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2021

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Articles 121 - 150 of 388

Full-Text Articles in Engineering Science and Materials

Development Of Novel Battery Materials For Lithium-Ion Batteries And Beyond, Jiyu Cai Jul 2021

Development Of Novel Battery Materials For Lithium-Ion Batteries And Beyond, Jiyu Cai

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As fossil fuels are depleting and causing environmental issues, it becomes imperative to widely implement renewable energies (e.g., solar and wind power). In this context, electrical energy storage (EES) systems are essential to accommodate the intermittent supply and uneven distribution of renewable energies. To this end, high-energy-density EES devices are highly demanded, such as rechargeable batteries. This dissertation presents my efforts in developing novel battery materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), and solidstate lithium batteries (SSLBs). These efforts include electrochemical evaluations of battery materials, surface modifications of electrodes via atomic layer deposition (ALD), and advanced characterizations of batteries …


Phase-Field Modeling Of The Polymer Membrane Formation Process For Micro- And Ultra-Filtration, Michael Rosario Cervellere Jul 2021

Phase-Field Modeling Of The Polymer Membrane Formation Process For Micro- And Ultra-Filtration, Michael Rosario Cervellere

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Porous polymer membrane filters are widely used in separation and filtration process. Micro- and ultra-filtration membranes are commonly used in biopharmaceutical applications such as filtering viruses and separating proteins from a carrier solution. The formation of these membrane filters via phase inversion is a complex and interconnected process where varying casting conditions can have a wide variety of effects on the final membrane morphol- ogy. Tailoring membrane filters for specific performance characteristics is a tedious and time consuming process. The time and length scales of membrane formation make it extremely difficult to experimentally observe membrane formation. Modeling the membrane formation …


Influence Of Extracellular Matrix Stiffness And Topography On Neuronal Cell Behavior And Neurite Outgrowth, Mohan Yasodharababu Jul 2021

Influence Of Extracellular Matrix Stiffness And Topography On Neuronal Cell Behavior And Neurite Outgrowth, Mohan Yasodharababu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The focus of regeneration therapy for traumatic brain injuries and Alzheimer's disease is on the promotion and growth of neuronal cells. In vitro research attempts to improve this by modifying the stiffness and topography of the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the limitations of in vitro experiments make it difficult to control the individual factors influencing neuronal cell growth. A computational model can be used to decouple individual factors and study them individually to gain a better understanding of the mechanics between the neuronal cell and ECM, which will aid in the design of in vitro experimental studies.

This study develops …


Inhomogeneous Composite Design For High Energy Impact Resistance Through Computational Design, Physical Testing And Analysis, And Mathematical Modeling, Trenin Bayless Jul 2021

Inhomogeneous Composite Design For High Energy Impact Resistance Through Computational Design, Physical Testing And Analysis, And Mathematical Modeling, Trenin Bayless

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Research in the development of impact resistant materials has been an expanding field for the better part of a hundred years. The development of a light penetration resistant and man-portable system that can resist extreme quantities of kinetic energy has been a subject of substantial study. In particular, the use of composite materials, polymers, ceramics, and metals has been critical to the development of the field. With the advent of complex computational programs for defining material properties, it has become possible to use simulations as a starting point for the development of next generation armored systems. To that end, it …


Optimization Of Vaccine Supply Chains In Low- And Middle-Income Countries Utilizing Drones, Maximilian Kolter Jul 2021

Optimization Of Vaccine Supply Chains In Low- And Middle-Income Countries Utilizing Drones, Maximilian Kolter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite tremendous efforts from governments and humanitarian organizations, millions of children in low- and low-middle-income countries (LICs and LMICs) are still excluded from the benefits of immunization. The vaccine distribution in LICs and LMICs is challenging for several reasons, such as limited cold chain capacities, vaccine wastage, uncertain demand, and lack of access to immunization services. A promising avenue to address these issues is the utilization of drones for vaccine delivery. Drones can fly at high speed on direct paths and could enable on-demand deliveries to mitigate limited storage capacities. Further, their independence of road networks could allow them reaching …


A Computational Study Of Radiation Damage In Bilayer Silicon-Gold Structures, Cameron Hopper Jul 2021

