Engineering Commons^™

Towards Verifying Smartphone Users Via Gripping Hand Image Classification, Kaitlyn M. Madden

LSU Master's Theses

Smartphones continue to proliferate throughout our daily lives, not only in sheer quantity but also their ever-growing list of uses. They are no longer just for communication and the occasional phone game. Smartphones can be used to open garage doors, transfer money, see who is at your front door, and much, much more. With this increased dependence and use, smartphone security is critical. In this paper we propose a system to verify a user’s identity by applying a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to an image of the user’s hand while holding their device. This model aims to address situations …

Degumming Of Hemp Fibers Using Combined Microwave Energy And Deep Eutectic Solvent, Bulbul Ahmed

LSU Master's Theses

Hemp is considered as one of the sustainable agricultural fiber materials. Degumming or surface modification of hemp bast is needed to produce single fibers for ensuing textile and industrial applications. The traditional degumming process necessitates a high amount of alkali, which causes detrimental environmental pollution. This study offers a new method to degum hemp fibers with reduced use of harmful alkali and precious water resources. In this work, hemp bast fibers were degummed by using combined microwave energy and deep eutectic solvent (DES). The properties of hemp fibers manufactured by this method were investigated and compared with the traditional alkali …

Evaluation Of Cell Concentration And Viability By Impedance Spectroscopy On Microfluidic Devices, Jason Eades

LSU Master's Theses

This document describes two distinct platforms that implement electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) within microfluidic devices for rapid, label-free cell analysis. Each study provides proof-of-concept evaluations of these devices for cell counting and viability analysis applications to mitigate some of the challenges associated with conventional methods. Chapter one includes background information on each version of EIS selected and motivations for the studies conducted. Chapter two describes the design and fabrication of a modular, reusable microfluidic device. Additionally, the methodology for and results from the application of this platform for the measurement of zebrafish sperm cell concentrations are presented. Chapter three describes …

Gas Evolution Phenomenon Of Methane In Base Fluids Of Non-Aqueous Drilling Muds Under Controlled Depressurization, Damilola Ojedeji

LSU Master's Theses

As wells become more complex and drilling conditions to reach targets prove even more challenging, being able to detect influx event early and safely handle these influxes has become one of the most important focus areas for improvement in well control safety. The high solubility of formation gas in non-aqueous drilling fluids however makes kick detection and safe handling of kicks more complicated. Recent studies are beginning to incorporate desorption kinetics in well control models to simulate the transient multiphase flow phenomenon associated with gas kicks in non-aqueous drilling fluids to foster safe handling of kicks. However, there is currently …

A Study Of Methane-Liquid Absorption Characteristics For Gas Influx Management, Scott A. Perry

LSU Master's Theses

The study of absorption mass transfer kinetics in non-aqueous base fluids and the investigation of the parameters that influence this process is crucial in the application to gas influx management. While there have been a large number of studies investigating the interaction and solubility of methane in non-aqueous drilling fluids, relatively little attention has been placed on studying the mass transfer kinetics for different scenarios within the wellbore and riser. During the drilling process, there are multiple ways in which the formation gas can come into contact with the drilling fluid via a gas kick. Once the gas influx dissolves …

Adaptive Photochromism And Thermochromism Pv Panels " Theoretical Design ", Doha Jdeed

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

This paper presents a theoretical study on the effects of visible sunlight on photovoltaic (PV) panels and the solar cells. It seemed that the red light has the most effect on the silicon solar cells. A theoretical study on the sunlight effects on the plants was done. It seemed that the more the blue light is, the greater and thicker the leaves will be and the shorter the stem will be. However, the red light is very important for flowering and blooming. This was confirmed by an experimental study on a sweet basil plant. The experimental results show that confirming …

Experimental Study Of Drying Yacon Tubers, U K. Khujakulov, Sh A. Sultanova, J E. Safarov

