Engineering Commons^™

Design And Validation Of Novel Potential High Entropy Alloys, Boliang Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The design approach and validation of single phase senary refractory high entropy alloys (HEAs) MoNbTaTiVW and HfNbTaTiVZr were presented in first part of this dissertation. The design approach was to combine phase diagram inspection of available binary and ternary systems and Calculation of Phase Diagrams (CALPHAD) prediction. Experiments using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques verified single phase microstructure in body centered cubic lattice for both alloys. The observed elemental segregation agrees well with the solidification prediction using Scheil model. The lattice constant, density and microhardness were measured to be 0.3216 nm, 4.954 GPa and 11.70 g/cm³ for …

Apparatus And Method For Harvesting Carbon Nanotube Arrays, Matthew C. Weisenberger, John D. Craddock

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty Patents

An apparatus is provided for harvesting a carbon nanotube array from a substrate. The apparatus includes a peeler that peels the carbon nanotube array from the substrate and a support that receives the carbon nanotube array peeled from the substrate. In addition the apparatus includes a drawing device that simultaneously draws the carbon nanotube array from the substrate onto the support as the carbon nanotube array is peeled from the substrate. The peeler and drawing device are synchronized in operation so that as a given length of carbon nanotube array is peeled from the substrate, that same given length of …

Collective Behaviour In Video Viewing: A Thermodynamic Analysis Of Gaze Position, Kate Burleson-Lesser, Flaviano Morone, Paul Deguzman, Lucas C. Parra, Hernan Makse

Publications and Research

Videos and commercials produced for large audiences can elicit mixed opinions. We wondered whether this diversity is also reflected in the way individuals watch the videos. To answer this question, we presented 65 commercials with high production value to 25 individuals while recording their eye movements, and asked them to provide preference ratings for each video. We find that gaze positions for the most popular videos are highly correlated. To explain the correlations of eye movements, we model them as ªinteractionsº between individuals. A thermodynamic analysis of these interactions shows that they approach a ªcritical º point such that any …

Property Analysis Of Exfoliated Graphite Nanoplatelets Modified Asphalt Model Using Molecular Dynamics (Md) Method, Hui Yao, Qingli Dai, Zhanping You, Andreas Bick, Min Wang, Shuaicheng Guo

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

This Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation paper presents a physical property comparison study between exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGNP) modified and control asphalt models, including density, glass transition temperature, viscosity and thermal conductivity. The three-component control asphalt model consists of asphaltenes, aromatics, and saturates based on previous references. The xGNP asphalt model was built by incorporating an xGNP and control asphalt model and controlling mass ratios to represent the laboratory prepared samples. The Amber Cornell Extension Force Field (ACEFF) was used with assigned molecular electro-static potential (ESP) charge from NWChem analysis. After optimization and ensemble relaxation, the properties of the control and …

Multi-Stage Axial Compressor With Counter-Rotation, Vinod Gehlot, Magdy S. Attia, Divyam Garg

Publications

A multi-stage axial compressor incorporating a counter-rotational movement is provided with a series of rotors mounted along and driven by a driveshaft, and a geared counter-rotating outer casing. A planetary gear system is assembled along a static casing, which can be assembled as a forward or aft casing for the compressor. The bearings of the planetary gear system typically will be aligned concentrically with a center rotor drum assembly mounted along the single driveshaft. The counter-rotating drum assembly will be assembled over the rotor drum assembly and will be engaged by the forward and aft casings so as to provide …

Trends In Engineering Management Education From 2011–2015, William Daughton

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The American Society for Engineering Education provides comprehensive data on enrollment and graduation rates for all engineering fields at the Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD levels. In addition, data are provided on the demographics of the various fields. This information, coupled with Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology data, presents an opportunity to explore the trends in higher education in Engineering Management in the last five years. Contrasts to earlier times and implications for the future are presented as a result of the analysis of these trends.

