Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Mems 411: Water Surface Tension Breaker, David Arthur D'Alessandro Iii, Ben Davis Miller, Jared Ethan Appel, Parker Monnig

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Design a device that sufficiently stirs up the pool's surface for WashU's Swim and Dive team.

Mems 411: Diving Bubbler, Yasmin Ruff, Maya Ghatalia, Selva Moslehikhah

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Design an affordable, portable, and effective surface-breaking system tailored for the WashU Diving team.

Mems 411: Ball Bearing Sorting Device, Claudia Markel, Max Cusick, Tomás Collado

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Ball bearings are an integral part of many products, including cars, planes, and appliances. However, when bearings of multiple sizes and materials are mixed together, they can be difficult to separate quickly. Sorting the ball bearings becomes even more of a challenge for people who are not able to see the difference in color to discern the materials. To solve this problem, a ball bearing sorter, which can separate bearings of 1 2 in and 1 4 in for the materials of steel, brass, and plastic, was created. This project was based on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2024-2025 …

Mems 411: Asme Ball Bearing Sorter, Gurks Bansal, Natalia Klim, Helen Ma

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Design and create a device that sorts ball bearings of 3 different materials and 2 different sizes for the 2024-2025 ASME Student Design Competition.

Mems 411: Custom Surfacing Machine, Katherine Minielly, Gaelen Clayton, Estela Villacis

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Our project is in partnership with DeepSight, a startup working to revolutionize medical imaging through proprietary ultrasound sensing technology. Our objective is to create a custom surfacing machine to finish a critical ultrasound component. DeepSight’s new ultrasound system includes an aluminum component that requires a high degree of perpendicularity and a sub-micron finish on one side. DeepSight provided us with an existing grinding machine to retrofit to surface the aluminum part. Our goals were a surface roughness ofmicron, a surface perpendicularity ofmicrons, and the ability to process 3 parts inpart’s surface and ensure even surface wear. The part spins on …

Incorporating Genai Into Information Literacy Instruction: Find Engineering Standards, Lauren Todd

Generative AI Teaching Activities

Students will prompt GenAI tools to find relevant engineering standards that might apply to their mechanical engineering design project, then they must evaluate the responses.

Utilization Of Sodium Flame Synthesis For The Formation And Deposition Of Pure Metal Materials For Applications In Additive Manufacturing, Zachariah Wargel

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Advanced material classes, such as high temperature alloys, ceramics, and refractory materials have become a key area of focus for expansion in the realm of additive manufacturing. Factors such as high melting points, material homogeneity, and physical properties such as ductility limit the application of popular additive manufacturing methods to these material classes. By utilizing sodium flame synthesis and deposition (SFD) technology, nanoparticle materials can be synthesized via combustion in a laminar co-flow diffusion burner and impacted such that the deposits can be used to manufacture designed components. By using the applicable precursor materials of metal chlorides and elemental sodium …

Rational Design Of Lignin-First Biorefineries Through Lignin Analysis And Deconstruction Modeling Tools, Aditya Ponukumati

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Lignocellulosic biomass is produced photosynthetically from atmospheric CO2 and is one of the few sources of renewable, reduced carbon that is generated on a scale comparable to demand for chemical commodities. For a sense of scale, the U.S. Energy Security and Independence Act targets the production of approximately 16 billion gallons per year of second-generation lignocellulosic biofuels by 2025. That production would generate approximately 62 million tons per year of dry lignin byproducts. The focus of this dissertation is on the valorization of these lignin components of biomass. Currently, lignin is either discarded or burned for local heat or electricity …

Activity: Students Find Conceptual Errors In Ai Output, Janie Brennan

Generative AI Teaching Activities

Instructor asks ChatGPT questions related to a key concept to find one where ChatGPT has conceptual errors. Ask students to find the errors and explain them.

