Engineering Mechanics Commons^™

Application Of Artificial Neural Network Models For Predicting Diesel And Petrol Prices In The Geographically Sparsed Regions In Tanzania, John M. Kafuku

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Fuel consumption in Tanzania, mainly diesel and petrol, accounts for 82 percent of the energy consumption in the country, with significant price volatility affecting market stability, availability of fuel, and investment decisions. This study uses an artificial neural network (ANN) with a backpropagating algorithm to predict fuel prices in four regions of Tanzania. Key input parameters include the currency inflation rate (CIR), the petrol fuel inventory (PFI), the diesel fuel inventory (DFI), and the fuel transport costs (FTC). The study selected the 6-10-10-2 ANN structures for Sumbawanga-Rukwa, Mpanda-Katavi, and Mbeya-Mbeya as well as 6-10-9-2 for the Songea-Ruvuma region. The results …

Factors Affecting Adoption Of Industry 4.0 Predictive Maintenance By Manufacturing Industries: Tanzania Food And Beverage Manufacturing Industries, Fred E. Peter

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Industry 4.0 has increasingly become a focal point of scholarly inquiry. Nonetheless, there remains a noticeable lack of comprehensive research on the diverse and systematic factors that influence the adoption of Industry 4.0 Predictive Maintenance (PdM 4.0) in manufacturing sectors within developing regions, particularly in East Africa. This study seeks to bridge this research gap by investigating the key determinants affecting the actual implementation of PdM 4.0 in Tanzania’s food and beverage manufacturing industries. To achieve this objective, a mixed-methods research design was adopted, combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with ten industry …

Intelligent Turning Cyber-Physical Systems Modeling Using Sysml, Prithbey Raj Dey, David Lee Enke, Mario F. Buchely

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) support industrial automation that incorporates people, hardware, signal, computation, and control using networking to achieve desired results. The complex automated CPS design demands a standard and comprehensive approach to appropriately identify the system requirements, define the architecture, and model the relationships among the software and hardware components. Systems Modeling Language (SysML) provides the capability for a comprehensive modeling to capture the desired design requirements in the systems architecture. SysML enables performance estimation of the model by analyzing constraints while identifying interactions among the components through various behavioral diagrams. In this paper, SysML is applied to the design …

Treating Ground Water For Agricultural And Individual Consumption, Gabby Miller, Bronson Scott, Michael Clawson

Biomedical Engineering

This project, conducted in collaboration with Cal Poly seniors and Da Vinci High School students, aims to develop a solar-powered groundwater purification system. This system is designed to provide clean water for agricultural use and individual consumption, addressing the growing concerns of groundwater contamination and accessibility needs. The final prototype integrates a gravity filtration system combined with chemical purification, utilizing aluminum sulfate and chlorine to remove particulates, bacteria, and organic compounds.

The research phase involved an extensive review of groundwater contamination issues, existing filtration technologies, and market analysis. Key design constraints included cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, and minimal energy consumption, …

Thermo-Rheological And Tribological Properties Of Low- And High-Oleic Vegetable Oils As Sustainable Bio-Based Lubricants, Abiodun Saka, Tobechukwu K. Abor, Anthony C. Okafor, Monday U. Okoronkwo

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Vegetable oil-based lubricants have attracted increased research attention in recent decades as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based lubricants in metal machining. However, more studies are required to fully elucidate the thermo-rheological and tribological properties. This study presents an investigation of the thermo-rheological and tribological properties of different vegetable oils, including low- and high-oleic soybean oil, high-oleic sunflower, safflower, and canola oils. The lubricity, and evolution of viscosity and thermodynamic properties as a function of temperature were investigated to obtain important parameters including the viscosity index, flow behavior index, flow activation energy, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, coefficient of friction, contact …

Development Of Microfluidic Device To Monitor The Contamination In Drinking Water Using Impedance Spectroscopy, Pornpipat Oupchan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Microplastic contamination is a growing concern, as microplastics have been found in brain tissue and can enter the body through consumption. The objective of this research is to develop a microfluidic device to monitor microplastic particles by using electrical impedance spectroscopy principles. The device operates based on a flow-through principle. The configuration of electrode consists of copper-based cylindrical electrode with diameter of 300 micrometer and a center-to-center spacing of 2000 micrometer. The electrodes are designed to be replaceable. The microchannel has a rectangular cross-section with a width of 2000 micrometer and a height of 1000 micrometer. The microfluidic device was …

การทำความเย็นส่วนบุคคลโดยใช้วัสดุเปลี่ยนสถานะสำหรับบุคลากรที่สวมใส่ชุดป้องกันการติดเชื้อส่วนบุคคล, พรพุทธ วิสุทธิวัชรกุล

