Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Multiscale Modeling And Gaussian Process Regression For Applications In Composite Materials, Joshua Arp

All Dissertations

An ongoing challenge in advanced materials design is the development of accurate multiscale models that consider uncertainty while establishing a link between knowledge or information about constituent materials to overall composite properties. Successful models can accurately predict composite properties, reducing the high financial and labor costs associated with experimental determination and accelerating material innovation. Whereas early pioneers in micromechanics developed simplistic theoretical models to map these relationships, modern advances in computer technology have enabled detailed simulators capable of accurately predicting complex and multiscale phenomena.

This work advances domain knowledge via two means: firstly, through the development of high-fidelity, physics-based finite …

Characterization Of Mechanically Recycled Polylactic Acid (Pla) Filament For 3d-Printing By Evaluating Mechanical, Thermal, And Chemical Properties And Process Performance, Mahsa Shabani Samghabady

All Theses

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biopolymer made from renewable resources such as sugar and corn. PLA filament is a popular material used in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D-printing. While this material has many advantages, all the failed parts, support structures, rafts, nozzle tests, and the many prototype iterations during the 3D-printing process contribute to the plastic pollution and release of greenhouse gases. Although PLA is biodegradable, it can take years to degrade in landfills. Instead of throwing away PLA waste and buying new filaments, PLA can be recycled. Amongst the different recycling technologies, mechanical recycling is the most environmentally friendly. …

The Effect Of Heat Treatment And Chemical Treatment On Natural Fibre To The Durability Of Wood Plastic Composites – A Review, Nuratiqah Asyiqin Mohd Nasharudin, Nur Fatihah Sulaiman, Nurul Aziemah Mohammad, Wan Nor Raihan Wan Jaafar, Falah Abu Dr., Siti Norasmah Surip

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

The application of WPC is not only limited to indoor applications but has been extended to exterior applications where properties of WPC could compromise during service life. WPC was derived from wood fiber of various sizes to reinforce polymers. Wood fiber has the advantage of a cheaper price, being abundantly available, and ease of processing, however, the critical factor is its hydrophilic nature, where moisture absorption is likely to occur. Thus, treatments for reducing the hydrophilicity of wood fibers are applied. By treatment of wood fiber, the surface impurities were removed, leaving the roughened surface of fibers, thus providing a …

The Plastics Collection Reference Packet, Special Collections Research Center

Special Collections Research Center

This reference packet is an informational tool to support further research into the history of plastics—whether interested in companies, individuals within the plastics industry's history, historical plastics materials, essays, and more. All content featured within this packet was previously published on the former plastics.syr.edu website as part of a Syracuse University Libraries and Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) partnership established in 2007 with the Plastics Pioneers Association (PPA)—an association of plastics industry professionals interested in preserving the plastics industry's past.

Isolation And Performance Test Of Green Low Dosage Hydrate Inhibitors From Local Materials For Improving Flow Assurance In Oil And Gas Industry, Makungu Madirisha

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The formation of gas hydrates in oil and gas industry can be minimized or prevented by the use of inhibitors. This paper reports on hemicellulose and modified lignin as low dosage gas hydrate inhibitors (LDGHIs). LDGHIs were isolated from sugarcane bagasse (SCB), plant gum exudates (PGE) of Acacia trees, and coconut coir, and further characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance - Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrometer, porosimeter and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The PGE and SCB yielded 77.75% and 12.38% of hemicellulose, respectively, while coconut coir yielded 35.59% of lignin which was modified to sodium lignosulfonate (SLS) to improve its solubility in …

Review On Modifications Of Sisal Fibers For Textile Applications, Liberato V Haule

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Properties of sisal fibers such as high coarseness and poor drapability made the fibers less suitable in production of conventional textiles compared to synthetic fibers. The environmental consciousness and depletion of petrochemical resources have attracted researchers on investigating the use of natural fibers in the industrial production of conventional textiles. Sisal is among highly researched natural fibers due to its features such as strength, recyclability, availability, low processing cost, light weight and ease process ability. This paper reviews possible modifications of sisal fibers to enhance performance in conventional textiles applications

