Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

California Solar Regatta - Hull Team: Up A Creek, Torrey Duncan, Sean Neuman, Kyle Krietzman, Andrew Offhaus

Mechanical Engineering

The SMUD Solar Regatta competition tasks students with developing a solar-powered watercraft to compete in various events on a fresh water lake. Cal Poly has created two mechanical engineering senior project groups to coordinate the design of a boat for the Solar Regatta competition. Up a Creek, the boat construction team, has created the following Final Design Review document to highlight the group’s progress on the project over the year. This document captures the design process from the background research, project objectives, and early concepts to the final design, manufacturing processes, and planned testing procedures. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic halted …

Pier Portal, Alec W. Hardy

Master's Theses

The Pier Portal marine monitoring system is an internet controlled underwater camera that will enable students, researchers, and the general public the ability to monitor underwater marine life and ocean conditions. Installed at Cal Poly’s Center for Coastal Marine Science pier at Avila Beach, California, the camera can be commanded in real-time to raise or lower to any position between the top of the pier and the bottom of the ocean floor, while providing a live-stream video to the operator and general public. This thesis effort focused on the integration of the various subsystem components through software, and the development …

Virginia Digital Shipbuilding Program (Vdsp): Building An Agile Modern Workforce To Improve Performance In The Shipbuilding And Ship Repair Industry, Joseph Peter Kosteczko, Katherine Smith, Jessica Johnson, Rafael Diaz

VMASC Publications

Industry 4.0 is the latest stage in the Industrial Revolution and is reflected in the digital transformation and use of emergent technologies including the Internet of Things, Big Data, Robotic automation of processes, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing industry. The implementation of these technologies in the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry is currently in a nascent stage. Considering this, there is huge potential to increase cost savings, decrease production timelines, and drive down inefficiencies in Lifecyle management of ships. However, the implementation of these Industry 4.0 technologies is hindered by a noticeable …

Process-Dependent Composition, Microstructure, And Printability Of Al-Zn-Mg And Al-Zn-Mg-Sc-Zr Alloys Manufactured By Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Le Zhou, Holden Hyer, Saket Thapliyal, Rajiv S. Mishra, Brandon Mcwilliams, Kyu Cho, Yongho Sohn

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Additive manufacturing (AM) technology for metallic alloys such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) brings tremendous opportunities for development of novel alloys specifically designed for AM that would desensitize the inherent process variability and requires a refined understanding of processing–structure–property relationship that would contribute to future alloy development. In this study, two different alloys, Al-6Zn-2Mg and Al-6Zn-2Mg-0.7Sc-0.3Zr in wt. pct, representing traditional and AM-specific novel aluminum alloys, respectively, were manufactured by LPBF technique using pre-alloyed gas atomized powders. The Al-Zn-Mg ternary alloys exhibited cracks at various LPBF processing parameters, primarily along the grain boundaries of the large columnar grains that …

Surface Autonomous Vehicle For Emergency Rescue, Max Emerick, Ryan Shields, Christopher Feickert, Raymond Impara

Mechanical Engineering

The goal of this document is to clearly define the problem parameters and project objectives and to clearly describe the design process, planned final design, and manufacturing and testing procedures for the senior design project of Team 26: SAVER -- the Surface Autonomous Vehicle for Emergency Rescue. This is both for the purpose of project planning and for clear communication between all parties involved in the project.

The objective of the SAVER project is to develop a proof of concept for an autonomous maritime search and rescue vehicle for aiding in man-overboard missions. To accomplish this goal, a list of …

Analysis Of Burning Wood In The Transient State And The Application To Structural Design, Roberta Veliz, Kimberly Guzman

Architectural Engineering

Determining the extent of the contribution of exposed timber on compartment fire dynamics in open floor plans is a complex process. Designers traditionally used compartmentalization design methods which create spaces where flashover is likely, given the fuel load and ventilation conditions. However, due to the large geometric dimensions and spread of fuel, fires in open floor plans are more likely to remain as localized or traveling fires. As such, an understanding of not only ignition potential but also flame spread is critical to characterizing the contribution of exposed timber. An integral step in characterizing the potential contribution is through an …

Insulated Solar Electric Cooker, Paige Camacho, Ahmed Gouda, Caroline Hodes, Wyatt Johnson

General Engineering

The purpose of this Final Project Report is to highlight the work completed by the interdisciplinary engineering capstone project for the Insulated Solar Electric Cooker (ISEC) at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo under the supervision of Professor Jim Widmann (Mechanical Engineering) and Dr. Peter Schwartz (Physics). Dr. Schwartz, better known as Pete, has been working on the project with a team of students for the past five years and is working to integrate the ISEC in Ghanaian communities. This project focuses on making the ISEC mass-manufacturable and making the transition from biomass cooking to solar cooking as familiar …

