Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Providing A Meaningful Lab Experience For A Manufacturing Processes Course, Kevin Molyet

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

No abstract provided.

Introducing Concept Maps In Undergraduate Thermodynamics, Jessie Lofton

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

Concept maps, also called mind maps, are a widely utilized educational tool. While numerous studies cite the benefits of concept mapping as a tool for student learning, the use of concept maps is more common in non-engineering disciplines. This study examines student perceptions and academic performance in an undergraduate, introductory Thermodynamics course for students majoring in Mechanical Engineering. The pedagogical approach includes incorporating student-developed concept maps, as well as an interactive study tool for First Law analysis. Qualitative and quantitative results are presented. Results are limited to a single institution and a small sample size of students. Future work will …

A Critical Look At Mechanical Engineering Curriculum: Assessing The Need, Yeow Siow, Jamison Szwalek, Jonathan Komperda, Houshang Darabi, Farzad Mashayek

ASEE IL-IN Section Conference

Since the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act in 1862, the U.S. higher education system has been serving the industrial world, and engineering study is the epitome of this ideal: Serve those who will practice it in the immediate future. The mechanical engineering curricula have long been evolving to meet the demand of the changing economy, and it may soon be due for a major update. This paper aims to present an initial effort to explore the need for a systematic redesign, or reform, of the mechanical engineering curriculum at [Institution X], where curricular changes during the past five decades have been …

Review Of Educational Technology: Closing The Gap Between Modern Technology And The College Engineering Classroom, David Pinkerton, Krishna Pakala

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper aggregates information from past and current studies regarding the implementation of technology in engineering classrooms and identifies the most promising ideas, technologies, and techniques. This paper provides insight into best practices for implementing technologies to improve the education of engineering students. This paper provides recommendations to adopt non-traditional teaching methods. Educational tools and techniques are evaluated on the basis of: Adoption and Assimilation, Access, Community, Intellectual Presence, Student Perception, and Development of Social and Professional Skills. Best practices are highlighted with descriptions of the technologies and techniques that were found most promising.

Process Parameter Development Of Additively Manufactured Af9628 Weapons Steel, Erin M. Hager

Theses and Dissertations

The manufacture of components in Additive Manufacturing processes is limited by the range of materials available. Qualification of materials for Additive Manufacturing is time intensive, and is often specific to a single type of machine. In this study, an approach to selecting power, speed, and hatch spacing values for a newly powderized material, AF9628 weapons steel, is described that results in highly dense (>99.9%) parts on an MLab 200R Cusing. Initial power and speed values used in a weld track study were selected based on a survey of parameters used on similar materials, with a focus on the energy …

Investigating The Impact Of Taper And Aspect Ratio On A Stalling Wing Using A Corrected Vortex Lattice Method, Ryan Anderson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The advent of new technologies such as eVTOL vehicles is exciting. The development of fast aerodynamics models incorporating stall is one small step on the road to realizing such concepts by improving the speed of design optimization algorithms. To this end, a modified vortex lattice model was developed based on one reported by dos Santos and Marques [4]. The model was validated against experimental data found in the literature. Making use of its stall capabilities, a sample study was performed to test for any coupling effect between aspect ratio and taper ratio. This was done by calculating the lift curve …

Simulation On Gas-Molten Salt Heat Transfer In Bubble Column For Solar Thermal Storage, Wenhao Pu, Ning Yang, Chen Yue, Dong Han, Weifeng He, Yitung Chen

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

The charging and discharging of molten salt thermal storage is of great importance to the operation and maintenance of the solar power plant. The molten salt bubble column is proposed for solar thermal storage, which is regarded as direct contact heat exchanger. The gas from the solar field is directly injected into the molten salt bubble column. High heat transfer rates can be achieved between the gas and the molten salt due to the direct contact. Numeric study on the hydrodynamics and heat transfer characteristic of the gas molten salt bubble column is carried out based on the two fluid …

Microscale Metal Forming: Mesoscopic Size Effect, Extrusion And Molding, Bin Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The continuing trend of metallic device and product miniaturization has motivated studies on microscale metal forming technologies. A better understanding of materials’ mechanical response and deformation behavior is of importance for the design and operation of micro metal forming processes. In this dissertation, uniaxial compression testing was conducted on Al ring and pillar specimens with characteristic dimensions at meso to micro scales. The experimental data reveal inadequacies of the existing surface layer model and provides a baseline for delineating deformation mechanisms in micro metal forming operations. Microscale reverse extrusion experiment was carried out on Cu and Al rod specimens with …

