Engineering Commons^™

Design And Control Of A Powered Rowing Machine With Programmable Impedance, Jose Humberto De La Casas Zolezzi

ETD Archive

Due to the rise of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, research in human performance and physical activity has received increased attention. Rowing machines are used for performance improvements through concentric exercises, however a combination of concentric and eccentric actions is known to improve the effectiveness of training. In this work, a conventional rowing machine was modified to include an electric motor and a robust impedance control system, enabling programmable impedance with concentric and eccentric capabilities. Eccentric exercises are known to contribute significantly to the efficacy of training and to diminish the detrimental effects of humans operating in microgravity for long …

Evaluation Of A Microfluidic Mixer Utilizing Staggered Herringbone Channels: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach, Brian Hama

ETD Archive

Microfluidic platforms offer a variety of advantages including improved heat transfer, low working volumes, ease of scale-up, and strong user control on parameters. However, flow within microfluidic channels occurs at low Reynolds numbers, which makes mixing difficult to accomplish. Adding V-shaped ridges to channel walls, a pattern called the staggered herringbone design (SHB), might alleviate this problem by introducing transverse flow patterns that enable enhanced mixing. However, certain factors affecting the SHB mixer’s performance remain largely unexplored.

In this work, a microfluidic mixer utilizing the SHB geometry was developed and characterized using computational fluid dynamics based simulations and complimentary experiments. …

Effect Of Convection Associated With Cross-Section Change During Directional Solidification Of Binary Alloys On Dendritic Array Morphology And Macrosegregation, Masoud Ghods

ETD Archive

This dissertation explores the role of different types of convection on macrosegregation and on dendritic array morphology of two aluminum alloys directionally solidified through cylindrical graphite molds having both cross-section decrease and increase. Al- 19 wt. % Cu and Al-7 wt. % Si alloys were directionally solidified at two growth speed of 10 and 29.1 µm s-1 and examined for longitudinal and radial macrosegregation, and for primary dendrite spacing and dendrite trunk diameter.

Directional solidification of these alloys through constant cross-section showed clustering of primary dendrites and parabolic-shaped radial macrosegregation profile, indicative of “steepling convection” in the mushy-zone. The degree …

Forecasting Harmful Algal Blooms For Western Lake Erie Using Data Driven Machine Learning Techniques, Nicholas L. Reinoso

ETD Archive

Harmful algal blooms (HAB) have been documented for more than a century occurring all over the world. The western Lake Erie has suffered from Cyanobacteria blooms for many decades. There are currently two widely available HAB forecasting models for Lake Erie. The first forecasting model gives yearly peak bloom forecast while the second provides weekly short-term forecasting and offers size as well as location. This study focuses on bridging the gap of these two models and improve HAB forecast accuracy in western Lake Erie by letting historical observations tell the behavior of HABs. This study tests two machine learning techniques, …

Modeling The Effect Of Green Infrastructure On Direct Runoff Reduction In Residential Areas, Seema Bardhipur

ETD Archive

Urbanization causes a serious impact on storm water systems by expansion of impervious surfaces. Low Impact Development (LID) is a technique growing in popularity to solve the issue of storm water management. However, to evaluate the benefits of LIDs is a difficult task due to realistic parametrization of LIDs and subcatchments for modeling. The goals of this study are: a) to provide a practical guideline to parameterize and simulate LIDs (bio-retention and rain barrels) in residential areas; and b) to evaluate the resulting effect on the current drainage system under various design storms. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Storm Water Management …

Cathepsin K Targeting Matrix Regenerative Nanoparticles For Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Jonathan M. Fox