The Relationship Between Mental Workload And Driving Performance Of Ageing Drivers, Abd Rahman Nurul Izzah

Student Works (2020-2029)

The population of ageing drivers is increasing rapidly. As ageing happened, they are exposed to disabilities due to degenerative processes, thus affecting their driving performance. For changes in driving method or design to occur, ageing drivers’ driving tasks need to be monitored, designed and tested. Comprehensive research needs to be conducted to investigate how to integrate mental workload with driving performance of ageing people. Moreover, there has been no study yet that develop a model to predict overall driving performance in Malaysia. Hence, the main objective of this study is to develop and validate a model which quantifies the mental …

Study Of Heat And Momentum Transfer To Colloidal Suspensions In Annular Closed Conduit Flow, Sadik Shoaib

Student Works (2020-2029)

With the advancement of science and the rapid growth of industries and the improved lifestyles of people, energy consumption has been increasing. Whereas the exploration of energy remained at a slower pace and the energy reservoirs are extinguishing at a faster rate. High energy consumption is also encouraging environmental pollution and global warming. Considering all these issues, scientists and engineers are desperately exploring highly efficient heat exchangers for the conservation of energy and minimize its losses. The present research has focused on obtaining highly efficient heat exchangers. Lots of research have performed on the improvement of heat exchanger materials, alteration …

Performance Analysis For Single-Stage And Multi-Stage Coreless Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Generator With Different Rotor Structures, Habib Asiful

Student Works (2020-2029)

Axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) generator is a good candidate for both low and high-speed applications. Compared to radial flux machines, AFPM generators can be easily cascaded for enhanced power/torque while maintaining a fixed machine diameter. To improve power density and reduce cogging torque, some researchers have proposed the removal of iron core in the stator of AFPM machine, giving rise to the concept of coreless AFPM machine. Nevertheless, most of these coreless machines still require back iron on the rotor and/stator to reduce leakage flux. In this project, different rotor structures for single-stage coreless AFPM generators were considered, using …

Numerical Study On The Temperature-Dependent Viscosity Effect On The Strand Shape In Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing, Behrouz Behdani, Matthew Senter, Leah Mason, Ming-Chuan Leu, Joontaek Park

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A numerical model that incorporates temperature-dependent non-Newtonian viscosity was developed to simulate the extrusion process in extrusion-based additive manufacturing. Agreement with the experimental data was achieved by simulating a polylactic acid melt flow as a non-isothermal power law fluid using experimentally fitted parameters for polylactic acid. The model was used to investigate the temperature effect on the flow behavior, the cross-sectional area, and the uniformity of the extruded strand. OpenFOAM, an open source simulation tool based on the finite volume method, was used to perform the simulations. A computational module for solving the equations of non-isothermal multiphase flows was also …

Use Of Dimpling Techniques To Alter The Vibration And Acoustic Characteristics Of Beams And Plates, Mofareh Ghazwani

Dissertations

Structures such as beams and plates can produce potentially high levels of unwanted vibrations and noises in the environment. A method for improving the vibroacoustic characteristics of structures based on creating dimples on its surfaces is presented in this study. The goal of this technique is to keep the mass of the subject structure the same while changing its vibration and sound radiation characteristics. A boundary value model (BVM), derived using Hamilton’s Variational Principle, is used for modeling dimpled beams subjected to various boundary conditions. Using this method, the non-dimensional equations of motion, boundary conditions, and continuity conditions for a …

Fabrication Of Hard–Soft Microfluidic Devices Using Hybrid 3d Printing, Carlos Ruiz, Karteek Kadimisetty, Kun Yin, Michael G. Mauk, Hui Zhao, Changchun Liu

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Widely accessible, inexpensive, easy-to-use consumer 3D printers, such as desktop stereolithography (SLA) and fused-deposition modeling (FDM) systems are increasingly employed in prototyping and customizing miniaturized fluidic systems for diagnostics and research. However, these 3D printers are generally limited to printing parts made of only one material type, which limits the functionality of the microfluidic devices without additional assembly and bonding steps. Moreover, mating of different materials requires good sealing in such microfluidic devices. Here, we report methods to print hybrid structures comprising a hard, rigid component (clear polymethacrylate polymer) printed by a low-cost SLA printer, and where the first printed …

Reading Robot, Gillian Watts, Andrew Myers, Sabrinna Tan, Taylor Klein, Omeed Djassemi

General Engineering

Presently, there is an insufficient availability of human experts to assist students in reading competency and comprehension. Our team’s goal was to create an improved socially assistive robot for use by therapists, teachers, and parents to help children and adults develop reading skills while they do not have access to specialists. HAPI is a socially assistive robot that we created with the goal of helping students practice their reading comprehension skills. HAPI enables a student to improve their reading skills without an educator present, while enabling educators to review the student's performance remotely. Design constraints included: physical size, weight, duration …

