Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Mechanistic Insights Into Polymer-Assisted Graphene Exfoliation: The Roles Of Velocity, Adhesion, Cohesion, Temperature, Peeling Mode, And Edge Defect Via Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics, Linjiale Dai

All Theses

Graphene exfoliation is a critical step in the fabrication of high-quality graphene

layers. However, the underlying fracture mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this

work, I employed coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to

investigate how factors such as interfacial binding energy, substrate cohesion, temperature,

peeling mode, and edge defects influence the outcome of the exfoliation process. To model

polymer-assisted mechanical exfoliation, I used a finite-size system in which multilayer

graphene (MLG) is sandwiched between two thin polymer films. Leveraging the

spatiotemporal efficiency of the CG model, I performed fifty simulation iterations per

parameter set and analyzed the results from a …

Precooling Ventilation Air For Hospital Operating Rooms And The Affects On Terminal Box Reheat, Joel F. Luke Jr

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates the impact of climate on the energy performance of two HVAC system configurations—AL1, a conventional air handling system, and AL2, which incorporates a pre-cooling coil and discharge air temperature (DAT) reset strategy. Using EnergyPlus simulations, each system was modeled across multiple U.S. cities representing a wide range of climate zones. Results show that AL2 significantly reduces plant energy consumption, with an average energy savings of 66.61\% compared to AL1. These savings were nearly evenly split between reductions in heating and cooling demands.

A weather normalization analysis using cooling and heating degree days (CDD65 and HDD65) revealed a …

Signal Modeling Of High Purity Germanium Detectors, Brooke Parker Thibodeau

Honors Scholar Theses

Pulse shape analysis can be used to analyze radiation incident on a semiconductor diode detector. Finite element analysis (FEA) can be used to simulate high purity germanium detectors with user-specified geometry, impurity concentration, and bias voltage. Subsequent streamline calculation can be used to conduct pulse shape analysis for single and multiple site gamma-ray interactions within the detector volume. Cross sections of the detector can be visualized by contour plots of the electric field, drift velocity magnitude, and collection time, as well as t30 and t90 rise-time values.

Experimental Study Of Process Parameter Effects On Internal Defects In Titanium Coaxial Wire-Based Laser Metal Deposition, Remy Mathenia, Braden Mclain, Todd Sparks, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Wire-based laser metal deposition is an additive manufacturing process that can be used in the efficient manufacturing of complex structures. This paper utilizes a three-beam coaxial laser wire system to explore the effect of process parameters on the resultant deposition density. The reduction in or elimination of defects is important to the mechanical properties of the additively manufactured material and the widespread adoption of additive manufacturing processes. In this work, two-bead-wide walls were deposited under varying experimental conditions, including the traverse feed rate and workpiece illumination proportion. A method for calculating the bead pitch and layer height increment based on …

Investigating The Feasibility Of Developing A Fully Solar-Driven Combined Cycle Design, Mazdak Gorji

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the feasibility of a thermal solar-only combined cycle power plant, a concept rarely investigated despite its potential to outperform photovoltaic systems in energy efficiency. Unlike typical hybrid models that use solar energy as a supplement to fuel, this research focuses on a solar-only system that operates a true Brayton-Rankine combined cycle for continuous 24/7 power generation. The study established an efficiency benchmark, comparing eighteen solar generation scenarios across different storage and power block configurations to assess whether the concept was worth pursuing, which it proved to be. Following this, the research focused on simulation, validating ThermoFlex software …

Storytelling In Undergraduate Engineering Courses As Inclusive Curriculum: Improving Students’ Sense Of Belonging, Identity, And Persistence, Brooke Heller

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The engineering field experiences high attrition rates and a historical lack of diversity in the United States. Sense of belonging and identity have been shown to impact persistence, especially for people from historically marginalized communities. This three-paper dissertation is focused specifically on this phenomenon in academia and methods of contributing to improving and progressing conditions. To pivot to a new paradigm in which people from diverse backgrounds feel welcome and valued, there is a need for more inclusive practices in the field, particularly in the form of curriculum in academia. Inclusion has been shown to improve outcomes for students from …

