Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Detecting And Repairing Conflicting Constraints In Co-Trained Physics-Informed Neural Networks For Composite Curing Processes, Cooper J. Evans

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Composite materials have become a critical component of modern manufacturing, especially in the automotive and aerospace industries. The curing process for these composites has been modeled using a variety of partial differential equations representing the heat transfer and composite curing kinetics. Optimizing the applied temperature profile is critical for maximizing the efficiency and capacity of composite part manufacturers. Constraints must be placed on the inputs and outputs of the model, including but not limited to, the applied temperature profile, part temperature, and final degree of cure. Conflicting sets of constraints are easy to unknowingly impose due to the highly coupled …

Torque-Based Detection And Isolation Of Bucket-Specific Load Variations In A Continuous Bucket Ladder Excavator, Mason R. Krause

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Understanding how cutter geometry, material, and operating conditions influence excavation performance is critical for the design of lunar surface systems operating in regolith environments. This work presents a torque-based methodology for detecting and quantifying bucket-specific load variations in a continuous bucket ladder excavator. A nine-bucket excavator was constructed to record drivetrain torque while operating in a regolith simulant over multi-day test periods. Each bucket featured a unique combination of cutting edge material and geometry. A method was developed to separate the continuous torque data into individual excavation events, enabling identification of individual bucket interactions. Analysis of the resulting event-based dataset …

Performance Comparison Of A Low Mass Vibratory Lunar Surface Compactor In Vacuum Versus Atmosphere, Robin D. Austerberry

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

As space agencies prepare to return to the moon, an emphasis is being placed on establishing a sustained human presence that requires permanent structures and supporting infrastructure, making site preparation a critical factor. Michigan Technological University’s Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab has developed a novel low-mass surface compaction tool for use on a site preparation vehicle in collaboration with Colorado School of Mines. Testing in vacuum is necessary to simulate a relevant environment, which is required to increase the technology readiness level of this tool to TRL 5. Testing concluded significant interactions between the presence of atmosphere and other factors. …

Nondestructive Evaluation Of Additively Manufactured Parts Using Resonant Inspection And Frequency Domain-Based Correlation Criteria, Gita Deonarain

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the production of highly customized and geometrically complex components; however, these parts remain susceptible to a wide range of defect types and severities. The combination of complex geometries and distributed defects presents a significant challenge for post-process nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Conventional inspection techniques, such as computed tomography and ultrasonic testing, are often limited by geometry, material, accessibility, and cost, while in situ monitoring is not yet sufficiently mature to replace post-process inspection.

This dissertation establishes the Frequency Domain Assurance Criterion (FDAC) as a quantitative, vibration-based framework for defect detection in AM components. FDAC captures spatial–spectral correlations …

Microgravity-Induced Alterations In Left Atrial Hemodynamics And Thrombogenic Risk: Insights From Healthy And Atrial Fibrillation Models, Grace M. Hoeppner

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Background: Microgravity exposure alters cardiovascular loading, yet its impact on left atrial flow dynamics and thrombotic risk remains poorly understood. This study investigates how spaceflight-relevant microgravity-induced changes in cardiac outflow affect left atrial hemodynamics in healthy individuals and patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Patient-specific left atrial models were generated for three healthy individuals and three AF patients. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed using each patient’s baseline mitral outflow waveform and two modified waveforms representing short- and long-duration post-flight cardiac loading changes derived from echocardiographic observations. Hemodynamic metrics included left atrial velocity, time averaged wall shear stress, oscillatory shear …

System-Level Assessment Of Non-Ideal Phase Change Material Behavior In Low Earth Orbit Spacecraft Thermal Control Models, Nathan S. Bruursema

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Phase change materials (PCMs) are of interest in spacecraft thermal control because their latent heat capacity can provide passive thermal buffering during transient or cyclic heat loads. PCM behavior is often treated using idealized assumptions such as repeatable phase transition temperatures, consistent thermal accessibility across cycles, and full latent recovery. However, practical PCM behavior may be affected by non-ideal phenomena such as supercooling, interfacial resistance, and degradation of internal transport accessibility. This thesis examines the system-level relevance of these effects for low Earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft thermal control and identifies the operating conditions under which non-ideal PCM behavior becomes design-relevant. …