A Computational Study Of Radiation Damage In Bilayer Silicon-Gold Structures, Cameron Hopper

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Irradiation from sources such as nuclear reactors bombard materials with neutrons and heavy ions. The primary consequence of this irradiation is the displacement of atoms from their atomic structure. As the structure becomes damaged, the mechanical properties can change. Eventually, this can result in a failure due to embrittlement. This type of damage is hard to detect and can result in sudden, unexpected failure. Therefore, focusing on managing the consequences of irradiation has been a heavily researched topic. To manage irradiation, the focus is primarily to manage the voids and interstitials that appear during irradiation. Grain boundaries and amorphous regions …


Electrochemical Deposition In Energy Storage Devices, Witness Atutala Martin Jul 2021

Electrochemical Deposition In Energy Storage Devices, Witness Atutala Martin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Metals, whether in a solid or soluble ion form, are a vital part of any electrochemical storage system. More so, Li metal is widely considered as the ideal anode because of its low density and low electrochemical potential (-3.04 V vs. the standard hydrogen electrode – SHE). However, just like most metals, it does not plate or strip evenly during cycling which can lead to cycling performance issues, short cycling lifespans, and even safety concerns brought about by dendrites that can cause internal short-circuiting within cells. This research focused on investigating the electroplating of metals in both aqueous and non-aqueous …


Design, Synthesis, And Optimization Of Additively Manufactured Functional Ceramics And Its Composites, Anabel Renteria Marquez Jul 2021

Design, Synthesis, And Optimization Of Additively Manufactured Functional Ceramics And Its Composites, Anabel Renteria Marquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The goal of this research consist in the design, synThesis and optimization of functional piezoelectric ceramics and composites that can be fabricated by Direct Ink Write (DIW) 3D printing technique for the use of sensors and energy storage applications. The synThesis optimization of lead-free ceramics for printing was evaluated by analyzing the impact of raw particle size of BaTiO3. A novel approach to evaluate the effect of bimodal distribution raw particle size of BaTiO3 ceramics is presented and their influence on packing density, piezoelectric coefficient and dielectric relative permittivity. Additionally, multi-material DIW printing was adapted as a novel method to …


Impact Of Regional Climate Changes On Changes In River Water Content In Uzbekistan, A.T. Salokhiddinov, P.A. Khakimova, R.V. Toryanniova, O.A. Ashirova, A.G. Gofurov Jun 2021

Impact Of Regional Climate Changes On Changes In River Water Content In Uzbekistan, A.T. Salokhiddinov, P.A. Khakimova, R.V. Toryanniova, O.A. Ashirova, A.G. Gofurov

Irrigation and Melioration

The paper presents the research results on the analysis of the climate change impacts on the potential of water resources in Central Asia. We analyzed the materials of an extensive database of monitoring data from numerous gauge stations on different river basins and satellite data information. A quantitative assessment of the transformation of river hydrographs, the growth of flow variability in the Republic of Uzbekistan's major rivers, in connection with climate change, was performed. The specific features of the impact of climate changes on changes in the water content of rivers in Uzbekistan in large and small river basins are …


Washing Technology For Medium And Highly Saline Soils, B.K. Saliev, M. S. Yuldashev, N.O. Shaimanov Jun 2021

Washing Technology For Medium And Highly Saline Soils, B.K. Saliev, M. S. Yuldashev, N.O. Shaimanov

Irrigation and Melioration

The article discusses the issues of conducting field experiments to assess the reclamation conditions of soils, which are a particular issue of managing salinity and water-salt regime, as well as increasing the efficiency of desalination. Today, 46.6% of the irrigated lands of the Republic of Uzbekistan have salinization of varying degrees, of which 30.9% are weak, 13.3% are moderate and 2.5% are highly saline. Medium and highly saline lands make up 15.8%. The essence of the proposed method of flushing from the traditional one is that in late autumn or winter, the collectors-ditches are closed, and the groundwater is artificially …


Distribution Of Calcium And Its Reserve Forms In Widespread Irrigated Gray Meadow Soils Of The Syrdarya Region, A. Akhatov Jun 2021

Distribution Of Calcium And Its Reserve Forms In Widespread Irrigated Gray Meadow Soils Of The Syrdarya Region, A. Akhatov