Jme 4110: Better Beach Wagon, Jalen Rhodes, Joshua Peters, Seth Peters, Jevonn Lewis-Harris

Washington University / UMSL Mechanical Engineering Design Project JME 4110

This project aims to add to a current beach wagon and improve effective movement through sand and concrete. Some beach wagons out in the market make it incredibly difficult to navigate through sand, often requiring more effort to push or pull. Some beach wagons solve these issues, such as electric beach wagons and their use of balloon tires; however, they are typically expensive, costing up to $2500.00. With Visionary Solutions’ design, the beach wagon will be able to move smoothly through both terrains (concrete and sand) and will be inexpensive to produce. The materials design includes polylactic acid (PLA) 3D …

Jme 4110: Stand-Up Pedicure Final Report, Heather Burt, Brian Hinkle, Jonathon Riggle, Anna Domingo Garcia

Washington University / UMSL Mechanical Engineering Design Project JME 4110

This project focuses on designing a pedicure device specifically for individuals who struggle with bending down to cut their toenails. While many people may not give this task a second thought, for some, it is a daily challenge. The goal is to create a device that allows users to safely and comfortably cut their toenails without needing to bend down or visit a nail salon, saving them time, effort, and money. This innovative design will cater to those with physical limitations, enabling them to maintain their nail care independently.

Jme 4110: Washer To Dryer Clothes Transfer Device, Scott Diep, Jared Edwards, Catherine Mcdonnell, Patrick Geldmeier

Washington University / UMSL Mechanical Engineering Design Project JME 4110

For those leading busy lives or facing mobility challenges, this project involve a custom device can transfer clothes from washer to the dryer automatically when the person is not home. This solution eliminates the need to manually move clothes from the washer, preventing formation of mildew, and ensuring that the laundry is fresh and ready to wear when you return.

Jme 4110: Inflatable Patient Wedge, Thomas Gunsten, Bushra Zaidi, Zachary Howell, Luke Prichard

Washington University / UMSL Mechanical Engineering Design Project JME 4110

The goal of this project was to design, model, and build an inflatable patient wedge, capable of lifting a patient from a laying position to an appropriate sitting position. This system had to be cheap, reliable, and strong enough to lift a wide range of different patients. The design of this project includes repurposed air mattresses, resealed with an epoxy, and shaped into an appropriately angled wedge.

Jme 4110: Patient Mat Mover, Muhammad Mughal, Seth Gallamore, Gabriel Monte, Marcos Navas Gallardo, Jamie Barvian

Washington University / UMSL Mechanical Engineering Design Project JME 4110

The idea of an improved patient mat mover was suggested to help make the life of patients and their care givers easier. The typical method of using brute force to lift a patient and slide a mat under them can be very challenging and tasking on both the patient and their care giver. It is a large inconvenience in the medical field and makes the process of patient care difficult and uncomfortable. Our value is designing a solution that will eliminate pain and difficulty for both our patients and their nurses/care givers by simplifying patient transport from bed to bed. …

Design And Characterization Of 3d-Printed Hydrogel Lattices With Consistent Structural And Mechanical Anisotropy, Daniel Yoon

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the use of 3D printing to fabricate soft hydrogel lattice structures with consistent properties, including varying levels of mechanical anisotropy. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive imaging tool to estimate and characterize the mechanical properties of tissue. MRE “phantoms” (physical surrogate models) have been used to assess how well MRE can measure and estimate mechanical properties. While gel phantoms generally simulate brain tissue, almost all have been isotropic. Prior studies have shown that white matter brain tissue is structurally and mechanically anisotropic. To validate anisotropic MRE, phantoms with controllable, reproducible anisotropic material properties are needed. This …

Structural Dynamics Of The Human Brain In Vivo From Tagged Mri And Mr Elastography, Jordan De Niro Escarcega

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The underlying mechanics surrounding vulnerability of human brains in response to impact is critical to our ability to diagnose and treat traumatic brain injury (TBI), but our understanding of brain mechanical behavior is incomplete. Tagged MRI (tMRI) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) are two imaging techniques that are used to visualize and quantify deformation fields in human brains in vivo. The objective of this thesis is to gain a better understanding of brain vulnerability, by quantitively analyzing deformation fields extracted from in vivo human imaging studies. This was achieved through the following aims: (1) Extract mode shapes and natural frequencies …

