Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

The Efficacy Of Hybrid Manufacturing For High Stress Automotive Parts, Logan Trimmer

Harrisburg University Other Works

Presentation covering the broad strokes of the project. The goal was to prove the viability of hybrid/additive manufacturing for high stress automotive applications. This project focused on recreating a piston from an old engine to examine if hybrid manufacturing could be used for such applications. On a small scale, hybrid manufacturing was able to be more cost effective if the costs of the equipment and electricity were ignored. The decision to ignore those costs came from the inability to find accurate prices for industrial casting.

Akron Soap Box Derby Super Kids Car, Alexis Schultz, Cooper Sites, Sean Stevenson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to redesign the All-American Soap Box Derby Super Kids vehicle to enhance safety, accessibility, and performance while maintaining full compliance with official regulations. The Super Kids program enables children with physical and cognitive disabilities to race alongside a co-pilot, but the current vehicle design presents challenges in stability, entry/exit accessibility, and control—especially following recent regulation changes that increased vehicle speed. The redesigned car will focus on improved ergonomics, lightweight construction, and structural integrity within a $1,000 budget and a 165 lb weight limit.

An iterative engineering design process will guide the project through research, CAD modeling, FEA …

Critical Parameters Controlling Oxide Scale Formation And Hydro-Descaling Efficiency During Steelmaking, Tochukwu Princewill Ojiako

Doctoral Dissertations

In modern steelmaking, cast slabs are exposed to high-temperature oxidizing environments during secondary cooling, reheating, and hot rolling, resulting in the formation of multilayer oxide scales on the steel surface. These scales interact with mold-flux residues originating from the casting process (CC). The morphology, chemistry, and adhesion of oxide scale strongly influence its removability during high-pressure hydraulic descaling and ultimately determine the surface quality of hot-rolled products. However, the mechanistic relationship between oxide scale evolution, scale-steel interfacial structure, and hydraulic descaling performance remains poorly understood.

This dissertation investigates oxide scale formation, modification, and removal in low-carbon thin-slab steels produced by …

Automation And Habitat Development For A Space Based Marine Life Environment, Logan Trimmer, Alexander Hang

Harrisburg University Other Works

This project was a cross-collaboration between the Environmental Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics programs for the company Monolith Space.

The goal of this project was to design an autonomous system to be able to track qualities of water in an aquaculture system designed to be sent to space.

The Efficacy Of Hybrid Manufacturing For High Stress Automotive Components, Logan Trimmer

Harrisburg University Other Works

The goal of this research was to establish the viability of using hybrid manufacturing for automotive applications. By verifying that high-stress components can be created, it can be assumed that any other lower stress part could be made to match the strength requirements. A limiting factor of adoption for hybrid manufacturing is how new the technology is. Studies on time and cost were performed allowing for comparisons with traditional manufacturing technologies (casting, forging, milling) used in automotive applications. This research utilized a Haas Automation UMC750 5-axis CNC mill with a Meltio laser wire direct energy deposition attachment. Fusion 360 was …

Entropic Forces Near Fluctuating Surfaces, Rubayet Hassan

Dissertations

Nanoscale structures are inherently dynamic due to persistent thermal fluctuations. Even in solid materials, these random deformations, driven by ambient thermal energy, can become significant when their characteristic scale approaches that of the structure itself and strongly influence their overall mechanical behavior. Examples of such structures include crystalline membranes, appearing in diverse forms such as nanotubes, nanoribbons, and kirigami/origami structures. Similarly, biological nanostructures, including lipid membranes, microtubules, actin filaments, and DNA, exhibit extreme flexibility and responsiveness due to their low bending rigidity. Numerous physiological processes are intrinsically linked to these thermal fluctuations, including exocytosis and endocytosis, membrane fusion, pore formation, …

Material Degradation And Analysis Of N-Doped Graphene/Mof Nanocatalysts For Orr In Electrochemical Energy Systems, Niladri Talukder

Dissertations

The development of advanced electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems is crucial for achieving sustainable energy security. As alternatives to precious metal-based catalysts in electrochemical systems, especially for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), Nitrogen-doped Graphene with Metal-organic Frameworks (N-G/MOF) nanocatalysts have shown exceptional promise in recent years. This research advances the understanding of N-G/MOF nanocatalysts by systematically examining their structural features, degradation traits, correlated performance losses, and other aspects related to catalytic activities.

