Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Safety Of Optimized Concrete Median Barrier Without Planting Soil, Zhong Chunyao, Ma Qing, Li Yangfan, Gong Shuai, Liu Siyuan, Yan Shuming

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to study the safety of optimized concrete median barrier without planting soil,the technology combining computer simulation,sled test,and full-scale impact test of real vehicles was adopted for analysis and verification.In addition,a scheme was proposed to improve the anti-overturning ability of the barrier without planting soil by strengthening the supporting block,and the scheme of setting a 20 cm-high supporting block between the barrier walls was optimized.The safety of the barrier scheme was evaluated by taking the most unfavorable large truck as an example.The results show that the protection level of the optimized concrete median barrier without planting soil is SAm, …

Aided Design Method And Application Of Rutting Prevention And Maintenance In Asphalt Pavement Based On Digital Holographic 3d Detection, Wang Jingfei, Wang Wang, Xu Xinquan, Huang Zhijian, Ti Jing, Yao Yanru

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

As one of the common diseases of asphalt pavement,rutting has significant impacts on the service life and traffic safety of the pavement.Mild rutting in asphalt pavement during preventive maintenance can lead to increased use of maintenance materials due to rutting deformation.Accurately calculating the amount of materials needed to fill rutting in maintenance designs is of great significance for ensuring maintenance quality and efficiency.Based on the requirements of maintenance engineering,this paper analyzed the problems in maintenance designs that use traditional methods and the data they generate for rutting detection.A design method was proposed for rutting prevention and maintenance in asphalt pavement,assisted …

Performance Of Chlorine Salt Snow‑Melting Agent Based On Improved, Shrp Ice‑Melting Testlyu Yuejing, Dang Bo, Zhang Zhiwei, Tang Wen, Fan Yu

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Chlorine salt snow-melting agent has been widely used because of its excellent ice-melting and snow-removing performance,low price,and easy access.In order to explore the problems of different temperature applicability,non-uniform standard,and rough spreading methods of chlorine salt snow-melting agents,this paper analyzed the influence of temperature,solid and liquid state,and spreading methods on the ice-melting performance of three commonly used chlorine salt snow-melting agents,namely NaCl,CaCl2,and MgCl2,through an improved SHRP ice-melting test.The test results show that the ice-melting performance of the chlorine salt snow-melting agent has strong temperature sensitivity.MgCl2 and CaCl2 snow-melting agents have an exothermic effect during the melting process.The ice-melting efficiency of the …

Deflection Basin Characteristics Of Distressed Roads Under Moving Load, Cai Yingchun, Xie Shenjian

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The deflection basins of roads under moving load imply the distress information of subgrade and pavement.Therefore,how to use the information of deflection basins under moving load to rapidly test road distresses non-destructively has received much attention.In this paper,the finite element model of semi-rigid base asphalt pavement was established.By setting different types and degrees of finite element distress models,the continuous changes of surface deflection basins under moving load were analyzed.The results show that when the load moves to the distress area,the center deflection value of surface deflection basins in each distress model will become larger.When transverse cracks appear in the pavement …

Curing Mechanism And Influencing Factors Of Cement Mixing Piles Reinforcing Peat Soil, Feng Rongxian, Zhong Gaibing, Liu Liang, Liang Jianyuan, Gu Meixiang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The cement mixing pile is used to reinforce the deep peat soil foundation in Malaysia's east coast railway construction.The key in this project is to determine the cement mix proportion and additives.Considering the high organic matter content and strong environmental acidity of coastal peat soil,physical and mechanical tests of peat soil and laboratory uniaxial compression tests of cement soil under different mix proportions and influencing factors were conducted.Test results show that the mean compressive strength decreases by 0.35 MPa with the increase in cement-water from 0.5 to 0.9.Adding mineral powder gives a relatively poor curing effect while adding fly ash …

Photodegradation And Microencapsulation Of Organic Thermochromic Material For Application As Building Coating Envelope, Sushant Madhukar Nagare

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Due to exponential urbanization, residential building electrical loads have increased over the past decades. Also, deforestation has led to increased urban heat island effects, due to which summer has been scorching and winter has become freezing. This further increases the load on generation due to the extensive use of heating and cooling systems. New techniques, such as cool building materials and green building concepts, compensate for the load. The building can be coated with a material that has heat reflectivity capability for summer and heat-trapping capability for winter. One such material is thermochromic, which turns white upon heating and black …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of Multifunctional Cellular Structures For Enhanced Impact Energy Mitigation Performance, Kazi Zahir Uddin

