Engineering Commons^™

Understanding Shell Adhesion Mechanics For Soft Gripper Design, Chenxu Zhao

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation investigates the adhesion mechanics of hyperelastic hemispherical shells with finite thicknesses undergoing large deformation against rigid planar substrates. By integrating theoretical modeling, numerical simulations, and experimental validation, a comprehensive understanding of the adherence-detachment behavior of soft elastomeric shell structures is established. The study also applies these insights to the design of soft robotic grippers based on tunable adhesion. To understand the dry adhesion of a free soft shell against a rigid substrate, first, a graphical-numerical modeling framework based on the energy approach is developed and used to predict shell adhesion with a wide range of surface energy, thickness, …

Retracted: Enhancing Project Tracking Through Microsoft Power Platform Automation: A Case-Based Study Using Power Bi, Pirsab R. Attar, Quadri Ibad Ali, Arif Varsi, Khalid Sayed, Sameer Usmangani Sayyad

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Microsoft Power BI and Power Automate enhances project tracking by improving data accuracy, reducing manual effort, and delivering timely insights. The automation-driven approach leads to significant time savings and fewer reporting errors, contributing to more efficient and informed project management. Despite the availability of digital tools, there is limited research on unified frameworks that combine automation, data visualization, and real-time feedback for holistic project management. This study addresses this gap by evaluating an integrated system applied to a real-world project over one fiscal year, offering practical insights and measurable outcomes. Present study explores how Power BI enhances data accuracy and …

Multi-Modal Mri For The Pre-Clinical Evaluation Of Hiv-Linked Changes In The Central Nervous System, Gabriel Gauthier

Theses & Dissertations

Though the inception of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has fundamentally changed the life expectancy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, accessibility and outcomes vary enormously along demographic lines. Even for people living with HIV (PLWH) with perfect access and adherence to anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), modern treatment plans are fundamentally unable to secure complete viral remission for patients. The cause of this perpetual infection is the persistence of viral reservoirs in the central nervous system (CNS), hidden beyond the reach of modern ARVs, leaving patients to deal with lifelong medication side-effects and risks of developing HIV-associated neurodegenerative disorders (HAND). Despite improving outcomes …

A Framework For Establishing An Automated Traffic Violation Detection System In New Assiut City Using Ordinary Cctv Units, Mahmoud Owais, Ali Shehata, Abdou Shaband, Ghada S. Moussa

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Violating traffic rules in transport networks is a genuine concern for operators as it is one of the most important causes of fatal accidents. With the increasing number of residents in the new cities in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the incompleteness of the transportation system in those cities, including traffic signs, light signals, and control points, the possibility of committing such violations increases. The study aims to propose the framework for establishing an intelligent monitoring system in the new city of Assiut consisting of high-resolution cameras optimally distributed on the traffic network points in the city. They will …

Murray Grading Method: Impacts On Student Self-Efficacy, Stephanie E. Handford

Honors Theses

Pre-existing assessment methods in engineering lack the ability to ensure student mastery of material, simulate real world situations, and often have ambiguity in the valuation of grades. The goal of this study is to eliminate or reduce those shortcomings by evaluating the effectiveness of a modified no-partial-credit assessment method, the Murray Grading Method. Historical data alongside an introductory statics course cohort provided data for how the Murray Grading Method impacted student grades, course opinion, self-efficacy, and study methods. The Murray Grading Method demonstrated little to no changes in course grade averages while significantly improving the lowest grades, thus increasing the …

Direct Computations Of Spatially Resolved Viscoelastic Moduli Of Biomolecular Condensates, Liwen Gu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Biomolecular condensates are viscoelastic materials formed by liquid-liquid phase separations (LLPS) of biopolymers. In this study, we develop a modified graph Laplacian-based collective model to characterize viscoelastic heterogeneity within condensates based on results of lattice-based Metropolis Monte Carlo (MMC) simulations. By integrating random graph models and simulations of A1-LCD, a type of intrinsically disordered protein, we examine how network topology influences storage modulus, loss modulus, crossover frequency, and relaxation time spectra. Our results reveal a strong correlation between topological features and mechanical response, with the condensate interior exhibiting higher stiffness and faster relaxation than the interface. The relaxation spectra provide …