Effects Of Alternative Jet Fuels On Aerospace-Grade Composites: Experimental And Modeling Studies, Naoufal Harich

Theses and Dissertations

The aviation industry aims to reduce its environmental impact through innovation and research. The usage of composite materials for multiple primary structures represents one such measure. Several alternative fuels were approved and used along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These alternative fuels are produced from wastes and biomasses. Some alternative fuels were initially only approved as drop-in fuels, meaning they must be blended with conventional fuels to operate. Fuel tanks are usually embedded into the wing structure, which is mainly made of composite materials. These composites tend to absorb fluids it encounters through their matrix phase. The absorption behavior …

Exploring Methods For Recycling Filament Waste In 3d Printing, Max Rios Carballo

Publications and Research

The goal of the current study is to investigate cutting-edge techniques for recycling filament waste from 3D printing procedures. Appropriate waste management techniques are required to reduce this trash's harmful environmental consequences. The goal of the project is to look at new methods for recycling filament waste in order to minimize disposal and encourage reuse. To acquire data from pertinent papers and research, a thorough literature review methodology was used. The findings show that this issue may be resolved utilizing a variety of recycling techniques, including shredding, melting, and re-extrusion. The type of filament waste and the intended goal will …

Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production Through Molten Salt Electrolysis (Lisap-Mse), Jacob Ortega, Jeffrey D. Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William P. Schonberg, Daniel S. Stutts, Daoru Frank Han

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium

The goal of Artemis is to establish a sustained presence on the Moon. To achieve so, numerous resources are necessary. The Moon contains several essential elements needed to sustain human presence. Most of those elements are trapped in the form of minerals. To refine those minerals into useful materials, reduction methods are needed. Most reduction methods on Earth require large amounts of mass and power which is unrealistic for early stages of building a lunar base. To solve this problem, we are developing a concept of Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production through Molten Salt Electrolysis (LISAP-MSE).

The LISAP-MSE project, if successful, …

Beirut Arab University - Faculty Of Engineering - Newsletter Issue 0, Faculty Of Engineering, Beirut Arab University

Engineering Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Hydrothermal Liquefaction Of Saccharina Latissima For The Production Of Biofuel, Mayokun A. Oke

Mechanical Engineering Theses

We performed hydrothermal liquefaction of brown macroalga (Saccharina latissima) in the presence of homogenous and heterogenous catalysts such as KOH, Na₂CO₃, Pd/C, HZSM-5, Ce/HZSM-5, and Ni/SiO₂-Al₂O₃ in hot compressed water, to investigate their effects on product yield and composition in the biocrude. To investigate hydrocarbon production, we used methanol as co-solvent (methanol-to-water 1/4 vol.%) and as the only liquefaction solvent. We carried out the experiments in a batch reactor at 330^oC and 120-130 bar, and varying temperature, algae-to-water ratio, residence time, and pretreatment method. The biocrude yields …

Molecular And Cellular Level Characterization Of Cytoskeletal Mechanics Using A Quartz Crystal Microbalance, Emily M. Kerivan, Lyle Tobin, Mihir Basil, Dana N. Reinemann

Faculty and Student Publications

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is an instrument that has the ability to measure nanogram-level changes in mass on a quartz sensor and is traditionally used to probe surface interactions and assembly kinetics of synthetic systems. The addition of dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) facilitates the study of viscoelastic systems, such as those relevant to molecular and cellular mechanics. Due to real-time recording of frequency and dissipation changes and single protein-level precision, the QCM-D is effective in interrogating the viscoelastic properties of cell surfaces and in vitro cellular components. However, few studies focus on the application of this instrument to cytoskeletal systems, …

Extraction And Characterization Of Collagen From Cattle Horns For Potential Wound Healing, Yeriko Halson

