Engineering Commons^™

Silent Sabotage: Internal State Triggered Backdoor Attacks On Llm-Powered Robotic Systems, Doniyorkhon Obidov, Shivayogi Akki, Tan Chen, Kaichen Yang

Michigan Tech Publications

The integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) into robotic control systems is enabling a new generation of autonomous agents capable of complex reasoning and planning. While this paradigm shift accelerates progress, it also introduces novel security risks that remain largely unexplored. Current research into LLM backdoors has focused on attacks triggered by external stimuli, such as specific words, visual objects, or environmental states. These attacks, while potent, overlook a more insidious class of vulnerability where the trigger is internal to the agent’s own operational logic. This paper presents the first comprehensive study of history-based backdoor attacks on LLM-powered robotic systems. …

Neuromodulation In Olfactory Networks: Inferring Circuit Motifs And Predicting Behavioral Outcomes From Neural Response Changes, Yelyzaveta Bessonova

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Many organisms rely on olfaction to navigate their environment in response to surrounding chemical cues. Within the olfactory system, first, external signals are transduced into neural activity patterns that drive a diverse array of behavioral responses. However, sensory processing alone does not fully account for this variability. Fluctuations in neuromodulator levels are equally critical in shaping how olfactory information is encoded and translated into behavior. The goal of this dissertation is to investigate how changes in the neurochemistry within the olfactory circuit influence neural signaling and, ultimately, behavioral responses. To achieve this, I investigated how three neuromodulators: serotonin, dopamine, and …

Data File For Kaizen Event Research, Jen Schoenherr

Michigan Tech Research Data

Research was performed to determine if Kaizen teams that used Cartooning as one of the lean tools available for problem solving were more successful in achieving the stated Kaizen goals

Construction Project Performance Research: A Bibliometric, Scientometric, And Qualitative Review (1989–2023), Abdelnaser Abdelhameed, Mohamed S. Yamany, Ahmed Abdelaty, Emad Elbeltagi

Faculty Publications

Despite the significant increase in publications on construction project performance (CPP), there is a deficiency of research that rigorously assesses and synthesizes previous studies to delineate the field’s development, themes, and research gaps. This article employs quantitative and qualitative methodologies to critically evaluate studies on CPP published over the last three decades and indexed in the Scopus database. The quantitative approach includes bibliometric searches and scientometric analyses to assess the extent of research interest and achievements. The qualitative methodology aims to conduct thorough content analysis to classify existing material based on prevalent themes. The results demonstrate an exponential growth of …

After A Wildfire: Considerations For Building Environmental Testing, Andrew J. Whelton, E. Bollens, C. Ferrarezzi

Resilience to Emergencies and Disasters

No abstract provided.

Biologically-Inspired Multiscale Neuromorphic Architecture, Christian O'Reilly, Ramtin Zand

Publications

This white paper proposes a biologically-inspired multiscale neuromorphic architecture that bridges key gaps between artificial neural networks (ANNs), spiking neural networks (SNNs), and biological neural networks (BNNs). While SNNs offer promising energy efficiency, their broader adoption remains limited by suboptimal performance and the need for novel learning paradigms. To address these challenges, the proposed framework integrates structural and functional principles observed in the brain, including hierarchical organization, sparse and modular connectivity, predictive coding, and diverse neuronal dynamics.

The architecture operates across micro-, meso-, and macro-scales, incorporating neuron-level diversity (e.g., excitatory/inhibitory and principal/support cells), canonical microcircuits (CMCs), and large-scale hierarchical organization. …

Data For "Unified Vapor Pressure Correlations For Lanthanide And Actinide Chlorides: An In-Depth Statistical And Thermodynamic Approach", J. Marvin Torrie, Nicolas Marvin Christensen, Kyle Duke, Carlos Mejia, Larry Baxter, Devin Rappleye

ScholarsArchive Data

This submission contains machine readable data (.csv) for all data from the publication "Unified Vapor Pressure Correlations for Lanthanide and Actinide Chlorides: An In-depth Statistical and Thermodynamic Approach". It contains the data contained in all figures in the paper and its supplementary material except for the water vapor pressure data in Figures 1 and 2. In addition, this submission contains all the original vapor pressure measurements (241 sets) from the sources reviewed in the paper.  Sufficient information is provided that readers can identify the original sources of these data sets if needed.