First, nitrogen-doped graphene (N-G) nanocatalysts were thoroughly investigated, resolving their physical properties, the influence of synthesis parameters, molecular-level material structures, and chemical and electronic structural details of …

Curing Duration Optimization To Reduce Shrinkage Cracking In One-Part Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete, A. Sadrmomtazi, H. Zanganeh

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The consequences of inadequate curing on one-part alkali-activated slag concrete (O-AAS) performance relative to ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPCC) have been investigated in this research. Prior to exposure to unsaturated conditions, samples underwent initial moist curing for durations ranging from 24 hours to one year. The testing program included compressive strength evaluation, chloride ion transport analysis, and measurement of free and restrained shrinkage. In addition, cylindrical cores were extracted from concrete columns to assess internal strength and chloride penetration resistance. Under unsaturated exposure, O-AAS exhibited a strength-aging phenomenon, with up to a 37% decrease in compressive strength over 360 days, …

Laboratory Investigation And Numerical Modelling Effect Of Carbon Nanotubes On Hot Mix Asphalt Permanent Displacement, Sepehr Saedi, Auwal Usman Nadada

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

One of the primary causes of asphalt pavement deterioration is rutting; in contrast, one of the most effective methods to address this type of damage is the use of additives and quality evaluation during the design stages. In this research, laboratory testing and modeling using Abaqus software were employed to validate the laboratory results and predict and assess the potential for rutting. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were selected as an additive due to their exceptional mechanical properties and molecular interactions with bitumen. These nanotubes were used to modify the bitumen for the preparation of laboratory samples. The laboratory results from the …

Influence Of Early Microwave Curing On Performance Of Slag-Based Geopolymer Mortars, Ahmet Taşdemı̇R, Abdulkadir Çevı̇K

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

In this article, an experimental study was conducted to examine the effect of curing time and microwave power on the compressive strength of early microwave-cured slag based geopolymers. Geopolymers have the potential to serve as an environmentally friendly substitute for cement-based building materials, and the use of microwave curing to geopolymers holds the promise of substantial strength improvement. Different microwave curing energies (300 - 800 Watts) were utilized at varying durations (10 - 60 minutes) on demoulded mortar specimens after one day. After that, compressive strength tests were conducted on both the cured and uncured specimens at three different ages: …

Use Of Alaçatı Stone Aggregate In Conventional And Self-Consolidating Concretes, Tahir Kemal Erdem

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Alaçatı stone or Alapietra stone is widely used mostly for building cladding. However, its production and use in the construction sites generate high amounts of waste (debris), causing environmental pollution in Çeşme which is a touristic district. This study investigated the reuse of Alaçatı stone as lightweight aggregate (LWA) in both conventional and self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mixtures. The concretes were prepared to have three different water-to-cement ratios (w/c), which were 0.38, 0.42 and 0.48. For each w/c, a conventional concrete mixture and two SCC mixtures with 60 or 70 cm slump flow were produced by varying the superplasticizer SP content. …

A Decision Support Model For Building Material And Component Reuse In The Context Of Circular Buildings, Havva Aksel

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Construction activities cause significant environmental impacts such as waste generation, pollution, resource consumption, and land use, which are expected to increase with global construction demands. To mitigate these environmental problems, the circular building occurs as an emerging concept depending on in the circular economy, which aims to minimize waste and redefine the “end-of-life” concept by reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering materials. The reuse of building materials and components (BMCs) from existing structures represents a crucial strategy for achieving circularity in the built environment. Within this framework, design plays a key role. However, designing with reclaimed BMCs remains complex due to …

Expansion Limits Of Meshed Split-Thickness Skin Grafts, Haomin Yu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Split-thickness skin grafts are widely used to treat chronic wounds. Procedure design requires surgeons to predict how much a patch of the patient's own skin expands when it is meshed with rows of slits and stretched over a larger wound area. Accurate prediction of graft expansion remains a challenge, with current models overestimating the actual expansion, leading to suboptimal outcomes. Inspired by the principles of mechanical metamaterials, we developed a model that distinguishes between the kinematic rearrangement of structural elements and their stretching, providing a more accurate prediction of skin graft expansion. Our model was validated against extensive data …

Mae Enewsbrief July-Sept 2025, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Design And Development Of Biomimetic Hydrogel Interfaces For Enhanced Bioelectrical Signal Acquisition, Daniela Nikoloska

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Every second, human skin processes over one million sensory signals while maintaining properties such as electrical conductivity, mechanical adaptability, and regenerative capability that surpass all synthetic materials. Contemporary bioelectronic devices prove inadequate when contacting skin surfaces due to poor adhesion and electrical contact issues that prevent effective sensing. Despite advancements in wearable and bioelectronic technologies, current devices face major drawbacks when interfacing with human skin, particularly in maintaining firm adhesion, conformability, and low-noise electrical signal acquisition.