Development And Calibration Of A 2-D Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Filter (Docf) Model With Spatially Varying Washcoats Using Spacims And Engine Loading Data, Thomas K. Price

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Diesel engine exhaust contains regulated species, including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter (PM). Meeting increasingly stringent emission standards typically requires multiple aftertreatment components, motivating the development of multifunctional devices that reduce system size, cost, and catalyst usage. Computational models are essential for guiding this design process; however, existing models primarily focus on single-function devices and rarely capture the behavior of multifunctional systems with multiple catalyst washcoats. This work presents a physics-based model of a wall-flow diesel oxidation catalyst filter (DOCF), a multifunctional device that integrates the roles of a diesel oxidation catalyst and a diesel particulate filter …

Machine Learning And Multi-Scale Optimization For Control And Energy Management In Connected And Automated Vehicle Propulsion Systems, Joshua D. Orlando

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation presents a multi-scale optimization framework leveraging machine learning (ML) to enhance energy efficiency in connected and automated vehicle (CAV) propulsion systems. As transportation transitions toward hybridization and automation, the integration of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity and advanced control algorithms offers unprecedented opportunities for energy reduction. This research addresses three critical scales of vehicle energy management: multiple vehicle-level coordination, component-level powertrain dynamics, and real-time vehicle parameter estimation.

First, the research investigates the energy consumption characteristics of heterogeneous propulsion systems—ranging from internal combustion engines to battery electric vehicles across light- and heavy-duty sectors—on arterial roadways. Utilizing Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and …

Application Of Reactive Power Theory To Wave Energy Converters Under Multi-Frequency Excitation: Analysis And Experimentation, Mckenna R. Collins

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

There is abundant energy surging in the oceans across the globe. However, there have been technological challenges in extracting that energy for use. Wave energy converter (WEC) technology is being developed to find innovative ways to convert wave kinetic energy into electricity, but there are still efficiency obstacles that inhibit large-scale use. Focusing on heave-point absorber control theory, this thesis continues the work to improve the efficiency of WECs. This is done by leveraging a superposition of linear mass-spring-damper models to analyze a WEC under multi-frequency excitation and applying proportional-derivative gains to each linear model. However, to analyze this system, …

Design And Experimental Evaluation Of A Custom Vision-Guided Approach To 2d Part Localization For Industrial Robots, Faisal Ali

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Vision-guided robots offer a clear advantage over teach-pendant programming for battery handling, where modern packs hold thousands of cells and teaching each position by hand does not scale. Commercial vision systems address this need, but their calibration, detection, and coordinate-conversion stages are closed to the user, making it hard to incorporate newer learning-based methods. This work presents a modular, custom-built vision-guided system using an Orbbec Gemini 435Le eye-in-hand camera, an NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, an Allen-Bradley Micro850 PLC, and a FANUC LR Mate 200iC, communicating over Modbus TCP and EtherNet/IP. A per-hole classification model resolves each known hole into a …

Study Of Bearing Capacity Testing And Soil Preparation Techniques In Lunar Highlands Simulant At Field Scale, Christi A. Lecaptain

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Humanity seeks to return to the surface of the Moon with the advent of the Artemis missions. These endeavors plan to be the beginning of a new era as NASA and other space organizations seek to establish a lunar base. Ahead of any astronauts or mining infrastructure, the physical groundwork will need to be laid to support the arrival of rockets, boots, and rover wheels. As surfaces are prepared, they will need to be tested and verified to ensure the stability of any structures placed on top. Understanding the bearing capacity is vital to soil quality testing. A standard terrestrial …

Minimizing Snow Loss On Fixed Tilt Solar Pv Installations Through Frame Material Selection And Installation Layout, David B. Wallis