Application Of Finite-State Wake Models To Rotors Re-Entering Their Own Wake, Michael Seay Morrow

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This paper details the development of a finite-state, dynamic wake model for the purpose of modeling a helicopter rotor reentering its own wake. This model stems directly from both the Peters-Morillo wake model to determine the velocity field on and above the helicopter rotor and the Peters-Fei model to compute the velocity field below the rotor. The specific case of nonzero net thrust was evaluated under assumptions of axial flow and potential flow theory. Results consist of computations of the inflow velocity for this case, along with comparison to closed-form, potential flow solutions for validation. The finite-state model is shown …

Environment And Response Of 3d-Encapsulated Mesenchymal Stem Cells To Mechanical Loading, Augustus Greenwood

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the micromechanical environment induced when cyclically compressing hydrogels via finite element modeling and experimentally on the impact of loading on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) when encapsulated withing 3D hydrogel matrices. Degenerative joint diseases, characterized by cartilage degradation, present significant challenges due to cartilage's limited self-repair capacity. Innovative approaches, including stem cell-based therapies and engineered biomaterials, have emerged as promising strategies for cartilage repair and regeneration. This work specifically investigates the calibration of a bioreactor, the uniformity of load response across the hydrogel constructs via finite element modeling (FEM), and the stress response of MSCs subjected to various …

Characterizing Brain And Skull Mechanics In The Minipig Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography, Shuaihu Wang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Computational models and simulation are important tools to investigate the mechanisms underlying traumatic brain injury (TBI); their accuracy depends strongly on accurate model parameters, including the mechanical properties of the brain and its interactions with the skull. However, most existing TBI modeling studies are performed using material properties derived from animal tissue obtained after death. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) provides a non-invasive method for estimating the mechanical properties of soft tissue. The overall objective of this thesis is to characterize the biomechanical properties of brain tissue and brain-skull interface in the minipig by using MRE. This was achieved through pursuit …

An Apparatus To Quantify Lengthwise Flexural Rigidity Profiles Of Endovascular Devices, Charles B. Suskin

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Endovascular procedures require access to distal anatomical sites through the vasculature using catheters and guidewires. Quantitative frameworks for device behavior during procedures hold the potential to drive device design through greater understanding of the mechanical behavior of endovascular devices, and offer the potential to personalize care based on a patient's particular vascular anatomy. However, data that would facilitate this technology are lacking, partly due to undisclosed material properties from manufacturers and partly due to the intricate variations along the length of each device due to material changes and the intersections between them. We developed a three-point bend test methodology on …

Enhanced Fabrication Of Microdroplet Generator Nozzle Arrays: Optimizing Koh Etching For Microfluidic Applications, Hongyu Bai

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Ultrasonic microdroplet generators are useful devices with broad applications ranging from aerosolized drug delivery to three-dimensional (3D) printing-based additive manufacturing. One such technology comprises a microfabricated array of nozzles with droplet production driven by a piezoelectric transducer. The present study focuses on refining a critical fabrication step, anisotropic wet etching of pyramidal nozzles using a basic potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. Given the integral role of nozzle geometry in device operation, high-precision techniques including Reactive Ion Etching (RIE), Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE), and KOH wet etching were employed. A tapering geometry is preferred for acoustic wave focusing and efficient droplet …

Mems 411: Robot Mini Golf - Striker, Jasmine Davy, Maya Charak, Ilias Bouchibti

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

The goal of this project was to design a remote-controlled device that is able to putt and chip a golf ball to achieve several obstacles. This project was designed using the guidelines for the ASME design challenge. The guidelines for this challenge required that the striker fit in a half-meter box, have the capacity to both putt and chip a ball, and be able to overcome obstacles, such as getting up a half pipe onto an elevated surface, clear a 3” hoop, and traverse an inclined ramp. These guidelines had to be met while maintaining a budget of $400.