ETD Archive

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are characterized by the loss of elasticity in the aorta wall leading to a chronic increase in diameter and resulting in rupture. This is due to the lack of regeneration of elastic fibers and chronic proteolytic breakdown of elastic fibers within the aorta mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), specifically MMP-2 and -9. Previous studies in our lab have shown cationic amphiphile-surface functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with doxycycline (DOX) to inhibit MMP activity and stimulate elastic matrix synthesis, effects we attributed to both low doses (< 10 mg/ml) of DOX released and independent effects of cationic amphiphile pendant groups on the NP surface. This promises application of these NPs to arrest or regress AAA growth since high oral DOX dosing inhibits new elastic matrix formation in the AAA wall and has undesirable side effects. In this study, we investigated feasibility of antibody-based active targeting of intravenously infused NPs to the AAA wall. Cathepsin K, a cysteine protease, is a biomarker for AAA and overexpressed in abdominal aortic aneurysm tissue making it an ideal target moiety. We have shown using a covalent conjugation method of modifying the surface of the NPs with a cathepsin K antibody resulted in a more robust antibody attachment which did not affect the DOX release profile. Cathepsin K expression was confirmed to be localized on the cell surface and utilizing cathepsin K Ab-conjugated NPs, we demonstrated an increased NP localization to the cathepsin K overexpressing cells in vitro and ex vivo. Importantly, the DOX-loaded NPs demonstrated pro-elastogenic and anti-proteolytic effects in aneurysmal smooth muscle cells supporting their use as regenerative therapies to arrest and regress AAA growth. Preliminary data has been collected indicating cathepsin K Ab-conjugated NP targeting to AAAs in elastase-injured rat models. The study outcomes support the feasibility of using cathepsin K Ab-conjugated NPs as a targeted therapy for elastic matrix regeneration in AAA tissue and will serve as a basis for already initiated follow up studies to assess NP biodistribution, in situ retention in the AAA wall, and safety as a function of time.

Pure And Binary Adsorption Equilibrium Of Nitrogen And Oxygen In Lilsx Zeolite, Himabindu Gandra

ETD Archive

Chemical products are made by combination of processes that includes synthesis, separation and purification. Separation processes comprises a large portion in these industries and are considered to be critical as most of the applications in chemical industries involves mixtures. Traditional separation methods such as distillation, evaporation, drying etc., requires high energy. For example, air separation to produce nitrogen and oxygen was previously practiced by cryogenic distillation that involves high pressure units and large energy requirement. On other hand, adsorption processes utilize less energy resources and is unique among separation methods. The phase separation is achieved by the existence of a …

Derivative-Free Kalman Filter-Based Control Of Nonlinear Systems With Application To Transfemoral Prostheses, S. Mahmoud Moosavi

ETD Archive

Derivative-free Kalman filtering (DKF) for estimation-based control of a special class of nonlinear systems is presented. The method includes a standard Kalman filter for the estimation of both states and unknown inputs, and a nonlinear system that is transformed to controllable canonical state space form through feedback linearization (FL). A direct current (DC) motor with an input torque that is a nonlinear function of the state is considered as a case study for a nonlinear single-input-single-output (SISO) system. A three degree-of-freedom (DOF) robot / prosthesis system, which includes a robot that emulates human hip and thigh motion and a powered …

Electrochemical And Electroflotation Processes For Milk Waste Water Treatment, Alahmand Suleiman Mohammed

ETD Archive

The dairy industry generates abundant milk waste waters characterized by high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations that can be very harmful to the environment, if left untreated. Electrocoagulation (EC) has been in use for waste water treatment. The treatment application uses aluminum electrodes and iron or the combined hybrid Al/Fe electrodes. Milk waste water contains high concentration organic pollutants and the main constituents of those organics are carbohydrates, proteins and fats, originating from the milk. The process of separating the flocculated sludge from waste water that has been treated using the electrocoagulation process can be …

Effect Of Surface Oxidation On The Mechanics Of Carbon Nanotube Laden Interfaces, William Daniel Ivancic

ETD Archive

Single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT & MWCNT) have been studied over the past three decades because of their excellent properties, including their mechanical strength and large electrical and thermal conductivities. Incorporating CNTs into phases necessary for use in consumer or industrial products has been challenging because of strong attractive interactions, heterogeneity, and lack of separation techniques for these nanomaterials. Moreover, there are further challenges incorporating CNTs into multiphase materials because of the many remaining open questions regarding the properties of an interface with CNTs adsorbed or nearby. In the present work, the mechanics and microstructure of a water/air interface …

Advanced Line-Follower Robot, Lei Wang

ETD Archive

In this research, an Advanced Line-follower Robot (ALFR) was designed and built. The ALFR mainly consists of the sensor array (QTR-8A), the high-performance microchips (TMS320f28335, TMS320f28069) and two motors (BLY172S-24V-4000). The ALFR keeps the basic function of the Line-follower Robot (LFR) but applies more advanced control theories, such as Proportional Integral Derivative (PID), Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) and Iterative Learning Control (ILC). PID and ADRC have been tested in the ALFR. The ALFR control problems and the results have been discussed in this thesis. Suggestions are also provided for research on unsolved problems. In particular, the mathematical models of …

