Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Mathematical Modeling Of Light Utilization And The Effects Of Temperature Cycles On Productivity In A Steady-State Algal Photobioreactor, Peter Edwin Zemke

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The work presented here investigated two methods of improving productivity in microalgal photobioreactors: applying temperature cycles intended to maximize photosynthesis and minimize respiration, and development of a mathematical model that predicts improvements in photon utilization using temporal light dilution (flashing).

The experiments conducted on diurnal temperature cycles with Dunaliella tertiolecta in 30-L outdoor photobioreactors showed that a properly chosen temperature cycle can improve mass and energy productivity by 18% over an identical photobioreactor with a constant temperature. However, excessively large temperature cycle amplitudes reduced productivity. A 4-7% increase in energy content was observed in microalgae exposed to temperature cycles. The …

A Study On Stainless Steel 316l Annealed Ultrasonic Consolidation And Linear Welding Density Estimation, Raelvim Gonzalez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ultrasonic Consolidation of stainless steel structures is being investigated for potential applications. This study investigates the suitability of Stainless Steel 316L annealed (SS316L annealed) as a building material for Ultrasonic Consolidation (UC), including research on Linear Welding Density (LWD) estimation on micrographs of samples. Experiment results are presented that include the effect of UC process parameters on SS316L annealed UC, optimum levels of these parameters, and bond quality of ultrasonically consolidated SS316L annealed structures in terms of LWD. In support to these efforts, a Measurement System Analysis for LWD assessment has been performed, and a new instrument for LWD measurement …

Experiment And Simulation On The Dynamics Of A Slug Of Liquid Oxygen Displaced By A Pulsed Magnetic Field, Jeffrey C. Boulware

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A magnetic fluid system could potentially replace mechanically moving parts in a satellite as a means of increasing system reliability and mission lifetime, but rather than a standard ferrofluid with magnetic particles, liquid oxygen (LOX) may be a more adequate working fluid. As a pure paramagnetic cryogen, LOX is already heavily used in space, but still requires basic research before being integrated into system development. The objectives of the research conducted were to verify LOX as a magnetic working fluid through experiment and establish a theoretical model to describe its behavior. This dissertation presents the theoretical, experimental, and numerical results …

Thermo-Mechanical Reliability Of Micro-Interconnects In Three-Dimensional Integrated Circuits: Modeling And Simulation, Omar Rodriguez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D ICs) have been designed with the purpose of achieving higher communication speed by reducing the interconnect length between integrated circuits, and integrating heterogeneous functions into one single package, among other advantages. As a growing, new technology, researchers are still studying the different parameters that impact the overall lifetime of such packages in order to ensure the customer receives reliable end products. This study focused on the effect of four design parameters on the lifetime of the interconnects and, in particular, solder balls and through-silicon vias (TSVs). These parameters included TSV pitch, TSV diameter, underfill stiffness and …

Fatigue Life Analysis Of T-38 Aileron Lever Using A Continuum Damage Approach, James D. Gyllenskog

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In a recent investigation conducted by the United States Air Force, the mechanical failure of the aileron lever, manufactured from 2014-T6 aluminum, caused the fatal mishap of a T-38 trainer aircraft. In general the locations of cracks are unknown and must be determined by simulation. In this study we propose to use a continuum damage modeling approach to determine the degradation and damage in a material as the number of cycles of loading increases. This approach successfully predicts the location of crack initiation, propagation path, and propagation rate. A stress-based model in conjunction with the successive initiation technique is utilized. …

Follow Up Nucleate Boiling On-Flight Experiment, Andrew Fassmann

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Smooth-Wall Boundary Conditions For Dissipation-Based Turbulence Models, W. F. Phillips, Doug F. Hunsaker, Robert E. Spall

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

It is shown that the smooth-wall boundary conditions specified for commonly used dissipation-based turbulence models are mathematically incorrect. It is demonstrated that when these traditional wall boundary conditions are used, the resulting formulations allow an infinite number of solutions. Furthermore, these solutions do not enforce energy conservation and they do not properly enforce the no-slip condition at a smooth surface. This is true for all dissipation-based turbulence models, including the k-ε, k-ω, and k-ζ models. Physically correct wall boundary conditions must force both k and its gradient to zero at a smooth wall. Enforcing these two boundary conditions on k …

