Engineering Commons^™

Nanoscale In Photocatalysis, Zhaohui Wang, Hongqi Sun

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Rationally harvesting sunlight to carry out chemical reactions, for example, photochemistry and photocatalysis, has appeared as a beautiful episode within the long history of solar-energy utilization by human beings. Before solar-driven chemical processes approach the scale of solar panel or solar thermal application, considerate efforts are still required from effective collaborations among academia, industries, and governments. Over past few decades, the photocatalysis frontier has been continuously explored by means of interdisciplinary research. Emerging understanding in the nanoscale is most likely to lead photocatalysis into the future.

Determination Of Forming Ability Of High Pressure Die Casting For Zr-Based Metallic Glass, Lehua Liu, Jiang Ma, Chunyan Yu, Xiusong Huang, Liangju He, Laichang Zhang, Peijie Li, Zhiyuan Liu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Large-sized industrial grade Zr₅₅Cu₃₀Ni₅Al₁₀ bulk metallic glass (BMG) was fabricated by a two-step arc-melting process and adding a trace of rare earth yttrium elements. A model to calculate critical cooling rate for forming BMG was established by considering the effect of pressure. Based on the model, the most important indicator, namely the critical size of forming BMG, for design and fabrication of BMG components by high pressure die casting (HPDC) is determined in consideration of different processing parameters, including the pressure and casting temperature. Theoretical calculation and numerical simulation indicated that increasing applied …

Ferric Carbide Nanocrystals Encapsulated In Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes As An Outstanding Environmental Catalyst, Chen Wang, Jian Kang, Ping Liang, Huayang Zhang, Hongqi Sun, Moses O. Tadé, Shaobin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes encapsulating iron carbide (Fe₃C) nanocrystals (Fe₃C@NCNT) were fabricated by a simple and direct pyrolysis method using melamine and ferric chloride as the C, N and Fe precursors. The surface morphology, structure and composition of the Fe₃C@NCNT materials were thoroughly investigated. The nanomaterials were employed as novel catalysts for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation; outstanding efficiency, high stability and excellent reusability were observed in the catalytic oxidation of organics. The encapsulated Fe₃C nanoparticles played a key role in the emerging synergetic effects of the carbide and the protective graphitic layers. In addition, …

Modeling Effects Of Annealing On Coal Char Reactivity To O2 And Co2, Based On Preparation Conditions, Troy Michael Holland, Sham Bhat, Peter Marcy, James Gattiker, Joel D. Kress, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

Oxy-fired coal combustion is a promising potential carbon capture technology. Predictive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are valuable tools in evaluating and deploying oxyfuel and other carbon capture technologies, either as retrofit technologies or for new construction. However, accurate predictive combustor simulations require physically realistic submodels with low computational requirements. A recent sensitivity analysis of a detailed char conversion model (Char Conversion Kinetics (CCK)) found thermal annealing to be an extremely sensitive submodel. In the present work, further analysis of the previous annealing model revealed significant disagreement with numerous datasets from experiments performed after that annealing model was developed. The …

Enhancing Ductility Of Wwr Slabs, Mohamed Shwani, Taylor J. Sorensen, Ethan Pickett, Parker Syndergaard, Marc Maguire

Faculty Publications

A series of research studies have recently identified an issue called strain localization in welded wire reinforced (WWR) members. This phenomenon reportedly concentrates strains at welded cross wire locations and severely limit ductility. Those that identified the phenomenon used it to imply that WWR is unsafe because it does not warn of failure. This research program is investigating details to mitigate the strain localization effect and demonstrate the WWR can be used safely. Sixteen beams have been constructed using WWR and rebar with various cross wire spacing, using a realistic design. The strain localization phenomenon was not demonstrated, but WWR …

Investigating Composite Action At Ultimate For Commercial Sandwich Panel Composite Connectors, Salam Al-Rubaye, Taylor J. Sorensen, Marc Maguire

Faculty Publications

To achieve full or partial-composite action in prestressed concrete sandwich panel walls, the engineer must obtain a percent composite action from a connector manufacturer, making some engineers uncomfortable. Engineers are dependent upon the recommendations given by the connector manufacturers to establish their designs. This project tested six full-scale sandwich panel walls to evaluate the percent composite action of various connectors and compare the results to those provided by the composite connector manufacturers. This study concluded that the reported degrees of composite action from each manufacturer are considered conservative in all instances for the connectors tested in this paper. Additionally, the …

