Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Vapor Deposition Methods For Synthetic Vocal Fold Modeling, Mitchell Hortin, Dr. Scott Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to develop a reliable method to create the epithelial layer of silicone rubber vocal fold models. The method needed be able to repeatedly create a uniform layer of silicone rubber that is 70-80 microns in thickness. The type of silicone rubber used was to have similar or identical properties to the type currently in use. In an attempt to accomplish this purpose, three types of nozzles, an ultrasonic mist maker and an airbrush were tested to see if they could efficiently atomize the silicone mixture. This testing showed that the airbrush setup has the …

Design, Modeling And Development Of A Serial Hybrid Motorcycle With Hcci Engine, Yuh-Yih Wu, Chen Duan, Kai-Xian Hong, Hsien-Chi Tsai, Craig Hoff

Mechanical Engineering Publications

This paper discusses the design, modeling, and development of small motorcycle equipped with a HCCI engine in an series hybrid configuration. A mathematical model was developed using MATLAB/Simulink and used to size the powertrain components and to predict fuel economy. A conventional 125 cc spark ignition engine was modified to run in HCCI combustion mode and integrated into a prototype vehicle. Dual-fuel and external EGR strategies were used to upgrade the engine speed and torque capabilities of the engine to meet the requirements of the powertrain. An electrical generator, hub-motor, battery pack and other power electronics devices were used to …

Current Best Practices For High Performance, Deep Energy Retrofits In Florida Affordable Housing, Florida Solar Energy Center, Janet Mcilvaine

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In the fall of 2009, researchers at the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) began working with affordable housing entities that were conducting major renovation projects in unoccupied, foreclosed homes. The study was funded by the Florida Energy Systems Consortium and the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program. When components and equipment were being replaced because they were worn out, researchers provided savings projections for higher-efficiency choices. Savings were also projected for improvements that were strictly for energy efficiency, such as adding ceiling insulation. The best practices summarized in this document are a mixture of assessment, design, specification, quality assurance, …

A Characterization Of Force Patterns And Power Flow In The Golf Swing Using A Three Dimensional Model, Shad Roundy, Dr. Craig Smith

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Of the many specific studies published on the golf swing, few if any give a holistic mechanical understanding of the swing. The purpose of this study was to develop a holistic three dimensional model and characterize the force and power patterns in an elite golfer. Because of the emphasis in golf instruction on lower body motion, particularly the hip turn, particular attention was given to the relationship between the force generated in the lower body, and the resulting hip, trunk, and arm motion. This same model could be used in the future to more widely characterize force patterns of golfers …

The Radial Turbine: A Simple Encapsulation Of Its Design, Matthew B. Parkinson, Dr. Jordan J. Cox

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The design, manufacture, and testing of turbines involves many aspects of engineering: fluid mechanics, computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, instrumentation, heat transfer, and optimitization. This project encapsulates these and provides for rapid design, manufacture, and testing of a prototype turbine wheel (figure 1). Although the models are simplified and do not address countless design considerations, they do provide a feel for the many issues encountered.

Characterization Of Wrist Kinetics During Activities Of Daily Living, Autumn Pando, Dr. Steven Charles

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Out of the 75,000 people afflicted with repetitive strain injuries annually in the U.S., 68% impair the wrist1. A major factor in these injuries is abnormal and excessive force. However, forces applied normally by the wrist in everyday environments are unknown. The purpose of this study is to quantify a detailed baseline of healthy, normal wrist forces used in activities of daily living (ADL). Once normal ranges are quantified, abnormal forces can be better identified, leading to more informed preventative designs and more personalized treatment options.

Hers Index Scores As An Alternative Compliance Path For The 2015 Iecc, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The analysis presented here is an extension of a previous study on HERS Index Scores as they relate to various version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by the same author. This extension of the previous study is designed to examine the impact of advanced, ultra-high efficiency appliances and high efficiency HVAC systems on HERS Index Scores as they relate to reductions in the HERS Index Scores that may be used as 'tradeoffs' against best practice envelope efficiencies.