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ชุดป้องกันส่วนบุคคล (PPE) เป็นอุปกรณ์สำคัญที่ช่วยลดความเสี่ยงในการติดเชื้อของบุคลากรทางการแพทย์ อย่างไรก็ตาม การสวม PPE เป็นเวลานาน โดยเฉพาะในสภาพอากาศร้อนและชื้นอย่างประเทศไทย มักนำไปสู่การกักเก็บความร้อนในร่างกาย การระบายความร้อนลดลง และเกิดความไม่สบาย ความเหนื่อยล้า รวมถึงภาวะเครียดจากความร้อน งานวิจัยนี้จึงได้พัฒนาแบบจำลองชีวความร้อนอย่างง่าย (simplified bioheat model) โดยอ้างอิงโครงสร้างแบบจำลองแบบ passive ของ Fiala และเสริมด้วยการตอบสนองทางสรีรวิทยาแบบ active ที่จำเป็น เพื่อใช้ทำนายอุณหภูมิของร่างกายและประเมินความสบายทางความร้อนเมื่อสวม PPE ร่วมกับการระบายความร้อนด้วยวัสดุเปลี่ยนสถานะ (Phase Change Material: PCM) ผลการตรวจสอบความถูกต้องเทียบกับแบบจำลองอ้างอิงของ Fiala แสดงให้เห็นว่าแบบจำลองที่พัฒนาขึ้นมีความแม่นยำดี โดยมีความคลาดเคลื่อนของอุณหภูมิอยู่ภายใน ±0.2°C นอกจากนี้ผลการจำลองยังพบว่า PCM สามารถลดความเครียดจากความร้อนและเพิ่มความสบายทางความร้อนอย่างมีนัยสำคัญในช่วง 60 นาทีแรกของการทำงาน แม้ว่าประสิทธิภาพจะลดลงเมื่อ PCM หลอมละลายเต็มที่ก็ตาม ข้อจำกัดของงานวิจัยนี้ คือ แบบจำลองตั้งอยู่บนสมมติฐานของสภาวะอากาศร้อน (เริ่มต้นที่ 30°C) ทำให้ยังไม่สามารถแทนสภาวะอากาศเย็นได้อย่างสมบูรณ์ อีกทั้งไม่ได้พิจารณาการตอบสนองทางสรีรวิทยาระยะยาว เช่น ภาวะขาดน้ำ ความเหนื่อยล้า หรือความเครียดเชิงกลจากน้ำหนัก PCM ที่เพิ่มขึ้น ถึงแม้จะมีข้อจำกัดดังกล่าว แบบจำลองนี้ยังคงสามารถทำนายอุณหภูมิร่างกายและค่าความรู้สึกทางความร้อนแบบพลวัต (DTS) ได้อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพก่อนการใช้งานจริง จึงสามารถนำไปใช้เป็นเครื่องมือช่วยวางแผนระยะเวลาการทำงานที่ปลอดภัย และช่วยกำหนดปริมาณ รวมถึงตำแหน่งการติดตั้ง PCM ที่เหมาะสม ผลลัพธ์จากงานวิจัยนี้สามารถเป็นฐานข้อมูลสำคัญสำหรับการออกแบบชุด PPE ที่ปลอดภัย และช่วยลดภาระความร้อนสำหรับบุคลากรทางการแพทย์ในสภาพแวดล้อมร้อนชื้นได้ดียิ่งขึ้น

Controlling Nitrogen Pickup During Induction Melting Of Ultrahigh-Strength Cr-Ni-Mo-V Steels, Kingsley T. Amatanweze, Viraj A. Athavale, Mario F. Buchely, Laura N. Bartlett, Ronald J. O'Malley, Daniel M. Field

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nitrogen pickup during air induction melting can result in porosity and a loss of fracture toughness in ultrahigh-strength quenched and tempered steel castings. Nitrogen atoms are easily adsorbed into liquid steel upon exposure to the air, and argon shrouding alone has limited effectiveness. Previous studies have shown that proper charge sequencing and maintaining a high amount of dissolved oxygen in the melt prior to tapping and deoxidation can limit nitrogen pickup in the melt. In the current study, the effect of melt practice and charging procedure on nitrogen pickup was studied as a function of hold time in a series …

Parametric Analysis Of Water Jet Descaling Efficiency Of Reheated Continuously Cast Thin Slab, Tochukwu P. Ojiako, Mario F. Buchely, Simon Lekakh, Ronald J. O'Malley, Richard Osei, Taha Tayebali

