Other Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Integrating Off-Spec Scms Into Plc Blends, George A. Qubty

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Off-spec supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) remain underutilized due to variability in reactivity and non-conformance with existing standards. This study evaluates the hydration behavior and fresh-state and mechanical performance of these materials in Portland limestone cement (PLC) systems. One Class F fly ash (FA), one bottom ash (BA), and two calcined clays (HACC and LACC) were evaluated as 20 % replacements to PLC. Hydration behavior was characterized using isothermal calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), while fresh-state and mechanical performance were assessed through flow table, Vicat setting time, load–crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) flexural testing, and compressive strength testing. HACC increased compressive …

Enhancing The Mechanical Properties Of Sla 3d-Printed Bio-Resin From Linseed Oil Using Cellulose And Lignin Biopolymers, Chukwunonso A. Ikedionu

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Abstract

This research explores the development of bio resin from linseed oil by the process of epoxidation and acrylation to produce acrylated epoxidized linseed oil (AELO). Lignin and cellulose biopolymers were added as reinforcement at varying weight fractions of 1 wt.%, 2.5 wt.%, and 5 wt.%, and their mechanical performance was compared against pure AELO. The formulations were printed using an Elegoo SLA 3D printer to create standardized test specimens like tensile bars, compression cylinders, and hardness blocks, which were all prepared according to the ASTM testing standard.

The results indicate that reinforcement effects depend on both filler type and …

Hafnium Oxide-Based Nanoheterostructures For Catalytic Radiosensitization And Enhanced X-Ray Radiotherapy, Marlen Dariela Calix Quezada

Theses and Dissertations

Orthovoltage X-ray beams are attractive for surface and intra-operative radiotherapy. Yet, their clinical utility is constrained by rapid attenuation and the limited dose that can be delivered without harming healthy tissue. High-Z hafnium oxide (HfO₂) nanoparticles can boost local energy deposition through the photoelectric effect, while catalytic surface defects accelerate water radiolysis. Harnessing both mechanisms in a single nano-heterostructure could enable potent radiosensitization at diagnostic-range energies.

This thesis develops and evaluates HfO₂-based nanoheterostructures, both bare and Au-decorated, as catalytic radiosensitizers.

Two types of HfO₂ were evaluated, one was synthesized following a specific route and the …

Development, Synthesis And Characterization Of Advanced Low- Cobalt And High-Nickel Cathode Materials For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Arjun Patel

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the improvement of structural and electrochemical stability of active materials for lithium-ion batteries. It explores the modification strategies to mitigate the issues related to Ni-rich cathode materials, along with the continuous production of cathode precursors using a slug flow reactor to improve the quality of the product.

The First part of the dissertation examines the effect of substitution of cobalt with aluminum and iron on the electrochemical stability of Ni-rich lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) materials. This study investigates how Al and Fe doping work and how they impact the performance and stability of these …

Electro-Mechanical Behavior Of Core-Shell Carbon Grease-Silicone Fibers Fabricated Via Coaxial Direct Ink Writing, Fahrettin Kilic

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Highly stretchable strain sensors are essential components in soft electronics, enabling integration of sensing and signal transmission into deformable systems. This thesis explores the fabrication and characterization of coaxial core–shell fibers composed of a conductive carbon grease core and an elastomeric silicone shell. These fibers were produced using coaxial direct ink writing (DIW), a versatile additive manufacturing technique that allows continuous deposition of multi-material filaments. The goal was to achieve mechanically compliant yet electrically stable fibers capable of withstanding large deformations, suitable for applications in wearable electronics and soft robotics.
The printed fibers were systematically examined through mechanical tensile testing, …

Microwave-Assisted Reduction Of Critical Metal Oxides From E-Waste Mixture, Kurundu Shavinka Jayasekera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The efficient recovery of critical metals such as tantalum (Ta), manganese (Mn), gallium (Ga), and indium (In) from electronic waste (e-waste) is essential for resource sustainability and environmental protection. This research uses microwave-assisted treatment to investigate the carbothermal reduction of these four specific metals from their oxides in a simulated e-waste mixture, with carbon black serving as both a microwave coupling and reduction agent. Microwave processing is used specifically because it offers a rapid and energy-efficient alternative to conventional thermal methods, with the benefits of intrinsic heating and selective heating of materials. The first experiments centered on understanding the effects …