Research On Control Methods Of Roof Radiant Cooling System, Yongbin Li, Zhaoyi Zhuang, Qiqi Zhu, Jian Song, Haipeng An

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Taking the capillary ceiling radiation air conditioning system in radiation cooling Laboratory of comprehensive experimental building in Shandong Jianzhu University as an example, research the two different control methods which are room temperature control and water temperature control. The roof cooling model was established by using TRNSYS simulation software, two typical summer days were selected to explore the stability of the room temperature and the supply and return water temperature, research the comfort of human body and system energy consumption under two control methods. The results show that the indoor temperature of the two control methods can be stable at …

Strained Hybrid Perovskite Thin Films And Their Impact On The Intrinsic Stability Of Perovskite Solar Cells, Jingjing Zhao, Yehao Deng, Haotong Wei, Xiaopeng Zheng, Zhenhua Yu, Yuchuan Shao, Jeffrey E. Shield, Jinsong Huang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite (OIHP) solar cells have achieved comparable efficiencies to those of commercial solar cells, although their instability hinders their commercialization. Although encapsulation techniques have been developed to protect OIHP solar cells from external stimuli such as moisture, oxygen, and ultraviolet light, understanding of the origin of the intrinsic instability of perovskite films is needed to improve their stability. We show that the OIHP films fabricated by existing methods are strained and that strain is caused by mismatched thermal expansion of perovskite films and substrates during the thermal annealing process. The polycrystalline films have compressive strain in the out-of-plane …

The Effect Of Number Of Corrugation On Crashworthiness Of Aluminum Corrugated Tube Under Lateral Loading, Hozhabr Mozafari, Arameh Eyvazian, Abdel Magid Hamouda

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Thin-walled tubes have been developed and are growing in use as new energy absorber structures. The objective of this study is to investigate the energy absorption and crushing characteristics of corrugated tubes with different number of corrugation in a specific length exposed to lateral loading. At the first step, experimental tests were carried out on a corrugated tube with three con'ugations (two inner and one outer) and a tube without corrugation. After that, a finite element model was developed by means of ABAQUS software in order to study the effect of corrugation number on crushing properties of thin-walled tubes. The …

Methods, Systems, And Devices For Surgical Visualization And Device Manipulation, Shane M. Farritor, Mark Rentschler, Amy Lehman, Nathan A. Wood, Adam Bock, Reed Prior

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

A surgical device includes a console having a visual display and a manipulator arm, a robotic device having a camera and a connection component. The robotic device is configured to be positioned completely within a body cavity. The camera is configured to transmit visual images to the visual display. The connection component operably couples the console and the robotic device. The manipulator arm is positioned relative to the visual display so as to appear to be penetrating the visual display.

Local And Segmental Motions Of The Mobile Amorphous Fraction In Semi-Crystalline Polylactide Crystallized Under Quiescent And Flow-Induced Conditions, Xavier Monnier, Laurence Chevalier, Antonello Esposito, Lucia Fernandez-Ballester, Allisson Saiter, Eric Dargent

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The molecular dynamics of the constrained and unconstrained mobile amorphous fractions in semicrystalline polylactide (PLA) was investigated in the presence of both flow-induced crystalline structures and spherulites by fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) through cooperativity and physical aging concepts. First, the shear rate conditions leading to flow-induced crystallization were characterized by examining the relaxation of shear-induced precursors. At a temperature of 150 °C, the critical relaxation time is so long that cooling down the sheared melt to the crystallization temperature does not affect significantly the precursors. Therefore, highly oriented structures develop. The arrangement of the crystalline fraction, either in flow-induced crystalline …

Developing Innovation Capability In A Mass Production Organization, Mark Douglas Dolsen

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

DEVELOPING INNOVATION CAPABILITY IN A MASS PRODUCTION ORGANIZATION

by

MARK DOLSEN

May 2017

Advisor: Dr. Ratna Babu Chinnam

Major: Industrial Engineering

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Auto parts manufacturing is a key element of the North American automotive supply chain, and a significant component of the economy of Ontario, Canada. Employment in this sector declined 40% from 2003 to 2010 as the industry experienced a recession, and many firms relocated to lower wage jurisdictions as the Canadian currency strengthened against the US dollar. Experts contend that the solution for the industry lies in innovation; however, recommendations found in the current …

Evaluating Sediment Accumulation Behind Dams In The Great Lakes Watershed From Past To Present, Fatemeh Alighalehbabakhani Alighalehbabakhani