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the relationship between the structural design of cellular solids and their macroscopic behavior and focuses on the customization of properties through advanced fabrication techniques. The concepts of density gradation and their integration in both non-ordered and ordered cellular structures have been proposed. The investigation focuses on the development of functionally graded foam materials (FGFMs) and mechanical metamaterials to obtain tunable mechanical performance. One significant focus is the fabrication of density-graded foam stacks with various interface adhesives. From the insights gained from the study of interfaces in density-graded foams, certain design and fabrication principles are applied to enhance …

Investigation Of The Use Of Recycled Concrete Aggregates In Porous Asphalt Mixture, Asad Elmagarhe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to address the national need for using recycled concrete in road pavements. This is especially important in the governmental and corporate sectors, where reducing the cost and carbon footprint of construction projects is a priority. The long-term goal is to meet the public demand for environmentally friendly infrastructure and minimize the harmful effects of waste disposal on humans and the environment.

The project focuses on using recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in porous asphalt pavement to reduce stormwater runoff, a popular environmentally friendly road design. However, compared to regular dense asphalt mixtures, porous asphalt mixtures (PAM) are more …

A First Step Towards Understanding Thermomechanical Behavior Of The Nb-Cr System Through Interatomic Potential Development And Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Lucas A. Heaton, Adib J. Samin

Faculty Publications

Utilizing a preliminary interatomic potential, this work represents an initial exploration into the thermomechanical behavior of NbCr solid solutions. Specifically, it examines the effect of different amounts of Cr solute, for which information in the literature is limited. The employed interatomic potential was developed according to the embedded atom model (EAM), and was trained on data derived from density functional theory calculations. While the potential demonstrated reasonable accuracy and predictive power when tested, various results highlight deficiencies and encourage further development and training. Mechanical strength, heat capacities, thermal expansion coefficients, and thermal conductivities were found to decrease with Cr content. …

Continuum Mechanics Modeling Of High Strain Rate Impact Of Thermoplastic Polymer Particles, Jeeva Muthulingam

Theses and Dissertations

The study of particle impact at high strain rates is crucial in fields ranging from materials science and engineering to space exploration and environmental science. In the particular case of cold spray, a particle undergoes intense plastic deformation upon impact, causing it to adhere to the target substrate. While metallic particles impacting on metallic substrates have been extensively studied, understanding the mechanical characteristics of polymeric particles on polymer and metal substrates requires further research. This study focuses on single particle impact modeling, analyzing impact parameters such as particle size, velocity, and angle of incidence using continuum mechanics finite element modeling …

Investigation Of Process-Structure-Property Relationships In Additively Manufactured Chopped Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites, Indu Modala

Theses and Dissertations

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are widely used in various industries because of their high stiffness-to-weight ratio. However, traditional manufacturing processes restrict the application of FRP composites to the production of parts with simple geometries. With the advent of additive manufacturing (AM), it is possible to produce topologically optimized parts with complex geometries using chopped FRPs. Fully leveraging the advantages of AM in the fabrication of chopped FRP parts requires a thorough understanding of the effect of the process parameters on the microstructure, and subsequently on the mechanical properties of the manufactured part. This research focuses on studying the process-structure-property (P-S-P) …

Extreme Value Statistics Analysis Of Process Defects In Additive Manufacturing Materials, Ayorinde E. Olatunde, Kristen Hernandez, Austin Ngo, Arafath Nihar, Thomas G. Ciardi, Rachel Yamamoto, Pawan K. Tripathi, Roger H. French, John J. Lewandowski, Anirban Mondal

Faculty Scholarship

Fatigue and fracture studies focused on process defects that occur in Additive Manufacturing (AM) materials have shown that defect populations possess features which are better measured with extreme value statistics (EVS). In AM alloys, defect occurrences increase with material volume. This situation facilitates the need to model process defects in the path of fatigue crack growth with suitable statistical tools, such as EVS, which is more cost-effective when compared to destructive experiments. The application of EVS on defect space features helps determine the difference in defects present on fracture surfaces. As the fatigue quality of any material depends on its …

New Generation Graphenes In Cement-Based Materials: Production, Property Enhancement, And Life Cycle Analysis, Sahil Surehali, Sayee Srikarah Volaity, Aswathy Simon, Ranjith Divigalpitiya, Aditya Kumar, Narayanan Neithalath

