Engineering Commons^™

New Work Center Optimization, Clarissa Stanton

Honors Theses

No abstract available.

Torsion Element Test Bench Design, Trevor Gick

Honors Theses

A test apparatus has been designed to apply a torque to a range of suspension products developed and sold by ROSTA USA Corporation (ROSTA). The products tested here are used in industrial applications, including vibration damping and suspension for industrial machines.

The designed device takes several specifications into account. To withstand the forces applied to it, the structure of this device is created from steel with bracings to support heavily loaded areas. The device is designed with a “sled” type design so that a forklift will be able to move the sled if needed. To apply torque to the elements, …

Design Of A Cubesat Separation Mechanism, Ross Hiller

Honors Theses

CubeSats are compact, relatively inexpensive satellites that are often used for space research. In order to perform research related to electric propulsion devices, the Western Aerospace Launch Initiative (WALI) requires a medium-sized CubeSat capable of separating into two bodies while in orbit. Intentional separation is not common in CubeSats, so two original concepts were designed and simulated using 3D CAD and finite element analysis software. These designs were compared based on factors including weight, cost, size, and their potential to fail due to creation of debris or binding between components, in order to determine which will more effectively execute the …

Reprinter, Christian Brower

Honors Theses

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is a rapidly growing technology, though, expensive printing filament and wasted material make it less affordable and an unsustainable process. The RePrinter combats these issues by recycling scrap 3D printed plastic parts and household plastics, such as pop bottles, and creates filament for fused deposition modeling (FDM). This product is a fully automated system which grinds, extrudes, and spools the filament for immediate use in FDM. The RePrinter works to control the extrusion speeds and tensions to optimize precise filament dimensions for quality 3D printing, while delivering the product in a timely cost effective manner.

Biogas Separator And Storage Tank, Brandon Nimtz

Honors Theses

The general concept of this project is to design, simulate, and build a biogas separator system that will also store the separated methane and carbon dioxide within pressure vessels. This system is constructed of many subcomponents that will combine to separate the biogas and store the methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The components included in the project consist of a liquid-gas separator vessel, two heat exchangers, one methane gas compressor, and one pressure vessel each to hold methane and carbon dioxide each. While the base goal in this project was to design and simulate the necessary parts to theoretically …

System And Method For Robust Nonlinear Regulation Control Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Synthetic Jet Actuators, Vladimir V. Golubev, William Mackunis

Publications

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided with a plurality of synthetic jet actuators and a nonlinear robust controller. The controller compensates for uncertainty in a mathematic model that describes the function of the syn­thetic jet actuators. Compensation is provided by the use of constant feedforward best guess estimates that eliminate the need for more highly computationally burdensome approaches such as the use of time-varying adaptive param­eter estimation algorithms.

System And Method For Robust Nonlinear Regulation Control Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Synthetic Jet Actuators, Vladimir Golubev, William Mackunis

Publications

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided with a plurality of synthetic jet actuators and a nonlinear robust controller. The controller compensates for uncertainty in a mathematic model that describes the function of the synthetic jet actuators. Compensation is provided by the use of constant feedforward best guess estimates that eliminate the need for more highly computationally burdensome approaches such as the use of time-varying adaptive parameter estimation algorithms.

Testing The Feasibility Of A Bladeless Wind Turbine Design, Chukwuemeka C. Ibebuike, Hauke Busch

Georgia College Student Research Events

In this era of increased global warming, the immediate reduction of CO2 emission is of great importance to the survival of humanity. Wind power can go a long way to offer a better alternative to generate sustainable power without producing any CO2 gas. The reductions of CO2 emissions are of significant importance to humanity. Wind power can offer a better alternative to generate sustainable power without producing CO2. Traditional turbines consist of rotating blades while a Bladeless turbine would significantly simplify the design. This would offer possible improvements such as cost savings, reduction of the operating noise level, simplification of …

Design And Comparison Of Variable-Stiffness Compliant Joints For Haptic Devices, David Usevitch, Mark Colton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Haptic interfaces or devices are computercontrolled robotic systems that seek to replicate the touch experience of a human user¹. The purpose of this research is to develop a viable variable-stiffness compliant joint for haptic interfaces that eliminate rotation joints or screw mechanisms that induce friction, increase weight and cost, and make devices more complex and prone to failure. The resulting compliant haptic device was designed with both affordability and dependability in mind, and hopes to result in research knowledge leading to realistic touch experiences as users interact with virtual or remote environments. The joint may also be applicable …

