Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Testing Of Recycled Polypropylene As A Viable Structural Material (Quarter 2), Isabella Jimenez-Melendrez, Katherine Timbes, Jocelyn Embleton, Tauni Dela Cruz, Zyra Kingston, Emily Byrd, Jacob Stinger

Architectural Engineering

5.25 trillion plastic particles have been found in the oceans each year, 3 million water bottles are consumed each hour, and one million plastic bags are used each minute in the United States of America (Williams). The vast majority of conventional plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and more, are non-biodegradable (Tokiwa). To make matters worse, 70% of this non-biodegradable plastic is discarded into landfills and inevitably makes its way into the environment (Williams,). Plastic products have become vital to the United States economy due to their many uses in the construction, packaging, transportation, and health care industries. However, this …

Longitudinal Solid Polarized Target For Clas12 And Study Of Spin Structure Of Nucleons, Pushpa Pandey

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A suite of experiments measuring target-spin observables in electron-nucleon scattering (dubbed Run Group C) was conducted at Jefferson Lab’s Hall B in Newport News, VA with a new polarized nuclear target known as ‘APOLLO’ (Ammonia Polarized Longitudinally). This innovative target is engineered to seamlessly integrate with the advanced 12 GeV CEBAF (Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility) accelerator and the Hall B CLAS12 (12 GeV CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer) detector array. The ‘APOLLO’ target harnesses the power of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) to achieve longitudinal polarization of solid ammonia, thereby creating a net polarization in both protons (NH₃) and …

Shorting At Long Duration: Impact Of Extended Discharge Capacity On Battery Solid Electrolytes, Ryan C. Hill, Amanda S. Peretti, Leo J. Small, Erik D. Spoerke, Yang-Tse Cheng

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is critical to a stable, resilient, and decarbonized electric grid. While batteries are emerging as important LDES devices, extended, high-power discharges necessary for cost-competitive LDES present new materials challenges. Focusing on a new generation of low-temperature molten sodium batteries, we explore here unique phenomena related to long-duration discharge through a well-known solid electrolyte, NaSICON. Specifically, molten sodium symmetric cells at 110 ° C were cycled at 0.1 A cm−2 for 1–23 h discharges. Longer discharges led to unstable overpotentials, reduced resistances, and decreased electrolyte strength, caused by massive sodium penetration not observed in shorter duration discharges. …

Quasi-Static And Impact Load Response Of Bfrp-Reinforced Concrete Beams And Post-Terrorist-Attack Sub-Assemblages, José Luis Carrasquillo

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents the outcome of a theoretical and experimental study of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) reinforced concrete beams and post-terrorist-attack subassemblages subjected to either quasi-static or impact load. Both BFRP reinforcement as well as BFRP fabric are used in this investigation. The sub-assemblage consists of an otherwise two-span beam converted to a fixed-end single-span one owing to the loss of a middle column blasted off during the terrorist attack. The simply supported beams are subjected to a midspan quasistatic or an impact load. However, each sub-assemblage is subjected to a quasi-static load up to collapse to simulate the …

Thermo-Elasto-Plastic Stability Of Biaxially Loaded Hollow Rectangular Section Steel Beam-Columns With Applied Torsion, George Adomako Kumi

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Presented herein is an experimental and theoretical study of biaxially loaded hollow rectangular section steel beam-columns with applied torsion at elevated temperatures. The theoretical analysis is based on a system of simultaneous materially nonlinear differential equations of equilibrium for which an iterative semi-analytic solution approach is formulated. Although the primary goal of this research is to study the influence of elevated temperatures on the steel member with the complex loading, rigorous analysis is also conducted of the member at ambient temperature for comparison. The experimental part of the study involves conducting tests on the members at both ambient and high …

Segregation And Heat Treatment Response Of Cast Quench And Partition Steels, Mujeeb Hussain Shaik

Masters Theses

Quench and partition (Q&P) steels have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional quenching and tempering methods, offering a superior balance of strength and ductility due to their unique microstructure of martensite, and retained austenite. This literature review examines the development and optimization of Q&P steels, focusing on their mechanical properties, heat treatment processes, and applications in various industries. This study explores the application and effectiveness of the Quench and Partition (Q&P) heat treatment process on cast steels and examines segregation phenomena in cast medium Mn steels. Medium Mn steels were employed for various Q&P cycles on cast specimens to investigate …

Safety Evaluation Of Hawaii Dot Modified Type A-1 Flared Buried In Backslope Guardrail End Terminal, Sina Changizian

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) desired to evaluate the crashworthiness of a guardrail end terminal design in which the upstream guardrail anchorage was connected to a block partially buried in a cut slope, known as a “Buried in Backslope” or BIB design. The HDOT BIB system used an upper W-beam with 8-in. deep blockouts attached to W6x9 steel posts and a lower W-beam rubrail located 3 in. below the upper rail. The system used two horizontal flares: 7.4:1 near the upstream anchor block and a 13:1 flare through the ditch.

