Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Mechatronics Application To Solar Tracking, Danny L. Rodriguez Jr

Purdue Polytechnic Directed Projects

The purpose of this was to design and implement a two-axis solar tracking system utilizing the National Instruments C-Rio real time controller. In order to accomplish this a prototype was modeled in CAD. This prototype used two 12 V DC motors to change a solar panel's rotation and tilt based on feedback data from three cadmium sulfide photoresistors. This configuration was chosen for its ability to create both a left-right rotational and an up/down tilt differential. In Addition this approach uses National Instruments Labview to control a solar tracking system. Using Labview add uniqueness to this project by adding a …

Some Considerations For Regional Airline Operations On Contaminated Runways., Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

No abstract provided.

Newsletter 44 Issue 1 - Spring 2011 - Nuts And Bolts

Friends of the Larsen Tractor Museum

No abstract provided.

Modeling Diverse Physics Of Nanoparticle Self-Assembly In Pulsed Laser-Irradiated Metallic Films, Mikhail Khenner

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Presents physics behind dewetting of thin liquid films and mathematical/computational modeling tools (Educational/Research presentation for senior physics majors).

Stability Of A Strongly Anisotropic Thin Epitaxial Film In A Wetting Interaction With Elastic Substrate, Mikhail Khenner, Wondimu T. Tekalign, Margo S. Levine

Mathematics Faculty Publications

The linear dispersion relation for longwave surface perturbations, as derived by Levine et al. Phys. Rev. B 75, 205312 (2007) is extended to include a smooth surface energy anisotropy function with a variable anisotropy strength (from weak to strong, such that sharp corners and slightly curved facets occur on the corresponding Wulff shape). Through detailed parametric studies it is shown that a combination of a wetting interaction and strong anisotropy, and even a wetting interaction alone results in complicated linear stability characteristics of strained and unstrained films.

Stability Of A Strongly Anisotropic Thin Epitaxial Film In A Wetting Interaction With Elastic Substrate, Mikhail Khenner, Wondimu Tekalign, Margo Levine

Mathematics Faculty Publications

The linear dispersion relation for longwave surface perturbations, as derived by Levine et al. Phys. Rev. B 75, 205312 (2007) is extended to include a smooth surface energy anisotropy function with a variable anisotropy strength (from weak to strong, such that sharp corners and slightly curved facets occur on the corresponding Wulff shape). Through detailed parametric studies it is shown that a combination of a wetting interaction and strong anisotropy, and even a wetting interaction alone results in complicated linear stability characteristics of strained and unstrained films.

Design Of A Smart System For Monitoring Concrete Curing And Structural Health, William Quinn

Theses

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is a rapidly growing sector of the construction industry. Automated monitoring methods arc mainly limited to global monitoring and the application of local monitoring methods has not gained widespread application due to the fact that currently technology requires that the systems are wired to data acquisition devices. This thesis presents a fully embeddable wireless sensor node for the local monitoring of structural concrete. It presents the first reported wireless embedded system implementation of the electromechanical impedance method using both resonant and antiresonant sensors for this purpose.

The first section of this thesis examines the feasibility of …

A Shock Tube Technique For Blast Wave Simulation And Studies Of Flow Structure Interactions In Shock Tube Blast Experiments, Nicholas N. Kleinschmit

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Improvised explosive devices (IED’s) are widely used against US and allied forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Exposure to IED blast may cause blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI). The injury mechanisms are however not well understood. A critical need in bTBI-related research is the ability to replicate the loading conditions of IED blast waves in a laboratory environment. In this work, experimental studies have been carried out to explore the use of the shock tube technique for generating air shock waves that mimic the temporal and spatial characteristics of free-field blast waves and to investigate the blast wave-test sample interactions …

Asme Human Powered Vehicle, Benjamin Knaus, Philip Basmadjian, Nick Supat

Mechanical Engineering

Speed Solutions has been contracted to design and build a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) frame and drivetrain for the Cal Poly HPV club to use in their 2011 race season. This project is being funded by the Cal Poly HPV club and their sponsors. The goal is to design, test and build a bicycle frame that the HPV club can attach to a fairing of their design. Primary design considerations will include speed, weight, cost, rider ergonomics, reliability and ease of repair. This vehicle will be used to compete in ASME’s Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) series of races.