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Efficient oxide scale removal is critical for maintaining surface quality and process efficiency in steel manufacturing. This study optimizes water jet descaling by evaluating the performance of flat and rotary jet nozzles under varying process parameters. Using a combined approach of experimental analysis and computational fluid dynamics, it investigates the influence of pressure (138–275 bar), lead angle (0°, 15°, 25°), working distance (50–100 mm), and spray angle (15°–25°) on descaling efficiency. Findings indicate that flat jet nozzles achieve superior performance at short working distances due to concentrated impact forces, while rotary jet nozzles sustain efficiency over extended distances through dynamic …

Effect Of Gating Design On Filling And Inclusion Control In An Al-Killed Cr-Mo-Ni Steel, Kingsley T. Amatanweze, Koushik Balasubramanian, Soumava Chakraborty, Viraj A. Athavale, Mario F. Buchely, Laura N. Bartlett, Ronald J. O'Malley, Daniel M. Field, Krista R. Limmer, Katherine M. Sebeck

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The effect of gating system design on the inclusion population and size distribution in an aluminum-killed low-alloy advanced high strength steel casting was studied. A mold with four different gating systems: pressurized and non-pressurized with side risers, naturally pressurized with a side riser, and naturally pressurized with a top riser, was designed using computational fluid dynamics and solidification software. The design allowed inclusion populations in castings produced with each gating system to be compared during the same pouring event. Samples taken from different positions just below the top surface of each casting were analyzed using an SEM/EDS system with automated …

Identification Of Corrosion Damage, Vibration, And Loose Conections In Aircraft Data Transmission Lines Using Reflected And Transmitted Signals; Formulation Of Vegetable Oil-Based Nanofluids As Cutting Fluids For Mql Machining, Saidanvardzhon Valiev

Doctoral Dissertations

This research presents a novel Frequency Domain Transmitometry (FDT) method that uses transmitted signals (S21) to detect and characterize aircraft data transmission lines (ADTL) corrosion damage without additional reflectometry circuitry. Corrosion experiments were conducted according to ASTM G85-A5 over 14 weeks. Combined FDT and reflected signals (S11) analyses revealed distinct three-peak signatures associated with damage and corrosion. The square root of the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the FDT damage peak and the Full Width at Three-Quarter Maximum (FW3QM) of the S11 damage peak is correlated with corrosion propagation depth and width. S11 signals were further used for vibration …

Mae Enewsbrief July-Sept 2024, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospce Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Hygrothermal Conditions Of The Bistability Of Asymmetric Carbon Fiber Laminate Composites, Celia Hill

All Theses

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates have widespread use in many industries because of their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Carbon fiber laminates following an asymmetric layup orientation can exhibit bistability meaning the laminate can exist at two stable geometric configurations. The morphing characteristics of bistable CRFP has a growing level of interest because of its potential in various applications including space aircraft structures for easy repair, automotive structures for energy dissipation and ergonomics, robotics for flexible motion and energy harvesting. Existing research shows that both moisture and temperature affect the material properties and behavior of CFRP laminates, however, the influence of moisture …

Thermal Conductivity Characterization Of High Oleic Vegetable Oils Based Hybrid Nanofluids Formulated Using Gnp, Tio2, Mos2, Al2o3 Nanoparticles For Mql Machining, Anthony Chukwujekwu Okafor, Tobechukwu Kingsley Abor, Saidanvar Esanjonovich Valiev, Ignatius Echezona Ekengwu, Abiodun Saka, Monday Uchenna Okoronkwo

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents the results of thermal conductivity characterization of six high oleic soybean oil (HOSO) and four high oleic canola oil (HOCO)-based hybrid nanofluids formulated with four types of nanoparticles (Graphene nanoplatelet (xGnP), TiO2, MoS2, and Al2O3) at nanoparticles wt.% concentration from 1 % to 7 % in 1 % increment using the two-step method for use in MQL machining of difficult-to-cut metals. Thermal conductivity of the formulated hybrid nanofluids were measured using Thermtest Transient Hot Wire Liquid Thermal Conductivity Meter at temperatures from 25 °C to 75 °C in increment of 10 °C. Obtained results showed that thermal …

Greek Key-Inspired Fractal Metamaterials With Enhanced Flexibility And Energy Absorption., Zhennan Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Architected materials with intricate three-dimensional (3D) geometries offer unique properties and functionalities but face challenges in manufacturing costs and complexity. This research explores the integration of simple 2D Greek Key-inspired lattices into fractal designs to achieve exceptional mechanical performance. Using 3D printing and kerfing, these fractal structures demonstrate enhanced flexibility and energy absorption capabilities. Through three-point bending and in-plane tensile tests, the 2D fractal lattices exhibited a 600-fold reduction in bending force and a tensile stretch capacity of up to 520%, significantly outperforming brittle parent materials. Out-of-plane compression tests revealed a five-fold increase in energy absorption compared to honeycomb structures, …