Funboe (Follow-Up Nucleate Boiling On-Flight Experiment), Getaway Special Team 2010

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Gravitational Effects On Thin-Wire Subcooled Nucleate Boiling Dynamics, Justin Koeln, Andrew Fassmann, Troy Munro, Rob Barnett

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Gravitational Effects On Thin-Wire Subcooled Nucleate Boiling Dynamics, Justin Koeln, Andrew Fassmann, Troy Munro, Rob Barnett

Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Gas Team And Nasa (Aka Boil, Boil, Toil And Trouble), Get Away Special Team 2010

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Electrical Double Layer On Electric Conductivity And Pressure Drop In A Pressure-Driven Microchannel Flow, Heng Ban, Bochuan Lin, Zhourui Song

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The effect of an electrical double layer (EDL) on microchannel flow has been studied widely, and a constant bulk electric conductivity is often used in calculations of flow rate or pressure drop. In our experimental study of pressure-driven micropipette flows, the pipette diameter is on the same order of magnitude as the Debye length. The overlapping EDL resulted in a much higher electric conductivity, lower streaming potential, and lower electroviscous effect. To elucidate the effect of overlapping EDL, this paper developed a simple model for water flow without salts or dissolved gases (such as CO₂) inside a two-dimensional …

Solar Radiative Heating Of Fiber-Optic Cables Used To Monitor Temperatures In Water, Bethany T. Neilson, Christine E. Hatch, Heng Ban, Scott W. Tyler

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

In recent years, applications of distributed temperature sensing (DTS) have increased in number and diversity. Because fiber-optic cables used for DTS are typically sheathed in dark UV-resistant materials, the question arises as to how shortwave solar radiation penetrating a water column influences the accuracy of absolute DTS-derived temperatures in aquatic applications. To quantify these effects, we completed a modeling effort that accounts for the effects of radiation and convection on a submersed cable to predict when solar heating may be important. Results indicate that for cables installed at shallow depths in clear, low-velocity water bodies, measurable heating of the cable …

Parallelization Of Performance Limiting Routines In The Computational Fluid Dynamics General Notation System Library, Kyle Horne

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Computational Fluid Dynamics General Notation System provides a unified way in which computational fluid dynamics data can be stored, but does not support the parallel I/O capabilities now available from version five of the Hierarchical Data Format library which serves as a back end for he standard. To resolve this deficiency, a new parallel extension library has been written and benchmarked for this work which can write files compliant with the standard using parallel file access modes. When using this new library, the write performance shows an increase of four-fold in some cases when compared to the same hardware …

Interim Access To The International Space Station, Tyson Karl Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis evaluates mission scenarios using the existing Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles for delivering the Crew Exploration Vehicle to the International Space Station. The Space Shuttle is scheduled to retire in the year 2011 and the Ares I is being developed to replace it. With its current schedule, the earliest that the Ares I will become fully operational is 2016. The configurations in this thesis are presented to narrow the gap in which the USA does not have direct access to the International Space Station. They also present "buy down" options for the USA human space operations, if the current …

The Cryogenic Bonding Evaluation At The Metallic-Composite Interface Of A Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel With Additional Impact Investigation, Eric A. Clark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A bonding evaluation that investigated the cryogenic tensile strength of several different adhesives / resins was performed. The test materials consisted of 6061 aluminum test pieces adhered to a wet-wound graphite laminate in order to simulate the bond created at the liner-composite interface of an aluminum lined composite overwrapped pressure vessel. It was found that for cryogenic applications, a flexible, low modulus resin system must be used. Additionally, the samples prepared with a thin layer of cured resin – or prebond – performed significantly better than those without. It was found that it is critical that the prebond surface must …

Project: F.U.N.B.O.E. (Follow-Up Nucleate Boiling On-Flight Experiment), Getaway Special Team 2009

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Third Grade Lesson Plan: Where Does Heat Come From?, Getaway Special Team 2009

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Fifth Grade Lesson Plan: Solid, Liquid, And Gas, Getaway Special Team 2009

