Engineering Commons^™

Child Occupant Safety In The United Arab Emirates: Crash, Injury, And Anthropometric Analysis, Muhammad Uba Abdulazeez

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has one of the highest rates of child occupant injuries and fatalities globally. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed very limited research on child occupant injuries and fatalities in the UAE. All but two of the identified studies relied on data from Al Ain-based sources namely - Al Ain Department of Preventive Medicine, Al Ain Hospital, and Tawwam Hospital - and were restricted to that city. Furthermore, most of these studies were conducted nearly 30 years ago with the two most recent ones (conducted over a decade ago) based on crash data that was …

Core-Scale Study Of Miscible Co2 Foam–Oil Interactions, Kuvonchbek Abdirakhmonov

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Foam is currently the most effective means for gas mobility control in a variety of geo-energy applications (Rossen et al., 2020), including enhanced oil recovery (EOR), carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and aquifer/soil remediation. This study investigates the mobility control of miscible CO2 foam in the presence of oil for CCUS. The primary objective is to quantify the impact of oil on CO2 foam behavior under miscible conditions, specifically examining foam stability, strength, and flow regimes as influenced by oil composition and reservoir permeability. While most oils destabilize foam, few studies explore the coarsening mechanisms of CO2 foam in …

Microstructural And Mechanical Characterization Of Aa6082 /Sic/Al2o3 Hybrid Nanocomposite Fabricated By Ultrasonic-Assisted Vacuum Die Stir Casting, Anasmon Koderi Valappil

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The utilization of aluminium alloys has increased rapidly in past decades due to the increasing demand for lightweight and high-performance materials. Among the popular aluminium alloys, AA6082 is widely favoured for its excellent combination of strength, corrosion resistance, and machinability. Most previous work, however, has concentrated on either on micro scale reinforcement or on single ceramic particles, leaving very few experimental studies on the use of hybrid nano reinforcement in AA6082. Therefore, to further enhance its mechanical properties without compromising its inherent advantages, hybrid metal matrix composites were developed using various nano particulates as reinforcements. In this current study, AA6082-based …

Robust Control Of Lcl-Filtered Three-Phase Grid-Tied Inverters Using H∞ Synthesis: Design, Analysis, And Experimental Validation, Mohammad Rousan

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis presents the design, development, and practical implementation of various robust current control strategies for LCL-filtered gridtied inverters, with the aim of maintaining robust stability over a range of plant perturbations, while ensuring high-quality current delivery to the utility grid. Chapter One presents the literature review, while Chapter Two focuses on the modeling of the system under study. In the third Chapter, the system dynamics are augmented with an appropriate servo-compensator to ensure that, at steady-state, the grid current accurately tracks its sinusoidal reference with zero steady-state error, even in the presence of model uncertainties. This augmented system serves …

Impact Of The Inclination Angle Of Corrugated Energy Absorbers On The Crashworthiness Performance: Numerical Study, Mahmoud Mohammad Ousama

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

In the present study, cylindrical energy absorbers with various corrugation inclination angles were numerically analysed to evaluate their crashworthiness under quasi-static axial loading. Simulations were performed using ANSYS/Explicit Dynamics, operated in a quasi-static regime by applying a sufficiently slow loading rate to suppress inertial effects. Seven designs were evaluated: a smooth tube (no corrugation) and corrugated tubes with inclination angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°, measured from the horizontal axis.

The total absorbed energy (TAE), mean crushing load (MCL), stroke efficiency (SE), specific energy absorption (SEA), initial peak force (IPF), and crushing force efficiency (CFE) were computed …

Enhanced Air Hockey Robot Performance Through Adaptive Control Algorithm Using Ai-Based Hierarchical Decision Architecture, Ayham Majed Salim

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis presents the development of an intelligent air hockey robot that combines precise mechanical design, computer vision, and adaptive control within an AI-based hierarchical decision architecture. The system integrates synchronized stepper motors, high-speed image processing, and a real-time decision framework to achieve competitive gameplay performance. The robot detects the puck using adaptive HSV color segmentation, supported by dynamic calibration that maintains accuracy under different lighting conditions. A two-stage trajectory prediction model, based on exponential decay velocity estimation, enables anticipation of puck motion and improves response time during fast gameplay.