Computing The Reach-Avoid Set For Space Vehicle Maneuvering In The Presence Of Debris, Matthew Shubert

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

The ability to guarantee the safety of autonomously controlled space vehicles is of great importance to help avoid accidents and ensure mission success. In this paper we investigate the safety verification of a satellite attempting to maneuver to a new position while avoiding multiple pieces of debris. We assume that the satellite, desired rendezvous point, and all debris are near the same circular orbit with dynamics modeled by Clohessy-Wiltshire-Hill (CWH) equations. We will use reachability methods to guarantee the satellite is able to reach a desired point while avoiding all debris. We will first develop a computationally efficient method for …

Optimizing Swap For Directed Energy – Detection Of Buried Conductors With Low-Energy High-Voltage Pulses, Jon C. Pouncey

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

High-voltage directed energy systems have shown promise in the role of neutralizing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in various experiments over the last decade. While these systems can be very effective with significant benefits over conventional counter-IED techniques, the excessive space, weight, and prime power (SWaP) requirements create significant challenges in developing deployable systems. One promising technique for dramatically reducing the SWaP requirement for certain types of directed energy counter-IED systems is the separation of the pulsed-power circuits into high voltage and high energy subsystems. In this technique, termed low average power high-voltage energy (LP-HVE) a repetitive low-energy, high-voltage pulse subsystem …

Increased Span Length For The Mgs Long-Span Guardrail System Part Ii: Full-Scale Crash Testing, Dylan T. Meyer, John D. Reid, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The objective of this research study was to design and evaluate the MGS long-span design for use with unsupported spans greater than 25 ft (7.6 m). Two full-scale crash tests were conducted to evaluate the MGS long-span system with increased span lengths and the use of UBSP posts adjacent to the long span. Both tests were conducted according to the TL- 3 criteria outlined in MASH. Both test nos. MGSLS-1 and MGSLS-2 were conducted with the 2270P vehicle impacting their respective critical impact points at a speed of 62 mph (100 km/h) and an angle of 25 degrees. Test no. …

Safety Analysis Of A Flashing Drum Steam Generation System, Jacob Ladd, Cade Memmott

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The goal of the Integral, Inherently Safe Light Water Reactor (I2S-LWR) Research Project is to design a more inherently safe reactor. This reactor is capable of cooling the core with no external power and no operator action.[1] In the I2S-LWR design, micro-channel heat exchangers (MCHX) facilitate heat transfer from the reactor to the steam generation system (SGS), where steam is used to produce electricity.^{1, 2}

The I2S-LWR design requires the use of a “flashing” drum to produce steam, and the flashing drum and its impact on the SGS must be evaluated for safety before it can be incorporated into …

Origami: Numerical Solutions Of Apparent Absorptivity In Origami Folds, Michael Farnsworth, Brian Iverson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There are three major types of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. In many cases, radiation is ignored due to the fact that the amount of heat transferred by this method tend to be small compared to conduction and convection. However, in space and in some settings on earth, radiation is dominant and important. Absorptivity is a measure of an object’s ability to absorb radiation, and apparent absorptivity is a measure of how the shape of an object affects the amount of radiation that it absorbs. For example, if you were to shine a flashlight on a mirror, the light …

Fabrication And Study Of The Structure And Magnetism Of Rare-Earth Free Nanoclusters, Bhaskar Das

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

No abstract provided.

Antiferromagnetism In The Van Der Waals Layered Spin-Lozenge Semiconductor Crte3, Michael Mcguire, V. Ovidiu Garlea, Santosh Kc, Valentino Cooper, Jiaqiang Yan, Huibo Cao, Brian Sales

Faculty Publications

The crystallographic, magnetic, and transport properties of the van der Waals bonded, layered compound CrTe3 have been investigated on single-crystal and polycrystalline materials. The crystal structure contains layers made up of lozenge-shaped Cr4 tetramers. Electrical resistivity measurements show the crystals to be semiconducting, with a temperature dependence consistent with a band gap of 0.3 eV. The magnetic susceptibility exhibits a broad maximum near 300 K characteristic of low dimensional magnetic systems. Weak anomalies are observed in the susceptibility and heat capacity near 55 K, and single-crystal neutron diffraction reveals the onset of long-range antiferromagnetic order at this temperature. Strongly dispersive …

How To Engage Students Both Inside And Outside The Classroom | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

The S-STEM project team held a teaching seminar on April 4, 2017, for faculty and graduate students in the College of Engineering who are interested in how to engage students in active learning both inside and outside the classroom.