This research focuses on the development of a biomimetic hydrogel-based interface for bioelectronic sensing. Specifically, a hybrid hydrogel system composed of polydopamine (PDA)- doped …

Durability Of Alkali-Activated Concretes Under 5% Sulfuric Acid Environment, Celal Karabaş, Anıl Niş

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The investigation focused on the resistance to 5% sulfuric acid degradation of the alkali-activated concretes (AAC). The AAC was manufactured using a blended binder of 50% slag and 50% F-type fly ash. The AAC was activated using a blend of 14 M sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, with a hydroxide-to-silicate ratio of 1/2,5. Six AAC were produced against a 5% sulfuric acid environment, varying the binder amounts (400–500–600 kg/m3) and activator-binder (A/B) ratios (0,45–0,55). The chemical resistance of AAC was evaluated by visual appearance, variation in weight and compressive strengths. The findings pointed out that more gypsum and higher weight …

Comprehensive Risk Assessment For Construction Site Managers In Kosovo: A Mixed-Method Approach, Muhamet Ahmeti, Besian Sinani

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study developed and validated a hybrid ISO 31000:2018 Kosovo-compliant risk assessment framework tailored for construction site managers operating within transitional economies. The research employed audits of 20 ISO-certified contractors in Pristina, Kosovo, along with field observations, interviews, and quantitative risk matrices. The findings indicate a critical concentration of risk, with 70% of firms classified as "High" or “Very High” risk. The most prevalent hazards identified were working at height without collective protection, unprotected electrical systems, and manual handling of heavy materials. Regression analysis revealed that firms with a designated safety champion achieved significantly lower risk scores, whereas those with …

Behaviour Of Internally Strengthening Hollow Stainless-Steel Hot-Rolled Circular Columns Filled With Crumb Rubber And Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Wadhah M. Tawfeeq, Mohammed M. Rasheed, Mithaq Kohees, Ahmed W. Al Zandd, Saif Al-Balushi, Hamed Al Abdul Salam

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Stainless-steel sections are increasingly being utilised in favour of their higher durability. Simultaneously, the use of recycled materials in concrete is aligned with the global concern to encourage sustainable and environmentally friendly construction. The paper examined the behaviour of stainless-steel columns filled with concrete with crumb rubber (CR) and recycled aggregate (RA). It analysed the effect of different percentages of CR (0, 15, and 30) and RA (0, 15, and 50) on the compressive strength of the concrete and the performance of the columns using stainless-steel hollow sections. 20 specimens were manufactured, 18 of which were cast with concrete containing …

Piezoelectric Concrete: A Smart Material Approach For Energy-Harvesting Structural Technologies, Dianah Mazlan, Vynotdni Rathinasamy, Naveen Kumar, Liu Chunpeng, Elango Elango

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The rapid growth of urban infrastructure demands innovative materials that not only support structural performance but also contribute to sustainability through energy harvesting. Piezoelectric concrete, which integrates ceramics, polymers, nanomaterials, and bio-based fillers into cementitious matrices, has emerged as a promising solution. This review systematically explores the fundamentals of piezoelectricity in concrete, highlighting how stress-induced electromechanical coupling enables both energy harvesting and structural health monitoring. The paper critically evaluates major material systems including PZT ceramics, PVDF polymers, hybrid nanocomposites, and emerging bio-based materials, alongside their integration strategies such as embedded and surface-mounted approaches. Applications across pavements, bridges, and smart buildings …

Powder Degradation Analysis In Reused Pure Tungsten For Electron Beam Melting (Ebm), Hernan Valenzuela

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables unparalleled design freedom and geometric complexity, driving its adoption in aerospace and medical fields. A major advantage of metal powder AM technologies, such as Electron Beam Melting (EBM), is its ability to reuse unused metal powder, reducing material waste and costs. However, reusing powder repeatedly alters its properties, affecting the final product. Despite its significance, research on powder degradation remains limited, primarily focusing on alloys like Ti-6Al-4V. This thesis investigates the degradation of pure tungsten powder reused over multiple Electron Beam Melting (EBM) cycles. A literature review revealed general powder-reuse mechanisms across additive manufacturing (AM) technologies …

