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2021

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Articles 181 - 210 of 1560

Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Post-Processing And Characterization Of Additive Manufactured Carbon Fiber Reinforced Semi-Crystalline Polymers, Patricia Revolinsky Dec 2021

Post-Processing And Characterization Of Additive Manufactured Carbon Fiber Reinforced Semi-Crystalline Polymers, Patricia Revolinsky

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The aim of this work is to study the effect of post-processing on additive manufactured (AM) continuous carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) performance. As-printed AM CFRPs do not perform as well as conventionally manufactured CFRPs with the same composition. Possible improvements to AM CFRP performance include annealing and applying uniaxial pressure with elevated temperature. Samples were subjected to pressure and temperature treatments and annealing at a constant temperature. Treated materials were subjected to three-point bending tests, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to characterize and assess sample performance. Results were assessed for flexural strength, …


Injection Studies On A Small-Scale Rotating Detonation Engine With Improved Flow Control, Jonathan J. Wyatt Dec 2021

Injection Studies On A Small-Scale Rotating Detonation Engine With Improved Flow Control, Jonathan J. Wyatt

Theses and Dissertations

The Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) has gained increasing attention in recent years for its potential advantages over typical deflagration combustion. A Micro-RDE design with an outer diameter of 28mm operating on Nitrous Oxide and Ethylene was recently developed, which stretched the limits of small-scale detonation engines. The testing on this rig has shown a stable one wave mode detonation with frequencies reaching 16.8 kHz. Key parameters that influence the detonation wave mode are cell size, fill height, and wave speed, which are heavily influence d by injection schemes. Previous testing utilized a partially premixed jets in crossflow (JIC) injection scheme, …


Solar-Powered Automated Transportation: Feasibility And Visualization, Burford J. Furman, Laxmi Ramasubramanian, Shannon Mcdonald, Ron Swenson, Jack Fogelquist, Yu Chiao, Alex Pape, Mario Cruz Dec 2021

Solar-Powered Automated Transportation: Feasibility And Visualization, Burford J. Furman, Laxmi Ramasubramanian, Shannon Mcdonald, Ron Swenson, Jack Fogelquist, Yu Chiao, Alex Pape, Mario Cruz

Mineta Transportation Institute

A solar-powered automated transportation network (ATN) connecting the North and South campuses of San José State University with three passenger stations was designed, visualized, and analyzed in terms of its energy usage, carbon offset, and cost. The study’s methodology included the use of tools and software such as ArcGIS, SketchUp, Infraworks, Sketchup, Rhinoceros, and Autodesk 3DS Max. ATN vehicle energy usage was estimated using data from the university’s Park & Ride shuttle bus operation and by modeling with SUMOPy, the advanced simulation suite for the micro-traffic simulator SUMO. The energy study showed that an extensive solar photovoltaic (PV) canopy over …


Benchmark Testing Of Gold Ribbon Bonds On Thin-Film Microchips With New Gold Ribbon Auto-Bonder, Austin Conrad Dec 2021

Benchmark Testing Of Gold Ribbon Bonds On Thin-Film Microchips With New Gold Ribbon Auto-Bonder, Austin Conrad

Master's Theses

The focus of this document is on the gold ribbon bond testing and creation of a bonding map for the new gold ribbon Auto-Bonder at Keysight Technologies in Santa Rosa, California. The new Auto-Bonder replaces a nearly 50-year-old machine that no longer had any documentation for the original process of thin-film microchip ribbon bonding. The original process was developed in the early 1970s to provide an electrical connection from the top to the bottom of the microchip. The electrical connection takes the place of what would be a via in a modern silicon microchip. Gold wire bonding is a common …


Performance Loss Rate And Temperature Modeling In Predictive Energy Yield Programs For Utility-Scale Solar Power Plants, Katelynn M. Dinius Dec 2021

Performance Loss Rate And Temperature Modeling In Predictive Energy Yield Programs For Utility-Scale Solar Power Plants, Katelynn M. Dinius