Ice-Templated Zwitterionic Sponge Hydrogels For Stable And Efficient Solar Desalination In High-Salinity Brines, Louis D. Zhang, Yanhui Zhang, Peng Xiao, Chang Zhang

University Research

Solar-driven steam generation (SSG) offers a sustainable pathway for desalination, yet achieving temperature-regulated control over macroporous structures in salt-tolerant hydrogels remains a critical challenge. Here, we report a carbon black-coated PDMAPS sponge hydrogel (PDMAPS-CB-SH) fabricated via an ice-templated polymerization strategy, where the pore size and connectivity are tuned by regulating ice-crystal growth at different prefreezing temperatures. The optimized PDMAPS-CB-SH integrates abundant interconnected pores with the intrinsic antipolyelectrolyte effect of zwitterionic networks, enabling rapid water transport and stable swelling in brines up to 10 wt % NaCl. Upon incorporation of carbon black nanoparticles, the hydrogel evaporator achieves a high evaporation rate …

Use Of Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy In Thickness Gauging Of A Complex-Shaped Lead Shield, Joseph T. Graham, Brian Durtschi, Ashish Avachat, Seth Kilby

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Methods for measuring the thickness of lead shielding based on ⁶⁰Co gamma-ray spectroscopy are presented. In applications where a shield's thickness is multiple mean free paths and the shield has a complex shape (i.e. cannot be approximated as a simple solid such as a slab, sphere, semi-infinite medium, etc.), the necessary buildup factors are not available. Thus, determination of shield thickness by means of the Beer–Lambert law requires separating the counts from uncollided photons from the scattered photon contribution. It is demonstrated how the 1332 keV gamma ray of ⁶⁰Co can be used to precisely quantify lead thicknesses …

High-Throughput Computational Framework For High-Order Anharmonic Thermal Transport In Cubic And Tetragonal Crystals, Zhi Li, Huiju Lee, Chris Wolverton, Yi Xia

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Accurate first-principles prediction of lattice thermal conductivity (κ L) remains challenging in identifying materials with extreme thermal behavior. While the harmonic approximation with three-phonon scattering (HA + 3ph) is now routine, reliable κ L prediction often requires higher-order anharmonic effects, including self-consistent phonon renormalization, three- and four-phonon scattering, and off-diagonal heat flux (SCPH + 3, 4ph + OD). We present a state-of-the-art high-throughput workflow that unifies these effects and apply it to 773 cubic and tetragonal crystals spanning diverse chemistries and structures. From 562 dynamically stable compounds, we assess the hierarchical impacts of higher-order anharmonicity. For around 60% of materials, …

Rapid Flood Inundation Mapping For Dam Failure And Operations, Shivakumar Balachandran, Parvaneh Nikrou, Ayman Mokhtar Nemnem, Reza Saleh Alipour, Sagy Cohen, Xingong Li, Erfan Goharian, Jasim Imran

Faculty Publications

Dam failure often causes catastrophic flooding. Although conventional hydrodynamic models are available for generating flood inundation maps, there is a need for low-complexity models that can provide rapid inundation estimates during emergency situations. Operational releases of large volumes may also lead to downstream flooding. This study utilizes two DEM-based models, OWP HAND-FIM and FLDPLN, to produce flood inundation maps for near-real-time operational applications. Three dam-related scenarios, including failures and controlled operations, are examined using these simplified models for the Fall River Dam in Kansas. Breach flows are estimated using empirical relationships, and discharge attenuation is calculated using an analytical approach. …

Modeling And Characterizing The Electron Backscatter In A Cylindrical Anode-Based Distributed X-Ray Source, Jordan Fox, Seth Kilby, Hyoung Koo Lee, Ayodeji Alajo, Ashish Avachat

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Upcoming advancements in computed tomography architectures warrants the investigation of new X-ray source designs and the impacts that electron backscatter can have on these designs. One such design being investigated is a distributed, cylindrical anode-based X-ray source. For such a distributed X-ray source, we developed a modeling pipeline for simulating electron optics and transport to characterize the quality of the primary X-ray beam and the electron backscatter behavior. We report our results on the energy distributions of the bremsstrahlung spectra; electron backscatter ratio; and spatial, temporal, and energy distributions of backscattered electrons that return to the anode.