Raysun's Infrared Raisin Dryer, Lucas Kensinger, Saraith Aispuro, Joe Vanacore

General Engineering

The RaySuns senior project team was tasked with lowering the drying costs of raisins for River Ranch Raisins. In doing so, we explored several options for cutting costs: utilizing automation and exploring new drying technologies were our primary focus. We eventually planned a modular infrared heating mechanism which would be easy to automate in future projects. After manufacturing and testing an infrared heating mechanism, it was found that infrared drying could significantly cut costs versus the previous natural gas fired dryer tunnels while leaving room for automation. The infrared dryer was also shown to have the potential to create high-quality …

Effects Of Powder Recycling In Selective Laser Melting, Nina L. Menon

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The following report analyzes 316L stainless steel powder characteristics of new powder and powder that has been used in the selective laser melting process for 40-50 builds. A literature review was done of powder characteristics, different ways flowability can be tested, and effects of recycling other types of metal powders in Additive Manufacturing. Flowability improved over 21 reuses of the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V and resulted in stronger printed parts. Flow of S17-4 PH steel powder was measured with a Hall flowmeter and increased significantly over the course of 10 reuses. Heavily recycled (estimated 50 reuses) 316L SS powder and brand …

Cp Check Valve Design, Alec B. Der Matoian, Jessica M. Dent, Skylar M. Tusting

Mechanical Engineering

This report is to serve as a final design review and update to the project sponsors at Zurn Wilkins for the Check Valve Design Senior Project. The senior project team was tasked with improving upon the design of Zurn Wilkins’ backflow prevention assembly for small diameter pipes by reducing the pressure loss created by the check valves within the double check backflow assembly. The information contained in this report builds off the information contained in the Critical Design Report (CDR), as well as feedback and further investigation suggested during an Intermediary Design Review. Based on conclusions from the CDR, our …

Mug For Tremors, Logan J. Smith, Allen Tecson, Jaret Wedow, Kai Workman

Mechanical Engineering

Melissa Oliver, an occupational therapist at McGuire VA Medical Center, works extensively with veterans who struggle with certain daily activities due to their hand tremors. Hand tremors caused by essential tremor, Parkinson’s Disease, or other physical or neurological impairments can greatly affect an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks. One of these tasks include the ability to handle beverages, as hand tremors can cause excessive sloshing and spilling of liquid. Melissa reached out to find a way to help veterans with hand tremors easily consume liquids. Our team, consisting of Logan Smith, Allen Tecson, Jaret Wedow, and Kai Workman, was …

Atmospheric Water Harvester, Justin K. Lam, Jacob David, Jessica Mabry, Ben Brough

Mechanical Engineering

Atmospheric water harvesting uses the vapor-compression cycle to collect water from the moisture in the air. The system’s components include an evaporator, condenser, compressor, fan, and several expansion valves. Condensate from the air is then funneled into a receptacle, which determines the efficiency of the water harvesting system. For this senior project, the goal is to increase the efficiency of an existing atmospheric water harvester.

Electromagnetic Actuator For Camless Engines, Nicholas Olesh, Charlie Thomas Glenwright, Tim Wills De Tone, Darya Daniel Darvish

Mechanical Engineering

This document summarizes the research, objectives, project plan, and design for developing an electromagnetic actuator valve for use in a camless internal combustion engine. While electromagnetic valve actuators have not been implemented into a working product to date, there have been many attempts to research and develop working prototypes. Similar products have been developed, but they do not use purely electromagnetic actuation. This research is significant because it shows the challenge that must be overcome and outlines potential design solutions to the problem. The objectives section highlights the problem statement and what is aimed to be achieved in this project. …

Atmospheric Water Harvester, Adam C. Goldstein, Scott Seno, Kristen E. Dentici

Mechanical Engineering

Access to potable water is a global issue that has yet to be adequately solved. In regions with limited access to electricity and ground or surface water, it is not always possible to provide clean water requiring external power or extensive infrastructure to implement. This Final Design Report document will outline the background, design and manufacturing plan involved in the development of a passive atmospheric water harvester. This report builds on the earlier Preliminary Design Review and Critical Design Review documents to reflect further research, analysis, comments from reviewers, and detailed design documentation. While a final design was decided on …

Composite Lattice Tooling, Rachel Greene, Isaiah De Leon, Patrick O'Donnell, Alec Fuoti

