Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Spring 2015, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs, and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge. The senior design competition helps focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects on …

Fusion Of Short-Mid Wavelength Infrared Image And Long Wavelength Image Using Discrete Wavelet Transform For Image Quality Enhancement, Rocky Hedrick

Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Infrared technology advancements have led to an expansive set of infrared applications in both the private and public sectors. New materials and manufacturing techniques have continued to reduce the cost while improving the quality of infrared cameras, but the cost is still high when compared to the cost versus quality of visible light spectrum cameras. Innovative image processing techniques can be implemented to help bridge this gap between the cost and quality of infrared cameras. The goal of this research is to improve the overall quality of infrared imaging by fusing short-mid wavelength infrared images and long wavelength images of …

Experimental Verification And Integration Of A Next Generation Smart Power Management System, Tavis Clemmer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the increase in energy demand by the residential community in this country and the diminishing fossil fuel resources being used for electric energy production there is a need for a system to efficiently manage power within a residence. The Smart Green Power Node (SGPN) is a next generation energy management system that automates on-site energy production, storage, consumption, and grid usage to yield the most savings for both the utility and the consumer. Such a system automatically manages on-site distributed generation sources such as a PhotoVoltaic (PV) input and battery storage to curtail grid energy usage when the price …

Group Decisions In Value Management, Christiono Utomo, Farida Murti, Arazi Idrus

Makara Journal of Technology

This research deals with a technique to expedite group decision making during the selection of technical solutions for value management process. Selection of a solution from a set of alternatives is facilitated by evaluating using multicriteria decision making techniques. During the process, every possible solution is rated on criteria of function and cost. Function deals more with quality than with quantity, and cost can be calculated based on the theoretical time value of money. Decision-making techniques based on satisfying games are applied to determine the relative function and cost of solutions and hence their relative value. The functions were determined …

Isogeometric Analysis For Electromagnetism, Tahsin Khajah

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The combination of numerical analysis with the scanning technology has been seeing increased use in many research areas. There is an emerging need for high-fidelity geometric modeling and meshing for practical applications. The Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) is a comprehensive computational framework, which integrates geometric modeling and meshing with analysis. Different from other existing numerical methods, the IGA can generate analysis ready models without loss of geometrical accuracy. In IGA, the continuity and the quality of a solution can be conveniently controlled and refined. These features enable IGA to integrate modeling, analysis, and design in a unified framework, the root idea …

Fully Electronic Method Of Measuring Post-Release Gap And Gradient/Residual Stress Of A Mems Cantilever, Andrew Stephen Kovacs

Open Access Dissertations

Smartphones and other wireless devices have become ubiquitous over the past decade, and the RF front-end inside of them has become more complex and disproportionately consumes more power compared to other components. Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have a huge potential to reduce these problems while simultaneously offering superior performance compared to current leading-edge technology. However, MEMS technology has difficulty transitioning from the lab to large-scale manufacturing due to the unpredictability of device lifetime and manufacturability issues. This can be mitigated by investigating how critical material or physical parameters (gap, stress, Young's modulus, material thickness, etc.) vary from manufacturing uncertainties and how …

Large Scale Modeling, Model Reduction And Control Design For A Real-Time Mechatronic System, Qiong Li

Open Access Dissertations

Mechatronics is the synergistic integration of the techniques from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology, which influences each other mutually. As a multidisciplinary domain, mechatronics is more than mechanical or electronics, and the mechatronic systems are always composed of a number of subsystems with various controllers. From this point of view, a lot of such systems can be defined as large scale system. The key element of such systems is integration. Modeling of mechatronic system is a very important step in developing control design of such products, so as to simulate and analyze their dynamic responses for control design, …

Seebeck Coefficient Of Soi Layer Induced By Phonon Transport, Faiz Salleh, Takuro Oda, Yuhei Suzuki, Yoshinari Kamakura, Hiroya Ikeda

Makara Journal of Technology

The Seebeck coefficient of a patterned Si wire on P-doped SOI (Si-on-insulator) layer with a carrier concentration of 1018 cm-3 was measured near room temperature. The Seebeck coefficient is found to be smaller than that in the SOI layer and to be closer to the calculated Seebeck coefficient including the electronic contribution. The decrease in the Seebeck coefficient of Si wire is likely to occur due to the elimination of the contribution of phonon drag part. From the theoretical calculation of scattering rates by considering the scattering processes in phonon system, it is considered that an increase in phonon-boundary scattering …

Construction Of A Novel Method Of Measuring Thermal Conductivity For Nanostructures, Hiroya Ikeda, Shoma Yoshida, Yuhei Suzuki, Veerappan Manimuthu, Faiz Salleh, Fujio Kuwahara, Masaru Shimomura, Kenji Murakami

