of satellite …

Portfolio Optimization Using Value Focused Thinking, Tyler Martin

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the application of Value Focused Thinking (VFT) and multi-objective portfolio optimization to create a well-aligned portfolio for an organization faced with over 50 alternatives and limited funding. A novel technique is proposed to develop an optimized portfolio based on VFT scores, utilizing heuristic approaches like evolutionary algorithms. The research outcomes include an optimized portfolio, the total value evaluation of alternatives, and a sensitivity analysis. The new approach outperforms the organization’s previous method, resulting in a portfolio that better addresses the organization’s core values and objectives, scoring 21.21% higher.

Emitter Selection Optimization For Passive Synthetic Aperture Radar, Mu Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Widely distributed modern communication networks provide excellent opportunities to share the spectrum for passive radar systems, of which emitter selection is a major consideration factor. This research introduces emitter selection problem space, which consists of three SAR processing domains, namely, Data Collection, Image and Mission Performance Domains. Quantitative links between these domains are critical to formulate an optimal emitter selection problem in the Data Collection Domain and/or Image Domain, which satisfies given mission requirements in Mission Performance Domain. This research examines the properties of the SAR processing domains to develop performance metrics in the Data Collection and Image Domains, whose …