Communication Through Social Technologies: A Study Of Israeli Women, Jeretta Horn Nord 405-747-0320, Dafni Biran Achituv, Joanna Paliszkiewicz

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Social technologies have changed the way we communicate allowing users to interact, share knowledge, reach out to friends and family, keep up with the news, and even promote and support a business. A study of Israeli women was conducted to determine how social technologies platforms — Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Google+ — are used and the benefits realized. Women worldwide face challenges including economic, educational, health, and political. Israel women, like women in every other country in the world, are challenged with gender inequity. Do women who use social technologies believe that these platforms provide empowerment leading to greater …

Hybrid Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Systems: A Review, Kody M. Powell, Khalid Rashid, Kevin Ellingwood, Jake Tuttle, Brian D. Iverson

Faculty Publications

Concentrated solar power (CSP), or solar thermal power, is an ideal technology to hybridize with other energy technologies for power generation. CSP shares technology with conventional power generation and can be readily integrated with other energy types into a synergistic system, which has many potential benefits including increased dispatchability and reliability, improved efficiency, reduced capital costs through equipment sharing, and the opportunity for flexible operation by alternating between energy sources. Another advantage of CSP technology is the ability to readily store via thermal energy storage (TES), making the intermittent solar resource dispatchable. A review of CSP hybridization strategies with coal, …

Experimental Study On System Reliability Of Cold-Formed Steel Roof Trusses, American Iron And Steel Institute

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

This report presents a research project aimed at advancing the treatment of cold-formed steel (CFS) structural reliability in roof trusses. Structural design today relies almost exclusively on component-level design; so, structural safety is assured by limiting the probability of failure of individual components. Reliability of the entire system is typically not assessed, so in a worst-case scenario the system reliability may be less than the component reliability, or in a best-case scenario the system reliability may be much greater than the component reliability. A roof truss itself, is a subsystem with several possible failure modes that are being studied in …

Monotonic And Cyclic Response Of Single Shear Cold-Formed Steel-To-Steel And Sheathing-To-Steel Connections, American Iron And Steel Institute

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

Monotonic and cyclic backbone load-deformation response models for single shear steel-to-steel and plywood, oriented-strand board, and gypsum board sheathing to cold-formed steel screw-fastened connections are developed with support from an experimental program. Connection strength, stiffness, and the probability of screw shear failure are correlated to fastener bearing strength of the two connected plies. Cyclic strength and stiffness degradation was negligible. Cyclic excursions resulted in increased connection stiffness from the screw bearing hardening the ply material and locking in the plies.

Geometry-Driven Folding Of A Floating Annular Sheet, Joseph Paulsen, Vincent Démery, K. Buğra Toga, Zhanlong Qiu, Thomas P. Russell, Benny Davidovitch, Narayanan Menon

Physics - All Scholarship

Predicting the large-amplitude deformations of thin elastic sheets is difficult due to the complications of self contact, geometric nonlinearities, and a multitude of low-lying energy states. We study a simple twodimensional setting where an annular polymer sheet floating on an air-water interface is subjected to different tensions on the inner and outer rims. The sheet folds and wrinkles into many distinct morphologies that break axisymmetry. These states can be understood within a recent geometric approach for determining the gross shape of extremely bendable yet inextensible sheets by extremizing an appropriate area functional. Our analysis explains the remarkable feature that the …

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging And Spectroscopy Aided Tracking Of Zno And Cds:Mn/Zns/ N-Acetyl Cysteine (Nac) Quantum Dots In Citrus Plants, Torus Washington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we present an efficacious way of tracking nanoparticle movement in plant tissue through the use of fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and spectroscopy as well as a review of nanoparticle uptake in plants and the proposed mechanisms governing them. Given the increasing number of nanomaterials in agriculture and society as a whole, proper imaging tools and proactive measures must be taken to track nanoparticle movement in plant tissues and create infrastructure and products to keep things sustainable and safe. Herein we report a ZnO comparable nanoparticle— a CdS:Mn/ZnS/ N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) quantum dot— which boasts longer lifetimes and …

High Power Continuous Wave Quantum Cascade Lasers With Increased Ridge Width, Ankesh Todi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quantum Cascade Lasers have recently gained considerable attention for their capability to emit infrared radiation in a broad infrared spectral region, very compact dimensions, and high optical power/efficiency. Increasing continuous wave optical power is one of the main research directions in the field. A straightforward approach to increasing optical power in the pulsed regime is to increase number of stages in the cascade structure. However, due to a low active region thermal conductivity, the increase in number of stages leads to active region overheating in continuous wave operation. In this work, an alternative approach to power scaling with device dimensions …

Freestanding Holey Thin Films For Renewable Energy Storage, Kyle Marcus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rapid advancement of portable and wearable technologies has challenged research to improve upon current renewable battery energy storage systems. By using nanotechnology, it is now possible to access more of the energy storage theoretical values that have been unattainable thus far. We have developed a method to create freestanding holey thin films through combinations of electrochemical and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques to be used in renewable energy storage systems. Freestanding thin films promote excellent contact between the residual conductive framework and any functionalized active component specific to the designed material. Without requiring any other additives, the as-prepared freestanding …