Critical impact points (CIPs) were identified and recommended for …

Advancements In Characterization Of Ancient Potteries From Southeast Asia: A Review Of Analytical Techniques, Chitnarong Sirisathitkul

Makara Journal of Science

Ancient potteries offer valuable information regarding technological advancements, life dynamics, cultural diversity, and trade routes in the past. Earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain from Southeast Asia have been characterized using several analytical techniques, as reviewed in this article. Fluorescent and diffracted X-rays give rise to elemental and phase compositions, respectively. Examination of molecular bonds requires vibrational spectroscopy, which is useful for the identification of organic materials in ancient potteries. With the advent of portable X-ray fluorescence and Raman spectrometry, on-site analysis of archeological ceramics is now possible. For in-depth analysis, synchrotron light sources can provide new insights into artifacts through X-ray …

Electrospun Nanofiber Technology Based Energy Storage And Biosensor Devices For Wearable Electronics, Bianca Seufert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As progress in the field of nanotechnology continues to evolve, it is becoming more and more prevalent to apply this small but powerful technology to portable wearable electronics. The unique scale of such a technology lends its expertise to the investigation of enzymes for biometric related diagnostics or in the development of light weight flexible energy storage devices. Furthermore, as the need for highly precise and durable wearable electronics grows, the next generation of electronics must keep pace with this development in terms of shape, flexibility, functionality, and performance.

The presented research reviews the current state of art of nanofiber …

A Comparison Of Beamforming Characteristics In Isotropic And Composite Plate Structures For Use In Structural Health Monitoring, Sarah Ketchersid

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Structural health monitoring in plate-like simple structures using phased array beamsteering of guided Lamb waves is useful in damage detection and evaluation efforts. Lamb waves can be effectively used for beamsteering using a linear array. The experimentation primarily focuses on beamsteering in the aluminum panel, which involves developing a simulation based on extracted data to visualize the dispersion of waves across the panel. By evaluating parameters such as slowness, velocity, and amplitude direction and variation for a specific metallic plate, the wavefront generated by a single wave source can be represented as a function of propagation angle and distance from …

Effect Of Fabrication Parameters On The Ferroelectricity Of Hafnium Zirconium Oxide Films: A Statistical Study, Guillermo A. Salcedo, Ahmad E. Islam, Elizabeth Reichley, Michael Dietz, Christine M. Schubert Kabban, Kevin D. Leedy, Tyson C. Back, Weison Wang, Andrew Green, Timothy S. Wolfe, James M. Sattler

Faculty Publications

Ferroelectricity in hafnium zirconium oxide (Hf_1−xZr_xO₂) and the factors that impact it have been a popular research topic since its discovery in 2011. Although the general trends are known, the interactions between fabrication parameters and their effect on the ferroelectricity of Hf_1−xZr_xO₂ require further investigation. In this paper, we present a statistical study and a model that relates Zr concentration (x), film thickness (t_f), and annealing temperature (T_a) with the remanent polarization (P_r) in tungsten (W)-capped Hf_1−xZr_xO₂. …

Recent Advances In Solar Photo(Electro)Catalytic Nitrogen Fixation, Jun-Bo Ma, Sheng Lin, Zhiqun Lin, Lan Sun, Chang-Jian Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

Ammonia (NH₃) is an essential chemical in modern society. It is currently produced in industry by the Haber-Bosch process using H₂ and N₂ as reactants in the presence of iron-based catalysts at high-temperature (400–600 ^oC) and extremely highpressure (20–40 MPa) conditions. However, its efficiency is limited to 10% to 15%. At the same time, a large amount of energy is consumed, and CO₂ emission is inevitably. The development of a sustainable, clean, and environmentally friendly energy system represents a key strategy to address energy crisis and environmental pollution, ultimately aiming to achieve carbon neutrality. …

Micropatterning And Functionalization Of Single Layer Graphene: Tuning Its Electron Transport Properties, Miao-Miao Cui, Lian-Huan Han, Lan-Ping Zeng, Jia-Yao Guo, Wei-Ying Song, Chuan Liu, Yuan-Fei Wu, Shi-Yi Luo, Yun-Hua Liu, Dong-Ping Zhan