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis investigates the effects of frame material selection, module orientation and module gaps on photovoltaic energy production in a snowy environment. These factors are easily implemented in new PV installations at minimal or no extra cost. These experiments are installed as fixed tilt arrays at 35° with DC current, DC voltage, and meteorological monitoring. The frame material and module gap experiments both produced actionable results. In the frame material experiment, consistent event level energy production gains resulted in seasonal production gains favoring aluminum framed modules. In the module gap experiment energy gains are independent of atmospheric conditions. The orientation …

Comparison Of Fixed Tilt And Single Axis Tracking Solar Photovoltaics During Winter, Isobel R. Bowker

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

As solar projects are built in northern climates, it is necessary to understand how snow cover impacts power generation. While there are validated models that predict snow shedding for fixed tilt projects, there is not one for single axis tracking systems. This report aims to characterize the differences between fixed tilt and single axis tracking systems under the same snow conditions. Generation data was collected over four winter months for fixed tilt and tracking systems at Michigan Technological University. Models were created for both systems using weather information from the site, in which losses were set to zero to create …

Experimental Rate Feedback Control Of A Model-Scale Hourglass-Shaped Heaving Point Absorber, James R. Halverson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Buoy geometry greatly affects a point absorber wave energy converter's dynamic response to waves. Finding the optimal buoy shape and control method remains an open research area focused on maximizing the conversion of wave kinetic energy into electricity. This work presents an experimental comparison of closed-loop energy extraction between a cylindrical and a truncated cone buoy, both with the same submerged volume, across various wave frequencies and amplitudes. To ensure a fair comparison, the optimal rate feedback gain is calculated for each buoy at each wave condition. Multiple metrics, including power output, capture width, and actuator force, are used to …

Modeling And Testing Chain Trencher Excavator And Cone Penetrometer Robotic Prospecting Systems For Lunar In-Situ Resource Utilization, Marcello C. Guadagno

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The Artemis Missions aim to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon, requiring In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) of water-ice deposits in permanently shadowed regions. Two critical capabilities must be developed to enable ISRU at scale: prospecting instruments that can characterize the spatial distribution and geotechnical properties of icy regolith in situ, and excavation systems that can extract hardened icy regolith efficiently. This dissertation addresses both needs through the development and testing of a Percussive Heated Cone Penetrometer (PHCP) for geotechnical prospecting and a chain trencher excavator for icy regolith mining.

The PHCP was developed across eight design iterations and …

Coupled Shrinking Core And Bubble Dynamics Model For Enhancement Of Metal-Water Reactions With Acoustic Cavitation, Troy Metz

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Hydrogen is a valuable fuel. Hydrogen can be produced in several ways including thermochemical cycles, electrolysis, and metal-water reactions. Thermochemical cycles typically use high temperatures, often with corrosive species. Electrolysis requires high purity water. Metal-water reactions do not have these drawbacks. Activators such as lithium and gallium are often used to enhance metal-water reactions. However, these activators add to the complexity of metal-water reactions and may not work for all metals. A novel method to improve metal-water reactions is cavitation. During bubble collapse, shock waves and microjets are produced that can cause surface erosion. The objective of this work is …

Analytical And Data-Driven Modeling And Control Of Nonlinear Point Absorber Wave Energy Converters With Application To Cone–Cone Buoy Geometries, Houssein Yassin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation develops analytical modeling, numerical simulation, experimental validation, and data driven control methods for nonlinear point absorber wave energy converters, with particular emphasis on cone--cone buoy geometries. Geometry dependent nonlinear force models are first derived using pressure field and displaced volume formulations. These models show how buoy geometry produces nonlinear Froude--Krylov and restoring forces, including the dominant cubic behavior of cone--cone geometries.