At the decision level, a fuzzy-logic supervisor governs the robot’s …

Cybersecurity Risks Of Freight Rail As Critical Infrastructure, Kira Sun

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Our project implements simulated train engineers to operate model train engines on a hybrid twin of a freight rail system. We can then use the model and simulate cyber-security attacks to demonstrate the risks and effects of the attacks. Using existing model train hardware and an Arduino running open-source software, DCC-EX and JMRI, we can control the train engines and various track components and sensors. We program each engine to make safe decisions about what speed and direction to take, using information provided by the various sensors and light signals around the track. When attacks occur, the engines can have …

Modeling Xilinx 7-Series Fpgas Within The Verilog To Routing Project, Joshua Peter Fife

Theses and Dissertations

Verilog to Routing (VTR) is the most widely used open-source tool for experimenting with FPGA placement and routing algorithms, as well as assessing how architectural changes impact routability, timing, and power consumption.

Historically, VTR has been tailored specifically for Intel’s Altera-like FPGAs, lacking support for key features that would enable greater flexibility in describing other architectures. In this work, we introduce a fully functional 7-Series architecture capture from the Xilinx family, utilizing VTR’s scalable architecture description language. We detail the necessary upgrades to achieve this description, including the ability to describe L and T-shaped wires and target hard multipliers with …

11.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Qualtrics training sessions
• Alcorn State University, Dr. Edmund Buckner

Mesopause-Region Gravity Wave Activity Due To Tropical Convection As Observed By Awe, Jeffrey M. Forbes, Xiaoli Zhang, Jiarong Zhang, Stephen D. Eckermann, Yucheng Zhao, Pierre-Dominique Pautet, Jun Ma, Ludger Scherliess, Michael J. Taylor

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Mesopause-region (∼ 87 km) gravity waves (GWs) generated by tropical convection are investigated within the four longitude sectors encompassing Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and South America during the Dec 2023– Feb 2024 Southern Hemisphere monsoon season. Variances (Q_v) in the OH Q-line emission measured by the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) capture GW activity, and precipitation rates (PR) from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission identify regions of convective activity. The zonal component of GWs comprising the Q_v between 10°S-10°N primarily propagate eastward. The Q_v distributions are latitudinally-shifted and more confined in …

A Comprehensive Review Of Influence Of Critical Parameters On Wettability Of Rock-Hydrogen-Brine Systems: Implications For Underground Hydrogen Storage, Nurudeen Yekeen, Berihun Mamo Negash, Muhammad Ali, Ahmed Al-Yaseri, Surajudeen Sikiru

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The rock wettability is one of the most critical parameters that influences rock storage potential, trapping, and H2 withdrawal rate during Underground hydrogen storage (UHS). However, the existing review articles on wettability of H2-brine-rock systems do not provide detailed information on complexities introduced by reservoir wettability influencing parameters, such as high pressure, temperature, salinity conditions, micro-biotic effects, cushion gases, and organic acids relevant to subsurface environments. Therefore, a comprehensive review of existing research on various parameters influencing rock wettability during UHS and residual trapping of H2 was conducted in this study. Literature that provides insight into molecular-level interaction through machine …

Machine Learning Model For Detecting Masked Hypertension In Young Adults, Brendyn Miller, Samuel Coeyman, Annemarie Wentzel, Carina M.C. Mels, William J. Richardson

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading global cause of mortality, with hypertension (HT) being a significant contributor, responsible for 56% of CVD-related deaths. Masked hypertension (MHT), a condition where patients exhibit normotensive blood pressure (BP) in clinical settings but elevated BP in out-of-clinic measurements, poses an elevated risk for cardiovascular complications and often goes undiagnosed. Current diagnostic methods, such as ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and home BP monitoring (HBPM), have limitations in feasibility and accessibility. Methods This study aimed to address these challenges by leveraging machine learning (ML) models to predict MHT based on clinical data from a single …

Secret Key Generation Based On The Physical Layer Characteristics For Iot Networks, Abdullah Dakhlallah Alshamdayn