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Several studies have explored the use of graphene to improve the properties of cement-based materials. However, most commercially available graphenes are expensive, not amenable to mass production, and have high embodied energy and emissions, making their use in concrete less attractive, despite the beneficial mechanical property attributes. This paper discusses the use of two novel graphene types, fractal graphene (FG) and reactive graphene (RG), obtained through a cost-effective and scalable detonation synthesis, in cement-based materials. FG and RG are sheets containing 6-10 layers, with lateral dimensions of 20-50 nm and a z-axis thickness of RG, when added at very small …

Spin And Charge Transport In Metallic Ferrimagnets And Disordered Magnetic Oxides, Leopoldo A. Hernandez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent efforts have been exploring the use of thin film synthetic ferrimagnets and disordered magnetic oxides for applications in spintronic devices. Due to the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction, ferrimagnetic materials offer the ultrafast dynamics of the antiferromagnetic exchange, with a net magnetization that can be influenced externally. With two, or more, competing ferromagnet sublattices, interesting properties arise that depend on the final magnetic landscape after growth of the material and it’s inherent magnetic anisotropy energies. Properties such as magnetic compensation temperatures, and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are attractive for applications in spintronic memory and logic devices, some already being implemented in MRAM …

Effect Of Oxidation Of Graphene On Agglomeration And The Mechanical Properties Of Thermosetting Resins, Matthew A. Reil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Thermosetting resins are used extensively worldwide in applications ranging from adhesives to structural components. However, these resins generally fail in a brittle fracture mode which is undesirable in most situations. Graphene (G) and its derivatives have been considered as additives to epoxy for material property enhancement and varied results have been reported in the literature. In this work, the effects of the oxidation of G to graphene oxide (GO) on polymer interactions and plate agglomeration were studied by classical molecular dynamics (MD). Results from those simulations concluded that agglomerates were likely present in all G-based nanocomposites. The effect of these …

Atom Probe Tomography Of Segregation At Grain Boundaries And Gas Bubbles In Neutron Irradiated U-10 Wt% Mo Fuel, Maalavan Arivu, Andrew Hoffman, Mukesh Bachhav, Assel Aitkaliyeva, Yaqiao Wu, Brandon Miller, Dennis Keiser, Jian Gan, Haiming Wen

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

During Neutron Irradiation to Fission Densities > 5.2 X 1021 Fiss/cm3, Xe Agglomerates Forming Gas Bubbles of Varying Size within the U-Mo Fuel Matrix. Herein, Segregation of Fission Products to Xe Bubbles and Grain Boundaries (GB) Were Studied using Atom Probe Tomography (APT). Segregation Behavior Was Found to Vary among GBs, Small Bubbles (<10 >Nm), and Larger Bubbles (>10 Nm). Solid Fission Products Were Enriched at GBs and Larger Bubbles, But Not at Small Bubbles. a Denuded Zone Was Identified Adjacent to a > 10 Nm Xe Gas Bubble and a GB.

Shape Memory Alloy Capsule Micropump For Drug Delivery Applications, Youssef Mohamed Kotb

Theses and Dissertations

Implantable drug delivery devices have many benefits over traditional drug administration techniques and have attracted a lot of attention in recent years. By delivering the medication directly to the tissue, they enable the use of larger localized concentrations, enhancing the efficacy of the treatment. Passive-release drug delivery systems, one of the various ways to provide medication, are great inventions. However, they cannot dispense the medication on demand since they are nonprogrammable. Therefore, active actuators are more advantageous in delivery applications. Smart material actuators, however, have greatly increased in popularity for manufacturing wearable and implantable micropumps due to their high energy …

A Novel Method May Reveal Bulk Metallic Glass Compressive Ductility Trends In High Data Rate Nanoindentation, Jordan J. Sickle, Wesley H. Higgins, Wendelin Wright, George M. Pharr, Karin A. Dahmen

Faculty Journal Articles

Recent methods allow novel amorphous alloy compositions to be rapidly manufactured at small scale; however, obtaining materials properties such as compressive ductility from these smaller specimens has remained a challenge. Here, we suggest a potential high-throughput nanoindentation method that may be able to rapidly characterize the relative compressive ductility between these alloys based on their serration characteristics. The properties of emergent serrations, when interpreted in a simple micromechanical stress relaxation model, may order these materials by their compressive plastic strain to failure. These results are consistent with the ordering obtained from compressed specimens as well as with model simulations, suggesting …

Wild Joy: An Exploration In Queer Spatial Dynamics, Kipper Thomas Reinsmith

Masters Theses

What does it mean to feel represented in a space?