Irrigation and Melioration

The article examines the uneven distribution of calcium in reserve (general, potential, close and labile) forms in irrigated and gray-earth-meadow soils of the experimental section of the NIISSAVKH of the Gulistan district of the Syrdarya region and the farms "Sokhil" and "Ak altin" in irrigated meadow soils the form of a close reserve in the soil profile is 310 mg per 100 gr of soil. The upper layer of highly saline, medium loamy soil gradually decreases at a depth of 60-76 cm. layer. The labile calcium reserve in irrigated serozem-meadow, highly saline, medium loamy soils varies from 175 to 260 …


Design Of A Channel Straightening Route Using A Combined Dam With A Through Part Made Of Tetrahedra, M.R. Bakiev, A.B. Хаlimbetov, С.Э. Шукурова, I.J. Asamatdinov Jun 2021

Design Of A Channel Straightening Route Using A Combined Dam With A Through Part Made Of Tetrahedra, M.R. Bakiev, A.B. Хаlimbetov, С.Э. Шукурова, I.J. Asamatdinov

Irrigation and Melioration

The design of the route when regulating riverbeds, the direction of the flow to the point of water intake will require solving some issues, including the amount of deviation of the dynamic axis of the flow, constrained by regulatory structures. The main purpose of this work is to develop a method for calculating the deviation of the dynamic axis of a flow that is one-way constrained by a combined dam, then through part of which is made of tetrahedra. The problem is realized using the Varignon theorem and the flow conservation equation written for the streamlines where the household state …


Improvement Of Informational-Methodological Provision On Foreign Languages For Teachers, G. Eshchanova Jun 2021

Improvement Of Informational-Methodological Provision On Foreign Languages For Teachers, G. Eshchanova

Irrigation and Melioration

The article discusses the innovative areas of activity, related to the use of information and communication technologies in the educational process of teachers in foreign languages in the world practice, the development of teachers professional communicative competence in teaching English, the use of information and communication, advanced pedagogical technologies in teaching to ensure the solution of such issues, as the increase in the level of development of foreign language skills, diagnostic technologies among teachers.


Дождеваsome Aspects Of Water Management In The Republic Of Uzbekistan During The Period Of Independence (Reality And Forecast), S. Khodjaev Jun 2021

Дождеваsome Aspects Of Water Management In The Republic Of Uzbekistan During The Period Of Independence (Reality And Forecast), S. Khodjaev

Irrigation and Melioration

To date, there is no alternative to the introduction of the principles of integrated water resources management (IWRM), this is proved by the research of SIC ICWC on the territory of the South Fergana main canal, where the specific water supply per hectare of irrigated area has been reduced by 32% on an area of 120 thousand hectares, that is up to 7 thousand m³/ha, instead of the limited ones 10 thousand m³/ha. Researches recommend cutting off all types of collector-drainage waters (CDW) from the river trunks of the Aral Sea basin, including the Syr-Darya and Amu-Darya, since CDW are …


The Influence Of Gender Approaches On Education Efficiency, G. Eshchanova Jun 2021

The Influence Of Gender Approaches On Education Efficiency, G. Eshchanova

Irrigation and Melioration

The given article covers the influence of gender approaches on education efficiency on the basis of statistical and scientific data, and the need to rely on the basis of the necessary knowledge for the ecologically sustainable development of women's knowledge, competence and entrepreneurship are shown. The educational process based on Gender differences and equality contributes significantly to the development of society.


Economic Assessment Of Factors Affecting The Decision Of Households To Engage In Non-Farm Activities, Sh.A. Muratov Jun 2021

Economic Assessment Of Factors Affecting The Decision Of Households To Engage In Non-Farm Activities, Sh.A. Muratov

Irrigation and Melioration

In this study, non-farm activities and their importance were studied, and it is analysed the influence of push and pull factors on the decision of family heads to engage in non-farm activities by Probit model regression. Furthermore, it is determined their elastic coefficients. The analysed data are collected by conducting an online survey from 134 respondents. The results are showed that the decision of family heads to engage in non-farm activities was greatly influenced by their gender, education, and number of family members, electricity supply, transport services, and size of their land. Namely, the decision of the head of the …