Steering System For Sae Baja, Dallin Colgrove

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis is to study the different types of steering geometry for the BYU Baja vehicle. The main steering geometries of study are Ackermann and parallel steering geometries. Ackermann steering geometry is ideal for low speed turns. During low speed turns Ackermann steering performs better than parallel steering due to a smaller radius of turn. Parallel steering ideally is better for high speed turns, because with parallel steering the slip angle is smaller than that of Ackermann geometry. A recommendation is made to the BYU Baja team to use Ackermann steering, but still do some more analysis of parallel steering …

Effect Of Low Temperature Heat Treatments On The Resulting Void Analysis Of Blown Power Deposition Inconel 625 Specimens, Noah Naden, An Nguyen

Research Horizons Day Posters

No abstract provided.

Soft , Multilayered Electronics For Wearable Devices And Methods To Produce The Same, Carmel Majidi, Michael D. Bartlett, Eric J. Markvicka

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Disclosed herein is an efficient fabrication approach to create highly customizable wearable electronics through rapid laser machining and adhesion - controlled soft materials assembly . Well - aligned , multi - layered materials can be created from 2D and 3D elements that stretch and bend while seamlessly integrating with rigid components such as micro chip integrated circuits ( IC ) , discrete electrical components , and interconnects . These techniques are applied using commercially available materials . These materials and methods enable custom wearable electronics while offering versatility in design and functionality for a variety of bio - monitor ing …

Implementation Of Augmented Reality In Sae Mini Baja, Brady S. Hales

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Engineers often encounter difficulties in connecting digital data with its physical counterpart. This applies to processing and interpreting data as well as effectively communicating design ideas and considerations. Augmented reality has the ability to solve these problems by overlaying digital data on a physical object. This allows engineers to further explore design considerations such as ergonomics as well as communicate data such as, Finite Element Analysis. This communication may be realized in discussing and collaborating with colleagues, as well as to judges in design reviews. Augmented reality is beneficial in these cases and is further explored in this thesis, utilizing …

Numerical Investigation Of Inclination On The Thermal Performance Of Porous Fin Heatsink Using Pseudospectral Collocation Method, George Oguntala, Gbeminiyi Sobamowo, Raed Abd-Alhameed, James Noras

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Numerical investigation of inclination effect on the thermal performance of a porous fin heat sink is presented. The developed thermal model is solved using pseudo-spectral collocation method (PSCM). Parametric studies are carried out using PSCM, and the thermal characterization of heat sink with the inclined porous fin of rectangular geometry is presented. Results show that heat sink of inclined porous fin exhibits higher thermal performance than heat sink of vertical porous fin operating under the same thermal conditions with the same geometrical configurations. Performance of inclined or tilted fin increases with decrease in length-thickness aspect ratio. However, increase in the …

Analysis Of Dynamic Behaviour Of A Tensioned Carbon Nanotube In Thermal And Pressurized Environments, Ahmed Yinusa, Gbeminiyi Sobamowo

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this paper, the dynamic behaviour of a tensioned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) in thermal and pressurized environments is investigated analytically. With the applications of Bernoulli-Euler and thermal elasticity mechanics theories, the governing equation of motion are developed and solved using Laplace and Fourier transforms. The results of the close form solution in this work are in excellent agreements with past results in literature. From the parametric studies, it is established that as the magnitude of the pressure distribution at the surface increases, the deflection associated with the nanotube increases at any mode of vibration. However, a corresponding increase in …

Electrochemical Conversion Of Methane To Ethylene In A Solid Oxide Electrolyer, Changli Zhu, Shisheng Hou, Xiuli Hu, Jinhai Lu, Fanglin Chen, Kui Xie

Faculty Publications

Conversion of methane to ethylene with high yield remains a fundamental challenge due to the low ethylene selectivity, severe carbon deposition and instability of catalysts. Here we demonstrate a conceptually different process of in situ electrochemical oxidation of methane to ethylene in a solid oxide electrolyzer under ambient pressure at 850 °C. The porous electrode scaffold with an in situ-grown metal/oxide interface enhances coking resistance and catalyst stability at high temperatures. The highest C2 product selectivity of 81.2% together with the highest C2 product concentration of 16.7% in output gas (12.1% ethylene and 4.6% ethane) is achieved while the methane …

Controlling The Oxygen Electrocatalysis On Perovskite And Layered Oxide Thin Films For Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes, Gene Yang, Wonsang Jung, Sung-Jin Ahn, Dongkyu Lee