Universal Play Frame Vi, Justin Bazant, Cullen Crackel, Anthony Franceschi

Mechanical Engineering

This design report details the design process utilized by Adaptive Exercise Designs (AED) in creating the sixth design of the Universal Play Frame (UPF). The UPF is an adaptive frame which supports a variety of devices that allows athletes in wheelchairs with limited range of motion to participate in physical activity. The past five frame designs do not meet the needs of the Friday Club due to complications with function and time constraints. To ensure all of Fridays Club's needs were met, the problem was better defined by converting the customer requirements into engineering specifications. The design process our team …

A Study Of Golf Club Head Kinematics Near Impact, Stephen James Murphy, David Wadsworth Lavelle, Kevin Philip Melancon

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Reliability Estimation Of Complex Numerical Problems Using Modified Conditional Expectation Method, Christopher D. Eamon, Bulakorn Charumas

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

A simulation-based structural reliability analysis method is presented. It is intended as an alternate approach to estimate reliability for problems for which most-probable point of failure methods fail and when computational resources are limited. The proposed method combines conditional expectation and estimating the PDF or CDF of a selected portion of the limit state. In the proposed approach, complex limit state functions are simplified to two random variable problems. The success of the simplification depends on the quality of the CDF estimate. Results indicate that the method may provide accurate and efficient solutions for some difficult reliability problems.

Reducing Whole Body Vibration Levels In Off-Road, Heavy-Duty Vehicles: A Case Study With Computer Modelling, Shaun Mcfadden, Matthieu Morhan, Brian Hurley

Conference Papers

This paper describes a case study involving the dynamic ride performance of a 30-ton, articulated dumper vehicle. The vehicle in question was originally fitted with a front-end, solid axle with leading arm mechanism. After an engineering design program, the vehicle was custom-fitted with a Timoney Independent suspension system. Extensive testing and modelling activities using LMS Virtual.lab Motion® were undertaken to determine the productivity levels of each vehicle. It was demonstrated that the vehicle fitted with a Timoney suspension could achieve a productivity increase of up to 50%. A health analysis is also presented which shows the Timoney Independent suspension system …

Stochastic Optimal Control In Nonlinear Systems, Celestin Nkundineza

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

Stochastic control is an important area of research in engineering systems that undergo disturbances. Controlling individual states in such systems is critical. The present investigation is concerned with the application of the stochastic optimal control strategy developed by To (2010) and its implementation as well as providing computed results of linear and nonlinear systems under stationary and nonstationary random excitations. In the strategy the feedback matrix is designed based on the achievement of the objectives for individual states in the system through the application of the Lyapunov equation for the system. Each diagonal element in the gain or associated gain …

Sae Baja: Final Drive Gearbox, Michael Mccausland, Michael Watkins, Ian Masterson, Andrew Sommer

Mechanical Engineering

This paper presents the results of a manual transmission project for SAE Baja. A full engineering process is documented, including problem definition, scheduling, conceptualization, decision theory, synthesis, analysis, manufacturing, and testing. A comparison is made between existing and potential mechanical power train solutions. The final design is analyzed in dynamic simulations, AGMA stress, predicted FFT spectrums, and shifting rod buckling. A number of complicated parts are manufactured through investment casting and direct CNC machining. Issues in the final assembly have prevented the project from being fully realized, recommendations are made for future SAE Baja teams.

Pole Arrangements That Introduce Prismatic Joints Into The Design Space Of Four- And Five-Position Rigid-Body Synthesis, David H. Myszka, Andrew P. Murray

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Although a general five-position, rigid-body guidance problem admits a discrete number of revolute–revolute (RR) dyads, this paper identifies arrangements of five task positions that result in a center-point curve. For these special arrangements, a one-dimensional set of revolute-prismatic (RP) dyads exist to achieve the task positions. Other five-position arrangements are identified where a one-dimensional set of prismatic-revolute (PR) dyads exist to achieve the task positions. For a general case of five task positions, neither PR nor RP dyads are possible. In a general case of four-position rigid-body guidance problems, a unique PR dyad and RP dyad exist. Four-position arrangements are …

Newsletter 42 Issue 2 - Summer 2010 - Nuts And Bolts, Tractor Museum

Friends of the Larsen Tractor Museum

No abstract provided.

Optimal Design Of Vehicle With Internal Space Frame Structure Subjected To High Impact Load, Jagadeep Thota

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Armored military vehicles are heavily used in modern warfare. These vehicles are subjected to lethal attacks from projectiles and land mines. The shocks from these attacks may risk the safety of the occupants and damage the electronic instruments within the vehicle. Extensive research on the analysis and reduction of shocks on civilian vehicles has been performed. Fewer researchers addressed these problems in the case of military vehicles. Space frames are usually used to enhance structural strength of the vehicle while reducing its overall weight. These frames comprise of beams connected together at joints. Recently, space frames were incorporated in military …

The Effect Of Service Installations On Structural Integrity Of Slabs In Buildings, Ladislaus Lwambuka

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

In building construction industry service installations, usually housed in conduit pipes, are commonly mounted inside reinforced concrete structural elements. This practice is adopted to attain aesthetical outlook at both interior and exterior surfaces of the buildings. Depending on the extent of service installations, the cross sectional area of the load bearing structural member is substantially reduced. However, the current structural design guidelines have no provision to accommodate the extent to which the existence of conduit pipes impairs the load bearing capacity of the structural element though reduced cross sectional area. This study has attempted to address this gap in structural …