Master's Theses

The Gold Tree Solar Farm, designed by REC Solar, has a rated output power of 4.5 MW and began operation in 2018 to provide electricity to Cal Poly’s campus. Gold Tree Solar Farm site terrain consists of rolling hills and uneven slopes. The uneven typography results in interrow shading, requiring a modified tracking control algorithm to maximize power production. Predicting a utility solar field’s lifetime energy yield is a critical step in assessing project feasibility and calculating project revenue. The MATLAB-based predictive power model developed for this field overpredicted power in the middle of the day. The purpose of this …


High-Magnification Digital Image Correlation Techniques For Aged Nuclear Fuel Cladding Testing, Robert Scott Hansen Dec 2021

High-Magnification Digital Image Correlation Techniques For Aged Nuclear Fuel Cladding Testing, Robert Scott Hansen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nuclear fuel cladding in light water reactors, often made of zirconium alloys, is naturally made more brittle by exposure to the water coolant during normal reactor operation. However, this embrittlement by zirconium hydrides changes the mechanical behavior of the cladding material, affecting how it will deform and what may cause it to fail. Because the cladding already has different properties in different material directions, mechanical testing also needs to be direction specific. In addition, to understand the effects that these microscale hydride features have, measurements of deforming cladding need to be at a microscale. This dissertation describes several high-magnification innovations …


The Effect Of Bit Depth On High Temperature Digital Image Correlation Measurements, Steven Robert Jarrett Dec 2021

The Effect Of Bit Depth On High Temperature Digital Image Correlation Measurements, Steven Robert Jarrett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a camera-based method of measuring mechanical displacement and strain which is commonly used in high-temperature experiments due to its ability to take contactless measurements. High-temperature DIC is challenging due to light emitted from the sample which can saturate the camera sensor. Blue-DIC and UV-DIC have been developed to minimize this effect, but the maximum sample temperature range of DIC remains a function of the camera and camera settings. Bit depth, also referred to as color depth or number of bits, is an important camera setting which affects the dynamic range of an image, but which …


Characteristic Of The Dynamics Of Disorder In Crystalline And Amorphous Materials, Amir Behbahanian Dec 2021

Characteristic Of The Dynamics Of Disorder In Crystalline And Amorphous Materials, Amir Behbahanian

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This work provides the evidence to apply simulation methods that are applicable to systems with structural randomness to simulate crystalline materials at high temperatures. My work not only open the avenue to expand the simulation capability of materials but also provides insight to the physics of vibrations of atoms under different temperature and for different types of materials. I have also evaluated the reliability of Molecular Dynamics simulations at the frequency level and found that theses types of simulations, despite the previous belief, are reliable at low temperatures but up to a measurable frequency. In addition, the result of my …


Sensitivity Study For Uav Gps-Denied Navigation In Uncertain Landmark Fields, Samantha D. Burton Dec 2021

Sensitivity Study For Uav Gps-Denied Navigation In Uncertain Landmark Fields, Samantha D. Burton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This document provides two 2D simulation sensitivity analyses regarding a drone’s flight characteristic (state) errors within a GPS-denied region. The research focuses on a development and investigation of utilizing a camera to simultaneously determine a drone’s state while locating landmarks, where there is uncertainty in the landmarks’ exact positions prior to the mission (SLAM). This SLAM method is performed in regions with limited access to GPS. Furthermore, there is development and investigation of controlling the drone in conjunction with SLAM using potential error-reducing control parameters. Objectives are to quantitatively understand the UAV’s sensitivity of position errors to sensor grade and …


Collective Motion In Pelotons And Fish Schools: Observation And Modeling, Syed Rafid Rahman Dec 2021

Collective Motion In Pelotons And Fish Schools: Observation And Modeling, Syed Rafid Rahman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In recent years there has been a sharp increase in deriving inspiration from nature for engineering applications. However there has been lack of high-resolution data from which insights into collective behavior can be drawn and models can be validated. In this imaging based thesis, data from high-speed, overhead cameras, and GPS tracking are used to collect position and sensory data for large groups of 40 or more members. These data helps us understand how different members (fish, cyclists) of a group interact with each other in collective motion. The focus of this work is to find how individual behavior leads …


Impacts In Fluids: Forces, Scaling Laws And Bouncing Modes In Projectile Impacts On Water Pools And Droplets, Rafsan Rabbi Dec 2021

Impacts In Fluids: Forces, Scaling Laws And Bouncing Modes In Projectile Impacts On Water Pools And Droplets, Rafsan Rabbi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Projectile impacts in quiescent water pool are synonymous with intriguing splash phenomena and rich underwater physics. Depending on the material property, geometry and surface conditions of the impacting projectiles coupled with the geometric properties of the water pool (e.g., depth, width etc.), contrasting events like sub-surface cavity formation or bouncing of macro-droplets unfolds over millimetric timescales.