Middle School Student Habits, Perceptions, And Self-Directed Learning, Scott R. Bartholomew

Faculty Publications

Today’s students are growing up in a digital world with constant connectivity, instant access to information, and new technological developments at every turn. The feasibility, effectiveness, and possibilities of students leveraging technological tools around them for learning are the subject of continual debate (Becker, 2017; Bowen, 2012; Tamim, Bernard, Borokhovski, Abrami, & Schmid, 2011). In this study, 706 middle school students from 18 classes worked in groups of 2-3 to complete an open-ended engineering design challenge. Students completed design portfolios and constructed prototypes in their groups in response to the design challenge. Classes were divided with some receiving access to …

Parkinson's Symptoms Quantification Using Wearable Sensors, Md Nafiul Alam

Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder affecting more than one million people in the United States and seven million people worldwide. Motor symptoms such as tremor, slowness of movements, rigidity, postural instability, and gait impairment are commonly observed in PD patients. Currently, Parkinsonian symptoms are usually assessed in clinical settings, where a patient has to complete some predefined motor tasks. Then a physician assigns a score based on the United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) after observing the motor task. However, this procedure suffers from inter subject variability. Also, patients tend to show fewer symptoms during clinical visit, …

Comparing An Atomic Model Or Structure To A Corresponding Cryo-Electron Microscopy Image At The Central Axis Of A Helix, Stephanie Zeil, Julio Kovacs, Willy Wriggers, Jing He

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Three-dimensional density maps of biological specimens from cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can be interpreted in the form of atomic models that are modeled into the density, or they can be compared to known atomic structures. When the central axis of a helix is detectable in a cryo-EM density map, it is possible to quantify the agreement between this central axis and a central axis calculated from the atomic model or structure. We propose a novel arc-length association method to compare the two axes reliably. This method was applied to 79 helices in simulated density maps and six case studies using cryo-EM …

Exploiting Modern Image Processing In Surface Flow Visualisation, Tarek Ihab Abdelsalam, Richard Williams, Grant Ingram

Mechanical Engineering

Surface flow visualisation is an experimental technique where the surface of interest is painted with an oil and dye mixture before a flow is applied to the object. In regions of high shear stress the oil/dye mixture is then removed and in regions of low shear stress the oil/dye mixture stays or builds up. The resulting pattern can be analysed to determine the structure near the surface under test, this is normally done in a qualitative manner with flow structures being identified based on the expertise of the experimentalist. Modern image processing tools can identify shapes and lines in pictures …

Estimation And Utilization Of Landfill Gas From Egyptian Municipal Wastes, A Case Study, Ali Habib, Ahmed A. Abdel-Rehim

Mechanical Engineering

Purpose

As the first Author had the chance to invest in landfill gas plant (EL Hammam plant) that flare approximately 1000 m3/hr. to generate electricity. Two critical question must be answered in order to proceed with the feasibility study. The three questions are:

1. 1- How many years this landfill gas emission will last?

2. 2- How much energy can be generated from one million ton if landfilled?

3. 3- How much CO2 in tons will be saved during the project life time?

Methods: Experimental method is used to determine BMP (Biochemical methane potential) ton CH4/ton waste. With

results we can know the …

Timeline - Space Race, Jesse Lackey

Cold War & Space Race

The infographic attached along with this note is a timeline of several historical events that took place primarily in the 20th century. This timeline will serve as a useful piece in the classroom when one is teaching the reading, Hidden Figures, and looking to pinpoint it and the events related to it within a historical context. The timeline chronologically compares groundbreaking historical events such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the creation of NASA alongside the historical presence of the three women, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson, that the reading is focused around.

Uses For Graphene, Marcus R. Schmidt

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This slide presentation for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College discusses graphene, which is a chemically or mechanically produced single layer of pure carbon atoms. The thinnest compound known to man is also one of the strongest, with uses in technology and the health industry from faster charging batteries to motorcycle helmets. The remaining slides summarize a process by which free radicals are reduced in graphene by being treated with butyl acrylate polymerization.