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The need for bandages and gauze for wound dressing and healing is inevitable due to the high increase in accidents. Most of the material used for the production of bandages and gauzes for wound healing are from non-renewable synthetic material. The sustainability of non renewable resources is at jeopardy due to the health and associated environmental impact. Consequently, the use of naturally occurring and biodegradable material is a promising solution to the sustainability challenges of synthetic material. In this paper, the extraction of collagen films from cattle horns for potential wound healing is reported. Collagen was extracted from cattle horns …

Factors Influencing Total Productive Maintenance Implementation For Thermal Generation Plants, Ismail W. R. Taifa Dr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study accepts that the technical and administrative factors can amplify effective total productive maintenance (TPM) implementation at thermal generation plants. It is noted that there is a limited number of studies that have attempted to understand the subject of TPM implementation in the energy sector. Noting this shortcoming, the authors thought it crucial to generate empirical evidence on the factors influencing effective TPM implementation for thermal generation plants, with evidence from gas-fired plants. A sample of 88 respondents was selected and consulted. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed quantitatively by inferential statistics and qualitatively through thematic analysis using …

Preparation And Characterization Of Microporous Cellulose Membranes As Potential Pathogen Filters, Peresi M. Bulemo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Growth and development in the textile and fashion industry have resulted in the generation of large amounts of industrial pre consumer textile wastes. It is estimated that 10 to 20% of textile fabrics are wasted during garment manufacturing, with most of the wastes being burned or landfilled. Reusing pre-consumer fabric wastes is therefore considered a viable approach to alleviate environmental impacts associated with their disposal. To achieve a higher porosity membrane, pre-consumer cotton fabrics were partially dissolved in a solution of dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) and lithium chloride (LiCl), and the resulting fibre suspension was utilized to prepare a microporous cellulose …

Cellulose-Keratin Supramolecular Composite: Conformation By Combined Fourier Transform Spectroscopy And Partial Least Square Regression Coefficient, Ngesa Ezekiel Mushi Dr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Keratin and cellulose are important nano components with excellent mechanical and biological properties. However, the preparation route through dissolution in organic solvents to make manmade materials is challenging because of their intensive bonding interaction characteristics. Structural modification of the natural attributes is difficult to maintain after polymer regeneration. A new technique by a green route was devised to dissolve keratin from wool, hair, and feather with cellulose in situ using 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIm] + Cl- ionic liquid as a solvent. The mixture of keratin and cellulose homogeneously and synergistically resulted in a supramolecular composite film through non-derivatized mechanochemical interactions. The …

Concentration Field Based Micropore Flow Rate Measurements, Matia P. Edwards, Samuel F. D. J. Gómez, Michael S. H. Boutilier

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Publications

Demand is growing for a larger catalogue of experimental techniques to measure flow rates through micro-/nanoscale systems for both fundamental research and device development. Flow emerging from a hole in a plane wall is a common system of interest in such work for its relevance to membrane separation. In this paper, we consider the possibility of measuring volume flow rates through small scale orifice plates from images of dye dispersions downstream. Based on approximate analytical solutions to the advection–diffusion equation, we show that, at low Reynolds numbers, the concentration in the nearly hemispherical plume that forms increases linearly with inverse …

An Experimental Study On The Mechanical Properties And Chemical Composition Of Lcd 3d Printed Specimens, Sebastian Gomez

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing technologies have been enhanced throughout the years yet have surprised the manufacturing industry due to their high-end surface finish and dimensional accuracy. Different experiments have been done to identify a specific phenomenon known in the vat-polymerization field. Distortion and dimensional inaccuracy tend to affect the overall properties of the process, either physical or chemical. This approach allows the understanding of how the physical properties have been affected and how to study the chemical properties to avoid this type of phenomenon. The chemical reaction between polymer and UV light has been studied and experimented with to the point that …

Distillery, Clare Nicholas, Patrick Hanlon

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal for this project is to make a cost effective still. We will be implementing cost saving parts to create a cheap but effective still. From initial research conducted, we will try to combine a stainless steel still and copper still together so that the cheaper material (stainless steel) and the component that removes sulfur compounds (copper) are both implemented. The ME side of the project will focus on the actual design and construction of the parts that will be implemented into the still. Included in the design process will be calculations of heat transfer for the current and …