In this dissertation, I present four different studies that look at different aspects of impact events with the help of high-speed imaging techniques and implementation of other sensory data acquisition instruments. Firstly, I look at the force of impact associated with projectile water entry …


Tunable Compressive Mechanical Behavior Of Ice-Templated Materials, Sashanka Akurati Dec 2021

Tunable Compressive Mechanical Behavior Of Ice-Templated Materials, Sashanka Akurati

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The inherent hierarchical microstructural organization in natural materials is responsible for their excellent mechanical properties beyond that predicted by the simple rule-of-mixtures. Further exhibit synergy between strength and toughness, otherwise mutually exclusive in brittle materials. Conventional processing methods are unable to replicate hierarchical microstructures in engineering ceramics akin to that observed in natural materials. Ice-templating has emerged as a potential technique to fabricate bioinspired hierarchical materials. This process involves simultaneous unidirectional solidification and phase segregation of aqueous suspensions. Ice-templated porous ceramic materials have received significant attention for overcoming several limitations of conventional ceramic foams currently used in numerous engineering applications. …


Dynamic Modeling Of A Three Degree Of Freedom Reaction Sphere, Joshua Michael Byron Dec 2021

Dynamic Modeling Of A Three Degree Of Freedom Reaction Sphere, Joshua Michael Byron

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a method to simulate the dynamics of a three degree of freedom, electromagnetically suspended Northrop Grumman Corporation Reaction Sphere (NGCRS) in MATLAB Simulink® by computing the magnetic force and torque relations offline, using COMSOL® Multiphysics. The goal of the thesis is firstly to demonstrate through Finite Element Magnetic Modeling (FEM) that magnetic field interactions between a stator levitation electromagnet (EM) and the rotor permanent magnets (PM) are limited to a single EM-PM pair and that all other PMs can be considered decoupled from the EM. Secondly, this thesis aims to demonstrate that a set of generalized magnetic …


An Evolutionary Inspired Framework For Grasp Planning Automation On Sheet-Metal Parts With Multi-Type Grippers, Jicmat Andres Ali Tribaldos Dec 2021

An Evolutionary Inspired Framework For Grasp Planning Automation On Sheet-Metal Parts With Multi-Type Grippers, Jicmat Andres Ali Tribaldos

Theses and Dissertations

Industrial robot-mounted grippers are commonly used in the automotive industry to position, manipulate, and immobilize sheet-metal parts during several manufacturing and assembly operations. Nowadays, the use of grippers that use two or more different gripping principles such as magnets, suction cups, and fingers to accomplish the gripping task is common. Automation of the steps involved in the design of these multi-type grippers is essential to the timely introduction of new vehicles to the market. The main reason being that production of the vehicles cannot start before designing, testing, and building the grippers for its components, but the design of the …


A Machine Learning-Based Approach To Predict And Optimize The Performance Of Zero Energy Building (Zeb): A Case Study For Florida, Benjamin Kubwimana Dec 2021

A Machine Learning-Based Approach To Predict And Optimize The Performance Of Zero Energy Building (Zeb): A Case Study For Florida, Benjamin Kubwimana

Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning is currently one of the most searched fields aiming to solve real-life problems. Building simulation software tools help engineers estimate building energy behaviors before the actual construction, allowing implementation of more energy efficient choices in building design and construction. Current building energy simulation software tools are mostly physics-based and still lack the benefit obtained with machine learningbased modeling, which offers fast and less computationally expensive techniques to build energy models and efficiently perform design optimization. This thesis presents a machine learning-based approach for building energy modeling and optimizing design parameters to minimize building’s energy consumption. The study is …


Additive Manufacturing Of Cork, A Cold Spray Technology, Kimberly Kay Dickey Dec 2021