Mems 411: Vehicle Entry Aid, Sara Wargo, Joshua Doro, Benjamin Swonger, Justin Stohlman

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Handicapped individuals such as those with prosthetic legs or diabetes can struggle greatly with entering large vehicles such as trucks. In this struggle, a client uses a rigid step stool with a rope tied through it to lift himself and then the stool into the vehicle. This report outlines an initiative to design and manufacture a better solution to this problem. A collapsible, two-step step stool was fabricated with a spring loaded retraction system. The design process for this solution is outline from start to finish, showing the extensive thought process that was followed to create the final product.

Mems 411: Motorized Striker, Joseph Crossin, Joana Hadzhilazova, Connor Petersen, Vyas Venkataraman

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

This report follows the design and prototyping process for Group B5’s Senior Mechanical Engineering Design Project. Group B5 was tasked with designing a motorized golf striker to perform in the ASME design challenge. This report lays out the progression of the design process beginning with Problem Understanding, then Concept Generation, Concept Selection, Concept Embodiment, Design Refinement, and concludes with an assessment of the final prototype.

Mems 411: Mini-Golf Robot Vehicle, Catherine Huang, Shicheng Li, Colin Chen, Maximilian Li

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

The primary objective of the project is to develop a remote-controlled vehicle capable of completing a round of mini golf as part of the ASME Student Design Competition. The vehicle’s functionalities are categorized into driving and golf-ball striking. Our group is specifically responsible for the former aspect.

The remote-controlled vehicle is expected to traverse through the designated competition field and exhibit the ability to maneuver between and over obstacles, including a high wall and a low platform. Our design should adhere to the competition regulations set forth by ASME SDC, which include specific criteria for the vehicle such as size …

Mems 411: B2 Striker Group Final Design Report, Jacob Rapoza, Ian M. Veserra, Alex J. Webert, Keaton Porch

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Design a golf striker that can accomplish all the holes set forth by the ASME 2023 design competition and could be attached to a robot without major design modifications.

Mems 411: Medical Clamp, Edis Skampo, Rodery Gonzalez, Sokcheatra Samrith, Sean Lucas

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

The goal of the team was to design a plier that would be able to clamp down a medical clamp used for a dialysis machine. Ideally the plier should be able to clamp down 3 medical clamps on three separate dialysis tubes in less than 5 seconds, reduce the force required to clamp those clamps by 4 times, and weigh less than 113 grams. The product design was broken down into 3 separate concepts, with four options for each component. The most preferable option of each component was chosen and several risk factors were taken in consideration so that the …

Mems 411: Dialysqueeze, Ranch Kimball, Maeve Lomax, Tyler Carlson

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Design a device to reduce occupational fatigue injuries suffered by nurses who must manually clamp and unclamp tubing for dialysis machines. This device was designed for MEMS 411 Senior Design.

Mems 411: Asme Design Challenge Hitting Apparatus, Benjamin Deobald, Curtis Hung, Joseph Kodsi, Andrew Sheen

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Develop a specialized hitting mechanism for the modified 2023 ASME Design Competition's mini-golf robot challenge. The mechanism needs to accurately chip and putt golf balls, ensuring compatibility for mounting onto another team's vehicle chassis. Key considerations include weight, form-factor, remote operation ease, and endurance within a $400 budget. The mechanism must adhere to competition rules, stopping before hitting, non-operation during ball contact except for relocation, and transport of the ball to designated areas.

Mems 411: B8-Golf Striker, Theodore Francis Anastasoff, Mitchell Oswald Shannon, Aidan Richard Tierney, Nick Alexander Vazquez

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Robots are useful for a variety of tasks and can be very fun to make. For our design of a golf striker robot, we will use our knowledge of core mechanical engineering principles to achieve our goal of a functional end product. Our research into existing devices of such nature showed us how useful these robots are in the golf industry. Whether it is to see how far technology ad machine learning has evolved or to test how golf equipment will stand under duress, these robots provide useful feedback for companies and players. Seeing devices like Golfi, LDRICK, and the …