Super Thin Ultra-Light Posttensioned Flat Plate Floor Systems For Affordable Urban Housing, Zuzanna Sobczak

Research Opportunities for Engineering Undergraduates (ROEU) Program 2016-17

The objective of this research is the development of super thin ultra-light post-tensioned flat plate floor systems by using high performing ultra-light cementitious composites that lead to slender, sustainable structures to remove the limitations imposed by commodity materials on mid- and high-rise construction. This objective will be achieved by investigating the full-scale behavior of these super thin floor systems using high fidelity finite element analyses in terms of flexure, punching shear, long term deflections, and vibrations.

The Effect Of Tgfβ-1 On Adipose-Derived Stem Cell (Asc) Ring Constructs, Ashley C. Apil

Research Opportunities for Engineering Undergraduates (ROEU) Program 2016-17

Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ASC’s) provide an optimal source for potentially graft replacing, tissue-engineered vessel constructs due to their ease of extraction and ability to be patient-specific. In order to make ASC ring constructs a more viable replacement for grafts, they need to have mechanical properties similar to native arteries, which is largely influenced by the extracellular matrix protein collagen. TGFβ-1 is known to stimulate collagen production in ASC’s, so this study explores the effect that TGFβ-1 has on the resulting thickness and tensile strength of ASC ring constructs.

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (Libs) In A Novel Molten Salt Aerosol System, Ammon N. Williams, Supathorn Phongikaroon

Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Publications

In the pyrochemical separation of used nuclear fuel (UNF), fission product, rare earth, and actinide chlorides accumulate in the molten salt electrolyte over time. Measuring this salt composition in near real-time is advantageous for operational efficiency, material accountability, and nuclear safeguards. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been proposed and demonstrated as a potential analytical approach for molten LiCl–KCl salts. However, all the studies conducted to date have used a static surface approach which can lead to issues with splashing, low repeatability, and poor sample homogeneity. In this initial study, a novel molten salt aerosol approach has been developed and explored …

2017 Civil And Environmental Engineering Department News, Department Of Civil And Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Newsletters

Table of Contents

• Student Awards
• Faculty News
• STEM Outreach
• Department News
• CEE Donor Recognition
• Alumni News

Engineering Research 2017, College Of Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Michigan Tech Engineering Magazine

Table of Contents

• Health
• Engineered Materials
• Sensing & Controls
• Air & Water
• People

Design And Implementation Of The Manitoba Constrained-Width Tall Wall Barrier, Harald P. Larsen, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, Andrew Pankratz, Diana Emerson, Jennifer Schmidt, Ronald K. Faller, Elizabeth M. Regier

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Manitoba Infrastructure (MI) desired a new, tall concrete median barrier capable of satisfying the Test Level 5 (TL-5) safety requirements of the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). It needed to fit within the footprint of an existing F-shape median barrier located in a narrow median. It also was required to address headlight glare from opposing traffic. The barrier was designed with a height of 1,250 mm, a maximum width of 600 mm and to resist a load of 845 kN applied at the top of the barrier. The Manitoba Constrained-Width, Tall Wall was optimised to withstand the design load …

The Effects Of Exercise And An Enhanced Nerve Conduit On Peripheral Nerve Injury, Anthony R. Mora

Research Opportunities for Engineering Undergraduates (ROEU) Program 2016-17

The primary objective of this effort is to quantify peripheral nerve recovery as a result of exposure to a multimodal conduit in addition to exercise. Quantification was based on behavioral data collected from a rat sciatic nerve model.

A Multiscale Model For Damage Progression And Detection In Piezo/Pyroelectric Composite Laminates, Yehia Bahei-El-Din, Amany Micheal

Centre for Advanced Materials

Assessment of damage initiation and progression in composite structures reinforced with electrically active filaments is modelled in a multiscale analysis. The analysis developed is a two-tier, interactive analysis, which involves two length scales; macroscopic, and microscopic. The proposed multiscale analysis provides seamless integration of the mechanics at the two length scales, including piezoelectric and pyroelectric coupling effects and damage under overall thermomechanical loads and an electric field applied to electroactive fibers. The macromechanical analysis is performed for multidirectional, fibrous laminates using the lamination theory, including bending, and the micromechanical analysis is performed using a two-phase model and a periodic array …