Attrition Study Of Copper-Supplemented Iron-Based Oxygen Carrier For Chemical Looping Combustion, Neng Huang

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is a promising technology that can mitigate the carbon emissions for power generation. The cost of oxygen carriers (OCs) impedes the scale up of CLC. Compared to synthetic iron-based OCs, red mud (RM), an abundant iron-based solid waste from industry, is a cost-effective choice due to its intrinsic inclusion of both inert and catalytic phases that are crucial for CLC. It was anticipated that the addition of copper oxide to RM using a mechanical mixing method that can be easily scaled up would enhance both reactivity and oxygen transport capacity (OTC), and the heat of reaction …

Impact Of Spallation And Internal Radiation On Fibrous Ablative Materials, Raghava Sai Chaitanya Davuluri

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Space vehicles are equipped with Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) that encounter high heat rates and protect the payload while entering a planetary atmosphere. For most missions that interest NASA, ablative materials are used as TPS. These materials undergo several mass and energy transfer mechanisms to absorb intense heat. The size and construction of the TPS are based on the composition of the planetary atmosphere and the impact of various ablative mechanisms on the flow field and the material. Therefore, it is essential to quantify the rates of different ablative phenomena to model TPS accurately. In this work, the impact of …

Studies On Non-Transition Metal Substitution To Ab2 Metal Hydride Alloys For Battery Application, Shiuan Chang

Wayne State University Dissertations

Nowadays, multiphase transition metal-based AB2 metal hydride alloys and the rare-earth metal-based AB5 alloys (currently used in consumer NiMH batteries) are used as negative electrodes in NiMH batteries. It is of great interest to explore the possibility of significantly improving NiMH battery performance to compete with Li-ion batteries. In this area, the effect of dopant elements from Group-IA, -IIA, -IIIA non-transition metal family has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, lithium, magnesium, and boron (a metalloid considered metal in this study) were chosen as modifiers in the C14-phase predominant AB2 alloy by different dopant concentrations and synthesis methods, doping …

Optical Diagnostics Of Hydrocarbon Fuel Autoignition Using The Corrected Filtered Natural Emission Of Species Technique, Maysam Molana

Wayne State University Dissertations

The gas temperature and concentration of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide of a hydrocarbon fuel mixture were measured using a rapid compression machine by applying a modern optical diagnostics methodology called the corrected filtered natural emission of species (C-FNES) technique. This technique uses a correction factor that includes all of the experimental and simulation errors and uncertainties into the measurements. To ensure the robustness of the proposed technique, the effect of temperature and pressure on the measured data was investigated extensively. To this end, a pentane inert mixture was tested in a wide range of operation conditions: six compressed gas …

Investigations Of A Surrogate Fuel Based On Fischer-Tropsch Gtl And Ctl In Cvcc, Idi And Di Compression Ignition Engines, Amanda C. Weaver

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

With the increase in availability, feedstocks, and properties of alternative fuels, compatibility issues emerge between current engine platforms often requiring a limit on the blend percentage of alternative fuel in conventional fuel or alteration to the engine platform. Two key metrics were identified, autoignition quality and lubrication characteristics, as vital for the proper function of a compression ignition engine, and if the blend of alternative fuels matches these two criteria for the diesel standard, then the resulting blend percentage can be considered as a viable alternative for complete replacement of conventional petroleum ULSD. Autoignition quality was matched using blends S-8, …

Evaluating The Impact Of Increased Cycling On Thermal Power Plants Due To Wind Energy Penetration In The Midwest: A Case Study, Joscelyne Larson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the most significant shifts in the mix of U.S. electricity generation over the past few years has been the rapid expansion of renewable energy resources, especially solar and wind. However, fossil fuels are still necessary to fulfill the world’s energy requirements. Despite efforts to increase the use of renewable energy sources, these sources can be at times unreliable, causing countries around the world to continue to rely on base load units such as coal and natural gas. This decrease in fossil fuels and increase in renewable energy sources presents many complex issues in terms of power system planning, …