Faculty Publications

Achieving the fast oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics at the cathode of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is indispensable to enhance the efficiency of SOFCs at intermediate temperatures. Mixed ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) oxides such as ABO₃ perovskites and Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) oxides (A₂BO₄) have been widely used as promising cathode materials owing to their attractive physicochemical properties. In particular, oxides in forms of thin films and heterostructures have enabled significant enhancement in the ORR activity. Therefore, we aim to give a comprehensive overview on the recent development of thin film cathodes of SOFCs. We …

Exergetic Relationship Between The Thermal Properties Of Direct Contact Membrane Distillation, D. Perdue, L. Chen, L. Schaefer

Publications

Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is a process that has shown promise within the field of desalination due to its less energy intensive methods and widespread applications. DCMD is a thermally driven microfiltration separation process that operates on the principle of vapor–liquid equilibrium conditions where heat and mass transfer occur simultaneously. Fundamentally, DCMD is based on a porous hydrophobic membrane separating the hot solution (feed) from the cold solution (permeate) where desalinated water condenses. The membrane interfacial temperatures determine the vapor pressure difference across the membrane. In this work, a direct simulation Monte Carlo analysis is employed to investigate how …

Use Of Penetrating Asphalt Emulsions To Address High-Void Pavement Areas, Andrew Eicher, Curt Higginbotham

Purdue Road School

Longitudinal joints are high in air voids due to compaction limitations. Lowering the void content of these areas improves the durability of the pavement. Project data indicate that rapid penetrating emulsion (RPE) fills the voids beneath the surface of the pavement, reducing air and water intrusion while maintaining surface texture, whereas traditional emulsions seal the surface only. Lab tests have been developed to quantify the penetrating ability of an emulsion and resistance to water exposure. Join us for a discussion.

Microwave Self-Healing Technology As Airfield Porous Asphalt Friction Course Repair And Maintenance System, Amir Tabakovic, Declan O'Prey, Drew Mckenna, David Woodward

Research and Innovation - Articles

A problem increasingly faced by airport authorities is the maintenance of runways. Due to their large aircraft loadings associated with take-off and landing operations, runways experience surface deterioration. Poor quality runway surfaces cannot be tolerated in such an environment. Maintenance issues must be carried out to maximise safety and minimise the risk of aircraft damage. A recent development has been the introduction of self-healing technologies such as rejuvenator encapsulation, induction and microwave heating to address these issues. This paper summarises a laboratory investigation to determine the effectiveness of microwave self-healing for crack repair of Porous Friction Course (PFC) used for …

Developing Silent Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Glen Wright

Research on Capitol Hill

The optimization of a drone propeller’s acoustic signature can play an important role in the Department of Defense, observation of nature, commercial operations, and marine propulsion.

The aim of this research is to optimize the acoustic signature of propellers by isolating and modifying specific propeller characteristics. Propeller variations being researched in this project include:

• Leading-edge serrations: break up incoming fluid and evenly disperse it along airfoil
• Trailing-edge serrations: minimize vortex occurrences along the trailing edge of airfoil
• Airfoil ribs: force fluid through tangential channels along airfoil
• Winglets: disrupt turbulence and vortices at the tips of the propeller

Successful drone propeller …

Gastrointestinal Sensor Implantation System, Benjamin Terry, Weston Lewis, Wanchuan Xie, Pengbo Li, Alfred Tsubaki

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

A gastrointestinal ( GI ) sensor deployment device is dis closed . In implementations , the sensor deployment device includes an orally - administrable capsule with a tissue cap ture device removably coupled to the orally - administrable capsule . The tissue capture device includes a plurality of fasteners for connecting the tissue capture device to GI tissue within a body . A biometric sensor is coupled to the tissue capture device for continuous or periodic monitoring of the GI tract of the body at the GI tissue attachment location . A chamber within the orally - administrable capsule is …

Safety Standards Must Be Met For Fire Fighting In Educational Workshops In Industrial Secondary Schools In The Arab Republic Of Egypt, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hassan, Wael Ahmed Rady, Walid Mahmoud El-Nahas

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The aim of the research is to establish safety standards for fire fighting within educational workshops in industrial secondary schools to determine the structural requirements for designing workshops in educational buildings and meet international standards. To achieve this a questionnaire was made and data collected for analysis and hypothesis testing using the statistical package of social Sciences (SPSS). Through the adoption of a number of different statistical methods and after conducting the analysis of research data and testing its hypotheses find a number of results, most importantly that the standards conform to international and local standards . The results also …

Developing And Testing Of An Upper Limb Exoskeleton For Stroke Patients, Drew Dudley, David Salazar

