Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

2025 (Spring) Ensi Informer Magazine, Morehead State University. Engineering Sciences Department

ENSI Informer Magazine Archive

The ENSI Informer Magazine published in the spring of 2025.

Towards Sustainable Energy: Design And Preliminary Testing Of Tidal Current Turbines, Yareli A. Zelaya Pavon

Presentations - 2025

As the energy demand constantly increases and traditional energy resources decrease, incorporating sustainable alternatives has become necessary. In this context, this research attempts to provide a new solution for energy scarcity in regions that lack electricity, especially those located near large ocean areas. The objective of this project was to engineer and investigate an ideal prototype to transform power generation. Through detailed design and testing, this project seeks to reveal the potential of tidal energy, offering an alternative to communities struggling with energy distribution.

The research focuses on utilizing custom-designed propellers, which are 3D printed and installed on an open …

Towards Universal Non-Dimensional Characterization Of The Oscillatory Dynamics Of Wind Turbine Rotors Of Multiple Sizes, North Yates, Fernando L. Ponta, Alayna Farrell

Michigan Tech Publications

One concern in the field of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) is what control strategies are needed to handle gust pulses in the wind to prevent extreme oscillations of the blades to reduce fatigue stress, prevent blade rupture, and extend the turbine’s operational life. In order to design innovative control strategies to modify the blade’s oscillatory response, it is crucial to establish the fundamental vibrational behavior of the blades when excited by gust pulses of different frequencies and amplitudes present in the fluctuating wind inflow. In a series of previous works, the authors presented a novel Reduced-Order Characterization (ROC) technique …

Impact Of Delayed Artificial Aging On Tensile Properties And Microstructural Evolution Of Directed Energy Deposited Scalmalloy®, Rachel Boillat-Newport, Sriram Praneeth Isanaka, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Scalmalloy® is a novel alloy designed to work with the unique processing inherent in additive manufacturing (AM). This alloy is post-processed using a single artificial aging treatment rather than a multistep heat treatment, as often noted in traditional manufacturing processes. Much of the literature details the impact of direct aging treatments around the temperature and time recommended by the manufacturer, 325 °C for 4 h; however, few studies have explored the impact of delayed artificial aging on the resulting mechanical and microstructural behavior. This study explored this missing link and determined the impact that the time between the fabrication of …

Development Of Prechamber Enabled Mixing-Controlled Combustion Strategy For Ultra-Low Methane Emissions From Lean Burn Natural Gas Engines, Osama Nsaif, Adam Dempsey

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This numerical study explores the optimization of Prechamber Enabled Mixing-Controlled Combustion (PC-MCC) using natural gas in heavy-duty engines, aiming to enhance combustion efficiency to minimize methane slip and NOx emissions. The approach involves a prechamber ignition system, distinct from conventional spark ignition (SI) systems, to initiate combustion of direct injected natural gas. By leveraging the robust ignition characteristics of the prechamber, the PC-MCC method demonstrates significant potential in achieving efficient combustion akin to diesel engines but with lower greenhouse gas emissions. The research evaluates the effects of various geometric and operational parameters on the combustion process and emissions, including prechamber …

Automated Plant Morphological Assessment And Microbial Community Monitoring In Simulated Lunar Regolith, Collin R. Topolski

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Upcoming lunar bases will need to leverage in-situ resources to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce mission costs. One key challenge is food production, which could be addressed by growing crops in lunar regolith-based substrates. However, lunar regolith lacks essential nutrients, requiring organic amendments to support continuous plant cultivation. This study examined the impact of manure-amended lunar regolith simulant on Mizuna mustard growth while assessing microbial community diversity and functionality. To support this effort, a custom software pipeline utilizing an open-source library, PlantCV, was developed to automatically track plant leaf area and height via image analysis. Results indicated that amended rhizosphere …

Smart End Effector Docking System, Matthew Becker, Julie Corey, Mia Gallarate, Rachel Lee, Adam Shpolyansky

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

The Smart End Effector Docking System (S.E.E.D.S.) serves as an autonomous docking system to assist with replenishing fluid and charging the Agricultural Robot (AgBot) that has been developed by the Robotic Systems Laboratory. The docking system aims to improve autonomous capabilities by allowing the AgBot to recharge and transfer fluid independently, removing the need for human involvement. The S.E.E.D.S. project can additionally help to address labor shortages and safety hazards associated with agricultural workers by providing several functions including fluid transfer and power transfer for charging.