Full Core Fuel Burnup Assessment Of The Itu Triga Mark Ii Research Reactor Using Gamma Spectroscopy, Z. Boduroglu, A. Kaya, O. Erbay, I. A. Reyhancan, M. S. Kiziltas, T. Akyurek

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the burnup distribution of fuel elements in the ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor core through gamma spectroscopy using¹³⁷Cs as a burnup indicator. Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) techniques were employed to analyze fuel depletion, utilizing a specialized fuel investigation system installed above the reactor pool. The results indicate that the highest burnup values, exceeding 5 %, were concentrated in the inner core rings (B and C) due to intense neutron flux exposure, while the outer rings (D, E, F) exhibited lower burnup levels. To address this asymmetric distribution, a proposed fuel reshuffling strategy was analyzed, aiming …

Nondestructive Burnup Evaluation And Gamma Spectroscopy Analysis Of Spent Fuel Elements In The Itu Triga Mark Ii Research Reactor, A. Kaya, O. Erbay, Z. Boduroglu, I. A. Reyhancan, M. S. Kiziltas, T. Akyurek

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study presents a comprehensive burnup analysis of all fuel elements in the ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor core using non-destructive assay (NDA) techniques based on gamma spectroscopy. Two distinct fuel inspection systems were employed to measure the gamma activity, with¹³⁷Cs used as the primary burnup indicator due to its strong correlation with fuel depletion. The results show a clear burnup pattern, with higher values in the inner core rings that gradually decreases toward the outer rings. This asymmetric burnup distribution underscores the need for reactor core reconfiguration, for which an optimized layout is proposed. Additionally, gamma …

Mining Waste As A Resource In Construction: Applications, Benefits, And Challenges, Chathurika Dassanayake, Nuha S. Mashaan, Daniel Oguntayo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mining activities generate vast quantities of waste each year, including mine tailings, bauxite residue, waste rock, and various metallurgical slags. Although these materials have traditionally been regarded as environmental liabilities, many possess physical and chemical properties that make them promising candidates for use in construction. This review synthesizes recent research on the utilization of major mining waste streams, with particular emphasis on pavement applications and other construction materials. The findings indicate that bauxite residue exhibits both pozzolanic and filler characteristics, demonstrating potential in asphalt mastics, asphalt mixtures, and other construction products. Nonetheless, its widespread adoption is constrained by issues such …

Enhancing Solar Energy Harvesting: A Comprehensive Study On Photothermal Conversion In Tin/Mxene-Mof Hybrid Nanofluids, Seyedeh Zahra Haeri, Ali Dashan, Javad Farahbakhsh, Mehdi Khiadani, Bahram Ramezanzadeh, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The growing global energy demand highlights the need for renewable sources like solar energy as a key component of sustainable systems. This study focuses on developing two hybrid nanofluids, TiNML125 and MXML125, for optimizing solar energy harvesting. These nanofluids were synthesized via a solvothermal process, combining NH₂-MIL-125 with plasmonic nanoparticles, titanium nitride (TiN) and MXene (MX). Their thermal conductivity, stability, optical properties, and photothermal efficiency were analyzed. Results showed both nanofluids significantly outperformed single-component ML125, with TiNML125 improving absorption by 40 % and enhancing thermal conductivity. MXML125 demonstrated superior long-term stability, with a 25 % lower zeta potential reduction over …

Afit By The Numbers, Fy25, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

AFIT’s mission is to educate defense professionals to innovatively accomplish the deterrence and warfighting missions of the USAF and USSF. AFIT’s vision of leading defense-focused education, research and consultation to accelerate military superiority across all domains is accomplished through operationally relevant advanced academic education, research, and professional continuing education.