Effect Of Build Orientation On Tensile Properties And Fractography Of Additive Manufactured Inconel 718 Alloy, Ajay Kumar Maurya, Amit Kumar, Swarnambuj Suman

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The additive manufacturing (AM) technique “Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)” is used to create 3D objects directly from 3D design data. A lightweight and complexity-free part without any expensive tooling can be fabricated easily using this method, but it is still challenging to achieve the desired mechanical strength from AM parts, as the mechanical properties of AM-produced parts vary with orientation, scan strategy, and process parameters. Inconel 718 alloy is most commonly utilized in the aerospace and automotive industries, because of its high resistance to corrosion and excellent mechanical qualities. This work presents a study to investigate the orientation-based mechanical …

Effects Of Chain Length, Saturation, And Bases On Saponification, Sarah Fenik

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will analyze the effects of chain length and saturation of fatty acids on saponification processes, as well as the effects of the base used in the reaction. Stearic acid, lauric acid, and oleic acid will be used for the fatty acid comparisons, and sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide will be used for the base comparisons. Stearic acid is considered a long chain fatty acid, while lauric acid is considered a short chain fatty acid. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid. Five soap products are be made: sodium stearate, sodium laurate, sodium oleate, potassium stearate, and potassium oleate. …

Prediction Of Glass Transition Temperature Of Polymers Using Structure-Based Models, Nicholas Wolfe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The focus for this study is prediction of glass transition temperatures of polymers using machine learning models. The preprocessing of the data included the generation of descriptors, the scaling of the data, the principal component analysis for dimensionality reduction, and the clustering of the data. Three methods of property predictions were utilized including Linear Regression, Random Forest, and a Feedforward Neural Network. The dataset consisted of over 7000 polymers each with their respective glass transition temperatures. This study found that the Random Forest model returned the best results followed by the Feedforward Neural Network then the Linear Regression model. Each …

Design And Development Of A Rapid Tensile Quench Rig, Tyler Jewell, Justin Naylor

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report outlines the design process and implantation of a tensile quenching rig that incorporated forced convection and a frequency generator. When any metal is quenched, a vapor barrier forms around it. When this happens, it limits the heat flux that may occur until the barrier turns into just nucleate boiling. The vapor barrier acts as an insulator and causes the heat flux to fluctuate, causing uneven hardening which would limit the use of some materials. To combat this effect, we are trying to use forced convection, and something new, which is adding high frequency waves into the quenching process. …

Advances In Magnetic Nanoparticles For Molecular Medicine, Xiaoyue Yang, Sarah E. Kubican, Zhongchao Yi, Sheng Tong

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are highly versatile nanomaterials in nanomedicine, owing to their diverse magnetic properties, which can be tailored through variations in size, shape, composition, and exposure to inductive magnetic fields. Over four decades of research have led to the clinical approval or ongoing trials of several MNP formulations, fueling continued innovation. Beyond traditional applications in drug delivery, imaging, and cancer hyperthermia, MNPs have increasingly advanced into molecular medicine. Under external magnetic fields, MNPs can generate mechano- or thermal stimuli to modulate individual molecules or cells deep within tissue, offering precise, remote control of biological processes at cellular and molecular …

Surface Morphology And Moisture Adsorption/Desorption Characteristics Of Hybrid-Dielectric Moisture Sensors, Ronak Ali

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Relative humidity sensors are used for high-humidity measurement. Moisture sensors, or dew point sensors are used for low-humidity measurement (< 1 ppm_v). The dissertation contains two parts of studies. In the first part, the effect of surface morphology on the response speed of moisture sensors is studied. Moisture sensors using α-Al₂O₃ films as porous dielectric materials deposited by anodic spark deposition are studied. In this part of the study, a variety of small pores have been studied to investigate the response speed of moisture sensors. Three different surface morphologies have been studied using scanning electron microscopy. One …

Combinatorial Thin Film Approach To Accelerate Materials Discovery: Development Of Nanoporous And Bulk Multi-Principal Element Alloys, Tibra Das Gupta

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) have garnered significant attention in materials science due to their potential for exhibiting a combination of desirable properties stemming from their unique configurational entropy. While early research focused on equiatomic compositions, recent studies have indicated that non-equiatomic MPEAs may offer superior mechanical performance. However, the identification of optimal non-equiatomic compositions remains challenging due to the vast compositional space and the reliance on time-consuming and computationally expensive methods. This dissertation presents a combinatorial thin film approach as a rapid and efficient strategy for discovering two types of materials: nanoporous and bulk MPEAs.