Additive Manufacturing Of Cork, A Cold Spray Technology, Kimberly Kay Dickey

Theses and Dissertations

Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing is a technology capable of mass manufacturing components with complicated geometry and coating substrates in hard-to-reach areas. In addition, cold spray also has the ability of conducting a green manufacturing process, with zero waste of renewable feed material, and zero gas and chemical emission. This paper investigates solely cold spray as an additive manufacturing technology with cork as the natural material. CFD results were used to predict the physical behavior of air and the cork particles. After unsuccessful coatings, final results showed that when moisture is added, cork is successfully cold sprayed, and agglomeration is experienced. …


Towards Automation Of Aluminum Cell Ramming Process, Maryam Salem Abdelfattah Mohamed Alkaabi Dec 2021

Towards Automation Of Aluminum Cell Ramming Process, Maryam Salem Abdelfattah Mohamed Alkaabi

Theses

Newly installed cathode blocks in an aluminium reduction cell, expand due to a rapid increase of temperature when passing a high current at the start-up of the cell. High thermal stresses may result if cathode blocks are lined without gaps, and this can lead to cracking of the cathodes and failure of the cell. On the other hand, leaving gaps would cause failure due to molten metal infiltration in the gaps. To overcome these problems carbon-based ramming material is used to fill these gaps. Currently ‘Filling’ is carried out manually or partially automated, but this needs to be fully automated …


Wear Property Of Machined Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (Uhmwpe) Acetabular Liner Product With Cnc Milling, W D. Lestari, A T. Danaryanto, A Nugroho, R Ismail, J Jamari, A P. Bayuseno Nov 2021

Wear Property Of Machined Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (Uhmwpe) Acetabular Liner Product With Cnc Milling, W D. Lestari, A T. Danaryanto, A Nugroho, R Ismail, J Jamari, A P. Bayuseno

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

UHMWPE has been used as a cushion in artificial hip joint for the last decades. The reliability of the components of a hip joint implant can be achieved by understanding their wear behavior. This study observed the tribological performance of the UHMWPE acetabular liner manufactured with a CNC milling machine on the femoral head made of SS 316L. Materials commonly used for tribo pairs in hip joint replacement. The wear tests were performed on a hip joint simulator in dry condition. The wear test is carried out by applying a constant load of 800N. Before and after the wear test, …


Characterization Of Bacterial Nanocellulose - Graphite Nanoplatelets Composite Films, Bili Darnanto Susilo, Heru Suryanto, Aminnudin Aminnudin Nov 2021

Characterization Of Bacterial Nanocellulose - Graphite Nanoplatelets Composite Films, Bili Darnanto Susilo, Heru Suryanto, Aminnudin Aminnudin

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Bacterial cellulose (BC) was synthesized from pineapple peel extract media with addition of fermentation agent bacteria Acetobacter xylinum. BC was disintegrated from the pellicle into bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) by using a high-pressure homogenizer (hph) machine, which has a three-dimensional woven nanofibrous network. The synthesis of composite films started when BNC, graphite nanoplatelets, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) were homogenized using an ultrasonic homogenizer then baked on a glass mold at a temperature of 80 degrees Celcius for 14h. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to analyze its morphology. X-Ray diffraction spectra were used to analyze the composite films structure. The …


Design Of Shielded Metal Arc Welding Parameters For Optimum Tensile Strength Using Taguchi Method, Moh. Dedy Setiawan, Yanuar Rohmat A. P. Pradana, Suprayitno Suprayitno Nov 2021

Design Of Shielded Metal Arc Welding Parameters For Optimum Tensile Strength Using Taguchi Method, Moh. Dedy Setiawan, Yanuar Rohmat A. P. Pradana, Suprayitno Suprayitno

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), an arc welding process, is widely used in applications. In practice, SMAW is widely applied to the welding process on hollow square pipe. Performance expected from this welding is the tensile strength of weld joint. The tensile strength is influenced by parameters process which have possibility for an optimization process to become ‘robust’. Robust is a design which less sensitive to the effect of uncertain quantities or noise factors. Taguchi method is the most efficient optimization method which accommodates the noise factors effect and requires less experiment. This study is focusing on optimizing the welding …


Comparative Studies On Combustion Characteristics Of Blended Crude Jatropha Oil With Magnetic Liquid Catalyst And Dex Under Normal Gravity Condition, Hendry Y. Nanlohy Nov 2021