Makara Journal of Technology

With the aim of characterizing the thermal conduction in a nanometer-scaled materials, we have constructed a novel method on the basis of an ac calorimetric method. In this method, periodic sample heating is performed by light irradiation and the corresponding periodic temperature is detected by infrared irradiative thermometer. This makes us measure the thermal diffusivity out of contact with the objective sample. In the present study, we confirm to measure the thermal diffusivity of bulk Si and Cu by this non-contact method with halogen-lamp irradiation. In determining the thermal diffusivity from the relationship between distance deviation and delay time, the …

Phonon-Drag Contribution To Seebeck Coefficient Of Ge-On-Insulator Substrate Fabricated By Wafer Bonding Process, Veerappan Manimuthu, Shoma Yoshida, Yuhei Suzuki, Faiz Salleh, Mukannan Arivanandhan, Yoshinari Kamakura, Yasuhiro Hayakawa, Hiroya Ikeda

Makara Journal of Technology

In order to build high-sensitivity infrared photodetectors using SiGe nanowires, we investigate the thermoelectric characteristics of Ge-on-insulator (GOI) layers as a reference for SiGe. We fabricate p-type GOI substrates with an impurity concentration of 1016-1018cm-3 by a wafer-bonding process using Ge and oxidized Si wafers. Annealing treatment is performed in order to further increase the bonding strength of Ge/SiO2 interface. We measure the Seebeck coefficient in the temperature range of 290-350 K. The Seebeck coefficient of the GOI layers is very close to the theoretical value for Ge, calculated on the basis of carrier transport. Hence, there is a small …

Fiber Optic Ring Resonator Sensor Detection Technique Based On Spectral Intensity Integration, Purnomo Sidi Priambodo, Sasono Rahardjo, Gunawan Witjaksono, Djoko Hartanto

Makara Journal of Technology

Resonant field phenomenon in optical ring resonator has been a major theme for various studies and can be used for various sensor applications. The spectral response shape changes are subjects to be discussed and analyzed for detection in optical sensor system. The spectral response changes are caused by various factors ranging from refractive index of the surrounding medium, medium loss due to absorption and scattering, and coupling variation between waveguides. These optical phenomena are mostly used for bio-sensor applications, since it is free from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and non-physically destructive. In this paper, we discuss our current research in developing …

The Effects Of The Types Of Milk (Cow, Goat, Soya) And Enzymes (Rennet, Papain, Bromelain) Toward Cheddar Cheese Production, Ariestya Arlene, Anastasia Prima Kristijarti, Ivana Ardelia

Makara Journal of Technology

The objectives of this research are to study the effects of different types of milk and enzymes toward the yield and quality (moisture, ash, protein, fat content, and texture) of cheddar cheese and the interaction between those two variables during the process. The types of milk are cow, goat, and soya milk, while the types of enzymes are rennet, papain, and bromelain enzymes. Regarding the procedure, the milk is first pasteurized before CaCl2 and Lactobacillus lactis that acts as the acidifier starter as much as 0.2% (w/v) and 0.5% of the milk volume are added respectively. The amount of enzyme …

Hazard-Driven Drivers’ Behaviours Towards Vehicle-To-Median Safe Distances, Martha Leni Siregar

Makara Journal of Technology

A median is required for a two-way road to separate traffic from opposing lanes and to prevent head-on collisions. However, studies indicate that medians are also perceived as hazards which need to be avoided during driving. This hazard perception is manifested in drivers’ changing behavior towards various types of medians along the driving lanes inform of their tendency to allow various safe distances to the medians. The Indonesian Highway Capacity Manual (IHCM) does not differentiate between types of medians and the influence on the drivers’ choice of safe margin to the medians. Therefore, this study looks into how the existence …

Energy And Exergy Analysis Of Kalina Cycle For The Utilization Of Waste Heat In Brine Water For Indonesian Geothermal Field, Nasruddin Nasruddin, Agus Noor Sidiq, Abdulmajeed Mohamad, Rama Usvika

Makara Journal of Technology

The utilization of waste heat in a power plant system—which would otherwise be released back to the environment—in order to produce additional power increases the efficiency of the system itself. The purpose of this study is to present an energy and exergy analysis of Kalina Cycle System (KCS) 11, which is proposed to be utilized to generate additional electric power from the waste heat contained in geothermal brine water available in the Lahendong Geothermal power plant site in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. A modeling application on energy and exergy system is used to study the design of thermal system which uses …