Origami-Based Design For Engineering Applications, Kevin Campbell Francis

Theses and Dissertations

Origami can be a powerful source of design inspiration in the creation of reconfigurable systems with unparalleled performance. This thesis provides fundamental tools for designers to employ as origami-based designs are pursued in their respective fields of expertise. The first chapter introduces origami and makes connections between origami and engineering design through a survey of engineered applications and characterizing the relationship between origami and compliant mechanisms. The second chapter evaluates the creasing of non-paper sheet materials, such as plastics and metals, to facilitate origami-based compliant mechanism design. Although it is anticipated that most origami-based design will result from surrogate folds …

Water Removal From Gas Flow Channels Of Fuel Cells, Jeffrey S. Allen

Michigan Tech Patents

An apparatus for water management in a fuel cell. The apparatus includes a fuel cell having a first porous electrode layer, a second porous electrode layer, a proton-conducting membrane positioned between the first electrode and second electrode layers, and a first and second bi-polar distribution plate, wherein the first bi-polar distribution plate is positioned on a top of the first electrode layer and defining a first gas flow channel, and wherein the second bi-polar distribution plate is positioned on a bottom of the second electrode layer and defining a second gas flow channel. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for …

Do Middle Managers Contribute To Their Organisation's Strategy?, Tony Kealy

Conference Papers

This paper presents an empirical study on the contribution made by middle managers to the development of strategy in an organisation. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews with four managers in randomly-chosen companies. Two of the participant managers held senior management positions while the other two held middle manager positions. The data was analysed using a qualitative approach. Previous studies in this field were found to be wide and varied. An early study by Mintzberg (1978) found that strategy mainly forms from emergent influences at middle and lower levels of the organisation, as well as from deliberate influences emanating …

Small-Scale Wind Turbines: An Appraisal, Tony Kealy

Conference Papers

This research seeks to evaluate the economic benefits to be gained by installing a small-scale wind turbine for a customer with a three-phase electrical supply requirement. The evidence for the claims made in this paper is obtained by using actual data obtained from the installed equipment over a three year period. The objective is to accurately appraise the financial investment using real data. There appears to be limited studies conducted into this type of research, possibly because the renewable energy sector is in the infancy stage in the host country, Ireland. There are some wind energy installations with financial appraisal …

All-Optical Photoacoustic Detection Of Absorbers In Tissue Phantoms, Jami Johnson, Michelle Sabick, Kasper Vanwijk

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Visualizing and characterizing vascular structures is important for many areas of health care, from accessing difficult veins and arteries for laboratory testing, to diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging, one of the fastest growing fields of biomedical imaging, is well suited for this task. PA imaging is based on the photoacoustic effect, which starts with a pulsed laser source incident on biological tissue. If the wavelength of the source matches an absorption wavelength of a chromophore within the tissue, a portion of the pulse energy is absorbed by the chromophore and converted into heat. A subsequent increase …

Metal-Assisted Etching Of Silicon Molds For Electroforming, Ralu Divan, Dan Rosenthal '14, Karim Ogando, Leonidas E. Ocola, Daniel Rosenmann, Nicolaie Moldovan

Student Publications & Research

Ordered arrays of high-aspect-ratio micro/nanostructures in semiconductors stirred a huge scientific interest due to their unique one-dimensional physical morphology and the associated electrical, mechanical, chemical, optoelectronic, and thermal properties. Metal-assisted chemical etching enables fabrication of such high aspect ratio Si nanostructures with controlled diameter, shape, length, and packing density, but suffers from structure deformation and shape inconsistency due to uncontrolled migration of noble metal structures during etching. Hereby the authors prove that a Ti adhesion layer helps in stabilizing gold structures, preventing their migration on the wafer surface while not impeding the etching. Based on this finding, the authors demonstrate …

Design And Development Of A Low Cost Platform To Facilitate Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Of The Elbow/Shoulder Region, Stephen Curran

Masters

For post-stroke rehabilitation of the upper limbs, increased amounts of therapy are directly related to improved rehabilitation outcomes. As such, a low cost therapy platform is proposed suitable for facilitating active therapy and administering activeassist therapy to the shoulder/elbow region of the upper limbs of individuals post-stroke in a local clinic or domestic setting. Enabling a person to undergo intensive rehabilitation therapy outside of a rehabilitation hospital setting permits the amount of therapy administered to be maximised. While studies have shown that technological approaches to post-stroke rehabilitation do not produce better outcomes than equal amounts of traditional therapy in a …