Comparative Studies On Combustion Characteristics Of Blended Crude Jatropha Oil With Magnetic Liquid Catalyst And Dex Under Normal Gravity Condition, Hendry Y. Nanlohy

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

A comparative study on the combustion characteristics of a single droplet fueled by DEX, crude jatropha oil (CJO), and a mixture of CJO with a magnetic liquid catalyst of rhodium trisulfate has been carried out under normal gravity conditions. The high viscosity of crude jatropha oil makes it difficult to burn under normal conditions (room temperature and atmospheric pressure), therefore the addition of a magnetic liquid catalyst rhodium trisulfate is needed to improve the properties of crude jatropha oil. As a catalyst, rhodium trisulfate has the potential to improve combustion performance while improving the physical properties of crude jatropha oil …


Effect Of Variations In Pyrolysis Reactor With Glass Wool Equipped And Without Glass Wool On The Weight Of The Oil Produced, I Gusti Ngurah Nitya Santhiarsa Nov 2021

Effect Of Variations In Pyrolysis Reactor With Glass Wool Equipped And Without Glass Wool On The Weight Of The Oil Produced, I Gusti Ngurah Nitya Santhiarsa

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Currently, plastic waste is a very serious threat because plastic waste pollution can harm all living things around and also harm the environment. The increasing volume of plastic waste is due to the lack of processing technology, so that the volume of plastic waste is increasing day by day. Plastic is a material that is difficult to decompose because it is non-biodegradable. One application of plastic waste processing technology offered in this study is to use the pyrolysis principle. Pyrolysis is a method of converting plastic into fuel oil through a thermal decomposition process without the use of oxygen. The …


Implementation Of Internet Of Things (Iot) In A Plastic Blow Moulding Machine And Its Performance Measurement, Muhammad F. Faqih, Mahros Darsin, Aris Z. Muttaqin, Danang Yudistiro Nov 2021

Implementation Of Internet Of Things (Iot) In A Plastic Blow Moulding Machine And Its Performance Measurement, Muhammad F. Faqih, Mahros Darsin, Aris Z. Muttaqin, Danang Yudistiro

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Efficiency and effectiveness are indispensable things in the production process. Accurate use of existing resources and the shorter cycle time of production are of particular concern to optimize the production process. This research aims to implement automation to a conventional blow molding. An advanced attempt was carried out to use the Internet of Things (IoT) to increase its efficiency while maintaining the quality of the products. The use of the nodeMCU microcontroller and the blynk application allows the operator to operate the machine without having to come into or having direct contact with the machine. The performance of automation and …


Study Of Methanol And Ethanol Absorption On Vacuum Temperature Of Adsorption Cooling Machine Adsorption Cycle, Jhon Sufriadi Purba, Jandri Fan Ht. Saragi Nov 2021

Study Of Methanol And Ethanol Absorption On Vacuum Temperature Of Adsorption Cooling Machine Adsorption Cycle, Jhon Sufriadi Purba, Jandri Fan Ht. Saragi

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Cooling machines are currently being used more and more in accordance with technological advances and increasing living standards. Common uses are for preserving food, air conditioning, cooling beverages, for making ice cubes, and others. The need for cooling systems in remote areas for various needs such as preservation or storage of food ingredients is felt to be increasing, while the existing conventional cooling systems cannot necessarily be used because not all remote areas have electricity networks, so a simple adsorption cooling system is an alternative for solving problems. A cooling system needs in remote areas like this. The purpose of …


Spray Characteristics At Preheating Temperatur Of Diesel-Biodiesel-Gasoline Fuel Blend, Moch. Miftahul Arifin, Nasrul Ilminnafik, Agus Triono Nov 2021

Spray Characteristics At Preheating Temperatur Of Diesel-Biodiesel-Gasoline Fuel Blend, Moch. Miftahul Arifin, Nasrul Ilminnafik, Agus Triono

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Technological developments in diesel engines require improvements to the fuel injection system to meet the criteria for economical, high-power and efficient combustion and meet environmental regulatory standards. One method that has a lot of interest is changing the characteristics of the fuel, with the aim of producing optimal combustion. Spray characteristics have a big role in determining the quality of combustion in diesel engines. A good spray can improve the quality of fuel atomization and the homogeneity of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber so that it can produce good engine performance and low emissions. This study aims to …