Technical science and innovation

This study discusses the method and experimental drying unit for drying yacon tubers at different temperatures. And also the scheme of experimental drying unit is given, which controls temperature, speed of warm air and shows the mass of dried material. The cross-sectional area of the flow in the tunnel is 20×20 cm, the thermal air passed horizontally through a chute with holes and a surface area of 12×12 cm. The exhaust gas did not circulate in this experiment. The accuracy of the temperature control system was 0.1 °C, the weight control system 0.1 g. The variation of moisture ratio depending …

Electric Vehicle Internal Support System, M A. Xudoyberdiyev, L V. Kravchenko, J E. Safarov, B B. Tuychiboyev

Technical science and innovation

At present, it remains relevant to protect the environment around the world, to prevent the deterioration of ecology, to ensure the health of people, to reduce the amount of exhaust gases emitted into the atmosphere in the preservation of the animal world. Currently, in solving these pressing problems, instead of cars with internal combustion engines, which are used in the automotive industry, energy-efficient electric cars that meet the modern demand, produce less exhaust gases to the environment, work without noise, have a high level of manageability, traction and braking dynamics, stability, safety and comfortability. During the use of these electric …

Filtering Of The Magnetizing Current And Reproduction Of The Primary Voltage Of The Measuring Two-Wrinded Voltage Transformers, A G. Saidkhodjaev, V K. Vanin, M G. Popov, L A. Bainazarova

Technical science and innovation

The paper studies a qualitatively new way to reduce the measurement error of phase voltages in solving the problem of filtering the magnetization current and the reproduction of the primary voltage signals of two-winding measuring transformers. Errors of voltage measuring transformers in these transient and stationary processes are primarily due to the nonlinearity of the magnetization characteristics of the electrical steel cores and, in addition, the active resistance of the windings, the load and their inductances, and in some cases, and capacity. In fact, errors are methodical and in many practical applications limit the use of various transformers because of …

Causes Of Rolling Stock Brake Equipment Failures, O T. Kasimov, Sh I. Mamaev, A V. Grishenko

Technical science and innovation

Reliable operation of the rolling stock and devices of railway transport is the basis for ensuring the throughput and transport capacity of railways, as well as safety.The article is dedicated to the current day of the topical topic: increasing the reliability and analyzing the causes of brake equipment failures in locomotives in the conditions of JSC "Uzbekistan Temir Yollari".On the rolling stock of railways of JSC "Uzbeksiton Temir Yullari" five types of brakes are used: parking (manual), pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, electric (dynamic and reversible), magnetic-rail and are used as additional to EPT.The article presents an analysis of the …

Wip: Halting Attrition In Civil Engineering Programs Through Lower-Division Engagement Course Implementation, Briceland Mclaughlin, Nick Hudyma, Robert Hamilton, Bhaskar Chittoori, Mojtaba Sadegh, Sondra M. Miller

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This work in progress paper will describe how a department of civil engineering has built 1-credit engagement courses into the first two years of a new curriculum design to increase retention rates, create a sense of belonging, showcase civil engineering principles and practicality to non-majors, and begin engaging alumni and local civil engineering professionals.

Retention is a core issue for academic departments in the STEM fields. In civil engineering, we have seen a large number of students depart the major each fall and spring semester for various, preventable reasons. This is true for traditional, non-traditional, and transfer students alike. Students …

Design Of Grain Moisture Control Devices For Flour Mills, Z M. Mukimov, P I. Kalandarov, O S. Logunova

Technical science and innovation

The article reports the results that occur in managing the dehulling process of output, which is the main process of processing grain. The study of the technical thawing processes was carried out the key factors influencing the consistency of the manufactured target product, where the hydrothermal treatment of the grain causes the initial properties of the grain to be altered. And due to the effects of moisture, temperature, as well as thawing decreases, wheat grain vitreousness, the degree of endosperm loosening increases, there is a redistribution of chemicals in the anatomical parts of the grain under the influence of developing …

Long Term Impact Of New Jersey National Summer Transportation Institute Hosted At Rowan University On Career Choices Of Cohorts (Evaluation), Kristine Rivera, Ayman Ali, Yusuf Mehta, Shivani D. Patel