Vortex Identification In The Wake Of A Wind Turbine Array, Aleksandr Sergeyevich Aseyev

Dissertations and Theses

Vortex identification techniques are used to analyze the flow structure in a 4 x 3 array of scale model wind turbines. Q-criterion, Δ-criterion, and λ₂-criterion are applied to Particle Image Velocimetry data gathered fore and aft of the last row centerline turbine. Q-criterion and λ₂-criterion provide a clear indication of regions where vortical activity exists while the Δ-criterion does not. Galilean decomposition, Reynolds decomposition, vorticity, and swirling strength are used to further understand the location and behavior of the vortices. The techniques identify and display the high magnitude vortices in high shear zones resulting from the …

Global Time-Independent Agent-Based Simulation For Transactive Energy System Dispatch And Schedule Forecasting, Shawn Aaron Chandler

Dissertations and Theses

Electricity service providers (ESP) worldwide have increased their interest in the use of electrical distribution, transmission, generation, storage, and responsive load resources as integrated systems. Referred to commonly as "smart grid," their interest is driven by widespread goals to improve the operations, management and control of large-scale power systems. In this thesis I provide research into a novel agent-based simulation (ABS) approach for exploring smart grid system (SGS) dispatch, schedule forecasting and resource coordination. I model an electrical grid and its assets as an adaptive ABS, assigning an agent construct to every SGS resource including demand response, energy storage, and …

Estimation Of Outer-Middle Ear Transmission Using Dpoaes And Fractional-Order Modeling Of Human Middle Ear, Maryam Naghibolhosseini

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Our ability to hear depends primarily on sound waves traveling through the outer and middle ear toward the inner ear. Hence, the characteristics of the outer and middle ear affect sound transmission to/from the inner ear. The role of the middle and outer ear in sound transmission is particularly important for otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), which are sound signals generated in a healthy cochlea, and recorded by a sensitive microphone placed in the ear canal. OAEs are used to evaluate the health and function of the cochlea; however, they are also affected by outer and middle ear characteristics. To …

Analytical Modeling Of A Novel High-Q Disk Resonator For Liquid-Phase Applications, Mohomad S. Sotoudegan, Stephen M. Heinrich, Fabien Josse, Nicholas J. Nigro, Isabelle Dufour, Oliver Brand

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

To overcome the detrimental effects of liquid environments on microelectromechanical systems resonator performance, the in-fluid vibration of a novel disk resonator supported by two electrothermally driven legs is investigated through analytical modeling and the effects of the system’s geometric/material parameters on the dynamic response are explored. The all-shear interaction device (ASID) is based on engaging the surrounding fluid primarily through shearing action. The theory comprises a continuous-system, multimodal model, and a single-degree-of-freedom model, the latter yielding simple formulas for the fundamental-mode resonant characteristics that often furnish excellent estimates to the results based on the more general model. Comparisons between theoretical …

Refractive Index Sensor Based On A Silica Microsphere Whispering Gallery Mode Resonator, Arun Mallik, Qiang Wu, Gerald Farrell, Yuliya Semenova

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Interface Property Of Collagen And Hydroxyapatite In Bone And Developing Bioinspired Materials, Clint Paul

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Bone at the nanoscale consists of type I collagen and hydroxyapatite (HAP). Type I collagen and HAP [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] are responsible for most of the structural integrity of bone. Collagen fibrils contain HAP platelets of varying size dispersed between the collagen. We investigate heterotrimeric collagen interaction with HAP using Steering Molecular Dynamics to obtain the force-displacement relation as the collagen is undergoing shearing and peeling on the surface of HAP. Results indicate that the collagen requires 40% less force to separate form the HAP surface under peeling, when compared to shear loading conditions. In both shearing and peeling, the number of …

Modeling And Preliminary Characterization Of Passive, Wireless Temperature Sensors For Harsh Environment Applications Based On Periodic Structures, Diego Ivan Delfin Manriquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Wireless temperature sensing has attained significant attention in recent years due to the increasing need to develop reliable and affordable sensing solutions for energy conversion systems and other harsh environment applications. The development of next generation sensors for energy production processing parameters, such as temperature and pressure, can result in better performance of the system. Particularly, continuous temperature monitoring in energy conversion systems can result in enhancements such as better system integrity, less pollution and higher thermal efficiencies. However, the conditions experienced in these system components hinder the performance of current solutions due to the presence of semi-conductor materials and …

Advancement And Validation Of A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Model Utilizing Experimental Data From Vehicle Testing, Kevin Lloyd Snyder