Novel Peridynamic Models For Material Degradation And Mass Transport, Jiangming Zhao Nov 2021

Novel Peridynamic Models For Material Degradation And Mass Transport, Jiangming Zhao

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fracture and corrosion are two major causes of structure failure. They can interact with each other, leading to faster material degradation. They are also under the influence of environmental conditions. The corrosion rate highly depends on the transportation rate of involving substances, while the fracture can be accelerated significantly due to fluid flow. These complex mechanisms involved in structure failure have troubled classical models for decades. The peridynamic (PD) theory introduced in 2000 has shown great potential in modeling such problems. In this work, we develop novel PD models for fracture, corrosion, mass transport, and viscous flow, which are building …


Research Of Hydrodynamic Processes When Drying Mineral Fertilizers In Drum Dryers, R J. Tojiyev, A A. Akhunbaev, R X. Mirsharipov Nov 2021

Research Of Hydrodynamic Processes When Drying Mineral Fertilizers In Drum Dryers, R J. Tojiyev, A A. Akhunbaev, R X. Mirsharipov

Scientific-technical journal

The article discusses the experimental kinetics of the process of thermal drying of dispersed materials. Experimental methods for determining the periods of drying and kinetics of the process have been studied.


Survey Data On Energy And Fuel Use Of Firms In Economic Zones In The Philippines, Majah-Leah V. Ravago, Raul V. Fabella, Karl Robert L. Jandoc, Renzi G. Frias, J. Kathleen P. Magadia Nov 2021

Survey Data On Energy And Fuel Use Of Firms In Economic Zones In The Philippines, Majah-Leah V. Ravago, Raul V. Fabella, Karl Robert L. Jandoc, Renzi G. Frias, J. Kathleen P. Magadia

Economics Department Faculty Publications

The data describe characteristics, operations, utilities, and fuels used in the production of 115 manufacturing and agro-industrial firms in Philippine special economic zones. The data include information on the firm's production, sales, and schedules; electricity sources, requirements, and uses; the importance of various conventional fuels, and the firms’ fuel expenditure in their major production processes. The data also include their employee's aptitude, knowledge, considerations, and opinions on alternative fuels and primary energies, and experiences in using them. The data were gathered through a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) in June 2019 and an online survey conducted in August to …


Integration Of Neural Architecture Within A Finite Element Framework For Improved Neuromusculoskeletal Modeling, Victoria L. Volk, Landon D. Hamilton, Donald R. Hume, Kevin B. Shelburne, Clare K. Fitzpatrick Nov 2021

Integration Of Neural Architecture Within A Finite Element Framework For Improved Neuromusculoskeletal Modeling, Victoria L. Volk, Landon D. Hamilton, Donald R. Hume, Kevin B. Shelburne, Clare K. Fitzpatrick

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) models can aid in studying the impacts of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems on one another. These computational models facilitate studies investigating mechanisms and treatment of musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative conditions. In this study, we present a predictive NMS model that uses an embedded neural architecture within a finite element (FE) framework to simulate muscle activation. A previously developed neuromuscular model of a motor neuron was embedded into a simple FE musculoskeletal model. Input stimulation profiles from literature were simulated in the FE NMS model to verify effective integration of the software platforms. Motor unit recruitment and rate coding …


System Identification Of Postural Tremor In Wrist Flexion-Extension And Radial-Ulnar Deviation, Sydney Bryanna Ward Nov 2021

System Identification Of Postural Tremor In Wrist Flexion-Extension And Radial-Ulnar Deviation, Sydney Bryanna Ward

Theses and Dissertations

Generic simulations of tremor propagation through the upper limb have been achieved using a previously developed postural tremor model, but this model had not yet been compared with experimental data or utilized for subject-specific studies. This work addressed these two issues, which are important for optimizing peripheral tremor suppression techniques. For tractability, we focused on a subsystem of the upper limb: the isolated wrist, including the four prime wrist muscles (extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi radialis, and flexor carpi radialis) and the two degrees of freedom of the wrist (flexion-extension and radial-ulnar deviation). Muscle excitation and joint …