The derived models are incorporated into a feedback linearization framework that compensates selected nonlinear dynamics while retaining the incident wave terms. An analytical optimal control formulation is also developed to maximize harvested energy in nonlinear, nonautonomous systems …

Transient Thermal Finite Element Simulation For Process Modeling In Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing, Satya Sai Kumar Pilli

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis presents the development of a transient thermal framework for Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) created using ANSYS Workbench. This study aims to understand the inherent properties and thermal behavior of WAAM by using the Finite Element (FE) simulation technique to reduce the need for experiments. Specifically, the transient thermal WAAM simulation framework uses the heat source Goldak model to understand the thermal behavior for a given voltage, initial temperature, and travel speed during the process to predict process temperature. The outcomes of this thesis aim to significantly decrease material waste and repetitive experiments and accelerate production process design …

Stability And Resonance Of Cylindrical Wave Energy Converters, Gregory M. Ballen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

With increased focus on wave energy converters that produce power in multiple degrees of motion, more tools are necessary to understand the behavior of these devices and cause them to reach critical resonance points. This thesis uses Floquet theory and a numerical solver to understand how a WEC of given parameters operating in surge, heave and pitch may approach points of instability using feedback control schemes. It finds that a WEC reaches these resonance points when the surge and pitch motions are driven to resonate at either the same frequency as the heave motion, or at half this frequency. This …

Heuristic Approaches For Coordination Of Heterogeneous Robotic Systems In Harvesting Automation With Size Constraints, Hyeseon Lee

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis presents the development of path planning algorithms for the coordination of heterogeneous robotic systems while considering size constraints. The objective is to generate practical and efficient solutions for real-world applications. The use of heterogeneous collaborative robots is beneficial in many applications, such as transportation operations in warehouses or manufacturing environments, surveillance, and monitoring, and task allocation and path planning are critical techniques that need to be addressed to deploy in real-world applications. This research focuses on automating lavender harvesting, where robots with varying capabilities must collaboratively navigate complex field layouts to efficiently complete harvesting tasks.

The problem considers …

Knowledge Integrated Deep Learning For Enhanced Fault Diagnosis And Prognosis For Rotating Machinery And Its Applications On Marine Systems, Yunsheng Su

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation develops a knowledge-informed deep learning framework for robust fault diagnosis and prognosis across various engineered systems, including bearings, lithium-ion batteries, and mooring systems in wave energy converters (WECs). A deep transfer learning (DTL) method is first developed to improve bearing fault diagnosis by fusing data from multiple sources and extracting key features using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Building upon this, a knowledge-informed deep network (KIDN) framework is proposed, integrating physics-based features with deep learning to enhance diagnostic accuracy and generalizability. A constrained Gaussian process (CGP) model is further employed to guide adaptive network design and reduce model tuning …

Review And Development Of Centralized Engineering Tool Frameworks To Enhance Productivity And Bridge Gaps In Current Engineering Processes, Elijah M. Sierra

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis aims to tackle some of the inefficiencies with the current methods of engineering. The issues are specifically the inefficient iteration processes between preliminary design and detail level design, a lack of centralized resources, and poor project organization and management. The thesis provides a case study on the current tools that solve this issue and then presents a new proof of concept framework for an engineering tool. This tool addresses these issues by unifying calculators, databases, external tools, and project management systems under one modular platform.

The tool consists of one central GUI with multiple independent modules such as …

Process To Design And Analyze Dynamic Environment Test Fixtures (Pdadye), Cora J. Taylor

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Vibration qualification testing is an important requirement in many industries. In-lab testing is intended to evaluate a component’s life expectancy by exposing it to a dynamic environment similar to what it may experience in its field condition. To successfully perform these tests, it is imperative that the field boundary conditions (BCs) of the component of interest are replicated as closely as possible in the lab. One approach to achieving accurate dynamic environment testing is to design a fixture that sufficiently represents the impedance of the next-structure (field structure). The process to design and analyze dynamic environment test fixtures (PDADyE) is …

Measuring Occupant Controlled Ventilation And Cooking Frequency To Aid In Modeling Energy Performance Of Northern Michigan Homes, Jacob J. Chizek

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research investigates the real-world interplay between energy efficiency and indoor air quality. We explore how home ventilation strategies, heating systems, and weatherization levels in rural homes interact. As part of a larger study on air quality, 17 homes participated in the study. Specifically, this research shows the results and methods for monitoring cooking frequency, kitchen range hood use, and bathroom fan use over two, month-long study periods to build accurate energy and contaminant transport models of homes that were studied. Energy audits to document home characteristics were conducted, including blower door testing and detailed qualitative data regarding the homes’ …