Civil Engineering Capstone Building Design And Seismic Analysis, Ander P. Mcdade

Honors Theses

The building for the University of Mississippi civil engineering senior design class was designed and analyzed. The building is in Oxford Mississippi. The current address according to the Lafayette Parcel is 825 Sisk Avenue Suite 200. The floor plan, column, and beam design were performed based on engineering judgment and industry standards. The dead, live, snow, rain, and roof live loads were calculated to be 13.3, 50, 20, 27.51, and 20 psf respectively. The building model was created in SAP2000, which was used to generate all loads and load combinations. An analysis was performed to determine the critical loads on …

Feasibility Analysis For The Implementation Of An Anaerobic Digestion System In The City Of Pittsburgh, Pa, Gianna L. Kolencik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study is investigating the feasibility of an anaerobic digestion system

in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the old State Correctional Institute (SCI-Pittsburgh)

located at 1922 Westhall St. This location is immediately upstream of the Allegheny

County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) along the Ohio River. Municipal solid waste

from ALCOSAN may be used as the main form of feedstock. ALCOSAN produced

roughly 36,500 tons of dry sludge in the reporting year 2023-2024. Based on the volume

of dry sludge from ALCOSAN it is estimated that an anaerobic digestion system could

yield approximately 29,930,000 kWh of energy, which is enough to power over …

A Product Development Process From Concept To Production: Smartphone Projector, Ross G. Cohen, Piper G. Thomas

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate the production and documentation of the SmartPhone Projector Capstone for the Center of Manufacturing Excellence (CME). This document follows the production development from the beginning Spring 2024 problem definition all the way to the Fall of 2024 final product. This project was completed by a team of five undergraduate students, including an accounting major, finance major, biomedical engineering major, and two mechanical engineering majors. The goal of this project was to design and build a SmartPhone projector, then carry out a full production run located on the CME shop floor. To begin …

From Concept To Light: Manufacturing A Dual-Purpose Bedside Lamp And Book Organizer, Nicole Goulet

Honors Theses

This report features the design, development, engineering changes, and manufacturing of the Bedside Lamp, a hand-made multi-purpose lamp, book holder, and charging hub. The investigation began with research and a market analysis on current lamp designs and a discussion about what features would set the lamp apart. This led to the design of the lamp and construction of multiple prototypes for proof of concept.

A manufacturing process was then designed to demonstrate the steps to start up an efficient and cost-effective production line. This process included obtaining raw materials, cutting them into the necessary parts, and assembling everything to create …

Mechatronic System Mobility Enhancement Device For Patient With Cerebral Palsy, Tori N. Saenz

Honors Theses

The primary objective of this project was to design and fabricate the electronic, power, and control systems for a mobility device oriented around the needs of a young man with cerebral palsy, named Lane Bryant. This project was completed during the Mechanical Engineering Capstone Senior Design Experience. A separate group completed the design and fabrication of the wheelchair’s ergonomic and structural elements. Research on the typical operation of existing electric wheelchairs was completed to form a baseline of operating parameters. Observations from a previous wheelchair for Lane, called the Wild Thing, guided many design choices. The power supply was designed …

Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Capstone Modine Engineering: Collapsible Hvac Coil Expansion Table, Austin M. Hipskind

Honors Theses

For the Mechanical Engineering Senior Design class, teams of seniors were asked to find a sponsor company willing to provide a problem they were experiencing at a local plant. Using the skills gained throughout college, they were asked to go through a standardized problem-solving method to develop a solution for the sponsor company. I was teamed with Fernando Arellano and Henry Lindsey to work with Modine Engineering on creating a modular and collapsible table for use with large, custom-designed coils. This table would have to hold large, heavy coils during the expansion process. Modine requested a 3D design, the cost …

Algorithms & Design Behind Autonomous Uavs And Ugvs Coordinated System, Aashish Dhakal

Honors Theses

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), when coordinated effectively, offer substantial potential for automating large-scale tasks—from search and rescue operations to precision agriculture. However, synchronizing these autonomous systems remains challenging, especially in time-sensitive missions requiring precision. This thesis investigates the design and algorithmic coordination of autonomous UAVs and UGVs, examining both single-vehicle scenarios and multi-agent (swarming) approaches. Using the Robot Operating System (ROS) as a communication backbone, I integrate GPS positioning with computer vision techniques through OpenCV, enabling accurate localization and object detection. During the development phase, I validate my methods using ArduPilot Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) simulations within …

Exploring Manufacturing Techniques For Small-Scale Metal Fabrication And How They Can Be Optimized For Efficiency, Precision, And Scalability To Produce A Fire Pit, Henry W. Potter