Doctoral Dissertations

The rapid expansion of low-resource devices, coupled with advances in telecommunications, has significantly increased the number of connected devices and enabled the development of affordable, energy-efficient, portable, and high-performance sensors for diverse applications. However, this convenience comes with security and privacy concerns related to the reliability of hardware, software, and communication infrastructure. The extensive interconnectivity of limited-resource devices and the transmission of large data volumes pose significant security challenges in wireless networks. The future wireless technologies, such as 5G, will enable the transfer of critical data, including personal, financial, military, and industrial information, necessitating secure communication in wireless networks. Generally, …

Advanced Plant Growth Using Halloysite Nanotubes (Hnts) And Waste Extraction For Medical Applications, Zeinab Jabbari Velisdeh

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents an integrated research framework that bridges nanotechnology, green chemistry, and sustainable agriculture, aiming to address two critical global challenges: enhancing plant growth under resource-limited conditions and valorizing agricultural waste for bioactive compound extraction. The study is divided into three major projects that together highlight the innovative application of magnesium oxide-coated halloysite nanotubes (MgO-HNTs) and the development of environmentally conscious extraction methods for high-value phytochemicals. The first component of this work investigates the design, fabrication, and functional evaluation of MgO-HNTs as advanced nanocarriers for promoting seed germination and early root development in tomato plants. MgO-HNTs were synthesized via …

Towards Robust Autonomous Systems: Handling Multi-Modal Uncertainties In Gps-Denied Environments, Vivya Kalidindi

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on designing a robust and uncertainty-aware framework for autonomous systems operating in GPS-denied environments, such as indoor infrastructures, underground tunnels, and lunar surfaces. The proposed framework addresses the challenges posed by multi-modal uncertainties, including sensor noise, distributional shifts under adverse conditions, and conflicting decision-making preferences. These challenges compromise the reliability and adaptability of autonomous platforms. To overcome these challenges, the proposed framework adopts a layered architecture that integrates advanced methodologies across the sensing, perception, and decision-making layers. At the sensing layer, an Edge-Kalman Filter combined with a density ratio-based update mechanism is employed to reduce aleatoric uncertainty …

Investigation Of Electrochemical Corrosion Fatigue Mitigation Strategies For Mild Carbon Steel, Joel Andrew Hudson

Doctoral Dissertations

Corrosion fatigue remains a critical durability challenge for steels used in boiler tubes and other safety-critical components, where the interaction of cyclic stresses and corrosive environments accelerates material degradation. This dissertation comprises three experimental studies aimed at advancing mitigation strategies and test methodologies: (1) enhancing corrosion resistance through electrodeposited Fe-Ni anodic coatings, (2) inducing synthetic crack closure to suppress fatigue crack growth, and (3) developing an accessible, low-cost, automated testing system to investigate environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) under controlled laboratory conditions. The first study examined the corrosion behavior of Fe and Fe-Ni electrodeposits synthesized from sulfate-based baths and applied to …

Development Of New Design Criteria For Coastal Highway Embankment Under Wave-Induced Loading, Udaya Bilas Panta

Master's Theses

In the face of intensifying hurricanes and rising sea levels, Louisiana’s coastal highways, lifelines for communities and commerce, stand increasingly vulnerable. This thesis introduces a pioneering methodology for designing geosynthetic-reinforced highway embankments capable of withstanding wave-induced loading and rapid drawdown scenarios, the most critical failure condition identified in coastal environments. By integrating statistical wave modeling, advanced numerical simulations using SEEP/W and SLOPE/W, and a comprehensive parametric analysis, the study develops a novel hybrid regression formula that accurately predicts optimal reinforcement lengths based on site-specific geotechnical and hydraulic parameters. Validated against Hurricane Katrina data and real-world soil profiles from Cameron Parish, …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality Learning Through Use Of Visual Eye-Tracking Analytics (Veta) And Biological Measurements, Mckinley Anne Sherman

Master's Theses

Virtual Reality (VR) offers an immersive and interactive platform for experiential learning. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the relationship between physiological responses and cognitive workload within a VR learning environment and to explore VR as an effective instructional tool. This research compared participant engagement, stress, and learning performance within a 6th-grade science module developed in VR by incorporating biometric data collected via Polar H10 heart rate monitor and Varjo Areo VR headset eye-tracking. Thirty-three participants completed a pre-lesson demographic survey, post-lesson survey, VR sickness questionnaire, and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). While completing the lesson, the …