Journal of Electrochemistry

As a promising 2D material, graphene exhibits excellent physical properties including single-atom-scale thickness and remarkably high charge carrier mobility. However, its semi-metallic nature with a zero bandgap poses challenges for its application in high-performance field-effect transistors (FETs). In order to overcome these limitations, various approaches have been explored to modulate graphene's bandgap, including nanoscale confinement, external field induction, doping, and chemical micropatterning. Nevertheless, the stability and controllability still need to be improved. In this study, we propose a feasible method that combines electrochemical bromination and photolithography to precisely tune the electron transport properties of single layer graphene (SLG). Through this …

Interfacial Magnetism And Anisotropy In Dirac And Weyl Semimetals, Noah Schulz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Semimetals have gained intense interest recently due to their exotic magnetic and electronic properties. One of the most widely studied semimetals is graphene, a Dirac semimetal. The utilization of graphene in devices and sensors requires interfacing it with other materials, which may induce potentially strong interfacial effects. Furthermore, graphene alone does not possess magnetic order. Studying the interfacial effects between graphene and magnetic materials is therefore of great importance in the application of graphene to meet modern technological needs. Furthermore, by understanding the fundamental interfacial physics between graphene and magnetic materials, new properties can be unlocked, broadening the possible applications …

Engineering Nanofibers: Laboratory Characterization, Microstructural Analysis, And Image Processing Insights, Sayed Ahmadreza Razian, Mohammad Arjomandi, Kaspars Maleckis

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Polymer nanofibers have attracted high interest in a wide array of applications, including biomaterial scaffolding, textiles, sensors, reinforcement in composites, and filtration systems. Many of these applications combine nanofibers into non-woven fabrics for better properties and easier manipulation. The properties and performance of nanofiber-based fabrics are affected by various microstructure parameters, including fiber alignment, diameter, and gap sizes between the nanofibers. These structural parameters can be controlled by adjusting various process parameters during manufacturing process, but the exact process parameter-microstructure relationships vary depending on the polymer system and need to be studied individually. The goal of this study is to …

Machine Learning Prediction Of Photoluminescence In Mos2: Challenges In Data Acquisition And A Solution Via Improved Crystal Synthesis, Ethan Swonger, John Mann, Jared Horstmann, Daniel Yang

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) possess unique electronic and optical properties, making them promising materials for nanotechnology. Photoluminescence (PL) is a key indicator of MoS2 crystal quality. This study aimed to develop a machine-learning model capable of predicting the peak PL wavelength of single MoS2 crystals based on micrograph analysis. Our limited ability to consistently synthesize high-quality MoS2 crystals hampered our ability to create a large set of training data. The project focus shifted towards improving MoS2 crystal synthesis to generate improved training data. We implemented a novel approach utilizing low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) combined with …

La1-Xsrxcoo3 Perovskite Nanomaterial: Synthesis, Characterization, And Its Biomedical Application, Adhira Tippur, Anyet Shohag, Luke Franco, Ahmed Touhami, Swati Mohan, Mohammed Uddin

Research Symposium

Early cancer detection is paramount for effective treatment and potential cures. This research explores the application of perovskite materials, specifically Sr2+-doped Lanthanum Cobaltite (La1-xSrxCoO3) nanomaterials, in cancer detection, with a focus on rats as an experimental model. The ferroelectric nature of these materials, synthesized through a combination of sol-gel and molten-salt processes, was examined at varying Sr2+ doping levels (1-20 wt%). Rigorous characterization, employing X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, confirmed the uniform morphology of nano cubes, laying the foundation for subsequent investigations. The magnetic properties of the perovskite nanoparticles were probed, suggesting their potential as a diagnostic tool for …

Key Construction Techniques For Incremental Launching And High Falling Beam Of Long‑Span Simply Supported Steel Box Girder, Wu Yanbin, Lyu Maofeng, Yin Qijia, Yu Guanqiu

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Based on the overpass project over Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway on Changsha Pan-Pan Road，this paper proposed a construction method of large-slope walking-type incremental launching and high falling beam of steel box girder given the difficulties in busy traffic under the bridge，large pushing slope，and great total height of falling beam.After the steel box girder assembly was completed，some bridge deck ancillary facilities were constructed in advance in the preassembly yard and the weight was allocated.The steel box girder was pushed synchronously，thereby reducing the aerial work on the bridge in the later stage.During the incremental launching construction of the steel box girder above the …