What does a trans space look like?

How can we queer our interior spaces?

Our world is crafted by the many designers that have come before us. These systems, products, and spaces are built upon assumptions of the bodies that will use and occupy them—namely cisgender, able-bodied, straight folks.

Designing and creating objects as a trans person is an act of radical nature. To take up space, to design for trans luxury, for the sake of beauty, for joy itself, feels counterintuitive to the narratives we’ve been served: that of …

Technocene, Vir Joseph Naidu

Masters Theses

Embodied human communication within the Anthropocene. Existing at the intersection of technology, and the body.

The design industry has developed technology that is, paradoxically, isolating. The exposure to a vast audience in the digital sphere has introduced new societal pressures, leading to a disconnection from our immediate surroundings, detached, and donning metaphorical masks. Technocene lives on the fringes of the discipline by blending conceptual thinking with practical application. Through curious, experimental artifacts, it prompts us to shed our masks and embrace vulnerability. Technocene endeavors to reimagine the human experience by acting as a discursive design project. It probes the boundaries …

Using Dft On Ultrasound Measurements To Determine Patient-Specific Blood Flow Boundary Conditions For Computational Hemodynamics Of Intracranial Aneurysms, Hang Yi, Zifeng Yang, Luke Bramlage, Bryan Ludwig

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Boundary conditions (BCs) is one pivotal factor influencing the accuracy of hemodynamic predictions on intracranial aneurysms (IAs) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. Unfortunately, a standard procedure to secure accurate BCs for hemodynamic modeling does not exist. To bridge such a knowledge gap, two representative patient-specific IA models (Case-I and Case-II) were reconstructed and their blood flow velocity waveforms in the internal carotid artery (ICA) were measured by ultrasonic techniques and modeled by discrete Fourier transform (DFT). Then, numerical investigations were conducted to explore the appropriate number of samples (N) for DFT modeling to secure the accurate BC by comparing …

Predicting Rheology Of Uv-Curable Nanoparticle Ink Components And Compositions For Inkjet Additive Manufacturing, Cameron D. Lutz

Master's Theses

Inkjet additive manufacturing is the next step toward ubiquitous manufacturing by enabling multi-material printing that can exhibit various mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties. These characteristics are realized in the careful formulation of the inks and their functional materials, but there are many constraints that need to be satisfied to allow optimal jetting performance and build quality when used in an inkjet 3-D printer. Previous research has addressed the desirable rheology characteristics to enable stable drop formation and how the metallic nanoparticles affect the viscosity of inks. The contending goals of increasing nanoparticle-loading to improve material deposition rates while trying to …

Assessing Global Engagement Interventions To Advance Global Engineering Competence For Engineering Formation, Scott Schneider, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Corinne Mowrey, Michael Moulton, Homero Murzi, Matthew A. Witenstein

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper summarizes the work performed during the first year of a collaborative Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (RIEF) project focused on assessing the formation of a global learner mindset in engineering students through the use of different types of global engagement interventions without extended international travel. During this year the global engagement interventions have been developed, piloted, and assessed using the Global Engagement Survey (GES) and Global Engineering Competency Scale (GECS) instruments in a pre and post format. The assessment results helped the research team update the interventions and refine the assessment strategy, including the addition of new qualitative …

Work In Progress: Exploring The Impact Of International Experiences On The Development Of Students’ Entrepreneurial Mindset, Olgha Bassam Qaqish, Marcia Poole, William Pennock, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Fahmidah Ummul Ashraf

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

International experiences, including collaborative online international learning (COIL) experiences that naturally increase accessibility, are of interest to many undergraduate students. These experiences provide educators a unique opportunity to develop a student's entrepreneurial mindset (EM). Additionally, hands-on experiences aligned with the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) grand challenge themes (Sustainability, Security, Health, and Joy of Living) support connections between the experience, disciplinary knowledge, multicultural awareness, and EM. Through this Work-in-Progress (WiP) study, we seek to answer: 1) How do international experiences influence undergraduate science and engineering students’ EM, and 2) How does the international experience modality (i.e., study abroad or COIL) …

Photodegradation Of Microplastics Through Nanomaterials: Insights Into Photocatalysts Modification And Detailed Mechanisms, Yiting Xiao, Yang Tian, Wenbo Xu, Jun Zhu

