Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Dirichlet Process Gaussian Mixture Models For Real-Time Monitoring And Their Application To Chemical Mechanical Planarization, Jia (Peter) Liu, Omer F. Beyca, Prahalad K. Rao, Zhenyu (James) Kong, Satish T. S. Bukkapatnam

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The goal of this work is to use sensor data for online detection and identification of process anomalies (faults). In pursuit of this goal, we propose Dirichlet process Gaussian mixture (DPGM) models. The proposed DPGM models have two novel outcomes: 1) DP-based statistical process control (SPC) chart for anomaly detection and 2) unsupervised recurrent hierarchical DP clustering model for identification of specific process anomalies. The presented DPGM models are validated using numerical simulation studies as well as wireless vibration signals acquired from an experimental semiconductor chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) test bed. Through these numerically simulated and experimental sensor data, we …

Design And Validation Of Novel Potential High Entropy Alloys, Boliang Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The design approach and validation of single phase senary refractory high entropy alloys (HEAs) MoNbTaTiVW and HfNbTaTiVZr were presented in first part of this dissertation. The design approach was to combine phase diagram inspection of available binary and ternary systems and Calculation of Phase Diagrams (CALPHAD) prediction. Experiments using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques verified single phase microstructure in body centered cubic lattice for both alloys. The observed elemental segregation agrees well with the solidification prediction using Scheil model. The lattice constant, density and microhardness were measured to be 0.3216 nm, 4.954 GPa and 11.70 g/cm³ for …

Hybrid Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Systems: A Review, Kody M. Powell, Khalid Rashid, Kevin Ellingwood, Jake Tuttle, Brian D. Iverson

Faculty Publications

Concentrated solar power (CSP), or solar thermal power, is an ideal technology to hybridize with other energy technologies for power generation. CSP shares technology with conventional power generation and can be readily integrated with other energy types into a synergistic system, which has many potential benefits including increased dispatchability and reliability, improved efficiency, reduced capital costs through equipment sharing, and the opportunity for flexible operation by alternating between energy sources. Another advantage of CSP technology is the ability to readily store via thermal energy storage (TES), making the intermittent solar resource dispatchable. A review of CSP hybridization strategies with coal, …

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (Libs) In A Novel Molten Salt Aerosol System, Ammon N. Williams, Supathorn Phongikaroon

Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Publications

In the pyrochemical separation of used nuclear fuel (UNF), fission product, rare earth, and actinide chlorides accumulate in the molten salt electrolyte over time. Measuring this salt composition in near real-time is advantageous for operational efficiency, material accountability, and nuclear safeguards. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been proposed and demonstrated as a potential analytical approach for molten LiCl–KCl salts. However, all the studies conducted to date have used a static surface approach which can lead to issues with splashing, low repeatability, and poor sample homogeneity. In this initial study, a novel molten salt aerosol approach has been developed and explored …

A Multiscale Model For Damage Progression And Detection In Piezo/Pyroelectric Composite Laminates, Yehia Bahei-El-Din, Amany Micheal

Centre for Advanced Materials

Assessment of damage initiation and progression in composite structures reinforced with electrically active filaments is modelled in a multiscale analysis. The analysis developed is a two-tier, interactive analysis, which involves two length scales; macroscopic, and microscopic. The proposed multiscale analysis provides seamless integration of the mechanics at the two length scales, including piezoelectric and pyroelectric coupling effects and damage under overall thermomechanical loads and an electric field applied to electroactive fibers. The macromechanical analysis is performed for multidirectional, fibrous laminates using the lamination theory, including bending, and the micromechanical analysis is performed using a two-phase model and a periodic array …

Sliding Crane For Mobile Scissor Lift Table, Phuc Ba Chau

All Undergraduate Projects

The purpose of this report is to build a device that can be installed to the hydraulic lifting cart to help students work easily on the CNC machine. The main point of the proposal is to design a device that can carry, load, and unload the Kurt vise, which weighs over 80 lb., to the CNC machine table and to the storage area within fifteen minutes during lab time. The methodology of the report focuses on the safety and easy performance for students working in the machine shop. Safety is the main concern in the design of this project, because …

Select Adjustable Trigger System, Seth Rich

All Undergraduate Projects

There is an increasing need for singular weapon systems to fill multiple roles. A fire control group system is needed which provides a trigger that is adaptable for different uses on command by way of the safety selector. The device needs to be non-intrusive to normal function and operation of the firearm requiring no specialized training in its use. It should provide with a setting for a general combat use and a secondary setting for a designated marksman role. The proposed system interfaces with existing trigger groups by using a self-contained drop in module that counteracts the primary trigger spring …