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

In the summer of 2017, 2018, and 2019, the Center for Research in Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering Systems (CREATEs) at Rowan University hosted the National Safety Transportation Institute. The goal of this program is to provide an exposure to high school students to transportation engineering. More than 50% from underrepresented minority groups, including women, African American, and Hispanics/Latinos attended the twoweek program. In the summer of 2017 and 2019, the program was non-residential lasting four and two weeks, respectively. In summer 2018, the program was two-week residential. In all programs, the students got a chance to explore different modes …

Engineering Education Guilds: Understanding Their Vision For Innovation, Kaitlin Mallouk, Alexandra Coso Strong, Courtney June Faber, Darby Rose Riley

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Engineering education guilds, such as the Consortium to Promote Reflection in Engineering Education (CPREE) and the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), seek to work at the forefront of educational innovation by creating networks of instructor change agents who design and implement a particular innovation in their own context to further the professional formation of engineers (PFE). While many of the innovations facilitated by CPREE and KEEN have been published extensively, it is unclear how successful the propagation of reflection and entrepreneurial mindset has been in the engineering education community. The major aim of this project is to characterize these two …

Let’S Play! Gamifying Engineering Ethics Education Through The Development Of Competitive And Collaborative Activities, Michael F. Young, Landon Bassett, Daniel D. Burkey, Scott C. Streiner, Joshua Bourne Reed

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Engineering ethics is an extremely important topic that needs to be focused on more in engineering curricula, as many of the projects that engineers work on have a profound impact on society. There are many pitfalls with the traditional ways in which ethics is taught to engineering students as an abstract philosophical topic, rather than personal decision making situated in complex real contexts. The three main approaches that are used for engineering ethics include being taught by a professor outside of the engineering space, being taught late in their curriculum such as during a senior capstone project, and being taught …

Engineering Ethics Through High-Impact Collaborative/Competitive Scenarios (E-Ethiccs), Scott C. Streiner, Daniel D. Burkey, Michael F. Young, Richard Tyler Cimino, Jennifer Pascal

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Engineering grand challenges increasingly involve numerous social and ethical considerations that transcend the technical skills that dominate traditional engineering education. Engineering solutions often have major, long-lasting impacts on society. Since the process of technical innovation occurs in increasingly complex social exchanges, engineers are frequently confronted with social and ethical dilemmas in their professional lives. How do students acquire the skills needed to tackle these problems? The authors hypothesize that placing engineering challenges and solutions in a classroom context while emphasizing social engagement and impact facilitates the development of engineering students as moral agents who understand the consequences of their decisions. …

Impact Of Immersive Training On Senior Chemical Engineering Students' Prioritization Of Process Safety Decision Criteria, Jeffrey Stransky, Caleb Hill, Robert John Mcerlean, Jacob Willetts, Landon Bassett, Daniel D. Anastasio, Daniel D. Burkey, Matthew Cooper, Cheryl Bodnar

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Every year new safety features and regulations are employed within the process industry to reduce risks associated with operations. Despite these advancements chemical plants remain hazardous places, and the role of the engineer will always involve risk mitigation through real time decision making. Results from a previous study by Kongsvik et al., 2015 indicated that there were three types of decisions in major chemical plants: strategic decisions, operational decisions, and instantaneous decisions. The study showed the importance for improving upon engineers’ operational and instantaneous choices when tasked with quick solutions in the workforce. In this research study, we dive deeper …

Investigating Potential Gender Differences In First-Year Engineering Students’ Academic Motivation And Homework Submission Behavior, Cara Mawson, Cheryl Bodnar

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Previous studies have shown that there exists a difference in undergraduate students’ academic motivation based on gender. Specifically, females have been shown to be more extrinsically motivated than their male peers in a university setting (D’Lima, et. al, 2014). However, little research has been done to examine the effects of gender relevant to academic motivation in gamified systems. The study of gamification systems is important due to the increase in their use within educational activities. This study leverages the Jones MUSIC Model of Academic Motivation and gamification profiles to answer the research question: How does gender influence student behavior and …

Student Perceptions Of An Entrepreneurial Mindset And Its Relevance To Engineering Careers, Alexandra Mary Jackson, Samantha Resnick, Rebecca Hansson, Cheryl Bodnar

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Development of an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) has been a focus that has gained traction within engineering over the last decade. Thus, undergraduate engineering curricula have been modified to address EM development Curriculum modifications can include assigning hands-on projects with entrepreneurial elements, devoting entire courses to developing students' entrepreneurial skills while working with real world companies, and even creating degree programs with entrepreneurship in engineering as the focus.