In-Vehicle Evaluation Of Milled Rumble Strips At Pre- And Post-Chip Sealed Maintenance Periods, Ernest Tufuor, Laurence Rilett, Christopher Lefrois

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Driver fatigue and drowsiness can have a profound impact on safety. Centerline and shoulder rumble strips (RS) are popular countermeasures designed to produce audible and tactile warning when vehicles deviate from the travel lane onto the RS. This reduces the risk of lane departure crashes. Studies show that the noise produced by RS is a function of many variables. RS depth is known to have the greatest impact on alerting drivers. However, chip-seal pavement maintenance operations have the tendency to reduce the original RS design depth, which may have an impact on the functional effectiveness of the RS. The purpose …

Nebraska Public Water Supply Program Summary Report 2017

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality: Reports

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program under the authority of the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Under the SDWA and the 1986 Amendments, EPA sets national limits on contaminant levels in drinking water to ensure that the water is safe for human consumption. These limits are known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels (MRDLs). For some regulations, EPA establishes treatment techniques in lieu of an MCL to control unacceptable levels of contaminants in water.

2017 Nebraska Groundwater Quality Monitoring Report

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality: Reports

The 2001 Nebraska Legislature passed LB329 (Neb. Rev. Stat. §46-1304) which, in part, directed the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) to report on groundwater quality monitoring in Nebraska. Reports have been issued annually since December 2001. The text of the statute applicable to this report follows: “The Department of Environmental Quality shall prepare a report outlining the extent of ground water quality monitoring conducted by natural resources districts during the preceding calendar year. The department shall analyze the data collected for the purpose of determining whether or not ground water quality is degrading or improving and shall present the …

Compensatory Response Of Fathead Minnow Larvae Following A Pulsed In-Situ Exposure To A Seasonal Agricultural Runoff Event, Jonathan M. Ali, John Sangster, Daniel D. Snow, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Alan S. Kolok

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Agriculturally-dominated waterways such as those found throughout the Midwestern United States often experience seasonal pulses of agrichemical contaminants which pose a potential hazard to aquatic organisms at varying life stages. The objective of this study was to characterize the developmental plasticity of fathead minnow larvae in a natural environment subject to a seasonal episodic perturbation in the form of a complex mixture of agricultural stressors. Fathead minnow larvae were maintained at the Elkhorn River Research Station for a 28-d in situ exposure to an agrichemical pulse event.Minnow larvae were sampled after 14 and 28 days to characterize developmental plasticity through …

Development Of Innovative High-Energy Neutron And Gamma-Ray Shielding Material Based On High Density Cement And Crumb Rubber, Pawitra Aim-O

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The incorporation of carbon and hydrogen-rich material into radiation shielding material can improve its shielding performance. High-density cement mixed with crumb rubber was studied to be a gamma ray and neutron shielding material. Shielding materials were designed using high-density cement mixed with 5 - 25 vol% of crumb rubber. Monte Carlo N-Particle code was employed to simulate radiation shielding performances of the composed materials. The utilized neutron and photon sources were Am-241/Be and Co-60, respectively. These shielding designs were fabricated and experimentally evaluated on the radiation shielding properties. The cracking mechanism of high-density cement mixed with lead (HDCRL) was also …

Evaluation Of Captured Co2 And Waste H2 As Potential Feedstock For Methanol Production, Kankanit Kitsahawong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Global warming is the critical issue that is the result of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emission. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is concerned to be major GHGs. Thus, Carbon dioxide utilization is the promising pathway to reduce the emission of CO2. To utilize CO2, waste hydrogen from sodium methoxide production is used to produce methanol which can be recycled as reactant of sodium methoxide synthesis. Carbon dioxide hydrogenation process is used for produce methanol from CO2 and waste H2 from various size of sodium methoxide production process. In every size of methanol production process, methanol which produce from the process is 16.3% of …

Conceptual Design Process Improvement For Drainage Systemusing Project Management, Wantanee Kongpanya

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The major concern in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is time, cost, and quality. The design for industrial building project usually complex, particularly in a field of mechanical and piping process due to the large involvement of project stakeholders. The case company, which is the specialist supplier of industrial piping solution in Thailand, reported the issue of redesigns regarding to their poor project management of conceptual design process in construction project that effect to their work performance and customer satisfaction. Thus, the purpose of this study was to improve the process of conceptual design using project management concept …

Effect Of Operating Conditions And Ion Contaminations On Electro Coagulation And Oxidation Processes For Water Quality Improvement, Vouchlay Theng