Comparison Of The Properties Of Portland Cement And Portland-Limestone Cement, Alex Lyatonga Mrema

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

A study was made in a cement factory in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where Ordinary Portland Cement (CEM I 42.5N) and Portland-limestone cement (PLC) which has the brand name Twiga Cement Extra (CEM II/A-L/32.5R) are produced and conforming to the Tanzania Standard TZS 727 (Part1): 2002, which is equivalent to EN 197 published by the committee for European normalization (CEN). A comparison was made between the two types of cements in terms of physical, chemical and mechanical properties. It was found out that they all complied with the standards, that there was no significant difference in their setting times and …

Tk Ripper, Charles Volk, Vincent Priolo, Zachary Mckibbin

Mechanical Engineering

The TK Ripper was designed to pull a rider on a wakeboard up from a deep water start. We believe the force and power required to pull a rider on a wakeboard out of the water provides enough force and power for many other extreme sports.

Edwards Automation Final Project Report, Benjamin (Ben) Johnson, Joel Masters, Matthew (Matt) Stewart

Mechanical Engineering

The body of this work has been created for Edwards Lifesciences in conjunction with senior project requirements. As such, the information produced and contained within is under a non‐disclosure agreement. As per request by sponsor, the body of the work will not be submitted to any outside parties, and the title page will serve as proof of completion.

Solar Array Suspension Mechanism Final Design Report For Atk Space, Alex Gould, Randon Kruse, Jeremy Graul, Patrick Barney

Mechanical Engineering

The purpose of this project is to improve the existing Solar Array Suspension Mechanism used by ATK Space for the manufacturing and testing of deployable solar arrays. The current system requires too much time to operate and has too many removable parts that may fall and damage the solar arrays. Through the design and verification process the team successfully constructed a quick connecting suspension mechanism that requires no tools to use and has no removable parts. The final design includes the existing force gauge and large adjustment bars used by ATK Space with the addition of a compression spring adjustment …

Strider, Eric Johnson, Alex Trask, Ricardo Garcia

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Newsletter 41 Issue 1 - Spring 2010 - Nuts And Bolts, Larsen Tractor Museum

Friends of the Larsen Tractor Museum

No abstract provided.

Morphological Evolution Of Single-Crystal Ultrathin Solid Films, Mikhail Khenner

Mathematics Faculty Publications

An introduction to mathematical modeling of ultrathin solid films and the role of such modeling in nanotechnologies: Educational presentation for senior physics majors

Morphological Evolution Of Single-Crystal Ultrathin Solid Films, Mikhail Khenner

Mathematics Faculty Publications

An introduction to mathematical modeling of ultrathin solid films and the role of such modeling in nanotechnologies: Educational/Research presentation for senior physics majors

Nuts And Bolts - Ltm Newsletters, Tractor Museum

Friends of the Larsen Tractor Museum

Newsletters published by the Larsen Tractor Museum in 2010

Where do we grow from here? by Curt McConnell, editor

Chris Ford has big plans for small groups in 2010 by Curt McConnell, editor

News from Exhibits by Luis Vasquez, chair of collections committee

Engine comes together as Co-Op E3 progresses by Curt McConnell

Description of our Sound Level Measuring and Analyzing Equipment by Lou Leviticus

Development of conservation tillage methods by Bill Splinter, museum director

Curator's Report by Lou Leviticus

Associate Report by Jeremy Steele, museum associate

Obituary Note - Robert Kleis

Oscillatory And Monotonic Modes Of Long-Wave Marangoni Convection In A Thin Film, Sergey Shklyaev, Mikhail Khenner, Alexei Alabuzhev

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We study long-wave Marangoni convection in a layer heated from below. Using the scaling k=O Bi, where k is the wave number and Bi is the Biot number, we derive a set of amplitude equations. Analysis of this set shows presence of monotonic and oscillatory modes of instability. Oscillatory mode has not been previously found for such direction of heating. Studies of weakly nonlinear dynamics demonstrate that stable steady and oscillatory patterns can be found near the stability threshold.

Computational Fluid Dynamic Optimization And Design For The Airborne Laser System, Matthew James Opgenorth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Airborne Laser (ABL) was designed to destroy any ballistic missile shortly after launch that could be a threat to the United States and its allies. The ABL uses several lasers to accomplish the destruction of the ballistic missile, most notably the high powered Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL). The COIL is a complex device that could be improved upon in several areas that will result in overall weight reduction, refinement of beam quality, and increased magazine capacity.

This dissertation presents novel design and optimization techniques coupled with fluid dynamics to improve the performance of the COIL system. The focus …