Comparative Study Of Interfacial Bond Strength Of Steel H-Pile With Ultra-High Performance And Polymer Concrete Jacket, Binod Shrestha, Mohanad M. Abdulazeez, Mohamed A. Elgawady

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the bond behavior of steel H-pile encased in concrete jackets under push-out loading, considering the effects of concrete type and embedment length. Nine full-scale specimens were tested using three concrete types: ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), Methyl Methacrylate Polymer Concrete (MMA-PC), and conventional concrete (CC), with embedment lengths of 63.5 mm, 127 mm, and 190.5 mm. The experimental results revealed that MMA-PC jacket demonstrated the highest bond strength, though gains were marginal beyond 127 mm. UHPC exhibited superior tensile strength and ductility, preventing splitting failure. UHPC also displayed the highest interfacial fracture energy of 9.63 N/mm, exceeding MMA-PC and …

Inverse Design For Generating Initial Conditions In Scientific Simulations, Leslie Horace, Christin Whitton, Vanessa Job, William Jones, Nathan A. Debardeleben

Computing Sciences

We propose a conditional normalizing flow (CNF) surrogate model to solve generative, many-to-one inverse problems in scientific simulations governed by partial differential equations (PDEs) with time-evolving interactions between heterogeneous materials. We present two case studies: electrostatic potential and heat diffusion, which serve as proxy simulations for generating diverse sets of initial conditions that can reproduce an observed output state (transient or steady). Finally, we provide a comprehensive overview of the synthetic datasets, the model specification, each stage of the experimental workflow, evaluation of training performance, and uncertainty quantification for the generated samples.

A Magnesium Alloy With High Corrosion Resistance, Hardness And Elastic Modulus Enabled By Elemental Synergy, Alexander Helmer, Manoj V. Mugale, Tushar Borkar, Rajeev K. Gupta

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

A magnesium alloy containing Ca, Ti, Zn, and In was synthesized via high-energy ball milling of elemental powders followed by spark plasma sintering. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy revealed a homogeneous matrix with dispersed Mg-rich phases and intermetallics. Potentiodynamic polarization tests revealed low corrosion current density (9.6 f 2.1 mu A/cm2), a noble corrosion potential (-1197 f 4 mVSCE), and a clear passive region, indicating excellent corrosion resistance. Nanoindentation tests showed high hardness (2.61 f 0.21 GPa) and elastic modulus (55.35 f 5.47 GPa), exceeding those of commercial Mg alloys.

Applied Research In Field Crop Pathology For Indiana, 2024, Darcy E. P. Telenko, Sujoung Shim

Purdue University Press Books

Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology for Indiana, 2024 serves as a summary of the applied field crop pathology research trials conducted in 2024 under the direction of the Purdue Field Crop Pathology program in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University. In Indiana, there are more than 57,600 farms, 16,000 crop producers, and 900 certified crop advisers, Extension educators, and crop-protection industry representatives who manage more than 11.4 million crop-production acres with a total value of $6.3 billion annually. There are more than twenty diseases affecting corn, soybeans, and wheat that may decrease crop production and …

Seismic Responsive Buildings: Comparison Between Egyptian Code 2012 With Different International Codes For Seismic Structural Irregularities At Architectural Design, Aya Abd El Ghaffar Mohamed, Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Fikry, Mai Mohamed Abdo

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Seismic codes are laws and regulations that establish the basic requirements for building structures that can withstand seismic activity. Each country has different restrictions under different subheadings, depending on the seismic history of the region and the economic situation of the country. "Structural irregularity" is the most significant aspect of earthquake codes contributing to architectural design. A regular design of a structure leads to more rational behavior during earthquakes, enhancing resistance to dynamic loads and economic performance in comparison to irregular buildings. Architects must understand how earthquakes impact structures, as the structural system shapes the building's form and aesthetics, and …

How Can Smart Resilience Cities Provide Sdgs? An Integrative Framework Regarding Climate Change Mitigation, Asmaa M. Hassan, Manar A. Kotb