Different Forms Of Nano‑Sio2 In Emulsified Asphalt And Their Effects On Emulsion Storage Stability, Ji Chao, Cao Yuanhao, Li Zhigang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The insufficient storage performance of emulsified asphalt has always been a problem affecting its application，and there have been studies in China on nano-SiO2 particles as additives to improve the stability of emulsified asphalt，but the effect is not obvious.Based on the principle of Pickering emulsion，nano-SiO2 with surface modification was used as an emulsifier to directly emulsify matrix asphalt，and whether its stability improvement effect on emulsified asphalt is better than nano-SiO2 as a modified additive was explored.Firstly，three emulsified asphalt were prepared，namely ordinary modified emulsified asphalt A，emulsified asphalt B with nano-SiO2 as a modified additive，and emulsified asphalt C based on the new nano-SiO2 …

Study On Test Methods Of Wheel Sticking‑Free Emulsified Asphalt, Wang Peng, Qin Yongchun, Wang Jie, Xiong Weiming, Chang Rong, Fu Chongfeng, Feng Guoli

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The wheel sticking-free emulsified asphalt is a key material to solve the wheel sticking problem in the process of asphalt pavement construction，with the wheel sticking-free effect as the core index.The accurate evaluation of the wheel sticking-free effect is important for the popularization and application of wheel sticking-free emulsified asphalt.Based on the research results in China and abroad，two test methods for wheel sticking-free effects （counterweight method and indenter method ） were innovatively proposed，and the wheel sticking-free effects of various emulsified asphalt were evaluated.The test results show that the two test methods can accurately evaluate the wheel sticking-free performance of emulsified asphalt，and …

Study On Mobilization Rate Of Rap Aged Asphalt Based On Ftir, Zou Xiaoyong, Li Ning, Wu Wenxiu, Wang Xin, Xu Xiaohe

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

During the preparation of the recycled asphalt mixture，part of the aged asphalt is first transferred from the surface of the recycled material to the new aggregate and then diffused and fused with the new asphalt，in which the percentage of transferred aged asphalt plays a key role in the final regeneration effect.In order to study the degree of transfer of aged asphalt in reclaimed asphalt pavement （RAP ），the mobilization rate （RMR） was calculated and analyzed based on the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR ）.The AC-13 graded recycled asphalt mixture was mixed and sieved to separate the new aggregate and RAP.The recycled …

Deflection Variation Rule Of Main Girder For A Concrete Cable‑Stayed Bridge Based On Combined Static And Dynamic Modification, Li Qi, Qi D Ongchun, Yang Hu, Zhao Zhiguo

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to solve the problem of continuous downward deflection of the main girder for a concrete cable-stayed bridge during its service life，the deflection variation of the main girder for a long-span concrete cable-stayed bridge during its service was analyzed based on the modified model.A dual-objective optimization problem was constructed by using the combined static and dynamic finite element model modification method and was solved by the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm （NSGA- Ⅱ）.The Pareto optimal solution set was obtained，and the coordinated optimal solution was found in the Pareto optimal solution set，so as to modify the finite element model.The calculated values …

Construction Technology Of Reactive Powder Concrete Prestressed Box Girder, Wang Xiaojie

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

At present，high-strength and high-performance concrete has some disadvantages，such as low flexural strength，large brittleness，and poor volume stability.Reactive powder concrete （RPC ） is a new type of material，which has good mechanical properties and high impermeability.It can reduce the amount of concrete to a greater extent and reduce the weight of the structure，achieving the purpose of safety，reliability，and cost saving.This paper applied RPC to highway prestressed box girder.Through the innovation and optimization of mix ratio，the change in traditional transportation technology，and curing technology research of steam curing shed，it effectively shortens the pouring time of RPC，ensuring the pouring quality and strength.

Fragilit Y Analysis Of Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge With High Piers And Long Span Subjected To Near‑Field Earthquakes, Sun Yongjiang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Near-field earthquakes are more destructive to the continuous rigid frame bridge with high piers and long span.Based on a new-built continuous rigid frame bridge with high piers and long span，considering the seismic demand probability of bridges under near-field earthquakes，this paper utilized OpenSees to analyze the time history of the bridge.The structure response of the bridge under near-field earthquakes was obtained by the nephogram method，and the vulnerability of the bridge under earthquake was analyzed based on the curvature demand probability model of the structure.The results show that the probability response of curvature demand of a continuous rigid frame bridge with high …