Wayne State University Dissertations

Reservoir sedimentation and the consequence long term loss of storage capacity have been a serious threat to the natural environmental system. However, there is only few information and physical measurements regarding to the sediment accumulation rate within the reservoirs. The average age of dams in the country is more than 50 years old, and with aging dams, the number of high-hazard dams continues to increase. There are some serious risks associated with aging dams. Dam removal or dam failure can release considerable sediment load to downstream reaches, eventually deteriorate water quality and fish habitat. The present dissertation investigates the historical …

Data Placement And Task Mapping Optimization For Big Data Workflows In The Cloud, Mahdi Ebrahimi

Wayne State University Dissertations

Data-centric workflows naturally process and analyze a huge volume of datasets. In this new era of Big Data there is a growing need to enable data-centric workflows to perform computations at a scale far exceeding a single workstation's capabilities. Therefore, this type of applications can benefit from distributed high performance computing (HPC) infrastructures like cluster, grid or cloud computing.

Although data-centric workflows have been applied extensively to structure complex scientific data analysis processes, they fail to address the big data challenges as well as leverage the capability of dynamic resource provisioning in the Cloud. The concept of “big data workflows” …

Reliability Based Design Optimization Of Load And Rating Models For Bridge Structures In Michigan, Vahid Kamjoo

Wayne State University Dissertations

The main objective of this study is to develop optimal live load models for design and rating of bridges using reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) methodology, such that target reliability levels for bridge girders subjected to Michigan traffic loads can be consistently met. Traffic data from 20 high-fidelity weigh-in-motion (WIM) sites collected over a two-year period across Michigan will be used for statistical analysis. From the filtered data, load effects are generated for a series of hypothetical bridges considering spans from 20 to 200 ft. and girder spacings from 6 to 12 ft. Simple moments and shears, for both single lane …

Product Development Resilience Through Set-Based Design, Stephen H. Rapp

Wayne State University Dissertations

Often during a system Product Development program external factors or requirements change, forcing system design change. This uncertainty adversely affects program outcome, adding to development time and cost, production cost, and compromise to system performance. We present a development approach that minimizes the impacts, by considering the possibility of changes in the external factors and the implications of mid-course design changes. The approach considers the set of alternative designs and the burdens of a mid-course change from one design to another in determining the relative value of a specific design. The approach considers and plans parallel development of alternative designs …

An Investigation Of The Mechanism Of Traumatic Brain Injury Caused By Blast In The Open Field, Ke Feng

Wayne State University Dissertations

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a signature wound of modern warfare. The current incomplete understanding of its injury mechanism impedes the development of strategies for effective protection of bTBI. Despite a considerable amount of experimental animal studies focused on the evaluation of brain neurotrauma caused by blast exposure, there is very limited knowledge on the biomechanical responses of the gyrenecephalic brain subjected to primary free-field blast waves imposed in vivo, and the correlation analysis between the biomechanical responses and its injury outcomes. Such information is crucial to the development of injury criteria of bTBI.

This study aims to evaluate …

Evolving Clustering Algorithms And Their Application For Condition Monitoring, Diagnostics, & Prognostics, Fling Finn Tseng

Wayne State University Dissertations

Applications of Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) technology requires effective yet generic data driven methods capable of carrying out diagnostics and prognostics tasks without detailed domain knowledge and human intervention. Improved system availability, operational safety, and enhanced logistics and supply chain performance could be achieved, with the widespread deployment of CBM, at a lower cost level. This dissertation focuses on the development of a Mutual Information based Recursive Gustafson-Kessel-Like (MIRGKL) clustering algorithm which operates recursively to identify underlying model structure and parameters from stream type data. Inspired by the Evolving Gustafson-Kessel-like Clustering (eGKL) algorithm, we applied the notion of mutual information to …

Zwitterionic Polymer Materials For Nanoparticle Stabilization, Cell Encapsulation And Anti-Fouling Coating, Wei Wang

Wayne State University Dissertations

Based on the superior anti-fouling property, the zwitterionic materials had great potential in applications such as medical implants, medical device coating, and marine coating industry. This thesis will focus on the applications of zwitterionic materials in stabilizing carbon nanoparticles, as implantable devices and durable coating on medical devices for long-term anti-microbial purposes. Chapter 2 of the thesis will discuss a simple method to synthesis carbon nanoparticles stabilized by zwitterionic polymers. Chapter 3 of the thesis reports the use of zwitterionic hydrogel to encapsulate islet of Langerhans to treat Type 1 diabetes. In Chapter 4 and 5, several methods were developed …