Wayne State University Theses

The objective of the research into modeling and simulation was to provide an iterative improvement to the Wayne State EcoCAR 2 team's math-based design tools for use in evaluating different outcomes based on hybrid powertrain architecture tweaks, controls code development and testing. This thesis includes the results of the team's work in the EcoCAR 2 competition for university student teams to create and test a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for reducing petroleum oil consumption, pollutant emissions, and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

Plant model validations and advancements brought the vehicle plant model directionally closer to the actual vehicle's experimental data …

Novel Classification Of Slow Movement Objects In Urban Traffic Environments Using Wideband Pulse Doppler Radar, Berta Rodriguez Hervas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Every year thousands of people are involved in traffic accidents, some of which are fatal. An important percentage of these fatalities are caused by human error, which could be prevented by increasing the awareness of drivers and the autonomy of vehicles. Since driver assistance systems have the potential to positively impact tens of millions of people, the purpose of this research is to study the micro-Doppler characteristics of vulnerable urban traffic components, i.e. pedestrians and bicyclists, based on information obtained from radar backscatter, and to develop a classification technique that allows automatic target recognition with a vehicle integrated system. For …

Development And Operation Of A Mobile Test Facility For Education, Christopher Davis

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The automotive industry saw a large shift towards vehicle electrification after the turn of the century. It became necessary to ensure that new and existing engineers were qualified to design and calibrate these new systems. To ensure this training, Michigan Tech received a grant to develop a curriculum based around vehicle electrification. As part of this agenda, the Michigan Tech Mobile Laboratory was developed to provide hands-on training for professional engineers and technicians in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle electrification. The Mobile Lab has since then increased the scope of the delivered curriculum to include other automotive areas and even …

Mechatronic Education At The Faculty Of Technical Sciences Novi Sad, Gordana Ostojić, Vukica Jovanović, Drazan Kozak, Zeljko Ivandić, Stevan Stankovski

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The emerging engineering field of mechatronics has caught the attention of many engineering professionals, academics and government officials in recent years, nationally and globally. The main reason for this is that many modern products are no longer purely electrical and electronic or mechanical. Moreover, they are integrated multidisciplinary products which are made from subsystems which require engineering knowledge of different disciplines. Hence, increasing number of universities is offering courses, certificates and programs at undergraduate and graduate levels in the area of mechatronics. This paper presents an educational program in mechatronics at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, …

Electric Vehicles In Smart Grids: Performance Considerations, Uttam Kumar Deb Nath

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Distributed power system is the basic architecture of current power systems and demands close cooperation among the generation, transmission and distribution systems. Excessive greenhouse gas emissions over the last decade have driven a move to a more sustainable energy system. This has involved integrating renewable energy sources like wind and solar power into the distributed generation system. Renewable sources offer more opportunities for end users to participate in the power delivery system and to make this distribution system even more efficient, the novel "Smart Grid" concept has emerged. A Smart Grid: offers a two-way communication between the source and the …

Loss Modeling Of A Permanent Magnet Dc Motor Drive Water Pumping System, Nelson Lujara

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The paper presents an analytical approach to the determination of losses in each of the sub-systems of the Photovoltaic (PV) Permanent Magnet DC Motor (PMDC) drive water pumping system with and without maximum power tracking. The losses of the system at varying heads are firstly, determined using parameters from the data sheets and then validated by experimental results. The results are used to establish the head and the flow rate optimal operating point of the system.

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Fall 2014, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs, and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge. The senior design competition helps focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects on …

Design Of Gan-Based Low-Loss Y-Branch Power Splitter, Retno Wigajatri Purnamaningsih, Irma Saraswati, Nji Raden Poespawati, Elhadj Dogheche

Makara Journal of Technology

We present a Y-branch power splitter design with a multimode section using GaN on Sapphire at telecommunication wavelength. The GaN sample optical properties were also investigated, resulting in a refractive index for the GaN layers nTE=2.289±0.001 and nTM=2.324±0.00. Optimization of the structure parameters for this structure was conducted accurately using BPM methods. The results demonstrated the possibility of realizing a GaN-based Y-branch power splitter for various applications.

Ultra-Wideband Notched Characteristic Fed By Coplanar Waveguide, Rastanto Hadinegoro, Yuli Kurnia Ningsih, Indra Surjati

Makara Journal of Technology

In this paper, a novel Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) notch patch antenna with co-planar waveguide (CPW) fed is presented. This antenna only used one layer and the patch antenna is constructed on the first layer and back to back with CPW fed and bottom part is ground plane. The width notch is used to achieve the UWB characteristic. The results shown that the impedance bandwidth is 1130 MHz (1.662–2.792 GHz) or about 50.7% for VSWR <2.