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of ion contaminations and operating conditions on Electro Coagulation (EC) and Oxidation (EO) in turbidity and natural organic matter (NOM) removal. The experiments were conducted in 4 liters column. Ferrous and calcium were chosen as contaminated ions. The operating condition was varied in terms of initial pH and current density. 100 NTU turbidity and 70 mg/L NOM were synthesized from bentonite and humic acid (HA), respectively. The results showed that bipolar arrangement of electrodes with 2 cm gap was the optimal condition in terms of gas flow rate and electrode …

การพัฒนาเครื่องพลาสมาเย็นแบบเจ็ตที่ความดันบรรยากาศสำหรับการทำให้เลือดแข็งตัว, ณัฐนพิญช์ จรูญศักดิ์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้เป็นการพัฒนาเครื่องพลาสมาเย็นแบบเจ็ตที่ความดันบรรยากาศสำหรับการทำให้เลือดแข็งตัวที่ประกอบด้วย 2 ส่วนหลักคือ แหล่งจ่ายไฟฟ้าแรงดันสูงความถี่สูงชนิดกระแสสลับ แบบฟลายแบค (Fly back) ที่ควบคุมการทำงานด้วยไมโครคอนโทรลเลอร์และพลาสมาโปรบด้วยวัสดุอุปกรณ์ที่หาได้ในประเทศ โดยออกแบบให้สามารถปรับตั้งค่าความถี่และดิวตี้ไซเคิลผ่านระบบไมโครคอนโทรลเลอร์ได้ที่ความถี่ 30 35 และ 40 kHz และเปอร์เซ็นต์ดิวตี้ไซเคิล 30 40 50 และ 70 % ตามลำดับ ส่วนการปรับตั้งค่าของไฟฟ้าแรงดันสูงเป็นการปรับด้วยมือได้ตั้งแต่ 0.1 ถึง 15 kVrms จากผลการทดลองพบว่า แหล่งจ่ายไฟฟ้าแรงดันสูงความถี่สูงชนิดกระแสสลับที่พัฒนาขึ้นมีประสิทธิภาพการทำงานเท่ากับ 74.28 % การศึกษาผลกระทบของตัวแปรต่างๆต่อความยาวและอุณหภูมิของพลาสมาเจ็ต พบว่าค่าไฟฟ้าแรงดันสูง ความถี่ เปอร์เซ็นต์ดิวตี้ไซเคิล และอัตราการไหลของก๊าซอาร์กอน เป็นตัวแปรสำคัญที่ส่งผลต่อความสม่ำเสมอของเปลวพลาสมา ผลการวิเคราะห์คุณสมบัติของพลาสมาด้วยเครื่อง Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) พบว่า มีอุณหภูมิของอิเล็กตรอนที่ความถี่ต่างๆและที่อัตราการไหลต่างๆที่มีค่าเท่ากับ 0.43 eV และความหนาแน่นของอิเล็กตรอนของพลาสมาอยู่ในช่วง 5.46x109 – 1.74x1012 cm-3 ซึ่งสามารถระบุได้ว่าพลาสมาแบบเจ็ตที่พัฒนาขึ้นเป็นพลาสมาเย็น จากผลทดสอบการแข็งตัวของเลือดด้วยเครื่องพลาสมาเย็นแบบเจ็ตที่พัฒนาขึ้น พบว่า ที่ระยะห่างระหว่างปลายโปรบกับกระจกสไลด์ 1 เซนติเมตร พลาสมาเย็นแบบเจ็ตที่พัฒนาขึ้นสามารถทำให้เลือดที่ผสมสารต้านการแข็งตัวของเลือด EDTA ปริมาณ 2.5 µL. ให้แข็งตัวภายในเวลาประมาณ 20 วินาที ได้เร็วกว่าเลือดผสมสาร EDTA ที่ไม่ผ่านการฉายด้วยพลาสมาและเลือดผสมสาร EDTA ที่ผ่านการเป่าด้วยก๊าซอาร์กอนที่อัตราการไหลของก๊าซอาร์กอน 5 L/min

Analysis Of Mechanical Properties Of Alternative Timber Beams For A Native American Earth Lodge, Freddy E. Moran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To fill a gap in the literature, this thesis explored the mechanical properties for alternative roof beams of a historic Native American Hidatsa earth lodge. The research demonstrates that in those alternative beams, when Moisture Content (MC) increases, Modulus of Elasticity (E) decreases and deflection increases. The procedure included obtaining dimensions for alternative beams from scaled sketches created by ethnographers and informants who recorded an actual Hidatsa earth lodge in the early 1800s (confirmed by other sources) although no material properties studies have resulted. After calculating loads, the variations in the E were determined using an equation. Using linear analysis, …