Mechanical Engineering

Composite lattice structures allow for a high strength to weight ratio which is favorable in the aerospace industry where mass is a driving design consideration. Maxar Technologies has tasked the senior project team with creating a process and subsequent tooling to effectively manufacture their patented composite lattice structure as shown in United States patent #10326209B2. The only current industry solution to manufacture similar structures is Isotruss’s utilization of filament winding. The project team was asked to deliver a two-cube-by-four-cube lattice structure manufactured for properties testing and proof of a working manufacturing process. They also required that the process is well …

Safran Seat Attachment System, Craig John Kimball, Tyler Bragg, Lynette Cox

Mechanical Engineering

This final design review (FDR) document outlines the senior design project being carried out by a team of mechanical engineering undergraduate students attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo for Safran Seats in Santa Maria, CA. The project originally was to design, build, and test a universal attachment to secure a widebody business class seat to seven aircraft models with different seat track geometry. The goal was to design, document, and create a finished product that fits design, weight, and manufacturing requirements, as well as passes static 9G FWD testing. Structural analysis, manufacturing analysis, FEA, and CAD assemblies will …

Optical Filter Selector, Camaryn Chambers, Joel Pitzer, Matthew Allen, Callen Schwefler

Mechanical Engineering

One of the many challenges with launching projectiles into space is predicting how the environment in space will affect the trajectory. One way to do this is to look at optical emissions, also known as airglow, which can only be seen from earth with sensitive equipment. By taking measurements of the light from the airglow, properties about the upper atmosphere can be inferred. This is important because variability in the atmosphere can cause variability in space that can affect astronauts and satellites. In order to accomplish this task, optical filters must be used to observe different bands of wavelengths of …

Miniaturized Ultraviolet Imager Phase Iii, Bradley D. Albright, Nicolas A. Armenta, Colin W. Harrop

Mechanical Engineering

This document details the work to date, June 9, 2020, done by the Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering senior project team, Miniaturized Ultraviolet Imager: Phase III (MUVI III), sponsored by the University of California, Berkeley – Space Sciences Laboratory (UCB SSL). MUVI III is the third senior project team of an ongoing design, MUVI: the prototype of a 2U sized CubeSat intended to capture aurora images in the ionosphere. The first team, MUVI I, finished development of the UV imager. The second team, MUVI II, designed the mirror mounting and deployable door mechanisms. The goal of MUVI phase III is to …

Fox Factory Bearing Assembly Rundown And Torque Automation Project, David Ethan Daley, Eric Michael Forrester, Christopher Enrique Hansen, Riley Jacob O'Connor

Mechanical Engineering

A machine design was created to partially automate the rundown and torque of a Fox Factory shock bearing housing. This machine is needed at the factory to keep line associates safe by reducing ergonomic strains associated with this stage in the shock assembly process. Due to the lack of applicable torque drivers for this operation, an open ended, geared drivetrain was designed to allow for engagement of the bearing housing while allowing clearance for the shock shaft that the bearing rides on. This open drivetrain is held by a structure of linear rails and bearings to allow the line associate …

Prosthetic Foot Shell, Ql+, Kathryn Victoria Versteeg, Jackson A. Tucker, Ethan William Frey

Mechanical Engineering

This final design review includes an overview of our project and the steps we have taken to create our final product. We discuss the background research conducted, including various products like the foot shell we are trying to design and its related patents, along with similar past senior projects. As our product is considered a medical device, there are also certain standards that we must comply with. After determining our problem statement, we established what we believe to be the wants and needs of our user. These wants and needs were converted into specifications for our design, with durability as …

Sub-Lunar Tap-Yielding Explorer, Styx, Alexander J. Krenitsky, Ryan J. Locatelli, Aaron B. Erickson, Christoopher B. Boone, Westin R. Mchaney

Mechanical Engineering

To diversify the idea pool that NASA has to draw from for future manned and unmanned missions to the Moon and Mars, a design/build competition has been posed to collegiate teams across the country. The challenge is to reach, extract, and purify underground ice reserves in a setting analogous to mars. Along the way, teams will be collecting telemetry to mimic prospecting objectives on the moon.

The Sublunar Tap-Yielding eXplorer, STYX, is the team’s proposed design for the 2020 NASA RASC-AL competition. Some novel design features STYX will use are a rotary tool changer with swappable tools, a sleeve driving …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, June 2020, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Heat Transfer Analysis Of A Data Centre, Arumainathan Kabildev

Student Works (2020-2029)

Data centres are an integral part of networking as it houses servers that facilitate incoming and outgoing data flow. A resolute cooling approach is needed to overcome the hot air dissipated by these servers. This research focused on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the heat transfer modelled upon Telekom Malaysia (TM) City’s data centre 3. The simulation was carried out to ascertain the heat distribution across the data centre by using ANSYS Fluent. The results indicated that the server racks’ inlet temperature reaches 29.79 oC, which is close to the maximum permissible limit according to recommendations provided by …