3d Printed Microfluidic Fabrication Methodology, Characterization, Mechanical Design, And Applications In Electrostatic Artificial Muscles And Benthic Microbial Fuel Cells, Terak B. Hornik

Master's Theses

The fabrication of microfluidic devices often requires specialized methods. The development of these methods requires careful characterization and understanding of the processes involved. Using primarily PolyJet 3D printing technology, microfluidics offers a wide scope of applications such as microfluidic benthic microbial fuel cells (MBMFCs) and electrostatic artificial muscles. MBMFCs benefit from the confinement of the microbes resulting in close proximity between the electrode and the organisms. Using a modular design called the Sponge, assembly and upscaling is possible. Electrostatic artificial muscles benefit from a microfluidic approach due to the non-linearity of electrostatic attraction creating disproportionate benefits when miniaturized. When designed …

Intrinsic Manipulation Of Microstructure And Strength Of Ice-Templated Lithium Titanate, Rohan Parai

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on developing a fabrication landscape first time ever for directionally porous lithium titanate (LTO) materials using ice-templating technique. Ice-templating, a promising fabrication technique for porous ceramics, enables the formation of sintered structures with anisotropic pores that are aligned to improve mechanical stability of materials.

The work presented in this dissertation addresses advancements in tuning the porosity, strength, and microstructural characteristics of ice-templated LTO materials through adjustments of intrinsic variables, including sucrose as a water-soluble additive, variations in freezing front velocity, solute concentration, and solid loading. First, this study demonstrated that adding sucrose in LTO suspensions increased the …

Capacitive Sensors With Ultra-Small Capacitance For Smart Measurement And Control Systems, Rustam Baratov, Farrux Jabbor O'G'Li Ko'charov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article discusses methods of low capacitance measurement of capacitive sensors. The results of the study of the amplitude-frequency (AF) and phase-frequency (PF) response of measurement circuits of capacitive sensors for low capacitances measurement, consisting of RC - differentiating elements are presented. The input and output parameters of the differentiating circuit and the complex transfer function are analyzed. The research results show that low capacitances measurement by measuring the rectangular pulses duration is the most effective measurement method.

Modeling The Influence Of Internal Factors On Vehicular Mobility Performance, Aziz Mdimi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Traffic mobility is significantly influenced by road conditions and the internal factors governing vehicular performance. Internal factors play a crucial role in vehicular mobility, influencing vehicles operate and performance. While existing vehicular mobility models primarily address external factors, external factors such as governor, engine, gear train and differential unit remain underexplored. This study formulates a comprehensive model to address this gap, focusing on the internal components that affect vehicular mobility. The proposed model employs both analytical and numerical methods to derive transfer functions for these subsystems using Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB), aiming to capture the dynamic behavior of vehicles under various …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, June 2024, Department Of Mechanical Engineering- Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Me-Em Enewsbrief, Mar 2024, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Blade Design And Validation Of Hydrokinetic Turbine To Harvest Water Current Energy, Setare Sadeqi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The innovative aspect of this research lies in the careful integration of cutting-edge technologies throughout the entire process of designing, fabricating, and testing the carbon fiber propeller for the 3-bladed horizontal axis ocean current turbine (OCT). SolidWorks software played a pivotal role in the initial design phase, enabling a meticulous and precise modeling of the propeller's geometry. The utilization of SolidWorks allowed for a detailed exploration of various design parameters, ensuring that the propeller's structure and form were optimized for performance in ocean current conditions. Moving beyond the realm of virtual design, the choice of carbon fiber as the fabrication …

Towing Tank Trials Of Hydrokinetic Turbine Scale Model To Support Marine Energy System Verification, Shahab Rouhi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In response to the escalating demand for sustainable energy solutions and the critical reevaluation of conventional fossil fuels due to environmental concerns, this dissertation embarks on a comprehensive exploration of hydrokinetic energy as a promising alternative. The study delves into the underexplored domain of hydrokinetic energy, leveraging innovative methodologies for effective utilization and harnessing, particularly through the development and investigation of hydrokinetic turbines.