Literature on EM has shown that there are a variety of methods for defining EM depending on the stakeholder. However, there has been limited research on how students understand and define EM, which …

Let's Talk About Ethics! A Qualitative Analysis Of First-Year Engineering Student Group Discussions Around Ethical Scenarios, L. Bassett, J. Pascal, Richard Cimino, Kevin Dahm, D. D. Burkey, Scott Streiner

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Over the past decade, there has been a renewed interest in the scope and practice of ethics education in engineering curricula, especially in the first year. However, the form this education takes has varied considerably with each program. Active learning strategies such as discussions on ethical and societal issues have become increasingly common for assessing how students make ethical decisions. But probing the depths of the reasoning behind their decisions and how students discuss ethics in context with their peers has been under-studied and difficult. Furthermore, if first-year programs wish to implement effective instructional interventions aimed at improving ethical decision …

Integrating Design Thinking In Chemical Engineering Coursework For Enhanced Student Learning, J. P. Stengel, S. S. Jerpoth, Kirti M. Yenkie

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

In the engineering discipline, it is of utmost importance to give value to applied learning because as engineers, we are expected to innovate, and innovations happen when theoretical ideas are implemented successfully. Design thinking is one such approach that can enhance the value of theoretical concepts and motivate the students to visualize their ideas in more meaningful ways. The five stages of design thinking include: (i) Empathize, (ii) Define, (iii) Ideate, (iv) Prototype, and (v) Test. The traditional engineering curriculum focuses on the last four stages and thus leads to a skewed perspective among students with regards to problem definition, …

Development Of Innovative, Adaptable Video Learning Modules For The Civil Engineering Classroom, Sarah Bauer, Cheng Zhu, Gilson Lomboy, Mohammad Jalayer

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

As engineering and technology continue to evolve, so should the use of such innovations in engineering pedagogy. Standard course learning modules have not often utilized technology to assist in learning of engineering principles and concepts; that is, until the COVID-19 pandemic required teachers and students to use technology more frequently in a virtual teaching/learning environment. Therefore, it is even more critical now that engineering pedagogy be adapted to incorporate technology in the classroom to enhance student learning of complex engineering concepts. In this study, a team of Civil Engineering professors has set out to incorporate technology into their classrooms to …

Developing Diversity And Inclusion Initiatives And Measuring The Effects Of A Pandemic In A Civil And Environmental Engineering Department, Tiago Forin, Stephanie Farrell, Harriet Hartman, Sarah Bauer, Stephanie M. Lezotte

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

The Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department at Midsized Northeastern University was awarded The National Science Foundation’s Revolutionizing Engineering and computer science Departments (RED) grant in 2016 with the hopes of allowing engineering programs to improve the inclusion of minorities over the course of five years. The CEE Department used this opportunity to create a research group called Revolutionizing Engineering Diversity (RevED) that focuses on all underrepresented and underserved groups. The researchers used the grant to help change admissions as well as incorporate inclusive pedagogical practices. Currently, RevED is in the fifth year of the grant and has since spread …

Perceptions Of The Engineering Curricula From Women And Lgbtqia+ Students, Stephanie M. Lezotte, Harriet Hartman, Stephanie Farrell, Tiago Forin, Theresa F. S. Bruckerhoff

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

The National Science Foundation’s Revolutionizing Engineering and computer science Departments (RED) grant was awarded to the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department at Midsized MidAtlantic University in 2016. This RED grant enables the institution to improve the inclusion of underrepresented and underserved engineering students over the course of five years. One of the ways our RED research team implemented this grant was to conduct climate surveys distributed to all engineering students to document students’ academic preparation and participation, feelings of otherness in the College of Engineering, engineering self-efficacy, sense of inclusion and belonging in the College of Engineering, and their …

Lemons Into Lemonade!, Thad B. Welch, Cameron H. G. Wright, Michael G. Morrow

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper discusses a trial of offering two senior/first-year graduate classes in a 7-week format, one following the other. Thus, a student could complete two courses (6-credits), dealing with two closely related topics, in one semester. In this case, the courses were Digital Communication Systems and Wireless Communications.