Identifying The Determinants And Extent Of Crop Diversification At Farm Level: A Case Study Of Uzbekistan, A.Э. Primov, M.H. Saidov, I. B. Rustamova, A.A. Abduvasikov Jun 2021

Identifying The Determinants And Extent Of Crop Diversification At Farm Level: A Case Study Of Uzbekistan, A.Э. Primov, M.H. Saidov, I. B. Rustamova, A.A. Abduvasikov

Irrigation and Melioration

Since independence, the government of Uzbekistan has implemented the number of agricultural policies such as making some crucial structural reforms at the farms, comprising different institutions and enhancing diversification of agricultural production in order to stabilize the agricultural sector of the country. Therefore, crop diversity has an important role in sustainable agriculture. We calculated the diversification index based on the Simpson Diversity Index method while ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis was employed to assess the association of crop diversification on farm income using cross-sectional data from 381 farmers of Uzbekistan. The study revealed the mean computed Simpson Index values …


Control Of Change Of Phase Through Physical Surface Shaping, Troy Anderson, Sidy Ndao, Craig Zuhlke, Dennis Alexander, George Gogos Jun 2021

Control Of Change Of Phase Through Physical Surface Shaping, Troy Anderson, Sidy Ndao, Craig Zuhlke, Dennis Alexander, George Gogos

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

A system embodiment includes , but is not limited to , a solid structure configure to contact each of a material in a liquid phase and a material in a vapor phase , the solid structure including a plurality of microstructures protruding at angles relative to a horizontal plane ; and a layer of nanoparticles positioned on the plurality of microstructures , the layer of nanoparticles having a composition that is at least one of a same material as the plurality of microstructures and an oxide of the same material as the plurality of microstructures , the plurality of microstructures …


Preparation Of Co1-XS-Mns@Cnts/Cnfs For Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction, Fang-Yan Liu, Qian Zhang, Yue-Kun Li, Feng Huang, Meng-Ye Wang Jun 2021

Preparation Of Co1-XS-Mns@Cnts/Cnfs For Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction, Fang-Yan Liu, Qian Zhang, Yue-Kun Li, Feng Huang, Meng-Ye Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

As an important cathode reaction in fuel cells and metal-air batteries, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a complex reaction of slow kinetics, which severely limits performances of fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Therefore, it is of key importance to find an efficient and stable electrocatalyst to promote ORR. Carbon-based materials, which possess high conductivity, good stability and large specific surface area, are usually used in electrocatalytic ORR. However, pure carbon-based materials exhibit low efficiency. Coupling carbon-based materials with manganese (Mn) and cobalt (Co) transition metals containing 3d orbitals is an effective way to improve electrocatalytic performance. Herein, carbon nanofibers containing …


Synthesis And Electrochemical Study Of Cuau Nanodendrites For Co2 Reduction, Dylan Siltamaki, Shuai Chen, Farnood Rahmati, Jacek Lipkowski, Ai-Cheng Chen Jun 2021

Synthesis And Electrochemical Study Of Cuau Nanodendrites For Co2 Reduction, Dylan Siltamaki, Shuai Chen, Farnood Rahmati, Jacek Lipkowski, Ai-Cheng Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO) and other value-added products is an interesting approach for carbon-containing fuel synthesis using renewable and clean energy. The electrochemical reduction of CO2 is one of the promising strategies for the storage of intermittent renewable energy resources. The development of electrocatalysts with high activity and stability is vital in the electrochemical CO2 reduction process. In this study, copper and gold alloyed (CuAu) electrodes with nanodendritic structures were synthesized using a facile electrodeposition method. The CuAu nanodendrites with the atomic ratio of Cu to Au being approximately 1:1 …


Progress Of Lithium-Ion Transport Mechanism In Solid-State Electrolytes, Bing-Kai Zhang, Lu-Yi Yang, Shun-Ning Li, Feng Pan Jun 2021

Progress Of Lithium-Ion Transport Mechanism In Solid-State Electrolytes, Bing-Kai Zhang, Lu-Yi Yang, Shun-Ning Li, Feng Pan