Honors Theses

This thesis explores manufacturing techniques for small-scale metal fabrication, using a fire pit production as a case study to optimize efficiency, precision, and scalability. The study examines the challenges of small-scale manufacturing and analyzes alternative manufacturing techniques for cutting, joining, and surface finishing. Data was gathered through a case study involving the design and production of a fire pit. The manufacturing process included cutting, rolling, joining, and surface finishing. Alternative techniques, such as laser cutting and a paint sprayer, were compared to the methods used in the project. It was concluded that alternate methods offered improvements in efficiency, precision, and …

Opmed Seal: Engineering A Rapid-Response Biodegradable Device For Hemorrhage Control And Infection Prevention In Abdominal Trauma, Paula M. Cabrera, Wesley Stephen Murphy

Honors Theses

Abdominal gunshot wounds are amongst the deadliest injuries encountered in combat and remote emergency settings. For military medics and first responders, the challenge lies in controlling internal bleeding and preventing infection before patients can reach surgical care-often within a narrow window of time known as the “golden hour”. Currently available field treatments are either too slow, not designed for internal wounds, or fail to provide antimicrobial protection. To address this gap, our team developed OpMed Seal: a compact, dual-syringe delivery system that deploys a biodegradable, antibiotic-infused hydrogel directly into abdominal injuries. The system is designed for rapid hemorrhage control, localized …

Production Of Sustainable Liquid Fuel From Waste Polymeric Materials Via Thermal Pyrolysis, Md. Sabbir Ahmed, Selim Reja, Sk Md Ali Zaker Shawon, Farhana Nazmin, Abdullah Mohammad Sarjish, Yousuf Ali, M. Azizur R. Khan, M. Jasim Uddin, Md. Wasikur Rahman

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The widespread use of polymeric materials has become an environmental threat as they are durable and nonbiodegradable in nature, which is directly responsible for severe ecological consequences. Thermal pyrolysis offers a sustainable and efficient approach to converting these polymeric waste materials into liquid fuel, which is also referred to as pyrolysis oil (PO). In this study, a novel method was developed for producing oil from a composite of waste polymers that include vehicle tires, tubes, and medical waste. A fixed-bed stainless steel reactor is used to thermally breakdown the waste polymeric feedstock (300–750°C) in an inert environment. The PO was …

An Adaptation Of Nonlinear Aerodynamic Models For Non-Traditional Control Effectors, Christian R. Bolander, Douglas F. Hunsaker

Engineering Education Faculty Publications

This paper presents the development of a novel aerodynamic model tailored for the Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage (BIRE), a non-traditional fixed-wing aircraft empennage inspired by avian flight. The BIRE replaces the conventional vertical stabilizer with an extra degree of freedom for the horizontal stabilizer, which is allowed to rotate about the body-fixed x axis. This empennage is similar to the tail of a bird, and allows control of both longitudinal and lateral moments. However, such a design introduces complex nonlinear longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic interactions, not typically accounted for in most fixed-wing aircraft aerodynamic models below stall. This work presents a …

American Football Internal Helmet Padding Material And Design Testing, Spencer J. Pigman

Honors Thesis

Football helmets have evolved significantly to improve player safety and reduce the risk of concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Early leather designs offered minimal protection, while modern helmets use advanced materials to absorb and distribute impact forces more effectively. To support ongoing helmet safety research, a custom 3D-printed headform modeled from a human scan was equipped with a WitMotion BWT901BLECL5.0 accelerometer and used in controlled drop tests. The study evaluated various internal padding materials including spray foam, two sizes of bubble wrap, Oobleck, scrub sponges, KTOESHEO foam, Hijelyn air pillows, and the standard padding from a Riddell Victor youth helmet. …

Designing An Economically Viable Off-Grid Photovoltaic System Considering The Battery Discharge Rate, Ahmed S. Abdelrazek, Eslam Mohamed Ahmed, Mahmoud Elsisi, Mokhtar Said

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The primary significance of harnessing power from clean and renewable sources lies in the fact that numerous rural areas are far from the utility system. Among the renewable energy technologies catering to power needs in residential areas is the solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Despite the potential of PV technology and the abundant sun radiation exposure in Hurghada, Egypt, there is a lack of empirical studies evaluating the feasibility of off-grid power production using this system. A notable aspect of this study is the consideration of the discharge rate of the battery for sizing the off-grid system, involving the distribution of …

Egyptian Government Actions To Implement A Green, Smart, Secured And Sustainable City In Africa, Egypt To Host Cop27, Enas Samir, Eman Metwally

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Smart cities are essential for addressing globalization, urban overpopulation, and urban growth. This paper discusses the Egyptian government's strategies, policies, and procedures for transforming Sharm-Elsheikh city into a green, smart, safe, secured, and sustainable city. The research aims to learn from COP28 and export an action plan to convert the city from a touristic to a smart green, secure, and sustainable city. The main research question is how COP27 in Egypt will become the COP of implementation, and the hypothesis is that the current mindset for managing economic files may not be suitable for the new economic orientations.