Coupling Material Formulation Strategies To Tailor Piezoelectric Properties Of Ceramic Lattices, Amanda Lauren Borgaro

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines the material formulation and infiltration processes required to create interpenetrating ceramic composites with a particular focus on developing piezoelectric ceramic-epoxy lattice structures (PCELS). Following this, a high–solid loading barium titanite photopolymer resin (BT40) was developed to produce BTO scaffolds with controlled porosity suitable for metal infusion. The resin’s shear-thinning behavior and scattering-dominated curing response enabled the formation of stable, uniform ceramic structures whose pore networks directly influence infiltration behavior. Building on this foundation, a low-temperature Field’s Metal (FM) infiltration method was established using controlled thermal equilibration and the melting of pre-formed alloy rods. By maintaining the ceramic …

Decoupling Piezoelectric And Pyroelectric Effects In Anisotropic Polymer-Ceramic Lattices Produced Via Fused Filament Fabrication, Sofia Alexandra Perez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates how multi-material fused filament fabrication (FFF) can be used to engineer lattice structures that decouple piezoelectric and pyroelectric responses within a single polymer–ceramic composite. A hybrid ABS–BaTiO3/PLA lattice—referred to as the Hybrid PIZCAL—was designed to direct mechanical strain along the Z-axis while suppressing deformation in the transverse directions. After thermal poling, the lattice exhibited a 293% increase in Z-axis voltage sensitivity compared to a monolithic ABS–BaTiO3 cube and significantly reduced off-axis electromechanical output. Finite element simulations and directional compression testing confirmed that geometric anisotropy and material zoning produce strong, axis-selective piezoelectric behavior. The second part of this …

Simulation Of Stress, Deformation, And Vibration In Unlubricated Ball Bearings At Varying Rotational Speeds, Billy Dwiki, Moh. Hartono

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Bearings are critical components in rotating machinery, and their performance is highly influenced by operational factors such as rotational speed, load, and lubrication. This study aims to analyze the deformation, stress, and dynamic behavior of SAE 52100 bearings under dry operating conditions at various rotational speeds, as well as to propose mitigation strategies for high-speed industrial applications. A finite element simulation was conducted using ANSYS R19.2 to evaluate the total deformation, equivalent elastic strain, Von Mises stress, and vibrational characteristics of a 6204-type SAE 52100 bearing. The simulations were performed across a speed range of 600 to 2000 RPM under …

Optimizing Zeolite Catalysts For Efficient Ldpe Plastic Waste Pyrolysis, Hilda Porawati, Mazwan Mazwan, Sukadi Sukadi

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The problem of plastic waste, particularly from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bags, poses a significant challenge in environmental management due to its non-biodegradable nature and widespread use in daily life. This study evaluates the influence of catalyst types on the characteristics and energy efficiency of liquid fuel products produced from LDPE waste pyrolysis. The three treatments compared were no catalysts, natural zeolite catalyst, and synthetic zeolite catalysts, each subjected to three different temperature variations: 250°C, 300°C, and 350°C. The observed parameters in this study were volume, product mass, cetane index, density, sulfur content, viscosity, flash point, calorific value, and energy …

Thermophysical, Rheological And Wear Resistance Of Canola Oil Biolubricant With Calcium Carbonate Additive Nanoparticle As Coolant In Cnc Machining, Alfandi Jaelani, Poppy Puspitasari, Diki Dwi Pramono, Alief Muhammad, Muhammad Kozin, Muhammad Kashif

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Vegetable oil-based cutting fluids are of great importance in supporting green and sustainable manufacturing. This research introduces a new groundbreaking vegetable lubricant formulated with canola oil as the base material, coupled with CaCO3 nanoparticles synthesized from scallop shell waste and used as a cutting fluid in the AISI 1045 CNC machining process steel sprayed with minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). This investigation delves into the thermophysical, rheological, and wear resistance of the developed bio-lubricant. The results of this analysis show density value increased in the canola + CaCO3 0.15% sample by 3.28% of the pure canola sample, as did the viscosity …