The first study explores the …

Sustainable Hemp Industrial Panels (Ship) And Its Industrial Possibilities For The Replacement Of Oriented Strand Board (Osb), Anthony Ollins

Masters Theses

This study explores the feasibility of using industrial hemp fiber to create composite panels—termed Sustainable Hemp Industrial Panels (SHIP) as a potential competitor for oriented strand board (OSB), a commonly used structural wood product. Given hemp's historical and environmental advantages, including rapid growth, carbon sequestration capacity, and material strength, this research investigates its performance when combined with Urea-Formaldehyde (UF) resin, and in a hybrid form with Southern Yellow Pine (SYP). Two hemp-based composites were produced and tested: one with hemp and UF, and another with hemp and SYP. Using a custom-built hydraulic press, composite panels were fabricated and subjected to …

Frustrated Quantum Magnetism: The Interplay Of Isotropic And Anisotropic Interactions With Application To Α-Rucl3, Evan M. Wilson

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We investigate how anisotropic spin interactions, including Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya and Kitaev terms, manifest across quantum spin systems ranging from a single S = 1/2 dimer to molecular spin clusters and layered magnetic materials. Beginning with an exact analysis of the spin dimer, we demonstrate how singlet–triplet mixing induced by Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction directly influences both thermodynamic observables and inelastic neutron scattering spectra. These microscopic fingerprints are then extended to trimer, tetramer, and tetrahedron geometries, where field-induced phase transitions and heat capacity anomalies reveal the interplay between isotropic Heisenberg and anisotropic Kitaev exchanges. In the frustrated zigzag honeycomb lattice, we show that a …

Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography: Development Of Tissue Models And Investigation Of Shear Wave Variability, Emily J. Miller

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Ultrasound shear wave elastography (USWE) is an evolving and promising clinical tool for noninvasively measuring in vivo soft tissue biomechanical properties. Assumptions incorporated into the clinical workflow and technical limitations have created gaps between theoretical and clinically derived solutions. The heterogeneity of the fibrotic liver tissue, composition of the background, such as the presence of fatty liver tissue, and the preferred local orientation of the scarred fibrotic liver tissues embedded into the liver parenchyma, may contribute to the uncertainty in USWE measurements. This study aims to systematically investigate four cofounding factors (i.e., size, volume fraction, orientation of the fibrotic inclusions, …

Pulsed Arc Additive Manufacturing Of A Functionally Graded Er2209 Duplex Stainless Steel And Hsla-100 Structure: Morphology, Characterization, And Mechanical Performance, Stevens G. Hill Jr

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Wire arc additive manufacturing is a process well suited to the efficient production of large structures. Duplex stainless steel exhibits high corrosion resistance and good strength which can be highly beneficial for industrial use. However, its use is limited due to its cost and complexity in controlling microstructure to achieve desired properties. In many cases, it can be highly beneficial to manufacture a component which uses specialty steel grades such as duplex stainless steel only where necessary, and utilizes more affordable, commonly available steels for reinforcement or bulk structural support. A functionally graded material satisfies these requirements by providing a …

Characterization And Optimization Of Sand And Tung Oil-Based Resins For Binder-Jet 3d Printing, Daniel I. Ajiola

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Binder-jet 3D printing as a transformative technology in additive manufacturing, offers the ability to fabricate complex structures with diverse materials. This thesis investigates the use of a sustainable tung oil-based resin to create composites, exploring the potential for an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic binders.