Tensile Specimen Punch, John Allen

All Undergraduate Projects

This project comes from a need to have tensile specimens made for the MET 351, Metallurgy/Materials and Processes, and 426, Applied Strengths of Materials, labs. This punch is designed to be used with an arbor press to create the desired tensile specimen shape out of plastic blanks. The initial concept was suggested by Dr. Craig Johnson. The designs went through many changes, for example getting rid of the sides originally proposed to hold the specimen in place, and modifications to other parts to make them more efficient. Additional parts were also added to the design with the help and advice …

'94 F-150 Running Boards, Justin Wies

All Undergraduate Projects

The project manager owns a 1994 F-150 which was purchased last August. Soon after purchasing, it was determined that it was too high for passengers to get into the truck without complaining. So this project started out being all about fixing that problem. A device was needed that allowed access to the truck without complaining. The plan was to build a device that allows access to the truck while still being light enough to not affect the trucks performance. The devices that were designed are running boards built specifically for this truck. The device had to mount underneath the edge …

Re-Design To E-Nable, Sydnee Johnson

All Undergraduate Projects

A senior in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department at Central Washington University made it her goal to have her culminating project be something that benefits people in need. Having a fascination in prosthetics, it became the main focus of her project. As children suffer the most in technological advancement of medical devices, the focus group of the project became young girls between the ages 9 and 14.

E-NABLE is a non-profit organization that is a leader in helping young children get access to body-powered prosthetics for relatively cheap. Some of the designs were made for simplicity in functionality, thus the …

Hands Free Electric Bicycle Stand, Stefan Schacht

All Undergraduate Projects

The growth of electric bicycles has spread to the US, and more bicycle shops are carrying electric assist bicycles. Most bicycle shops are currently ill equipped to accommodate heavier electric bicycles with traditional repair stands, that require at least one had to operate, and the other hand to hold up the bicycle. The problem being solved is the awkward and poor ergonomics of holding up a heavy electric bicycle with one hand, and operating a repair stand with the other. The solution is to use a repair stand that does not require hands to operate. Having a hands-free clamping device …

High Accessibility Cabinet Insert, Matthew Leal

All Undergraduate Projects

Watching grandparents and parents get older, the struggle of day-to-day activities generally increases. One of the most recurring issues the older generation experiences nearly daily is their inability to reach dishes, glassware, and other things on the topmost shelves of a kitchen. Not only is it difficult for them to use things such as stepstools, it also becomes increasingly dangerous. With age, a fall from any height could be catastrophic. With this scenario in mind, a user-friendly cabinet insert would be a very effective way to combat this issue. However, many existing models of cabinet designed to fit these requirements …

Composite Cold Expansion Tooling, Andrew Amos

All Undergraduate Projects

In the world of aircraft manufacturing, cold expansion products literally hold these aircraft together. The problem faced today is that the Little Brute Hydraulic Puller designed and built by Fatigue Technology Inc. is a handheld steel hydraulic cylinder that is heavy and expensive to produce. In a market that demands continuous improvement, there is a constant push to make the product cheaper, better and lighter. In order to accomplish this demand a composite tube will be substituted in the design as the primary pressure cylinder instead of the traditional steel pressure cylinder in order to create a lighter and cheaper …

Beer Rack On Demand Water Heater, Jason Warenski

All Undergraduate Projects

On-Demand Water Heater (for homebrewing systems)

By Jason Warenski (Engineering Technologies)

The on-demand water heater is being built for a home brewing system. The is intended to improve brewing process efficiency while reducing the footprint of the brewing equipment. The device contains a coil made from 3/8” soft copper tubing. The coil is inserted into a housing which is constructed of two 22-gauge stainless steel cylinders and a layer of ceramic insulation. Attached to the inlet and outlet of the coil are monitoring and control devices. On the inlet is a water flow meter which allows the user to monitor …

Directional Rope Capture Device, Seaver Philipp

All Undergraduate Projects

The current market for rope capture devices shows a trend of using toothed devices as the method of creating a rope capture system. These systems are effective for a variety of applications but in any scenario in which a high load is encountered there is a large amount of damage done by the teeth to the rope. The objective of this project was to create a rope capture device that did not utilize teeth in order to create a safer loading condition on the rope. The method used for this project was application of equiangular spirals, this is the same …