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Urbanization and climate change influence public health and wellbeing, which presents challenges facing architects and urban planners towards providing sustainable and resilient cities. In this context, smart city concept has been adopted to contribute to mitigating such influence. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis within the previous scope. Then an integrative framework for climate change mitigation towards resilient smart cities based on SDGs is accomplished. The results indicate that further efforts are needed to develop “smart tools”, “urban economy”, and “carbon footprint. In addition, the proposed framework provides a significant paradigm shift towards mitigation of climate change impacts, …

A Novel Hybrid Intrusion Detection Model: A New Metaheuristic Approach For Feature Selection Based On Ai Techniques For Cyber Threat Detection, Maryam Mahdi Alhusseini, Alireza Rouhi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The rapid increase in internet usage, digital transformation, and the rise of interconnected devices have greatly expanded the attack surface, introducing new and evolving cybersecurity challenges. Conventional security solutions frequently have difficulty adjusting to complex threats and the vast dimensionality of network traffic data, particularly in the case of imbalanced datasets. To tackle these challenges, this research introduces a Hybrid Intrusion Detection System (HyIDS-EVO) that combines the Energy Valley Optimizer (EVO) for feature selection and dimensionality reduction with machine learning classifiers, which include Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN). The system’s effectiveness …

Treatment Intensification Of Digester Dewatering Sidestreams Via Pilot- And Demonstration-Scale Revolving Algal Biofilms At Municipal Water Resource Recovery Facilities, Audrey E. Kocher, Hunter W. Schroer, Christopher A. Marks, Craig L. Just

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

As water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) pursue decarbonization, the treatment of concentrated side streams from anaerobic digestion offers a critical opportunity to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. This study evaluated the intensification potential of revolving algal biofilms (RAB) for side stream nutrient removal via partial nitrification at pilot- and demonstration-scales. RAB systems were deployed at municipal WRRFs in Boulder and Iowa City, treating real dewatering side streams across a range of ammonium (NH4⁺–N) surface area loading rates (SALR) reaching up to 196 g N m^–2d^–2. The results demonstrated that RAB systems can …

Interfacial Gap Prediction In Laser Welding Of Pure Copper Overlap Joints Using Multiple Sensors., Hyeonhee Kim, Cheolhee Kim, Minjung Kang

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this study, a novel approach was proposed for predicting the interfacial gap in copper overlap joints by using deep learning and multi-sensor fusion. In this method, an image sensor, a spectrometer, and optical sensors tomography (OCT) sensors were used to develop and validate deep learning models under various gap conditions. The results revealed that the variation in melt pool dimensions, changes in keyhole behavior, intensity variations at specific wavelengths, and keyhole depth derived from the OCT data could be used to accurately predict the interfacial gap. Among the proposed models, a binary gap classification model achieved the highest accuracy …

A Distinctly Christian Approach To Engineering, Paul Griffioen

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

No abstract provided.

Spatially Mapped Statewide Estimated Potential Evapotranspiration Using An Efficient Surface Interpolation Method: A Case Study Of South Carolina, Sudhanshu S. Panda, Devendra M. Amatya, Ka Kit Liu, Augustine Muwamba, Timothy J. Callahan

Journal of South Carolina Water Resources

Potential evapotranspiration (PET) exhibits substantial spatial and temporal variability across large landscapes, necessitating site-specific estimation for accurate environmental and water resource assessments. However, obtaining PET or ET data for specific locations across an entire state remains challenging due to the limited number of weather stations and associated environmental datasets. This study aimed to develop an automated geospatial modeling framework to map PET distribution across South Carolina, USA, using PET estimated by the temperature-based Hargreaves–Samani (H–S) method with daily weather data from 59 NOAA stations. Because the accuracy of spatial interpolation depends on both the target variable and the desired spatial …

Fall 2024 Computer Programming And Engineering Self-Efficacy Survey Data, Mary Benjamin

Michigan Tech Research Data

This dataset was collected as part of a research study examining the impact of automated code critiquers on students’ programming and engineering self-efficacy in first-year engineering courses. The study involved pre- and post-surveys administered to students enrolled in ENG1101: Introduction to Engineering during Fall 2024 at Michigan Technological University. The research aims to understand how exposure to automated feedback tools, such as WebTA, influences confidence, persistence, and perceived competencies.