System-Dynamics Modeling Of Source Mass-Depletion And Risk-Exposure Evolution For Natural Attenuation Processes In The Vadose Zone, Aspasia Kalomoiri, Agamemnon Koutsospyros, Washington Braida, Julius Pavlov

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Public health is potentially at risk after a contaminant of concern (COC) is released into the ecosphere. The extent of contamination depends on numerous factors; modeling a contaminant’s dynamic behavior is challenging, given the multitude of relevant parameters and the fluid nature of processes involved. For example, weather events (e.g., wet or dry periods) may affect the mass depletion and the fate and transport of COCs, and hence, the risk assessment of current and potential future exposures. Thus, to give realistic estimates for potential risks, a contaminant’s dynamic behavior must be taken into account in decision-making processes. In this paper, …

See The Bigger Picture: A True Systems Approach To Healthcare, Brian J. Galli

Faculty of Computer Science/Management Engineering Publications

“Healthcare” is typically related directly to patient care, hospitals, and ambulatory services, but it is important to see that healthcare is beyond just the delivery of care in hospitals or ambulatory services. A more accurate systems approach to views the world of healthcare as one that involves several stakeholders, including: healthcare delivery (patient care in hospitals and ambulatory services), regulatory agencies, health insurance/health plan organizations, medical device design and manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, society, government (all levels), and healthcare reform organizations. All of these stakeholders relate to each other in many levels and impact our healthcare system.

This paper will cover the …

Sliding Crane For Mobile Scissor Lift Table, Phuc Ba Chau

All Undergraduate Projects

The purpose of this report is to build a device that can be installed to the hydraulic lifting cart to help students work easily on the CNC machine. The main point of the proposal is to design a device that can carry, load, and unload the Kurt vise, which weighs over 80 lb., to the CNC machine table and to the storage area within fifteen minutes during lab time. The methodology of the report focuses on the safety and easy performance for students working in the machine shop. Safety is the main concern in the design of this project, because …

Select Adjustable Trigger System, Seth Rich

All Undergraduate Projects

There is an increasing need for singular weapon systems to fill multiple roles. A fire control group system is needed which provides a trigger that is adaptable for different uses on command by way of the safety selector. The device needs to be non-intrusive to normal function and operation of the firearm requiring no specialized training in its use. It should provide with a setting for a general combat use and a secondary setting for a designated marksman role. The proposed system interfaces with existing trigger groups by using a self-contained drop in module that counteracts the primary trigger spring …

Tensile Specimen Punch, John Allen

All Undergraduate Projects

This project comes from a need to have tensile specimens made for the MET 351, Metallurgy/Materials and Processes, and 426, Applied Strengths of Materials, labs. This punch is designed to be used with an arbor press to create the desired tensile specimen shape out of plastic blanks. The initial concept was suggested by Dr. Craig Johnson. The designs went through many changes, for example getting rid of the sides originally proposed to hold the specimen in place, and modifications to other parts to make them more efficient. Additional parts were also added to the design with the help and advice …

'94 F-150 Running Boards, Justin Wies

All Undergraduate Projects

The project manager owns a 1994 F-150 which was purchased last August. Soon after purchasing, it was determined that it was too high for passengers to get into the truck without complaining. So this project started out being all about fixing that problem. A device was needed that allowed access to the truck without complaining. The plan was to build a device that allows access to the truck while still being light enough to not affect the trucks performance. The devices that were designed are running boards built specifically for this truck. The device had to mount underneath the edge …

Re-Design To E-Nable, Sydnee Johnson

All Undergraduate Projects

A senior in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department at Central Washington University made it her goal to have her culminating project be something that benefits people in need. Having a fascination in prosthetics, it became the main focus of her project. As children suffer the most in technological advancement of medical devices, the focus group of the project became young girls between the ages 9 and 14.

E-NABLE is a non-profit organization that is a leader in helping young children get access to body-powered prosthetics for relatively cheap. Some of the designs were made for simplicity in functionality, thus the …

Hands Free Electric Bicycle Stand, Stefan Schacht

All Undergraduate Projects

The growth of electric bicycles has spread to the US, and more bicycle shops are carrying electric assist bicycles. Most bicycle shops are currently ill equipped to accommodate heavier electric bicycles with traditional repair stands, that require at least one had to operate, and the other hand to hold up the bicycle. The problem being solved is the awkward and poor ergonomics of holding up a heavy electric bicycle with one hand, and operating a repair stand with the other. The solution is to use a repair stand that does not require hands to operate. Having a hands-free clamping device …