Research Area 1: Vehicle Lightweight Design And Safety, Vlsj Lab, Mechanical Engineering Department, Georgia Southern University

VLSJ Lab: Research Areas (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Biphasic Cellulose Acetate/Rtil Membranes And Functionalized Graphene Adsorbents For Natural Gas Processing: Experimental And Molecular Simulation Studies, Amir Khakpay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, gas separation using membranes is investigated for natural gas upgrading. The main objectives of this study are separation of high value hydrocarbons such as propane (c3h8) from natural gas and carbon dioxide (co2) separation from light gases such as nitrogen (n2) and methane (ch4). To achieve these goals, supported ionic liquid membranes (silms), biphasic membranes, and nanoporous graphene (npg) and graphene oxide (npgo) membranes are studied. Biphasic membranes are proposed to overcome silms issues for gas separation. The major issues with silms are low room temperature ionic liquid (rtil) content and instability at high cross-membrane pressure. For …

Designing Framework For The Computer Aided Design Of Silicon Carbide Jfet Circuits In Bleo Environments, Venkata Vinay Naidugari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: circuit design and testing are two essential processes to synthesis of an efficient and reliable circuit. Real-time testing of a circuit through circuit fabrication and development is an expensive and a risky procedure whereas testing the circuit by modelling and simulating is more efficient and inexpensive. Silicon-based semiconductors are the basic components of any modern day electronic devices, and their usage has dominated the marketplace. But these conventional cmos devices cannot exist in an environment consisting of harsh radiation, high temperature and many other environmental conditions, such as venus or mars. However, 6h-sic jfets, which are basic logic gate …

Comparing The Depositional Environment Of The Upper Smackover Formation In Southwestern Clarke County, Mississippi And Brooklyn/ Little Cedar Creek Field, Alabama, Elsie Ekene Okoye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research evaluated the depositional settings of the upper Smackover formation in southwestern Clarke County (scc), Mississippi and compared its facies to those of the Brooklyn and little cedar creek fields (bf/lcc) in Conecuh and Escambia Counties, Alabama. The Smackover formation has been a prolific oil producing formation in the Gulf of Mexico since its discovery in Union County, Arkansas in 1937. The discovery of the lcc in 1994 and the bf in 2007 has generated additional interest in the Smackover. The bf/ lcc occur near the updip limit of the upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) Smackover formation. These fields produce from …

Graphene Nano-Composites For Hypervelocity Impact Applications, Alharith Manasrah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is a harsh environment cluttered with natural meteoroids and man-made debris, which can travel at velocities approaching 15 km/s. Most space activities within the LEO will encounter this environment. Thus, the spacecraft and its hardware must be designed to survive debris impact. This research introduces new procedures to produce a nano-composite material with mortar-brick nano-structure inspired from nacre. Nacre-like composites were successfully manufactured, based on three host polymers, with a wide range of graphene concentrations. The manufactured exfoliated graphene nano-platelet, embedded in a host polymer, provided good potential for enhancement of the hypervelocity impact (HVI) …

Mechanical And Computational Evaluation Of Cementitious Materials With Hollow Glass Microsphere Inclusions, Zachary J. Wallace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effect of volumetric replacement of cementitious materials by an inert filler known as hollow glass microspheres on elastic properties is evaluated in this study through a combined computational and experimental approach. This approach considered the variation in properties of type I Portland cement for 0, 5, 10, and 15% volume fractions of two kind of glass microspheres; one was high density with high crushing strength, and the other with a relative lower density. Using a suite of software called Virtual Cement and Concrete Testing Laboratory (VCCTL), the microstructural details were determined for 80% degree of hydration of the cement …

Phase Stability In Cobalt-Based L12 Quaternary Intermetallics From Density Functional Theory, William Earwood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effects of higher order alloying additions (Mo, Ti, Ta, Hf, Fe, V) on the phase stability of L12 (γ’) intermetallics have been studied via first-principles. A 32 atom special-quasi-random structure was used to mimic the experimentally observed solid solution sublattice. Density of states distributions were generated in order to directly observe the impact of alloying additions on the position of the pseudogap and number of states at the Fermi level. Charge density differences across the supercell were visualized to analyze changes in bonding behavior. The results indicate that substitutions of Ti, Ta, and Hf in place of the central …