Assimilation Of Tracking Technology In The Supply Chain, Rahul Basole, Maciek Nowak

Information Systems and Operations Management: Faculty Publications & Other Works

While tracking technology has become increasingly accessible, firms still struggle with deploying these technologies into the supply chain. Using the complementary perspectives of transaction cost and institutional theory, we develop an understanding of how supply network, product, and environmental characteristics jointly impact tracking technology assimilation. We empirically test our model on a global dataset of 535 supply chain executives and decision makers. The results suggest that assimilation is frequently initiated by an external stakeholder in a firm's supply chain and that firms must develop strong collaborative ties with their partners in order to take full advantage of this technology.

Experimental Analysis Of Catalytic Gasification Of Waste Polymers, Samuel O. Sanya, Uc Obiako, Aliandra Barbutti, Stephen Reeves, Eric M. Lange, Jade Moten

Undergraduate Research Posters 2017

This research focuses on advancing the current knowledge of a catalytic gasification process as a potential in-situ resource utilization and waste management system. This research has significance in a variety of engineering applications, but is of particular relevance towards municipal waste management and advancing space exploration. In this technology, typically referred to as Trash to Supply Gas (TtSG), liquid phase oxidation reactions produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water. The oxidation reactions are complemented by two gas-phase reactions: the Water Gas Shift (WGS) and the Sabatier (or methanation) reaction, the main stages in the pathway of producing hydrogen and methane …

P2: Image Analysis And Quantification Of 3d Cancer Cell Migration, Stephen Hong, Alexander Roth

Undergraduate Research Posters 2017

Metastatic tumors are known for their ability to migrate toward circulatory apparatus and detach from the primary tumor. Generally, metastasis is quantified in vitro using migration assays that are normally measured in two dimensions (2D). Threedimensional (3D) migration assays can better mimic cancers by providing similar microenvironments to those observed in vivo. Imaging 3D cell cultures requires multiple 2D images stacked along a Z-axis; however, imaged cells would be in-focus at varied z-positions at different time points due to the characteristics of cell migration. Our goal in this study was to analyze in-focus cell images and quantify cell migration in …

P1: Dispersion And Characterization Of Boron Nitride Nanotubes Stabilized By Dna, Camerin Mcdonald

Undergraduate Research Posters 2017

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are newly emerging nanomaterials with extraordinary mechanical properties as well as thermal and chemical stability. There have been growing interests in both fundamental studies and technological development of BNNTs such as protective coatings for high temperature and hazardous environments due to recent success in large scale synthesis of BNNTs. In this work, various DNA sequences were utilized to stabilize aqueous dispersions of BNNTs. First, we determined the optimum mass ratio of 1:1 for BNNTs:DNA using (GT)20 by UV-vis absorbance measurements. Second, the DNA length effect on the dispersion yield of BNNTs was investigated using sequences (GT)3, …

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation For The Production Of Functional Motion Of A Human Arm, Kyra Ruby

Undergraduate Research Posters 2017

Persons with tetraplegia experience little to no function in their arms and are therefore unable to perform reaching tasks without assistance. While functional electrical stimulation (FES) has shown promise for restoring motion to paralyzed limbs, it is limited by issues such as muscle fatigue and atrophy. A control strategy robust enough to overcome these issues has yet to be developed and some motions are not feasible even with the most sophisticated FES control strategy. In theory, a powered exoskeleton could be used in concert with an FES system to increase the accuracy of control and assist the arm when motions …

Ferroelectricity And The Phase Transition In Large Area Evaporated Vinylidene Fluoride Oligomer Thin Films, Keith Foreman, Shashi Poddar, Stephen Ducharme, Shireen Adenwalla

Shireen Adenwalla Papers

Organic ferroelectric materials, including the well-known poly(vinylidene fluoride) and its copolymers, have been extensively studied and used for a variety of applications. In contrast, the VDF oligomer has not been thoroughly investigated and is not widely used, if used at all. One key advantage the oligomer has over the polymer is that it can be thermally evaporated in vacuum, allowing for the growth of complex heterostructures while maintaining interfacial cleanliness. Here, we report on the ferroelectric properties of high-quality VDF oligomer thin films over relatively large areas on the order of mm². The operating temperature is identified via …