Hybrid-Impulsive Higher Order Sliding Mode Control In Reduced Information Environment, Fathi M. Aldukali

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Bio-Inspired, Low-Cost, Piezoelectric Airflow Sensor, Evan Unruh

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Design And Development Of A High Altitude Wind Tunnel (Hat), David Ritchie

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Microstrip Patch Antenna Design, Simulation, And Optimization At X-Band, Alfred Setyono, Beatrix Setyono, Victoria Eccles

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Concept Study Of A Reusable Suborbital Launch Vehicle (Rslv), Jared Fuchs, Matthew Haskell, Benjamin Thompson, William Hankins

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Copper Catalysts For Propylene Epoxidation, Hayden Fowler, Zheng Lu

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Determining The Translational Velocity Of Flying Objects Using Ultrasonic Sensors, Alex Christley

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Size Distribution Of Carbon Nanoparticles From A Methane/Argon Hv Pulsed Dc Ampj, Steven Doyle

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of A Small Electro-Mechanical Contact Using Non-Conventional Measurement Techniques, Kelsey M. Johnson

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Currently there are limitations in computing chatter behavior of small electrical contacts embedded in components using finite element models. Reduced order models (ROM) have been developed of such electrical contact sub-assemblies to assess the chatter behavior of the contacts during vibration and shock environments. The current ROM method requires experimental validation. This ROM also neglects the damping effects of the viscous fluid that typically surrounds such sub-assemblies. Dynamic ring-down testing of the electrical contacts in air was performed and will provide a validation data set for the current ROM. Additionally, dynamic ring-down testing of the electrical contact was performed in …

Hyporheic Nitrate Uptake And Stoichiometric Limitations: Mesocosm Experiments Along A River Continuum., Vanessa A. Garayburu Caruso

Civil Engineering ETDs

Nutrient uptake in streams and rivers is controlled by complex transport dynamics and biogeochemical interactions, which together regulate nutrient export from watersheds. Decoupling the relative contributions of transport and biogeochemical processes to nutrient uptake at the watershed scale has been challenging due to the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of physicochemical properties. Furthermore, logistical constraints have resulted in solute-specific analyses, primarily concentrated in headwater streams, that disregard the role of stoichiometry in controlling biological uptake. We used experimental mesocosm (column experiments) along the Jemez River-Rio Grande continuum (1^st-8^th stream order) to isolate spatial differences in biological nitrate uptake. …

Experimental And Computational Investigations Of Heat Transfer Systems In Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactors, Joel T. Hughes

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors (FHRs) face a number of challenges similar to those faced by other Generation IV advanced reactor concepts. Predicting heat transfer in these systems accurately and reliably is one major challenge. Another is ensuring the safety of these systems during challenging operating conditions across the design basis envelope. Finally, achieving good economics to compete in a modern power generation portfolio is necessary for moving any nuclear power plant concept past the pre-conceptual stage. This dissertation attempts to support, from a thermal-hydraulics research standpoint, the case that the FHR can attain these goals. The dissertation focuses on several …

Turbulent Boundary Layer Features Via Lagrangian Coherent Structures, Proper Orthogonal Decomposition And Dynamic Mode Decomposition, Naseem Ali, Murat Tutkun, Raul Bayoan Cal

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

High-speed stereo PIV-measurements have been performed in a turbulent boundary layer at Reθ of 9800 in order to elucidate the coherent structures. Snapshot proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) are used to visualize the flow structure depending on the turbulent kinetic energy and frequency content. The first six POD and DMD modes show the largest and the lowest amount of energy and frequency, respectively. Lagrangian coherent structure (LCS) based on the algorithm developed using the variational theory is also applied to track the flow via attracting and repelling trajectories. The shapes and the length of the trajectories …

The Effect Of Power Supply Ramp Time On Sram Puf's, Abdelrahman T. Elshafiey Mr.

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) are security primitives that exploit the device mismatches. PUFs are a promising solution for hardware cryptography and key storage. They are used in many security applications including identification, authentication and key generation. SRAM is one of the popular implementations of PUFs. SRAM PUFs offer the advantage, over other PUF constructions, of reusing resources (memories) that already exist in many designs.

In this thesis, for the first time, it is demonstrated that the start-up value of an SRAM PUF could be different depending on the SRAM power supply rising time. An analytical model has been developed to …