In the realm of hydrokinetic energy conversion, our research has exclusively concentrated on horizontal-axis turbines, distinct from other turbine configurations. Noteworthy is the adaptation of a conventional horizontal-axis wind turbine for water currents, revealing enhanced performance through …

Cal Poly Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge 2024, J. Mason Gray, Ryan D'Amour, Alberto Acho Lopez, Christian Ferrandino, Johnathan Dietz

Mechanical Engineering

In this Final Design Review, the Cal Poly Fluid Power Vehicle Team competed in Norgren’s 2024 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge. The design need of the competition was for college teams to compete with human-powered, hydraulic-driven vehicles in an endurance race, a sprint race, an efficiency race, and a regenerative power race. The competition need was to design a vehicle to win in as many races as possible, achieving the highest overall score and winning the competition. With a design emphasis on the endurance and sprint race, the Cal Poly team designed a fluid power system that fastened to a purchased …

Numerical Simulation Of Laser Induced Elastic Waves In Response To Short And Ultrashort Laser Pulses., Alireza Zarei

All Dissertations

In an era of intensified market competition, the demand for cost-effective, high-quality, high-performance, and reliable products continues to rise. Meeting this demand necessitates the mass production of premium products through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and advanced materials while ensuring their integrity and safety. In this context, Nondestructive Testing (NDT) techniques emerge as indispensable tools for guaranteeing the integrity, reliability, and safety of products across diverse industries.

Various NDT techniques, including ultrasonic testing, computed tomography, thermography, and acoustic emissions, have long served as cornerstones for inspecting materials and structures. Among these, ultrasonic testing stands out as the most prevalent method, …

Numerical Analysis Of Flow Fields For The Different Models Of The Shrouded Savonius Rotor, Alsaied Khalil Mahmoud, Mohamed Mahgoub Bassuoni, Mohamed Fawzy Obiaa, Ahmed Mostafa Khaira

Journal of Engineering Research

In this study, the effect of three different lengths (short, medium, and long) of flanged shrouded Savonius wind turbines is investigated three-dimensional (3-D) numerically by ANSYS-FLUENT. The 3-D numerical model of a simple rotor is validated by comparing the results with previous published experimental ones at the same operating conditions and geometry. The numerical and experimental results indicate a good agreement with each other when using the SST K-ω model with a time step size of 0.0025 s.The analysis of the numerical results of the three flanged shrouded models shows an enhancement of the torque coefficient at tip speed ratio …

A Study On High-Frequency Bending Fatigue, Microhardness, Tensile Strength, And Microstructure Of Parts Made Using Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (Adam) And Additive Friction Stir Deposition (Afsd), Hamed Ghadimi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation reports the findings of several studies on the mechanical and microstructural properties of parts made using atomic diffusion additive manufacturing (ADAM) and additive friction stir deposition (AFSD). The design of a small-sized bending-fatigue test specimen for an ultrasonic fatigue testing system is reported in Chapter 1. The design was optimized based on the finite element analysis and analytical solution. The stress–life (S–N) curve is obtained for Inconel alloy 718. Chapter 2 presents the findings of ultrasonic bending-fatigue and tensile tests carried out on the ADAM test specimens. The S-N curves were created in the very high-cycle fatigue regime. …

Me-Em 2022-23 Annual Report, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Annual Reports

Table of Contents

• Research Updates
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Facilities
• New Faculty
• Research, Machine Learning
• Research, Ana Dyreson
• In Memoriam
• Student Success
• Alumni Profile and Activity
• Graduates
• Faculty Awards and Honors
• Patents and Publications
• Donors
• Grants and Contracts

Balsa Bridge, Caleb T. Lovett

All Undergraduate Projects

The problem presented throughout this report was to create a small-scale bridge made entirely out of balsa wood and glue, that could withstand substantial force, as well as perform a lifting/lowering cycle. Other requirements associated with the bridge were properties of weight, deflection, size, and shape. This problem presented a challenge that tested the mathematical side of engineering, being strongly reliant on statics, mechanics of materials, and mechanical design analyses.

To approach this problem, the first step was to complete in depth calculations of the chosen design. With this done, manufacturing and assembly was able to be completed. With a …

Progress Of Lisap-Mse: A Concept Of Producing Aluminum In-Situ On The Moon Through Molten Salt Electrolysis, Jacob N. Ortega, David Bayless, Daniel Stutts, Daoru Han, Todd P. Sander, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, William Schonberg

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a concept of producing aluminum in-situ on the lunar surface, namely, the Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production through Molten Salt Electrolysis (LISAP-MSE) method developed at Missouri University of Science and Technology. This paper aims to demonstrate the use of electro-deoxidation to reduce aluminum oxide (i.e., alumina) into aluminum and oxygen gas via electrolysis in a molten salt bath for the production of aluminum on the Moon. It is shown that with a steady supply of hydrogen chloride, this in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) method could supply several necessary materials consumed in the electro-deoxidation process except hydrogen chloride to produce …