Portable Snow-Bike, Tiago Sousa

All Undergraduate Projects

The world of extreme sports and more specifically the world of snow sports is changing by the minute. At the forefront of these new changes is the snow bike. The bike allows you to ride the mountain like you were riding a mountain-bike on skies, but it comes with challenges. The biggest of them being portability. The bike is restricted to certain types of lifts within the mountain and that restricts the user of its potential. This report will show that it is possible to “fold” both the frame and the handlebars to make the bike portable and therefore opening …

Detecting Laminate Damage Using Embedded Electrically Active Plies – An Analytical Approach, Amany Micheal, Yehia Bahei-El-Din

Centre for Advanced Materials

Assessment of damage initiation and progression in composite laminates with embedded electrically active plies is modeled. Utilizing electrically active layers embedded in composite laminates as damage sensors is proposed by several researchers and is mainly assessed experimentally. Sensing damage using embedded electrically active plies is generally preferred over the use of surface mounted PZT wafers since the range of the latter is limited to a very narrow area underneath the surface, while multiple damage mechanisms can generally be found in several plies of the laminate. The solution presented invokes two levels of analysis. Firstly, on the laminate level, applied membrane …

Finite Element Analysis Of A Friction Clutch System In An Automatic Transmission, Samuel Cook

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The purpose of this project is to develop a computational solution to the effects of certain variables present inside an automatic transmission, more specifically, the friction clutch system that enables and disables different gear-sets. Afton partnered with the School of Engineering looking for a time-sensitive, computational solution to serve as a valuable comparison to what exists at Afton’s disposal currently. The solution is a finite element analysis (FEA) simulation that transforms a real world device with many nuances and intricacies into a simplified model in a two dimensional test space. The challenge exists in keeping the simplified model accurate to …

3d Printed Ear Canal Model, Ahmad Ali, Rosheena Hairston, Hunter Locks

Capstone Design Expo Posters

A multi-material ear canal model was designed and created from CT scans of an actual patient. This ear canal model serves as a training model for trainees, surgeons and doctors to develop a better understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the ear by physically looking, touching and testing the model. The major task taken was to establish and identify the area of interest provided with the files of medical scans by using 3D Slicer. The files were then converted to a stereolithographic (STL) file where it was able to be edited for smoothing in programs such as Meshmixer or …

Radiotherapy Ergonomic Patient Positioning System, Anthony Briscoe Ii, Joseph Oliva, Yvette Smith, Darius Stuvaints

Capstone Design Expo Posters

External beam radiotherapy is a powerful tool to combat cancer, but requires precise positioning of patients. The standard practice involves patients lying on treatment tables within immobilization equipment. These systems have limited clearance between treatment sources and the patient that can be uncomfortable or claustrophobic for patients. Patients may move when uncomfortable, leading to improper dose delivery, possibly causing painful side effects or further cancers. We present an alternative, open configuration patient positioning solution for more ergonomic setup options with competitive positioning capabilities compared to conventional systems.

Our ergonomic positioning system consists of a seat for patients on a scissor …

Underwater Ant House, Mark Duggan, Zachary Ellis, Zachary Soulier

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The project seeks to design and test and submersible enclosure capable of sustaining oxygen breathing life. A mesh covered in a superhydrophobic coating can both restrain water up to a maximum pressure and retain a direct interface between air and water. Oxygen can transfer over this boundary if there is a sufficient difference in concentrations between the water and air.

Multiple designs have been produced with the intent of testing and demonstrating these theories. 3D printing allowed for quick and customizable production of every component. Enclosures were made for testing the maximum allowable pressure and to fit an oxygen sensor. …

Reducing Noise In Automatic Transmission, Connor Golden-Weathers, Riley Hall, Matthew Bosco, Felix Pyatigorskiy

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The efficiency of an automobile increases as its running torque increases. This is an avenue for improving fuel economy that is actively being pursued. However, transmissions running at higher torques produce an unacceptable amount of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). NVH occurs most visibly as a result of the vehicle’s friction clutch behavior. At present, machines capable of testing this behavior exist (MTM machine and LVFA rig) but are very expensive in terms of time, space, and production cost.