Exploring Metal Additive Manufacturing In Martian Atmospheric Environments, Zane Mebruer

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

On-surface manufacturing is key to the success of a planetary colonization, especially that of Mars. However, traditional subtractive manufacturing processes are equipment, energy, and material intensive, meaning novel additive manufacturing (AM) processes must be pursued for this end. Selective laser melting, one of the most effective and versatile AM methods, would be incredibly beneficial to a Martian mission but requires an artificial argon atmosphere to create effective parts. The purpose of this study was to examine if carbon dioxide, the gas that makes up over 95% of Mars’ surface atmosphere, would be a sufficient substitute for argon in SLM fabrication. …

Causes And Contributing Factors In General Aviation Fixed-Wing Stall And Spin Accidents, Lauren Westfall

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

General Aviation operations are all civil aviation operations excluding commercial airline operations and cargo transport. General Aviation accidents comprise approximately 94% of all aviation accidents in the United States annually. Stall and spin accidents are the third most common causes of fatal General Aviation accidents, accounting for 7.28% of such accidents in 2013–2022. The National Transportation Safety Board investigates and records all General Aviation accidents in the United States. Using the National Transportation Safety Board’s accident database, I investigated stall and spin accidents between 2013 and 2022 to find (1) the most common phases of flight where stall and spin …

Agent-Based Modeling For Faulty System Analysis, Jayden G. Hamilton

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Numerous approaches exist for computational modeling of complex, dynamic systems. One particular option is the use of agent-based modeling, which simulates the behavior of numerous autonomous agents interacting with each other and with the system at large. Current agent-based modeling research has largely focused on studying the system level behavior of a model, as this is generally the main concern for any real world application. However, the characteristics and behaviors of agents deserves consideration as well. The issue with this area of interest lies in the fact that the agent data cannot be as quickly obtained and analyzed as system …

A Labview-Based Open-Source Data Acquisition Program For Acoustic Emission Sensing, Harrison Greene

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Acoustic emission sensing is a growing field of analysis and testing that benefits from its non-destructive nature, enabling operators to detect faults, the severity of impacts, the propagation of cracks, and much more without damaging the system being tested. However, the use of proprietary software to collect, analyze, and display data hinders the field, as access to this crucial information makes consistent and in-depth data analysis impossible. To this end, this paper details an open-source code made in the programming language LabVIEW for the express purpose of allowing the user to have full access to all data and fully customize …

Using Optical Dielectrophoresis For Microbead And Cell Manipulation, Leigh K. Smith

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Dielectrophoresis is a common method used to manipulate particles on the microscopic scale. Optically Induced Dielectrophoresis or ODEP is the specific method used in this research. All experiments were conducted in Dr. Tung’s Micro and Nano Systems lab at the University of Arkansas’ ENRC. An ODEP system was created in the lab for manipulating microbeads (6-10 micrometers (μm) in diameter) and E. coli cells (1-2 μm in diameter).

Experiments were performed on the microbeads to see how changing the parameters of the device affects the force caused by ODEP on the beads. The parameters that could be changed in the …

Optimal Parameters For Electrode Free Local Anodic Oxidation Lithography, Maxwell C. Cleveland

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Dr. Steve Tung’s research lab is developing a device for sequencing DNA strands. A key component of this device is a nano sensor fabricated using monolayer graphene. To create the sensor, the graphene must be precisely patterned. Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, is an ideal material for detecting electrical signals from DNA bases due to its excellent conductivity.