Journal of Electrochemistry

Inorganic crystalline solid electrolytes exhibit exceptional room-temperature ionic conductivities, giving them the potential to enable all-solid-state lithium (Li) - ion batteries. Developing new high-performance electrolytes is one of the most critical challenges to realize solid-state batteries, which requires understanding how chemistry facilitates fast ionic conduction and what the Li-ion migration mechanism is in inorganic solid electrolytes. In this review, we aim to summarize recent fundamental research progress in Li-ion transport, including crystal structure, behavior of ion migration (i.e., single-ion jump and multi-ions cooperative migration), and the relationship between ion migration and microstructure.
Generally, ion transport in crystalline structure can be …


Design And Fabrication Of The Electrolytic Cell With Silicon-Based Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode And Its Feasibility ForIn-Situ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study, Hao Peng, Hui-Jun Sun, Zhi-You Zhou, Lin-Fan Shen, Long Huang, Shuo-Hui Cao, Shi-Gang Sun Jun 2021

Design And Fabrication Of The Electrolytic Cell With Silicon-Based Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode And Its Feasibility ForIn-Situ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study, Hao Peng, Hui-Jun Sun, Zhi-You Zhou, Lin-Fan Shen, Long Huang, Shuo-Hui Cao, Shi-Gang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

In-situ EC-NMR technique can be used to monitor the electrochemical reaction process in real-time and to explain the reaction mechanism at the molecular level, which is a promising and non-destructive online detection technology. This article for the first time reports the design and production of in-situEC-NMR three-electrode single-chamber electrolytic cell using silicon-based boron-doped diamond (Si/BDD) as the working electrode. Research shows that the geometric size of Si/BDD electrode being 12.5 mm 1.2 mm 0.5 mm in the NMR detection zone is small and the thickness of the electrode material is thin, which accounts for the less hindrance …


Recent Advances In Glycerol Electrooxidation On Pt And Pd: From Reaction Mechanisms To Catalytic Materials, Wei-Yi Zhang, Xian-Yin Ma, Shou-Zhong Zou, Wen-Bin Cai Jun 2021

Recent Advances In Glycerol Electrooxidation On Pt And Pd: From Reaction Mechanisms To Catalytic Materials, Wei-Yi Zhang, Xian-Yin Ma, Shou-Zhong Zou, Wen-Bin Cai

Journal of Electrochemistry

The conversion of glycerol to value-added products has received considerable attention recently because the booming biodiesel industry produces a large amount of glycerol as a byproduct. Among various means, electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol is appealing owing to its environmental friendliness and high efficiency. However, electrooxidation of glycerol is very complex, involving multiple electron and proton transfer processes with many reaction pathways. How to rationally design catalysts with high selectivity toward targeted products is an overarching challenge, and of both fundamental and practical significance. In this minireview we aim to provide an overview of recent advancements in electrooxidation of glycerol focusing …


Atomistic Thermo-Mechanical Description Of The Deformation Behavior, Scaling Laws, And Constitutive Modeling Of Nanoporous Gold, Mohammed Hassan Yousef Saffarini Jun 2021

Atomistic Thermo-Mechanical Description Of The Deformation Behavior, Scaling Laws, And Constitutive Modeling Of Nanoporous Gold, Mohammed Hassan Yousef Saffarini

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Metallic foams, or nanoporous (NP) metals as it is widely referred to in literature, with ligament sizes up to a few tens of nm show exceptional mechanical properties such as high strength and stiffness per weight ratio under different loading scenarios due to their high surface area to solid volume ratio. Therefore, they can be utilized in a wide range of applications making them of great interest to researchers. While their elasticity and yield strength have been the subject of several studies, very limited attention was given to the effect of size, strain rate, and temperature on the material plastic …


Preventing Transmission Of Covid 19 In Hvac Duct Systems: Implementations Of Hvac System Design Upgrade, Jacob S. Lopez, Adama Barro Jun 2021

Preventing Transmission Of Covid 19 In Hvac Duct Systems: Implementations Of Hvac System Design Upgrade, Jacob S. Lopez, Adama Barro

Publications and Research

The recent pandemic outbreak has triggered a global alarm to increase efforts on finding the best methods to mitigate contagious viral pathogens. This project is a continuation of our mission to study engineering guidelines needed to implement upgrades to HVAC Systems in order to deter airborne pathogens such as the covid-19 virus. In our previous projects we researched how covid-19 can possibly flow through the ambient air inside of restaurants, office spaces, and locomotive train cabins. As we continued our research, we were able to find some solutions that will be best used to deactivate and prevent the virus from …