Implementation Of A Plastically Dissipated Energy Criterion For Three Dimensional Modeling Of Fatigue Crack Growth, Parag G. Nittur, Anette M. Karlsson, Leif A. Carlsson

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Fatigue crack growth is simulated using three dimensional elastic-plastic finite element analysis. The crack extension per load cycle, da/dN, as well as crack front profile changes (crack tunneling) under cyclic loading is not specified as an input but evaluated based on a condition that relates plastically dissipated energy to a critical value. Simulation of cyclic crack propagation in a middle-crack tension M(T) specimen using this implementation captures the well established, experimentally obtained crack growth rate reduction accompanying a single overload event. The analysis predicts that the single overload also affects the crack front profile, where a tunneling crack propagates with …

Multi-Axis Planning Of A Hybrid Material Deposition And Removal Combined Process, J. Zhang, Frank W. Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Computational Modeling And Experimental Study On Optical Microresonators Using Optimal Spherical Structure For Chemical Sensing, Hanzheng Wang, Lei Yuan, Jie Huang, Xinwei Lan, Cheol-Woon Kim, Lan Jiang, Hai Xiao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Chemical sensors based on optical microresonators have been demonstrated highly sensitive by monitoring the refractive index (RI) changes in the surrounding area near the resonator surface. In an optical resonator, the Whispering Gallery Modes (WGMs) with high quality (Q) factor supported by the spherical symmetric structure interacts with the contiguous background through evanescent field. Highly sensitive detection can be realized because of the long lifetime of the photons. The computational models of solid glass microspheres and hollow glass spheres with porous wall (PW-HGM) were established. These two types of microresonators were studied through simulations. The PWHGM resonator was proved as …

Qualitative Methods Used To Develop And Characterize The Circulation Control System On Cal Poly's Amelia, Eric N. Paciano

Master's Theses

The circulation control system onboard Cal Poly's Advanced Model for Extreme Lift and Improved Aeroacoustics was a critical component of a highly complex wind tunnel model produced in order to fulfill the requirements of a NASA Research Announcement awarded to David Marshall of the Aerospace Engineering Department. The model was based on a next generation, 150 passenger, regional, cruise efficient, short take-off and landing concept aircraft that achieved high lift through circulation control wings and over-the-wing mounted engines. The wind tunnel model was 10-ft in span, used turbine propulsion simulators, and had a functioning circulation control system driven from tunnel …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, September 2013, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Profile Synthesis Of Planar Variable Joints, Brian James Slaboch

Dissertations (1934 -)

Reconfigurable mechanisms provide quick changeover and reduced costs for low volume manufacturing applications. In addition, these mechanisms provide added flexibility in the context of a constrained environment. A subset of planar reconfigurable mechanisms use variable joints to provide this added adaptability.

In this dissertation, the profile synthesis of planar variable joints that change from a rotational motion to a translational motion was investigated. A method was developed to perform automated profile synthesis. It was shown that combinations of higher variable joints can be used to create kinematically equivalent variable joints that are geometrically different.

The results were used to create …

Study Of A Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Combined Heat, Hydrogen And Power System: End-Use Application, Tarek A. Hamad, Abdulhakim Amer A. Agll, Yousif M. Hamad, Sushrut Bapat, Mathew Thomas, Kevin B. Martin, John W. Sheffield

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

To address the problem of fossil fuel usage and high greenhouse gas emissions at the Missouri University of Science and Technology campus, using of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources can lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Biogas, produced by anaerobic digestion of wastewater, organic waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste, and animal by-products is a potential source of renewable energy. In this work, we have discussed the design of CHHP system for the campus using local resources. An energy flow and resource availability study is performed to identify the type and source of feedstock required to continuously run the …

Coupling Rotation And Lamination Theory With Product Development To Create Barriers To Reverse Engineering, Stephen P. Harston, Dr. Christopher A. Mattson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introducing a novel product into the market place inevitably invites competitors to reverse engineer it; enabling them to determine proprietary trade secrets and decrease potential profits. Unfortunately, there are relatively few barriers to reverse engineering and the few that do exist are not easily implemented. We will show how a numerical optimization method was used to search for improved material properties in metals as obtainable by the rotation and lamination theory as defined below. These improved material properties are generally thought to be unobtainable in metals and results in unexpected (yet desirable) performance, thus a barrier to reverse engineering is …

Pegleg Crutch, Levi Leishman, Darrel Zeltner

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The progress of a cheap, simple and practical substitute for the common crutch for us has had many design improvements and successes in this year. We were able to meet with medical, educational, and engineering professionals who were all able to input their criticisms and advice. We have decided on a final design that is not the best design for use, but the best when considering cost. See figure 1 for a visual of the final design.