The current fabrication method uses Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in combination with Electrode-Free Local Anodic Oxidation (LAO) lithography. While AFM is typically employed for nanoscale imaging, pairing it with LAO lithography enables the patterning of graphene into nanoribbons capable of …

Adjustable Dynamometer Motor Mount, Garrett Carson Ng, Elijah Siegel Reuven, Ethan Fong, Daniel Larimer

Mechanical Engineering

The Cal Poly Electrical Engineering Department and sponsor Dr. Dolan needs a manufacturable motor fixture that securely aligns motors of various sizes with dynamometers. Previous lab motor fixtures could not accommodate motors of different sizes, making precise alignment between motors and dynamometers time-consuming and unreliable. Our team developed a modular, manufacturable fixture capable of aligning various motor sizes quickly, accurately, and securely, enhancing lab consistency and usability.

Effects Of The Gravity Gradient On The Path Of 1i/‘Oumuamua, Hannah R. Richardson

Honors Theses

In October 2017, the asteroid 1I/’Oumuamua first passed into viewing range [1]. The asteroid is notable for being the first interstellar object to enter the solar system. 1I/’Oumuamua was also unusual in its geometry; it is thought to have an aspect ratio of 6:1 and a length of approximately 400 m [2] [3]. The asteroid was observed to experience a non-Keplerian acceleration estimated to be on the order of 1⇥10−6 m s2 . Several theories have been proposed for the cause of this acceleration, all of which are non-gravitational in nature: volatile outgassing, photon pressure, and solar winds [1][4]. However, …

The Trials And Tribulations Of Building An Ebike From Recycled Parts, Olivia Conrady

Senior Honors Projects

The United States is far from being “walkable” in most suburban areas. Though public transportation has grown in its infrastructure in some large cities, it is far from sufficient. As a result of this, millions of people drive their cars every single day -- a practice that is unsustainable and becoming an increasingly evident issue. One possible solution that has become popular is the use of electric bicycles, since they are less physically taxing than a normal bike and allow for quicker transport. Though electric bicycles have been on the rise, they are still well outside of many people’s budget, …

Uncertainty Quantification Of Turbulent Premixed Flames, David L. Brown

Honors Theses

This thesis presents an uncertainty quantification (UQ) study of turbulent premixed flames, focusing on the impact of uncertainties in operating conditions on the normalized consumption speed. Namely, temperature, pressure, and equivalence ratio are the operating conditions that are under study. Due to significant computational demands associated with direct MC methods for UQ, surrogate modeling techniques including Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE), Stochastic Collocation (SC), and Gaussian Process (GP) are evaluated based on efficiency and accuracy. Through this study, PCE is identified as the optimal surrogate model due to its accuracy and significantly reduced computational costs. PCE is subsequently applied to investigate …

A Simplified Thermal And Battery Model For Off-Grid Solar Air Conditioning In Florida’S Hurricane Context, Steven A. Sanford

Honors Theses

Florida’s hurricane-prone climate often leaves residents without power and at risk of dangerous indoor heat conditions. This thesis examines whether an off-grid, solar-powered air conditioning system can feasibly maintain safe indoor temperatures over a one-week outage period during peak hurricane season. A simplified, lumped-capacitance thermal model and an energy-based (Coulomb-counting) battery state of charge (SoC) approach were developed in MATLAB to simulate a DC-powered air conditioner (the DC48 unit) in a single-zone space. Historical weather and solar irradiance data from Vero Beach, Florida, represent the hot and humid conditions typical of post-hurricane scenarios. The model uses an on/off plus deadband …

An Integrative Approach To Einstein’S Field Equations Of General Relativity For High School Students, Christina M. Aintablian

Senior Honors Theses

Einstein’s Field Equations form the foundation of the theory of General Relativity, describing the interdependence of mass-energy and spacetime curvature, where curvature gives rise to gravity. However, the complexity of these equations makes them difficult for high school students to grasp. The mathematical framework of General Relativity is introduced step by step, beginning with relative motion and culminating in a discussion of complex phenomena that challenge modern physics. Each explanation intertwines core concepts of relativity with pre-established mental models to enhance learning. Through the use of figures, analogies, narratives, and thought experiments, a structured framework is developed to make relativity …

Finding Groundwater With Electricity: Research And Testing Of An Electro-Resistive Ground-Surveying Device For Use In Well-Drilling Applications, Samuel L. Heath