Lightweight Replacement Technology For Existing Soft Subgrade Based On Over‑Consolidated State, Huang Baotao, Zhang Mudan, Huang Xiangshuo, Fang Mingshan, Feng Jianxue, Huang Lizhen

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to solve the differential settlement of soft subgrade in coastal areas，based on the elastic deformation theory of overconsolidation stress ratio，the calculation and analysis of artificial overconsolidation stress ratio and the new technology of lightweight replacement were carried out to reduce the additional stress of vehicle load and structure weigh.The results show that the replacement thickness of the lightweight material with suitable density can make the additional stress at the bottom of the subgrade less than the deadweight stress of the original soft soil，and the additional stress is less than the initial flow stress of the soft soil.The resulting …

Analysis Of Stress And Drainage Characteristics Of Water Film Between Tire And Road Surface And Influence Of Groove Parameters, Sun Zhenhao, Chen Jun

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to study the stress characterist ics of water film on cement concrete road surface under the action of the tire and the influence of grooves，the finite element model of tire-water film-road surface was constructed using SolidWorks and Ansys Workbench.Based on computational fluid dynamics （CFD ） control equation and fluid-structure coupling theory，the flow law of water film on road surface under the action of the tire and the influence of water film thickness，driving speed，groove width，groove spacing，and groove direction on the hydrodynamic lift of tire were analyzed.The results show that the hydrodynamic lift of the tire increases with the increasing …

Influence Of Rap Content On Mechanical Properties And Pavement Performance Of Warm Recycled Asphalt Mixture, Ren Ruibo, Yin Liyang, Xu Qiang, Zhao Pinhui, Ma Shidong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Warm recycling technology is an effective new technology for recycling recycled asphalt pavement （RAP ）.In order to improve the pavement performance of warm recycled asphalt and effectively enhance the recycling rate of RAP，the influence of RAP content on the performance of warm recycled asphalt mixture was investigated through mechanical properties and pavement performance analysis，and the correlation between dynamic stability and mechanical parameters of creep tests under repeated loading was discussed.The results show that with the increase in RAP content，the high-temperature stability，shear resistance，and elastic deformation resistance of warm recycled asphalt mixture are improved，but the low-temperature crack resistance and water stability are …

Expressway Traffic Flow Prediction Based On Data From Multiple Related Toll Stations, Zhang Yang, Yao Fangyu, Yang Shumin

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

The strong inter-economic connection makes a spatial correlation between traffic data from multiple related toll stations between urban cluster regions，and an accurate description of this connection can improve the accuracy of expressway traffic flow prediction.However，due to many uncertainties，the correlation is difficult to be captured and quantified.To solve this problem，an ATGCN-ResGRU deep learning-based expressway traffic flow prediction method was proposed.By combining attention mechanisms，three graph convolutional networks （GCN ） topological networks with high，medium，and low attention levels were constructed，and spatial learning data was obtained according to the weighted attention level of each network.The connection of multiple related toll stations was quantified and graded.At …

Carbon Emission Calculation And Scheme Selection For Roadbed Drainage Ditches By Mechanized Construction, Xing Hao, Wu Jiarun, Li Han, Lin Yuliang, Guo Dongdong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Aligned with the peak carbon and neutrality goals，the mechanized construction of roadbed drainage ditches should consider not only construction efficiency and economic factors but also carbon emissions.This study，centered on the Meng-LYU highway，devised approaches to calculate roadbed drainage ditches' carbon emissions and investment costs across three stages：building material production，transportation，and construction.By introducing the concept of carbon trading to align carbon emissions and investment costs，a comprehensive comparison was conducted between the conventional supporting formwork method and the hydraulically powered sliding formwork method regarding equivalent carbon emissions.An orthogonal experiment was conducted involving the upper length of the roadbed drainage ditch，pouring thickness，haul distance，and construction length …

Study On Treatment Method Of Expansive Soil Embankment In Expressway Reconstruction And Extension, Wang Yuwei, Hu Yanli, Zhang Rui

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to fully utilize expansive soil as filler in highway reconstruction and expansion projects，this paper draws on the successful experience of using expansive soil directly in road construction.It proposes an embankment treatment scheme that involves the use of geogrid-reinforced expansive soil with edge wrapping，based on the reconstruction and expansion project of the Hefei to Dagudian section of the G 40 Shanghai-Shaanxi Expressway.Through laboratory tests，the road performance and swelling characteristics of the expansive soil filler were investigated to determine the applicable scope and compaction control indices of the filler.Then，the feasibility of the embankment treatment scheme was demonstrated through the prediction …