The Effects Of Internet Service Criteria On Institutional Performance, Mohammed Naji, Sivadass Thiruchelvam, Mohammed Khudari

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Internet service today greatly affects individuals, companies, and organizations around the world, as the Internet contributes to many things such as facilitating procedures, reducing effort, and saving time. The instability of the Internet system is a major obstacle to the successful implementation of institutional plans, leading to many workflow problems, including delays in providing services to citizens and insufficient communication between the components of the institution. It also leads to a lack of information needed for decision-making, which negatively affects customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. There is a gap in the literature regarding the evaluation of the relationships between Internet …

Advancing Lymphoma Diagnosis In Histopathology Image Classification Using Multi Deep Learning Models, Ahmed Elaraby, Andrey Nechaevskiy, Aymen Saad

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Deep learning's rapid development is generating significant interest in its potential to improve medical imaging. It has shown promising results in detecting malignant lymphoma in histopathology medical images. Image classification methods are widely used to aid in making diagnoses from medical images. In recent years, deep learning methods have achieved high performance in detecting malignant lymphoma in histopathology images. This study proposes a novel approach to improving lymphoma diagnosis in histopathology images called the Lightweight Convolutional Neural Network (LWCNN). The proposed LWCNN model comprises multiple deep learning architectures, including a convolutional neural network (CNN) that has been trained to classify …

Improved Harmony Search Algorithm For Sdn Controller Placement, Yousra Abdul Alsahib S. Aldeen, Ahmed T. Sadiq, Abeer E. Abed, Omar F. Hussain, Syed Hamid Hussain Madni

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The Software-Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm decouples the control and the data plane. One of the most significant challenges in this paradigm is SDN controller placement optimization, since improper placement may dramatically influence latency, load balancing, and network resilience. The paper proposes the Improved Harmony Search Algorithm (IHSA) as a new approach for the placement of SDN controllers. To overcome the disadvantages of conventional optimization methods like HSA, GA, and PSO, adaptive parameter tuning, dynamic harmony memory management, and updating rules for enhanced memory are incorporated into the IHSA. The complete simulations of IHSA over small, medium, and large-scale SDN topologies …

Alterations And Improvements Of The Photoacoustic Flow Cytometry Method, Nicholas J. Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The emergence and proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria present a significant and growing challenge to global public health, with the potential to render many existing antibiotics ineffective. Infections caused by these resistant pathogens are difficult to treat, resulting in higher morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. A major obstacle in combating these infections is the slow pace of traditional diagnostic methods, such as blood cultures, which typically take 2-3 days to identify the causative bacteria and determine their antibiotic resistance profiles. This delay in diagnosis hinders timely interventions and appropriate treatment, further contributing to the spread of resistant infections. As such, there …

The Effects Of Flood Irrigation Vs. Pivot Irrigation On Groundwater Recharge, Tea Rainey

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Groundwater can be an important resource for river flow support, and this is especially true with the Big Hole River in southwestern Montana which is mainly fed by groundwater late in the summer season. Maintaining the source of groundwater is an important focus both for the Big Hole River Watershed Committee as well as local ranchers. Agriculture uses large quantities of water, and as technology advances many ranchers are turning to the use of pivot lines for irrigation. Historically, flood irrigation was used when surface water was available. Surface water sources include tributary streams as well as diversions from the …

Snowmelt Runoff Driven Hydropower Modelling Based On Spaceborne Remotely Sensed And Ground Weather Network Data, Ninad Bhagwat

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Identification of new optimal hydropower locations provides an opportunity to improve mankind's green energy portfolio by developing new hydroelectric plants, thereby decreasing the carbon footprint. Preliminary analysis of locating the optimal hydropower sites is generally the first step towards construction of a new hydropower plant. In this dissertation, I developed a parsimonious, yet robust tool to perform the preliminary analysis to locate optimal hydropower locations in any watershed using the remotely sensed Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Simulating the snowmelt-derived streamflow is crucial for water resources management in snow-dominated watersheds. The Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) is a lumped-parameter, temperature-index model that …