Senior Honors Theses

A custom-built electro-resistive water detection device is tested under various conditions to evaluate its overall performance and sensitivity to changing variables. The tests, designed to assess accuracy and precision, revealed that the prototype exhibits high reliability (~ 99%) for both Schlumberger and Wenner arrays across different electrode spacings and soil conditions. Moreover, the measured resistivity values from the soil tests aligned with established literature ranges for each soil type. The device also showed the ability to consistently detect changes in soil water content by producing measurable variations in resistivity. At a total cost of $181, this prototype can serve as …

Carbon Fiber Cv Tripod Axle Design: Husker Motorsports Formula Sae, Taylor D. Boudreaux

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The 2024–2025 HMS Formula SAE senior design team successfully reduced axle system weight, cost, and improved manufacturability using a bonded tripod joint and ±45° intermediate modulus carbon fiber tube. The final design was validated on HMS 25, with no failures under rigorous testing.

Budget:
/="/"> Total project cost was $1,165.64, exceeding the initial $1,000 target due to unanticipated test rig expenses. However, per-axle production cost was reduced from $525.31 to $383.37 through in-house manufacturing, use of on-hand epoxy (DP460), and switching to cost-effective 7068 aluminum. The axle-specific cost was $766.74.

Timeline:
/="/"> Despite early delays from building a torsional testing …

Vibration-Based Algorithm For Diagnostic And Prognostic Condition Monitoring Of Railroad Bearings And Wheels, Jeffery Ray Pams

Theses and Dissertations

Bearing and wheel failure accounts for the majority of equipment-related train derailments on US railroads. Current wayside monitoring systems have been insufficient in the prevention of catastrophic derailments prompting the rail industry to explore the possible integration of onboard condition monitoring systems into their rail operations. The University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) in partnership with Hum Industrial Technology, Inc., has developed a wireless onboard system intended for the condition monitoring of railroad bearings and wheels. This thesis presents the development, evaluation, and implementation of an algorithm designed to be used in conjunction with these systems to provide railroad …

Analysis And Modeling Of Porous Media Networks In Petroleum Reservoirs Through Microscale Thermography And Core Flooding, Alan Petrovich-Mar

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir rocks are porous materials that are an important area of study since they are present in reservoir sites rich in crude oil. It is important to understand the spreading phenomena on the rock surface and through the porous structure during fluid flow through these porous materials. For a complex system like reservoir rocks, factors such as spatially varying chemical composition and topography, multidimensional porosity, temperature, humidity, and existing oil/water in the pores can affect wettability and be a detriment to oil recovery.

The interaction of core samples with different porosity and permeability with water after proper cleaning procedures and …

Development And Tribological Characterization Of Uhmwpe-Tin Composite Coatings Deposited By Electrostatic Spraying, Jarrod Keith Perez

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demand for inert, wear-resistant, cost-efficient, environmentally friendly, and low-friction coatings has driven extensive research into polymer-based solutions. Among these, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has emerged as a strong candidate due to its low density, anticorrosion properties, self-lubricating nature, affordability, and ease of processing. However, its low load-bearing capacity limits its widespread use in high-stress tribological applications. To overcome this limitation, this project investigates the development and characterization of UHMWPE composite coatings reinforced with titanium nitride (TiN) particles at varying concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 wt%) to enhance their mechanical properties and wear resistance.

Tradespace Exploration With Statistical Modeling Techniques And Immersive Visual Representation In Virtual Environments, Nikhil Raj

All Theses

Statistical modeling techniques combined with virtual reality (VR) visualization offer powerful new approaches to tradespace exploration in engineering design. The research presented addresses the challenge of analyzing and communicating insights from complex multidimensional datasets, particularly for autonomous ground vehicle systems.