Intelligent Systems For Synergistic Optimization Of Vehicle Dynamics And Energy Consumption In Connected And Automated Vehicles, Aman Poovalappil

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation focuses on the development and validation of on-board, real-time estimation algorithms and the investigation of energy-saving strategies for modern light-duty vehicles, including connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). The accurate estimation of key vehicle parameters is critical for enhancing energy efficiency, enabling advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and optimizing vehicle performance and energy efficiency. First, this research introduces a novel real-time algorithm to dynamically learn vehicle mass using readily available sensor data. Based on longitudinal vehicle dynamics, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the conditions under which mass estimation is most robust. The algorithm was extensively validated through on-road …

Holistic Energy Efficiency Analysis Of Electrified Off-Highway Material Handler: From Drive Cycle Characterization To Powertrain, Hydraulic, And Thermal System Performance, Alexander Czarnecki

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Three complexities surrounding the operation and testing of hybrid electric, heavy-duty nonroad machines have been addressed experimentally and using 1D simulation. Their resolutions have been intertwined with the development of a prototype machine that was proven to reduce fuel consumption in excess of 20%. A real-world drive cycle that leveraged hydraulic cylinder position was developed and utilized to ensure accurate reproduction of hydraulic work between the baseline and hybrid machines, while simultaneously maintaining less than 5% RMS error in position for main load handling functions. The newly developed, machine-specific drive cycle also contributed towards making equivalent comparisons in energy consumption …

Investigation Of Acoustic Attenuation Methods As A Noise Control Device In Hydraulics, Sophia R. Bollin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research covers a variety of hydraulic configurations to characterize wave propagation and transmission loss. This is mathematically calculated via a transfer matrix that separates the acoustic pressure waves into upstream and downstream. Although there is a solid mathematical basis (ASTM E2611) for these calculations, a range of tests were performed to compare the accuracy of these calculations to real-time data. The main set of tests were performed on a two-part impedance tube setup with a sample section in the center. A total of 13 dynamic pressure transducers (DPT’s) are placed along the bench to record the pressure throughout testing. …

Stepper Motor Load Estimation Using A Neural Network, Soham S. Kulkarni

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Bipolar stepper motors are common in scenarios that require low-cost precision including 3d printers. The ability to estimate stepper motor load provides an opportunity for health monitoring. For example, excessive load estimates may indicate a future problem in the driven system such as bearing wear. Stepper motor drivers often have built-in stall detection strategies that exploit the driver's precise knowledge of the high-frequency voltage pulses being sent to the motor. The goal of this work was to develop a retrofit approach to stepper motor load estimation using externally measured voltage, current, and speed. A stepper motor dynamometer was created to …

Study Of Two-Phase Void Fraction In A Rectangular Channel Using Capacitance Sensor, Peter Ngoc Nguyen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Two-phase liquid-gas flow has many applications in the nuclear industry, including active heat exchangers, reactor core designs, secondary steam generators, and two-phase flow loop balance of the plant. The void fraction is a crucial parameter to determine the pressure drop, flow regimes and liquid levels inside the nuclear reactor core. For the past forty years, void fraction has been studied by many researchers by different measurement techniques. Each method has positive and negative attributes. In this study, after extensive literature reviews, the author has chosen a capacitance type void fraction sensor over other void fraction measuring techniques. The principal concept …

Linking Molecular Structure Evolution To Mechanical Degradation During Environmental Aging In Conventional And Recyclable Epoxy Systems, Ben T. Jewell

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The long-term performance of polymeric materials in extreme environments is governed by complex chemical and physical aging processes that alter their molecular structure and mechanical integrity. Conventional thermoset epoxies, while widely used in structural applications, are particularly susceptible to oxidative degradation at elevated temperatures, leading to embrittlement and loss of structural integrity. In the first part of this work, diffusion-limited oxidation (DLO) in a bulk structural epoxy was systematically investigated to establish the link between heterogeneous microstructural evolution and macroscopic mechanical degradation. High-temperature oxidation experiments were conducted in a controlled environmental chamber, and the resulting chemical, thermal, and mechanical changes …