Experiments And Modeling Of Pmu Under Gps Spoofing Attacks, Joshua Afosa-Baffoe

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) require an accurate timing signal, which is generally broadcast once per second and communicated to the PMU. While other timing protocols exist, internal clock actively synchronized to GPS time. This GPS dependence creates a potential cybersecurity vulnerability that requires attention. In this thesis, two critical aspects of GPS Spoofing Attacks (GSAs) were investigated. First, laboratory experiments on how a commercial PMU, compliant with the IEEE C37.118 standard, responds to a variety of GSAs. This work examines the ability of PMUs to detect certain spoofing attacks, highlighting cases where detection fails. The characteristic signature of the PMU …

Fenitization Of Mafic Wallrock Associated With Emplacement Of Ree-Rich Carbonatites Of Sheep Creek, Southern Ravalli County, Montana, Tage Young

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Sheep Creek area of southern Ravalli County, Montana, contains numerous small, carbonatite-related deposits rich in niobium (Nb) and rare earth elements (REE). The carbonatite bodies are typically < 2 m wide, strike northeast or east, and dip moderately to steeply to the north. The carbonatites are locally deformed, and are conformable to foliation in the host rocks. The host rocks belong to a 1.37 Ga, bimodal, metaigneous complex consisting of granite/augen gneiss and diabase/amphibolite. When found in close proximity to a mineralized carbonatite body, the mafic wall rock is altered to a fenite assemblage that includes phlogopite, albite or Na-rich plagioclase, calcite ± dolomite, magnetite, and sodic amphiboles (riebeckite, winchite). The mineral transformations are consistent with observed changes in the bulk chemistry of the mafic wall rocks, including consistent increases in K2O, Na2O, and H2O/CO2 and consistent decreases in SiO2 and Al2O3. Relatively minor changes in FeO and MgO were found to take place during the fenitization process. Fenite alteration is most strongly developed adjacent to carbonatites that are strongly mineralized with Nb-REE minerals. Unmineralized carbonatites have fenite zones that are weak or absent. Although the fenites themselves are not strongly enriched in REE, transfer of SiO2 and Al2O3 from the fenites back into the carbonatite bodies may have triggered deposition of REE-rich allanite and other silicate minerals (Ba-feldspar, actinolite, quartz) that are locally abundant in the carbonate lodes. An influx of silica may also have lowered the solubility of REE-phosphate in the carbonatite melts, resulting in deposition of monazite. Most fenites that have been described in previous studies around the world formed by alteration of felsic country rock (granite, gneiss, siliciclastic metasediments). These fenites are rich in alkali feldspar and aegirine, and form conspicuous, pink-colored outcrops that surround the central carbonatite complex. Because the country rock in the Sheep Creek area has a mafic starting composition, the fenites in this study have a completely different mineralogy, being rich in biotite, albite, and matrix calcite. These fenites erode to a crumbly grus soil, do not crop out well, and are therefore easy to miss or ignore in the field. However, recognition of these rocks is important because they are vectors to a nearby mineralized carbonatite.

Designing And Mcat Study App That Updates Automatically And Includes A Novel Goal Of Optomizing A User's Mental Health, Richard Vasquez

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This project investigates the multifaceted role of heart rate variability (HRV) as both a physiological and cognitive marker of human performance, with particular emphasis on its implications for academic preparation and decision- making. Drawing from recent literature, I examine the influence of exercise, sleep quality, stress management, and slow-paced breathing on HRV, highlighting its predictive value for executive function, emotional regulation, and adaptive decision-making. Additionally, the paper introduces a conceptual framework for an educational application that leverages HRV monitoring and breathing interventions such as, resonance breathing to enhance study effectiveness. Additionally, the application will feature a supplemental website to reinforce …

Peroxi-Electrocoagulation For Pfas Mitigation: The Impact Of Water Quality And Dissolved Organic Matter On Removal Pathways, Donald R. Ryan, Claire K. Baldus, Shimaa M. Kteeba, Melvin Samuel, Yin Wang, Laodong Wang, Brooke K. Mayer, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The recent addition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation per- has increased the need for research on PFAS treatment technologies for water and wastewater. Electrochemical treatment processes have been widely investigated for PFAS removal. Peroxi-electrocoagulation (electrocoagulation paired with hydrogen peroxide (EC:H₂O₂)) was evaluated as a novel water treatment process for PFAS mitigation due to the multimechanistic removal pathways that can proceed during treatment, including chemical degradation via oxidation, and physical separation pathways such as sorption to flocs, flotation layer accumulation, and foam fractionation. This work investigated the impacts of …