Beginning with a review of statistical methods—including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and correlation analysis—the study examines their applications in tradespace exploration. Building on this foundation, three distinct visualization pathways connecting MATLAB data to virtual environments are developed and evaluated: VRML representation, STL conversion, and Blender integration. Each approach is assessed for its ability to maintain data …

Investigation Of Plm Utilities And Concepts In Engineering Curriculum: Challenges And Opportunities, Frederick Rowell

All Theses

The implementation of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools and concepts in engineering education has gained increasing significance as manufacturing and engineering industry shifts towards digital engineering workflows to enhance collaboration, efficiency, and innovation. Despite its typical application in engineering industries, many mechanical engineering programs have not integrated PLM software into their curriculums. The Product Lifecycle Management Center (PLMC) at Clemson University offers PLM workshops and research opportunities to students. Despite these initiatives, PLM education remains largely extracurricular and is not fully incorporated into required coursework within the mechanical engineering curriculum. The objective of this thesis is to explore the role …

Cloud-Native Mucad For Design Reviews, Emily C. Petty

All Theses

This research explores the potential of a cloud-native multi-user computer-aided design (MUCAD) system to improve communication and efficiency during engineering design reviews and shorten the design timeline for military tools. First, a literature review is used to generate a list of thirty-five collaboration-oriented requirements that aim to ensure concurrency, annotations, heterogeneity, security, IP protection, version control, and viewing within a MUCAD system. A comparative evaluation of existing collaborative CAD system architectures, including cloud-native, cloud-enabled, and a single-user system with external file sharing, is conducted to determine how well each system architecture fulfills the generated collaboration-oriented requirements. Following this, a survey …

Defining Fidelity For Tradespace Application, Aditya Agrawal

All Theses

This research proposes a definition of tradespace fidelity and presents a study on its effectiveness in the tradespace. Tradespace exploration helps evaluate various design options, allowing engineers to make informed decisions in early design stages. Fidelity generally refers to how closely a model approximates reality. However, the definition of fidelity has been inconsistently defined and interpreted in various contexts concerning particular problems. In some cases, it is a measure of accuracy; in others, information; in another, uncertainty; and in others, computational complexity. Fidelity is poorly and inconsistently defined in the literature. In general, higher fidelity models tend to be more …

Retrofitting Farm Equipment With Airflow Sensors, Jacob Bybee

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In the Fall of 2024, our farm in Idaho upgraded our equipment from conventional seeding drills to more modern and sophisticated air seeder drills, particularly the John Deere 1900 Commodity Air Cart and John Deere 730 Air Disk Drill. In our case, this equipment was purchased used at an auction and had been a little modified. One modern convenience that this certain 730 Drill did not come with was a blockage monitoring system to alert the operator that a seed distribution tube was no longer distributing seeds. My question the became: Can an affordable, reliable airflow sensor system be designed …

Tribological Characterization Of Laser Microtextured Ti-6al-4v Eli Alloy For Biomedical Applications, Nicholas Ricardo Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Titanium alloys have been gaining popularity in multiple fields due to their impressive physical properties, but struggle with poor tribological performance. This thesis aims to mitigate the poor tribological performance of titanium alloys through a laser microtexturing process. Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Extra Low Interstitial) alloy disks were evaluated against ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) pins. Four texturing patterns were created by changing the texture area fraction from 5 to 20% that were evaluated against untextured control samples. The tribological properties of the laser textured Ti-6Al-4V ELI disks were determined using a pin-on-disk tribometer under lubricated sliding …

Autonomous Control Of A Hybrid Unmanned Aerial Towed System On A Moving Platform, Zachary M. Miller

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

With tethered rotor drones being more popular for aerial surveillance, moving platforms for tethered drones are being researched. However, these systems require constant power to the rotor drones for stabilization. With this difficulty in power consumption, a hybrid drone solution is presented. The hybrid drone is similar to an airplane, with quadcopter motors attached for stabilization and thrust when not moving.

The controller for the hybrid drone was tested and verified in simulation. The simulation of the system was built in Fortran and consists of a driver, a tether, and a hybrid drone. The driver was modeled after a generic …