The aim of this research is to develop and characterize a bio-based resin formulation, using tung oil as the primary binder, for application in binder-jet 3D printing with sand as the reinforcement. The resin formulation was prepared by combining tung oil, n-butyl methacrylate, divinylbenzene, and di-tert-butyl peroxide in precise proportions, ensuring a balanced mixture that supports …

Wood-Plastic Composites Integration For Triboelectric Nanogenerator Electricity Generation, Hanbyeol Park, Razamala Yashna F. Dimaporo, Sophia Maureen A. Emperado, Anton Jefferson L. Pangilinan, Juan Carlo T. Gumangan

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Access to electricity in underdeveloped communities is particularly crucial in improving the living standards of people and alleviating poverty by promoting sustainable development. This study deals with the exploration of incorporating wood-plastic composite (WPC) – specifically wood pulp (W) and high-density polyethylene (H) – into triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) flooring system to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, promoting sustainable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving the quality of life, and serving as feasible flooring tiles. Two types of TENG tiles were prepared by using different WPC ratios: 30W:70H and 70W:30H. A static bending test was conducted to assess the flexural …

Lignin Cationization For The Removal Of Phosphates And Nitrates From Effluents Of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Fannyuy V. Kewir

LSU Master's Theses

The removal of phosphates and nitrates from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents is important for preventing pollution of receiving waters. In this study, we chemically modified alkaline lignin (aLN) with quaternary ammonium groups to obtain biodegradable cationic lignin (cLN). We characterized the cLN and tested its efficacy for removing phosphates and nitrates in a lab setting and on field-collected WWTP samples. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies were performed in aqueous media, and the effects of several variables (contact time, pH, initial concentration, and adsorbent dose) were investigated. The Langmuir isotherm described phosphate and nitrate adsorption well, with R2 values of …

Toward Electrochemical Detection Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Enteritidis On Hydroponically Grown Green Onions (Allium Fistulosum L.), Lisseth Casso-Hartmann

All Theses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established standards during the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption as part of implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). One of the main requirements for farmers is to detect environmental pathogens such as Salmonella enterica species in water and sprout samples. S. enterica is a bacterium of significant concern due to its pathogenicity and ability to survive and persist in diverse environmental conditions. S. enterica has been associated with recalls in ready-to-eat foods. Traditional detection methods include Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and plate counting, which …

Cyclic Thermal Stability Of Native Oxide Solar Thermal Absorbers On Femnnialcr High Entropy Alloys For Energy Applications, Xiaoxue Gao

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising candidates for cost-effective high-temperature materials in high-efficiency power cycles. A potential application is in concentrated solar power (CSP) systems, where native oxides of cost-effective FeMnNiAlCr HEAs can also synergistically serve as a high-efficiency solar thermal absorber. However, the huge and repetitive temperature change of the CSP system in day-night cycles greatly challenges its thermal stability. In this thesis, we investigated the cyclic oxidation behavior of FeMnNiAlCr HEAs to improve the optical performance and thermal stability of their native oxides as a solar absorber for next-generation CSP systems. We found that the duplex oxide scale …

Investigation Of Conductive Die-Top Thermal Capacitors During Short Circuit Operation Of Silicon Carbide Devices, Youssef Abotaleb

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their superior thermal and electrical properties compared to traditional silicon devices. However, SiC power devices suffer from severe reliability issues arising from their mechanical properties. This is because the Young's modulus of SiC is about three times larger than that of silicon, which correspondingly raises the mechanical stresses acting on the bonding structure, often leading to device failure under power shock events.

Traditional packaging materials and designs tend to constrain SiC performance, as hot-spot temperature resulting from a power shock is one of the key factors …

Fabrication And Performance Of Scalable Bio-Engineered Porous Layers For Efficient Co2 Capture, Mary Sharon Rose Bondugula

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the critical challenge of mitigating climate change by advancing CO2 capture technologies. As global CO2 emissions continue to rise, effective methods for capturing and separating CO2 from industrial processes are essential to combat climate change. Existing CO2 capture systems, such as Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and Temperature Swing Adsorption (TSA), often rely on packed bed designs that face limitations, including poor heat and mass transfer, slow gas diffusion, and low thermal conductivity, reducing their efficiency. To overcome these challenges, this dissertation explores innovative solutions by developing advanced adsorbent coatings and scalable bed configurations.