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Microplastics (MPs) pose a profound environmental challenge, impacting ecosystems and human health through mechanisms such as bioaccumulation and ecosystem contamination. While traditional water treatment methods can partially remove microplastics, their limitations highlight the need for innovative green approaches like photodegradation to ensure more effective and sustainable removal. This review explores the potential of nanomaterial-enhanced photocatalysts in addressing this issue. Utilizing their unique properties like large surface area and tunable bandgap, nanomaterials significantly improve degradation efficiency. Different strategies for photocatalyst modification to improve photocatalytic performance are thoroughly summarized, with a particular emphasis on element doping and heterojunction construction. Furthermore, this review …

Scaffold-Free Development Of Multicellular Tumor Spheroids With Spatial Characterization Of Structure And Metabolic Radial Profiles, Shelby N. Bess, Gaven K. Smart, Matthew J. Igoe, Timothy J. Muldoon

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose

In vitro assays are essential for studying cellular biology, but traditional monolayer cultures fail to replicate the complex three-dimensional (3D) interactions of cells in living organisms. 3D culture systems offer a more accurate reflection of the cellular microenvironment. However, 3D cultures require robust and unique methods of characterization.

Methods

The goal of this study was to create a 3D spheroid model using cancer cells and macrophages, and to demonstrate a custom image analysis program to assess structural and metabolic changes across spheroid microregions.

Results

Structural characterization shows that cells at the necrotic core show high normalized fluorescence intensities of …

Waste Illuminates Worlds: Printed Modular Lamp Design Based On Brick And Clay Tile, Yechen Zhu

Masters Theses

The building industry in the New England area is often in a state of entropy, with abandoned brick buildings contributing to urban decay. The recycling rate of brick and clay tile wastes generated by construction and demolition is only 12.2%, meaning the majority is sent to landfills. The expansion of landfills can lead to significant environmental and community challenges, including increased traffic from waste transport, habitat destruction, ecosystem degradation, and contributions to climate change. Specifically, the Bethlehem landfill in New Hampshire, which is planned to undergo a 5.71-acre lateral expansion through 2026, has already encountered issues such as leachate spills …

Enhancing Entrepreneurial Minded Learning Of Process Control And Heat Transfer Concepts Using Micromoments And Concept Maps, Erick S. Vasquez-Guardado, Ricardo Gomez Gonzalez, Jean M. Andino, Nilza D. Aples, Xiaojing Yuan

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The Entrepreneurially Minded Learning (EML) Framework seeks to infuse an Entrepreneurial Mindset in engineering students. The EML framework is founded on the 3 C’s principles of curiosity, connections, and creating value. Assessing EML efforts, however, is a well-known challenge for many engineering courses that do not have a design component. Through concept maps and micromoment activities, this work seeks to answer the following questions: Does implementing micromoment activities enhance students’ EML in two core areas of chemical engineering, i.e., heat transfer and process controls? A secondary research question is whether introducing a physical device in lectures enhances students’ EML. The …

Using Micromoments And Concept Maps To Enhance Entrepreneurially Minded Learning Of Indoor Air Pollution Control, Jean M. Andino, Erick Salvador Vasquez-Guardado, Ricardo Gomez Gonzalez, Xiaojing Yuan, Nilza D. Aples

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Micromoments targeted toward indoor air quality were introduced to students in an Air Quality Engineering course to enhance their entrepreneurial mindset. Three micromoment activities, i.e., “Question Frenzy”, “Make It Relevant”, and “How Do We Make It Better?” that are linked, respectively, to the curiosity, connections, and creating value elements of EM were deployed in the class in the context of the use of a Corsi Rosenthal cube (a do-it-yourself structure that has recently become popular as an inexpensive way to reduce indoor particle pollution). Students generated concept maps pre-and post- micromoment intervention using the freely available CMap Tools software. The …

Polypropylene As Partial Fine Aggregate Substitute In Concrete, Samuel E. Royston, Chrisitan G. Achkar, Nicholas B. Tabarez

Architectural Engineering

The objective of this project is to discover a structurally effective method in repurposing recyclable plastic waste through its partial substitution for traditional fine aggregate in concrete.

Results obtained from analysis indicate a 25 percent compressive strength reduction with polypropylene at a 10 percent partial substitution for total sand content. This material successfully performed as an alternative, presenting a ductile mode of failure.

Three material alternatives - polypropylene, polyethylene, and rubber - were substituted for a percentage of sand. These materials underwent concrete cylinder crushing tests to determine their ultimate crushing strength, with the intent of identifying the most effective …