Unilateral Human Vocal Fold Stiffness, Paul Gollnick, Dr. Scott Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Sounds produced in human speech originate from the vocal folds (also known as vocal chords). In order to speak, the vocal folds must close together. Air is then forced between them causing the folds to vibrate and produce sound.

Improvement Of Body-Powered Prostheses Using Supplemental Power, Kasey Greenland, Dr. Mark Colton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many upper-limb amputees are fitted with body-powered prostheses. These are typically operated by the user wearing a harness and making a certain body movement. That movement pulls a cable which then moves the terminal device, which may be an artificial hand or a hook, to perform desired functions. With such prostheses the user is typically limited in their use of the individual fingers and many opt for a hook. Some have voluntary-closing terminal devices, meaning that the hand is in an open position when no force is applied . Though these devices are useful, they often do not provide the …

Investigation Of The Effects Of Intraosseous Pressure Rise In The Formation Of Spinal Burst Fractures: A Biphasic Material Approach, Spencer Shore, Dr. Anton Bowden

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Burst fractures are high-speed spine injuries caused by rapid axial compression of the vertebrae. The traditional explanation for the burst fracture mechanism points to an intraosseous pressure rise due to the entrance of the intervertebral disc through a fractured endplate. Recent experiments [1], however, indicate an actual decrease in both internal pressure and hydraulic resistance in high-speed tests that result in burst fractures. These results cast doubt on the validity of the traditional burst fracture theory. The current study seeks to model the intraosseous pressure rise using the finite element method. In this model, the trabecular core and marrow of …

High-Resolution Bulk Measurement Of Crystal Defects During Deformation Of Highly Textured Copper, Colin Landon, Dr. Brent Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Plastic deformation of crystalline materials is accommodated by crystallographic slip, and the formation and motion of dislocations. Of particular interest to deformation predictions are the dislocation structures that form internal to grains (i.e. the cellular structures), because of their impact on the plastic behavior of the crystal. However, no generally acceptable models that link the dislocation structures and crystal plasticity exist, as is shown by the number of new theories emerging in the literature.

Csf Sniffer Final Report, Alyssa Huber, David Miller, Dr. Brian Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of our research was to create a tool to help in the treatment of hydrocephalus; hydrocephalus is a disease in which an obstruction causes a build-up of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), a liquid found in the brain. Artificial shunts or passageways are used to relocate excess CSF in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Shunts are commonly misplaced, further aggravating patients’ symptoms. We developed an instrument, the CSF Sniffer, to increase the accuracy of shunt placement; it informs the neurosurgeon of the location of the instrument tip in the brain by measuring the intensity of light reflected off the brain. …

Collision Avoidance Using Haptic Feedback For A Quadrotor Helicopter, Adam Brandt, Dr. Mark Colton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The remote operation of a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) presents unique challenges to the pilot. When flying a traditional aircraft a camera can be directed so that the field of view points out the nose, which is always in the direction of flight, assuming small side-slip angles. Using this camera, a remote pilot can always see obstacles that the aircraft is approaching and respond appropriately to avoid them.

The Influence Of Superhydrophobicity On Laminar Jet Impingement And Turbulent Flow In A Channel With Walls Exhibiting Riblets, Joseph Fletcher Prince

Theses and Dissertations

The object of this work is to explore the influence superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces exert in laminar jet impingement and when they are combined with riblets in turbulent channel flow. A SH surface generates an apparent slip due to the combination of micropatterning and chemical hydrophobicity. Because of surface tension, water does not enter the cavities between the features, increasing the contact angle of a water droplet on the surface and reducing the liquid-solid contact area. An analysis based on the integral momentum approach of Karman and Pohlhausen is presented that predicts jet impingement behavior on SH surfaces. The model is …