Fluid-Structure Interaction Of Nrel 5-Mw Wind Turbine, Mohamed Sayed Elkady Abd-Elhay Jun 2021

Fluid-Structure Interaction Of Nrel 5-Mw Wind Turbine, Mohamed Sayed Elkady Abd-Elhay

Theses and Dissertations

Wind energy is considered one of the major sources of renewable energy. Nowadays, wind turbine blades could exceed 100 m to maximize the generated power and minimize produced energy cost. Due to the enormous size of the wind turbines, the blades are subjected to failure by aerodynamics loads or instability issues. Also, the gravitational and centrifugal loads affect the wind turbine design because of the huge mass of the blades. Accordingly, wind turbine simulation became efficient in blade design to reduce the cost of its manufacturing. The fluid-structure interaction (FSI) is considered an effective way to study the turbine's behavior …


Minimally Invasive Delivery Of 3d Shape Recoverable Constructs With Ordered Structures For Tissue Repair, Shixuan Chen, Mark Alan Carlson, Xiaowei Li, Aleem Siddique, Wuqiang Zhu, Jingwei Xie Jun 2021

Minimally Invasive Delivery Of 3d Shape Recoverable Constructs With Ordered Structures For Tissue Repair, Shixuan Chen, Mark Alan Carlson, Xiaowei Li, Aleem Siddique, Wuqiang Zhu, Jingwei Xie

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Minimally invasive procedures are becoming increasingly more common in surgery. However, the biomaterials capable of delivering biomimetic, three-dimensional (3D) functional tissues in a minimally invasive manner and exhibiting ordered structures after delivery are lacking. Herein, we reported the fabrication of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-coated, 3D expanded nanofiber scaffolds and their potential applications in minimally invasive delivery of 3D functional tissue constructs with ordered structures and clinically appropriate sizes (4 cm × 2 cm × 1.5 mm). GelMA-coated, expanded 3D nanofiber scaffolds produced by combining electrospinning, gas-foaming expansion, hydrogel coating, and crosslinking are extremely shape recoverable after release of compressive strain, displaying …


The Effects Of The Transient And Performance Loss Rates On Pv Output Performance, Chibuisi Chinasaokwu Okorieimoh, Brian Norton, Michael Conlon Jun 2021

The Effects Of The Transient And Performance Loss Rates On Pv Output Performance, Chibuisi Chinasaokwu Okorieimoh, Brian Norton, Michael Conlon

Conference papers

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels experience long-term performance degradation as compared to their initial performance, resulting in lower like-per-like efficiencies and performance ratios. Manufacturers of solar photovoltaic modules normally guarantee a lifespan of more than 20 years. To meet such commitments, it is important to monitor and mitigate PV module degradation during this period, as well as beyond, to recognize maintenance and repair needs. Solar PV modules degrade over time, becoming less effective, less reliable, and eventually unusable. The effects of transient and performance loss rates on the output performance of polycrystalline silicon (p-Si) solar PV modules are the focus of …


Me-Em Enewsbrief, June 2021, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University Jun 2021

Me-Em Enewsbrief, June 2021, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.


Development Of A Marine Biodegradable Target Balloon, Blake Samuel Robinson, Arash Sam Akhavi, David Leonardo Albarran-Martinez Jun 2021

Development Of A Marine Biodegradable Target Balloon, Blake Samuel Robinson, Arash Sam Akhavi, David Leonardo Albarran-Martinez

Materials Engineering

The US Navy utilizes PVC target balloons, known as Killer Tomatoes, that are inflated onboard a naval vessel then deployed into the ocean to calibrate a variety of weaponry. The Navy has requested the investigation of biodegradable polymers to replace the PVC in attempts to reduce ocean waste that is generated from the leftover PVC material. After communicating with American Pacific Plastic Fabricators (APPF), the current manufacturer of the Killer Tomatoes, we gained an understanding of the manufacturing process and the material requirements that would allow a new material to be integrated into their current process. Two proprietary, trial polymers …