Combustion Characteristics Of Methane, Ethane, Propane, And Butane Blends Under Conditions Relevant Of A Dual-Fuel Diesel And Natural Gas Engine, Christopher Joseph Ulishney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As natural gas production infrastructure is already in place in most of the world and will continue expanding for the foreseeable future, natural gas is an alternative to traditional liquid petroleum fuels in heavy-duty engines. Dedicated natural gas or dual-fuel diesel-natural gas heavy-duty engines are alternatives to diesel-only power generation equipment. One challenge is the large variation in the natural gas composition available for such applications, which is known to significantly affect engine’s combustion characteristics and the emissions composition. As the literature on dual-fuel combustion under low load engine operating conditions that use more realistic natural gas mixtures (i.e., mixtures …

Conductive 3d Nano-Biohybrid Systems Based On Densified Carbon Nanotube Forests And Living Cells, Roya Bagheri, Alicia K. Ball, Masoud Kasraie, Aparna Chandra, Xinqian Chen, Ibrahim Miskioglu, Zhiying Shan, Parisa Pour Shahid Saeed Abadi

Michigan Tech Publications

Conductive biohybrid cell-material systems have applications in bioelectronics and biorobotics. To date, conductive scaffolds are limited to those with low electrical conductivity or 2D sheets. Here, 3D biohybrid conductive systems are developed using fibroblasts or cardiomyocytes integrated with carbon nanotube (CNT) forests that are densified due to interactions with a gelatin coating. CNT forest scaffolds with a height range of 120–240 µm and an average electrical conductivity of 0.6 S/cm are developed and shown to be cytocompatible as evidenced from greater than 89% viability measured by live-dead assay on both cells on day 1. The cells spread on top and …

Evaluating Electrification Of Fossil Fuel-Fired Boilers For Decarbonization Using Discrete Event Simulation, Nahian Ismail Chowdhury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Decarbonizing fossil fuel usage is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change. CO2, which comprises the major portion of greenhouse gas, is emitted from burning fossil fuels. One of the significant sources of fossil fuel user is industrial process heating, and most of the heating in industrial processes is achieved through boilers. Electrification is a promising solution for decarbonizing these boilers, as it enables renewable energy sources to generate electricity, which can then be used to power the electric boilers. The electrification of boilers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and increase energy efficiency. However, it requires …

Synthesis, Characterisation And Catalytic Evaluation Of Castor Oil-Templated Mesoporous Sulfated Solid Acid Catalysts For Esterification Reaction, Steven Nyandoro Pr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

In bio-refinery and other catalytic reactions, heterogeneous catalysts confer advantage over homogenous catalysts due to minimized recovery and separation costs. However, templating surfactant and solid support for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts ought to consider their cheap sources and environmentally friendliness for their sustainable use. Thus, with the vision to make the process significantly benign, in the present work, solid acids were synthesised from renewable sources (castor oil as surfactant and rice husk as the source of silica). The synthesised castor oil-templated mesoporous sulfonic acid modified catalysts (SO3H-MTS and SO3H-MT-RHS) were characterised and evaluated for catalytic esterification of acetic acid …

Optimization Of Pulsed Laser Deposition Parameters For Single Crystalline (011) Oriented Tetragonal Pzt Thin Films, Mahamudu H. Mtebwa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Recent advances in nanotechnology applications require the processing of high-quality thin films. A systematic study of the optimization of Pulsed deposition parameters for (110) oriented tetragonal PZT thin films is reported in this work. Prior to film deposition, a highly tetragonal Pb(Zr0.5, Ti0.95) or PZT 05/95 was selected to be deposited on (110) oriented Strontium titanate, SrTiO3 substrate, STO(110) to insure small compressive misfit strain. Unlike SRO, the LSOM bottom electrode was then successfully grown at 620 °C, 1.0 J/cm2 and a target-substrate distance of 3.9 cm. Finally, deposition parameters of PZT were progressively optimized through monitoring film morphological changes. …