This research begins by …

Synthesis And Doping Effects In Highly Conductive Chalcogenide Solid Electrolytes., Selim Halacoglu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lithium and sodium ion batteries have been a vital component in the growth of small, portable electronic devices and EVs over the past 30 years. For future energy needs, changes to battery chemistry and composition will be necessary for two primary reasons: safer and higher energy batteries. Metal anodes have not seen widespread commercialization because of their propensity to react aggressively with the flammable liquid electrolytes commonly used in modern batteries. Non-flammable solid-state batteries (SSB) with solid electrolytes can safely be used with metal anodes, potentially providing a solution to both problems. The future perspective of safer battery is that …

High Energy Density Lithium-Ion Battery Materials., Rachel Dewees

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growth of the EV industry has created an increased demand for Li-ion battery electrode materials, and support of a robust lithium-ion battery supply chain is a national imperative. For mainstream acceptance in the American market, the range of EVs must be improved, i.e., the energy density of the battery must be increased. Increasing the specific capacity of the electrode materials is the most direct strategy for increasing the energy density of the battery. Silicon anode materials have a theoretical capacity of over 3700 mAh·g^-1 - an order of magnitude beyond that of the graphitic materials which are currently implemented. …

Development Of Machine Learning-Based Tool For Prediction Of Long-Term Field Performance Of Asphalt Concrete Overlays In A Hot And Humid Climate, Elise Mansour

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The performance of pavement plays a critical role in Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (MR&R) for highway agencies. Reliable and accurate estimation of pavement performance can be instrumental in prioritization of the limited resources and funding for highway agencies. The latter requires robust prediction models that can handle large-scale, real-world data and can forecast pavement performance in the long run. Unfortunately, the traditional performance prediction models have raised concerns regarding their efficiency and accuracy. It is because these models were based on a limited number of explanatory variables, were not up-to-date and were designed for forecasting short-term (up to five years) …

Biofabrication Of Tissue Constructs Using Protein-In-Polysaccharide Bioinks For Muscle Regeneration, Harshavardhan B

Theses and Dissertations

Myocardial infarction (MI) and volumetric muscle loss (VML) are debilitating conditions that severely affect patient quality of life and challenge healthcare systems, particularly in diagnosis and treatment. Conventional therapies often result in long recovery periods with limited functional restoration. Advances in regenerative medicine, especially extrusion-based 3D bioprinting, offer promising potential to improve the regeneration of complex tissues by precisely depositing cells and biomaterials layer-by-layer to create tailored tissue constructs.

A critical challenge in muscle tissue regeneration is developing protein-polysaccharide bioinks that closely mimic the native muscle tissue microenvironment. In this study, two protein-inpolysaccharide bioinks (alginate-fibrinogen and methylcellulose-gelatin-alginate) were developed to …

Synergistic Approaches For Microstructural Refinement, Enhanced Mechanical And Wear Behaviour In Additively Manufactured 17-4 Ph Stainless Steel, Pradeep Kumar S

Theses and Dissertations

The surface and microstructural characteristics of additively manufactured parts play a significant role under mechanical loading. Due to its high strength, tailorable mechanical properties by heat treatment, and ease of printability, the 17-4 precipitation hardened (PH) stainless steel is gaining attention in the additive manufacturing (AM) field.

Selective Laser Melting (SLM), one of the laser-based powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processes, is capable of making fully dense metallic parts with high geometrical fidelity and greater design flexibility at high resolution. The main factors limiting the adoption of SLM are poor surface roughness, anisotropic microstructure, and the formation of micro-pores in the …

Solubility Characterization Of Organic Molecules For Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries, Anthony W. Ferrell, Harkeerith K. Vij, Seamus D. Jones

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

The major obstacle to renewable energy sources is a lack of long-term energy storage capabilities. Energy produced during the day dissipates, leaving insufficient electricity for at night. The goal of the project is to design an Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Battery (AORFB) to act as long-term energy storage. Work has been done using machine learning to identify suitable compounds for the batteries. In this work there was no indication as to the aqueous solubility of the molecules; this controls the device’s energy storage capabilities. We used a machine learning model to determine the aqueous solubility of slightly more than 3000 …