During the first week of the first 7-week course, all of the in-class demonstrations and hands-on experiences needed to be shifted to online/remote delivery. This was primarily accomplished using the Amazon Web Services (AWS) AppStream, cloud computing system.

The planned real-world signal capture and analysis project changed to an optional attendance …

Development And Implementation Of An Assessment Model In A Sophomore Electromechanical Systems Design Laboratory For The Etac-Abet Accreditation, Lili Ma, Benito Mendoza, Lorrington A. Hamilton, Luis Alberto Aponte, Sergey Drabkin, Mauricio Cardena

Publications and Research

In the field of assessment in higher education, practitioners regularly mention two features as key for success at implementing a sustainable assessment model, i) it has to be faculty-driven, and ii) it has to become part of the curriculum. This paper describes an assessment model incorporating these features. The model was developed and implemented for assessing both the ETAC-ABET Program Criteria for an associate degree in Electromechanical Engineering Technology program and the new ETAC-ABET (2019-2020) student outcome (2), which regards students' ability to design systems, components, or processes for well-defined engineering technology problems appropriate to the discipline. This paper describes …

Tinkering With Theoretical Objects: Designing Theories In Scientific Inquiry, Shakayla Moran, Leslie Atkins Elliott

Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

The EDISIn Project (Engineering Design in Scientific Inquiry), taught in an undergraduate teacher preparation program, is investigating where engineering design opportunities emerge within contexts of scientific inquiry, with implications for how science teachers might productively engage in engineering design in their science courses without compromising on either the science or the engineering. In some inquiries, the opportunities for engineering were obvious, particularly with respect to novel experimental designs and in developing physical representations of models. In other inquiries, however, the investigations were either largely theoretical or the experimental designs were readily developed without a need for deliberate attention to design …

Evaluating Stem Course Re-Design Strategies In Light Of Covid-19, Ulises Juan Trujillo Garcia, Krishna Pakala, Samantha Schauer, Diana Bairaktarova, Bhaskar Chittoori

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The COVID-19 pandemic brought on unprecedented challenges to the teaching and learning communities that required faculty to make purposeful changes in their teaching approaches. Many faculty members had to shift rapidly from in-person to online mode of instruction. This study documents perceptions of STEM faculty who made the change to online teaching. It reports on what strategies faculty used to transition to remote/online teaching and how this change impacted student learning. The study results indicated that almost two-thirds of the faculty changed how they evaluated their students. Results also showed that the sudden change to remote learning negatively impacted student …

Solar Energy Certificate For Engineering Technology Students, Jesus A. Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Immanuel Edinbarough

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Solar Energy is the fastest-growing energy resource in the United States and the world. This industry just hit an important milestone in 2019 of completing two million solar systems installations in the country and is expected to duplicate this quantity by 2023.

Organizations and home and business owners in our South Texas region are starting to recognize the benefits of this type of renewable energy. And with the drop in the cost of the components and installation of the solar system, the future for this industry seems promising.

Our Program of Engineering Technology, which is part of the College of …

Embedded Curriculum With Industry-Recognized Certifications To Improve The Marketability Of Engineering Technology Graduates, Immanuel Edinbarough, Jesus A. Gonzalez-Rodriguez

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Embedded Curriculum with Industry Recognized Certifications to Improve the Marketability of Engineering Technology Graduates

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is challenging the industries to change the way they manage and operate the manufacturing environment. This leads to the transformation of the world through artificial intelligence, next-generation robotics, automation, big data analytics, 5G technology and Internet of Things. This idea of Industry 4.0 forces the change in the industries of today and tomorrow. In this, cyber physical systems communicate with one another using the Internet of Things. The manufacturing sector takes full advantage of these technologies to produce innovative products to enhance …