Influence Of Superhydrophobic Surface Microstructure On Transient Jet Impingement Cooling, D. Jacob Butterfield, Brian D. Iverson, Daniel Maynes, Julie Crockett

Faculty Publications

Water jet impingement is an effective method of rapidly cooling a surface, but heat transfer from the surface is highly dependent on the surface condition and properties. Here, the impact of a superhydrophobic (SH) surface on heat transfer to an impinging, axisymmetric, room-temperature water jet with Re=6 x 10³to 18 x 103 is explored. SH surfaces are created by etching thin silicon wafers to form different micropatterns (posts or holes). Surfaces are heated to between 200 and 320°C, and the local surface temperature is measured with a thermal camera. The time resolved heat transfer from the surface and …

Manufacturing And Material Property Verification Of Short Fiber Particle Reinforced Composites, Megan Elise Howell

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

This thesis investigates the manufacturing, testing, and material property verification of short fiber and particle reinforced polymer composites intended for use in flywheel energy storage systems. Composite tensile specimens were fabricated using controlled mold geometries and autoclave-assisted curing to improve consolidation quality and reduce void content. Short carbon fibers and particulate reinforcements were selected to balance mechanical performance, manufacturability, and isotropy for high-speed rotor applications. Tensile testing was performed using a tensile testing machine, and machine compliance effects were quantified and removed to obtain accurate elastic moduli. Experimental results were compared against analytical micromechanics predictions to evaluate stiffness trends and …

Coe Annual Technical Review 2025, Jianshun Zhang, Bing Dong

SyracuseCoE

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Spatial Abilities In Stem Learning And The Influence Of Individual Differences, Styliani Malkogeorgou

Masters

Students’ decisions to pursue education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are shaped by an interplay of cognitive, social, and motivational factors. Spatial ability is among the most reliable predictors of STEM success, yet less is known about how it relates to students’ STEM attitudes and aspirations, and whether visuospatial working memory (VSWM) explains this relationship. This study tested the hypotheses that (a) stronger spatial abilities and VSWM would be associated with more positive STEM attitudes and stronger STEM aspirations, and (b) VSWM would mediate the relationship between spatial abilities and STEM attitudes/aspirations, while examining the influence …

Artificial Neural Network Model For Predicting Fatigue Endurance Limit Of Hot Mix Asphalt Using Uniaxial Tension–Compression Tests, Prashanta Kumar Acharjee, Mayzan Isied, Mena I. Souliman, Sameer Jung Karkl, Tanvir Ahmed, Gokhan Saygili

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fatigue is one of the major distresses occurring in asphalt concrete pavement. Repeated traffic loading causes escalated structural damage which results in the formation of cracks. There is a strain level below which the Hot Mix Asphalt goes under fatigue failure, and it is called endurance limit. In this study, a predictive model is developed to predict endurance limit strain values by using artificial neural network. Uniaxial tension-compression fatigue test results conducted under NCHRP Project 9–44 A were utilized in the model development process. An equation is also extracted from the model along which gives the exact values as the …

Artificial Intelligence, Society 5.0 And Smart City Adaptation Initiatives For Businesses: An Integrated Approach, Ines A. M. Gila, Fernando A. F. Ferreira, Neuza C. M. Q. F. Ferreira, Florentin Smarandache, Momtaj Khanam, Tugrul Unsal Daim

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

The mass migration of human populations to urban areas has resulted in unprecedented challenges for city services. To address and find solutions for these emerging issues, decision-makers must embrace the smart city and Society 5.0 paradigms, which comprehensively tackle various dimensions of the problem and ensure adaptability to evolving citizen needs. Central to the success of these paradigms is technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). AI’s transformative capabilities enable the expansion of services, automation of tasks, efficient operationalization and processing vast amounts of data to address urban challenges, aligning with several sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as sustainable cities and communities …

Characterization Of Sediment Loads And Size Distribution In Nebraska Roadway Runoff, Bruce I. Dvorak, David M. Admiraal, Pavel Shrestha

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) must manage sediment, and pollutant loads from roadway runoff to meet stormwater regulations. The SAFL Baffle, a hydrodynamic separator used by NDOT, depends on reliable estimates of total suspended solids (TSS) and particle size distribution (PSD). However, limited data exists for Nebraska roadways. In this study stormwater runoff was monitored at four NDOT-maintained sites, two in Lincoln and two in Beatrice, over 1.5 years to characterize TSS and PSD and to evaluate SAFL Baffle performance using the SHSAM model. Results showed large variability across sites and seasons. Median TSS ranged from 158 to 580 …