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine functional and neuromuscular outcomes of stroke patients using their non-preferred hand with and without a 3D printed passive exoskeleton compared to controls using their non-preferred hand with and without the passive exoskeleton. Methods: Adults at least six months post stroke (Stroke, n = 5) and age- and sex- matched healthy controls (Control, n = 5) performed nine trials of a gross motor task while having their brain activity measured. The Fugl-Meyer and “Box and Block” test was used to measure the gross dexterity of the subjects with and without the …

Efficacy Of Assistive Devices Produced With Additive Manufacturing, James Pierce

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Despite the frequency of musculoskeletal injuries such as sprains, broken bones and torn ligaments¹, treatment options are often costly, time-consuming and ill-fitted.^2,3 Additive manufacturing (“3D-printing) allows for the production of highly-customized and inexpensive assistive devices⁴, which suggests potential efficacy in the prescription of splints and casts for musculoskeletal injury.³ In the present study, a parametric, customizable splint/cast was created using a computer-aided design (CAD) package (Fusion 360, Autodesk, San Rafael, CA, USA) and produced with low-cost, desktop 3D printing (Ultimaker 2+ Extended, Ultimaker, Geldermalsen, Netherlands). Fitting of the devices was performed on five healthy …

Urea Functionalization Of Ultrasound-Treated Biochar: A Feasible Strategy For Enhancing Heavy Metal Adsorption Capacity, Baharak Sajjadi, James William Broome, Wei Yin Chen, Daniell L. Mattern, Nosa O. Egiebor, Nathan Hammer, Cameron L. Smith

Faculty and Student Publications

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The main objective of a series of our researches is to develop a novel acoustic-based method for activation of biochar. This study investigates the capability of biochar in adsorbing Ni(II) as a hazardous contaminant and aims at enhancing its adsorption capacity by the addition of extra nitrogen and most probably phosphorous and oxygen containing sites using an ultrasono-chemical modification mechanism. To reach this objective, biochar physically modified by low-frequency ultrasound waves (USB) was chemically treated by phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and then functionalized by urea (CO(NH2)2). Cavitation induced by ultrasound waves exfoliates and breaks apart the regular …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, March 2019, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Uxo Detection System Of 2028, Mia Kobs, Jennifer Hernandez, Keenan Wood, Kelsey Catano, Robert Sylvia

ENGS 89/90 Reports

UXOs can range from small bomblets to artillery shells that have failed to explode and are found all over the world. Within the US alone, twenty new sites are found yearly. UXOs pose a significant threat to civilian lives and prevent development of land where they are found.

Our sponsor, White River Technologies (WRT), has developed a device of 7 transmitter coils that integrates geophysical mapping technology for UXO detection. This method of detection uses transmitter coils that produce magnetic pulses and receiver coils. The current iteration of the system is heavy, bulky, difficult to transport, and takes weeks to …

3d Scanning Of Pottery Sherds For Archaeology, Zoe Yu, Jessica E. Teipel, Joseph P. Leonor, Julia A. Holgado, Zhuofan Zhang

ENGS 89/90 Reports

Archaeological digs typically last up to a few months and can produce up to 2000 sherds of pottery a day. Archaeologists cannot legally return home with their findings, so they must document them at the dig site. Current methods of documenting sherds are costly, time-consuming, and have low throughput in terms of sherds documented. Thus this team has aimed to create a scanner capable of collecting data at a rate of about one minute per sherd, allowing the user to scan 500 sherds over a 10 hour work day. Ideally, the scanner should produce 3D models of the sherds consistently …

10_Fdr_Written_Project Central Vehicle Controller For Hybrid Racecar, Elias D. Bello, Trammell J. Saltzgaber, Leina C. Mcdermott, Alex S. Newman, Jennifer Jain

ENGS 89/90 Reports

Our ENGS 89/90 team has designed and tested a new central vehicle controller for the Dartmouth Formula Racing team's hybrid racecar. The new controller allows for the implementation of various control strategies, logs data from sensors onboard the vehicle, and is accompanied by well-documented firmware and hardware and an automotive-grade enclosure.

Advanced Technology Lift Assist Systems - Atlas, Sebastian L. Gnagy, Ismael A. Rangel, Giovani Rodriguez, Tyler J. Hooks

Mechanical Engineering

EMS personal work hard every day to save lives. A big part of the job is helping to lift people who are notinjured but have fallen and can’t get up by themselves. There are currently no procedures or tools that areconsistently used by EMS in this specific situation. This leads to the response often being ad hoc costing more time, resources, and manpower that can be vital if multiple emergencies happen at the same time. Along with this the job of lifting an individual that is overweight is no easy feat and is one of the primary factors that leads …