Improvement Of Thermal Energy Storage Performance In Al-Al2o3 Composites Through Additions Of Copper: Evaluation Of Microstructure And Thermal Properties, Muhammad Hasan Basri, Ramang Magga, Muhammad Syaiful Fadly, Zikri Arifansyah Djaba, Muhammad Iqbal Ibrahim, Hidayat Hidayat, Yandi Yandi

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The study aims to evaluate the influence of adding copper aluminum–alumina composite (Al–Al₂O₃) against characteristic thermal properties through metallurgical powder. Three variations of the composition of weight copper were used, namely 5%, 10%, and 15%, with aluminum as the matrix and alumina as the reinforcement. Thermal test covering analysis of thermal conductivity, specific heat, and microstructure characterization using SEM-EDX. The results show that adding Cu increases thermal conductivity significantly, with the highest mark achieved in the 15% Cu composite (6.47 W/m.°C). However, the increase in Cu content above 10% causes the agglomeration of particles and enhancements in porosity, which harms …

Numerical Investigation Of Ethanol-Enriched Diesel And Biodiesel Fuels In A Diesel Engine, Annisa Bhikuning, Hezron Elyakim Potto, Sandi Apriandi Setiawan, Jamal F. Jati

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

This study explores the effects of ethanol blending on the performance and emissions of a compression ignition (CI) engine using both diesel and biodiesel as base fuels. Motivated by increasing environmental concerns regarding pollutant emissions from conventional diesel engines, ethanol was introduced as an oxygenated additive to improve combustion characteristics and reduce the formation of harmful exhaust emissions. Ethanol’s high oxygen content promotes more complete combustion, potentially lowering carbon-based emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and unburned hydrocarbons. In this study, performance and emission parameters were simulated using Diesel-RK software at various engine speeds of 1500, 2000, …

One-Way Thermal-Fluid-Solid Coupling Analysis Of Helicopter Tail Reducer With Spiral Bevel Gear, Dongping Sheng, Zhongyuan Ma, Chenqi Zhou, Haidong Feng, Hun Guo, Chun Su

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

This research focuses on investigating the thermal-fluid-solid coupling behavior within spiral bevel gears to enhance the bearing capacity and extend the operational service life of the gear reducer located in the helicopter tail gearbox. The study commences by constructing detailed, parametrically defined threedimensional digital models. These models accurately represent the critical components: the spiral bevel gear itself, the surrounding gearbox housing, and the supporting gear shaft, based directly on the specifications of an actual helicopter tail reducer assembly. Subsequently, the analysis proceeds with a one-way, steadystate thermal-solid coupling simulation performed on the established model assembly. This critical simulation phase aims …

The Impact Of Pine Resin-Epoxy Ratios On Fire Resistance And Acoustic Performance Of Banana Fiber Composites, Cokorda Istri Putri Kusuma Kencanawati, Dewa Ngakan Ketut Putra Negara, I Gede Andy Andika Parahita

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Because of their low environmental impact and biodegradability, composite materials derived from natural fibers and resins have drawn interest as sustainable substitutes for synthetic materials in thermal and acoustic applications. Two promising natural components are banana stem fiber and pine resin, but they need to be modified due to their mechanical limitations and flammability. Epoxy resin is commonly used to enhance structural performance; however, its effects on acoustic and fire resistance properties require further investigation. This study examined how different epoxy resin contents affected the sound absorption and fire resistance of composites made from banana stem fiber and pine resin. …

Effect Of Argon Gas Flow Rate On Crystal Structure, Morphology, And Optical Properties Of Cigs Film For Photodetector Applications, Nurul Lathi’I Fatul Chamidah, Fadilah Wulan Cahyani, I Gusti Ayu Isnaini Fatha Ramadhani, Erma Surya Yuliana, Nasikhudin Nasikhudin, Safwan Abd. Aziz, Nandang Mufti

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

CIGS material can be used as a material for photodetector applications. The deposition of CIGS thin films remains challenging. Generally, argon is used as a gas to bombard the CIGS material through the sputtering method. This study fabricated photodetectors by varying the argon gas flow rate (50-80 sccm) to investigate its effect on device performance. XRD, SEM, UV-Vis, and photoresponse tests were characterized. Structural analysis using XRD showed a weak (112) diffraction peak, indicating that the resulting film was not fully crystalline, but rather consisted of a nanocrystalline phase, even partly amorphous, with small crystallite sizes. According to the SEM …