A Runtime-Adaptive Transformer Neural Network Accelerator On Fpgas, Ehsan Kabir, Jason D. Bakos, David Andrews, Miaoqing Huang

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Transformer neural networks (TNN) excel in natural language processing (NLP), machine translation, and computer vision (CV) without relying on recurrent or convolutional layers. However, they have high computational and memory demands, particularly on resource constrained devices like FPGAs. Moreover, transformer models vary in processing time across applications, requiring custom models with specific parameters. Designing custom accelerators for each model is complex and time-intensive. Some custom accelerators exist with no runtime adaptability, and they often rely on sparse matrices to reduce latency. However, hardware designs become more challenging due to the need for application-specific sparsity patterns. This paper introduces ADAPTOR, a …

Advances And Challenges In Nano-Modified Cementitious Composites: Mechanisms, Dispersion Strategies, And Impact On Mechanical Properties, Fatemeh Mohammadi Ghahsareh, Pengwei Guo, Nusrath Jaha, Yi Bao, Kamal H. Khayat, Weina Meng

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nanomaterials are increasingly utilized to enhance the mechanical properties, durability, and functionality of concrete materials but face challenges such as agglomeration and uneven dispersion in cementitious systems, which can offset the intended improvements. This paper reviews the advances and challenges associated with nano-modified cementitious composites, elucidating fundamental mechanisms and highlighting strategies for overcoming the challenges through experimental and computing techniques. The reviewed contents include (1) the classification of nanomaterials commonly used in cementitious systems and the mechanisms through which they enhance the mechanical properties of cementitious composites; (2) challenges of nanomaterials such as agglomeration in water, re-agglomeration in cementitious systems, …

Efficiency Evaluation Of Different Methods For Nitrogen Removal In Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants: An Integrative Review, Cristiane G. Ferrarezzi, Juliana Canto Duarte

The School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering (SEE) Graduate Student Publications

Domestic wastewaters present high nitrogen levels due to the urea and ammonia, which are excreted into urine. Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) normally face some challenges in keeping their treated wastewater at a low total nitrogen concentration, since the majority of their wastewater is domestic. Low nitrogen levels in the treated wastewater are important to avoid increasing eutrophication of the receptor body, which receives the treated wastewater. This work presents an integrative review considering studies related to denitrification in domestic WWTPs published from January 1st, 2018, to April 30th, 2023. This review aims to identify the most effective methods for …

Hold Paramount The Health, Safety, And Welfare Of The Public And The Planet, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Hybrid Sensing For Near-Earth Space Domain Awareness: Leveraging Space-Based Assets For Augmenting Optical Ground Observations, Smriti Nandan Paul, Hang Woon Lee

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Because of recent advancements in space technologies, easier and more economical access to space, and an increase in commercial interests, the near-Earth space environment has witnessed an exploding number of objects being put into orbit. In particular, the low Earth orbit (LEO) region is at an increased risk of orbital collisions from large satellite constellation projects. Thus, monitoring LEO objects for space domain awareness and space traffic management has become increasingly imperative. In this paper, we use the concept of limited-CDF (cumulative distribution function) surface and mutual information for designing sensor tasking algorithms focusing on regular observation of known catalog …

Generative Artificial Intelligence In Aircraft Design Optimization, Xiaosong Du

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Aircraft design optimization is essential for improving aircraft performance (such as reduced fuel consumption and lowered noise), which leads to more efficient, sustainable, and affordable aircraft. Conventional aircraft design adopts physics-based simulation models, but iteratively evaluating simulation models is computationally intensive, or even practically impossible. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a revolutionary game changer in the modern engineering industry, including aircraft design optimization. Generative AI (genAI), one of the groundbreaking AI methods, has been advancing aircraft design optimization from various aspects, including intelligent parameterization, predictive modeling, training facilitation, and constraints handling. However, there is a lack of a review …