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Sixth Grade Lesson Plan: Heat Moves, Getaway Special Team 2009

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Stability Of Basin-Scale Internal Waves Within The South Arm Of The Great Salt Lake, Joshua David Soelberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The fluid circulation patterns, temperature distributions, and density gradients of the South Arm of the Great Salt Lake were modeled using the Estuary, Lake, and Coastal Ocean Model (ELCOM) from the Centre for Water Research at the University of Western Australia. The effort is part of a research study in conjunction with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Utah Water Research Lab located at Utah State University. The model was simulated for several different cases of salinity gradients over different time periods, using temperature and wind data from 2006. The model is then used to identify factors which …

Demonstration Of A Completely Described Swirling Jet Experiment Used For Numerical Validation, Brandon M. Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis demonstrates the standard for the design of an experimental model to be used for numerical validation purposes. It is proposed that numerical models may be assessed more accurately and directly by validation with a completely described experimental model, consisting of accurate descriptions of the operating conditions, fluid properties, and experimental uncertainties. This idea is demonstrated using an experimental model of a swirling jet at three Reynolds numbers (Re = 550, 2560, and 3650), with vortex breakdown existing in the higher two Reynolds number cases. Measurements of the swirling jet were obtained at two locations upstream of the jet …

Microgravity Experiments For The Iss, Justin Koeln, Jan Sojka

Posters

The Get Away Special (GAS) team is a microgravity research team known for leading Utah State University to the impressive distinction of flying more experiments in space than any other university in the world. The following experiments were designed by the GAS team after receiving the opportunity to develop and experiment to be performed by a Space Flight Participant aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Pitch Dynamics Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, W. F. Phillips, Doug F. Hunsaker, N. R. Alley, R. J. Niewoehner

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Dynamic stability requirements for manned aircraft have been in place for many years. However, we cannot expect stability constraints for UAVs to match those for manned aircraft; and dynamic stability requirements specific to UAVs have not been developed. The boundaries of controllability for both remotely-piloted and auto-piloted aircraft must be established before UAV technology can reach its full potential. The development of dynamic stability requirements specific to UAVs could improve flying qualities and facilitate more efficient UAV designs to meet specific mission requirements. As a first step to developing UAV stability requirements in general, test techniques must be established that …

Ipas: International Paper Airplanes In Space, Getaway Special Team 2009

Reports and Proposals

No abstract provided.

Funboe Factsheet, Getaway Special Team 2009

Reports and Proposals

No abstract provided.

Sides: Space Italian Dressing Experimental Setup, Getaway Special Team 2009

Reports and Proposals

No abstract provided.

Gathering Leadership Momentum Across Great Distances: Creating An Online Community Of Practice, Erin Dini-Davis, Danielle Theiss-White

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

At the 2007 Mountain Plains Library Association Leadership (MPLA) Institute, held in New Mexico, USA, eight academic librarians formed an online multi-state, multigenerational community of practice. MPLA is a twelve-state library association within the United States. Using Google Groups™, the members formed an online environment called the MPLA Community of Practice for continuing development of the leadership skills presented at the Institute. These early-career librarians represent diverse educational backgrounds and work in libraries serving varied populations with differing disciplinary emphases. The group meets monthly with each member preparing and facilitating online discussions, complete with personal assessments, topical readings, and questions. …

Rembrant: Research On The Effects Of Microgravity On The Brazil Nut Problem, Getaway Special Team 2009

Reports and Proposals

No abstract provided.

A Novel Capacitance Sensor For Fireside Corrosion Measurement, Heng Ban, Zuoping Li

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Fireside corrosion in coal-fired power plants is a leading mechanism for boiler tube failures. Online monitoring of fireside corrosion can provide timely data to plant operators for mitigation implementation. This paper presents a novel sensor concept for measuring metal loss based on electrical capacitance. Laboratory-scale experiments demonstrated the feasibility of design, fabrication, and operation of the sensor. The fabrication of the prototype sensor involved sputtering deposition of a thin metal coating with varying thickness on a ceramic substrate. Corrosion metal loss resulted in a proportional decrease in electrical capacitance of the sensor. Laboratory experiments using a muffle furnace with an …