The goal of this project is to produce a cost-effective machine in which friction clutch behavior can be analyzed in a …

Media Mixing Apparatus, Nick Colt, Eric Depew, Kurt Thoele, Chris Ward

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The purpose of this project is to reduce the physical exertion and radiological exposure of the maintenance worker by reducing mixing time of water and resin beads when replacing resin beads in a shipboard tank. Presently, a maintenance worker empties ⅓ cubic foot of resin media into a bucket, and fills the bucket with about 1-⅓ gallons of water. Then the water and resin media is mixed with a paddle by hand, until it appears homogeneous, creating a slurry. The slurry is dumped into a funnel after the mixing process and introduced to the system after the discharge valve is …

Unattended Underground Energy Harvesting Sensor, Jeffrey Buck, Tzshay Wade, Jaeton Foxley, Brandon Ruffin

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The team designed an underground energy harvesting sensor that utilizes the ambient energy from its surroundings to provide low power telecommunications to a remote host. The scope of this project is to analyze the feasibility of such system and explore the capabilities of available energy harvesting techniques that utilize the environment, feasibility of operation, and creating a design. Some of the most common methods that have been proven to function on certain environments are thermoelectric and solar energy. Thermoelectricity uses a temperature gradient and solar uses the energy of the sun. To provide a remote vibration signal an accelerometer was …

Explosion Damping Device (Blast Shield), Cullen Bade, Juwan Cephas, Raymond Long

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The proposed device has the main goal to protect a vehicle and personal inside the vehicle in the event of an explosion from underneath of a Humvee most likely caused by an IED explosion. The constraints were that the vehicle could not be lifted too far off the ground to increase the chance the vehicle rollover; the design should not block accessibility to the passengers; be versatile in order to help fit different model vehicles; and most important be able to help in deflecting the blast away from the vehicle. The final design consisted on a V-shaped blast shield similar …

3d Printed Sports Mouthguard, Abdullah Mohsen, Abdulrahman Alharshani

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The 3D printed sports mouthguard can be specifically designed to provide exceptional protection and comfort to athletes in any sport. The process by which an athlete undergoes for obtaining their mouthguard requires a substantial amount of time and cost. Introducing 3D printer capabilities into the dental and sporting fields would elicit faster manufacturing time with more economically priced materials.

In testing our theory, the initial components of the research consisted of scanning a dental impression cast and transferring the S.T.L. file scan onto the C.A.D. software. The next important step required us to discover which material to wire with the …

Anthem Sustainability Project, James Askegren, David Coleman, Luis Morgan

Capstone Design Expo Posters

Data centers are multiplying in number and size as electronic business, communication, collaboration, and recreation continue to increase in popularity. A large amount of electrical power consumed by data center computing equipment is converted to heat, requiring dedicated cooling systems 24 hours a day. Some data center operators have begun taking advantage of this heat instead of expelling it to the atmosphere. This approach not only reduces the electricity costs of these facilities but also minimizes the environmental impact they generate. Anthem has a 2.5 MW data center for which they would like to develop an air-to-air thermal recycle method. …

Iec Fusor Mobile Shielding Unit, Dominic Balducci, John Lawson, Bryce Mcdaniels, Robert Rodi, William Simmons

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The VCU Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) Fusor Senior Design Project provides Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a mobile fusor complete with the necessary shielding to protect operators as well as the general public from potentially hazardous radiation. The VCU IEC fusor is a Farnsworth-Hirsch type reactor, and consists of five basic components; a high voltage power supply, vacuum system, gas regulation system, primary reactor vessel assembly, and radiation shielding. These components were serviced and reassembled on a customized mobile cart. In addition to these components, a specimen holder and viewing monitor were added to the design. The specimen holder provides …

Formula Sae Intake System, Esa Mahmood, Arman Sarwar, Michael R. Smith

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The Formula SAE Intake System is intended to optimize the airflow into a restricted 600cc engine. The intake system is designed, fabricated, and installed in accordance with the FSAE rule book with a focus on maximizing the vehicle’s acceleration. It is directly responsible for determining the drivability of the car and how much horsepower the flow restricted engine produces.

Design of the intake was conceptualized based on researching a number of factors including venturi diffusion angles, plenum volumes, and runner lengths. Initial tests were performed utilizing computational fluid dynamics for a total of 367 flow simulations and 261 running hours …

Design And Prototype Of Next Generation Nascar Brake Caliper, Jesse Crowder, John Knighton, Lenny Ports, Miranda Snyder

Capstone Design Expo Posters

Efficient braking is pivotal to the success of a NASCAR team. Braking occurs when the brake pedal is depressed, causing hydraulic pressure within the caliper housing and on the pistons, which forces the pistons to push the brake pads against the rotors reducing the vehicle’s speed due to the high friction between the pads and rotors. High performance brake calipers are arguably one of the most crucial components of a race car braking system. Short track brake calipers were designed to efficiently decelerate vehicles traveling upwards of one-hundred twenty miles per hour. This is an essential function of vehicles on …