Trigger Buddy, Alex Requadt, Alan Chen, Max Fernandez

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

Gun violence in the United States, particularly unauthorized firearm use by children and impulsive suicides, remains a devastating public health crisis. Despite widespread use of gun safes and locks, many remain ineffective or inconvenient, with most unauthorized users accessing firearms that were either unlocked or secured with easily bypassed mechanisms. Biometric locks present a promising alternative, but existing products often fall short in speed, reliability, and usability. To address this gap, we developed Trigger Buddy, a biometric handgun lock designed to balance accessibility, durability, and security. Trigger Buddy mounts directly to a handgun's picatinny rail and uses a fingerprint sensor …

3d Printing Filament Machine (Revers3d), Jairo Gonzalez, John Gonzalez, Jaime Garcia, Xiaotian (Stephen) Yan, Andrew Huynh, Jose Canez

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

The Reverse3D printer project aims to develop an innovative machine that recycles leftover 3D printed parts into new, usable spools, promoting sustainability in the 3D printing community. The project will create a new dimension of versatility when using 3D printing filament while still being user-friendly. The device will incorporate a grinding unit to grind up the parts, a heating element, an extrusion system, a cooling system, and a spooling system to create a continuous filament strand. Our ultimate goal is to grind the plastic to a size capable of being melted down and molded into a spool-like form suitable for …

Bronco Evtol: Vfs 2024 - 2025 Dvbf, Caroline Barbar Askar, Lanie Pritchard, John Bowers, Jacob Finley, Gus Gianotti, Luke Helwee

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

Common vertical take-off vehicles, such as helicopters, have been useful for transportation, rescue, and fire-fighting applications. However, these vehicles contribute significantly to CO2 emissions and are extremely loud. Electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles ( e VTOLs) have been proposed as an alternative vehicle which can perform the same functions, without the costs associated with a helicopter. In this paper, we develop a conceptual design for an eVTOL which satisfies the requirements of the annual Vertical Flight Society's Design-Vertical-Build-Fly Competition. We focus our conceptual design on three subsystems: Propulsion, Airfoils, and Controls. These subsystem designs are verified using Finite Element …

2025 Aiaa Design/Build/Fly, Chris Campanile, Michael Cavan, Tyler Choo, Jason Dionida, Mateo Jovicic, Zane Kempler, Cole Lourenco, Derek Nease, Spencer Roberts

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

This thesis presents the design, fabrication, and testing of Santa Clara University's 2025 AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) competition aircraft. The project comprises two integrated systems: the Mothership (MS), a 6-ft wingspan electric aircraft, and the Autonomous Parasite Glider (APG), designed to complete four missions: rapid assembly, airworthiness, efficient fuel transport, and autonomous glider deployment. MS employs a tapered wing with an MH 20 airfoil and a Scorpion SII-4025-520 kV motor, selected for aerodynamic efficiency and mission-specific payloads, including wingmounted steel-filled fuel tanks. The APG, constructed from carbonreinforced foam, is deployed via spring latch and guided by an Ardupilot GPS controller.

Development …

Portable Stage, Theo Cabot, Martin Decker, Liam Jacobo

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

The following report details the design, analysis, manufacturing, and testing of the prototype for the Portable Auto-Leveling Stage. Time and labor constraints required the prioritization of crucial safety subsystems over those conceived with performance enhancement in mind. FEA simulations displayed expected results on a fully assembled stage unit, whereas physical testing was run on one of the leg assemblies and the unconstrained stage deck. Wiring and verification of input response came to fruition in a testing system untethered to the physical stage deck.

Wind Tunnel Testing Of A Novel Quadrotor Design, Oliver Marius Tobisch

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study presents the test development and aerodynamic evaluation of the Quadfoil UAV, a novel quadrotor configuration featuring a central lifting body in the form of an airfoil to enhance forward-flight efficiency. Flight tests conducted by Virginia Tech demonstrated a 25% increase in endurance and a 32% improvement in range compared to conventional quadcopters, validating the aerodynamic benefits of this design. To further investigate its performance, a dynamically adjustable angle of attack model support system was developed for wind tunnel testing, enabling precise replication of in-flight conditions. The support system, controlled via LabVIEW, adjusts angle of attack based on real-time …

Investigating The Discrepancies Between Acoustic And Radar Measurements Of Water Level Using Data Analysis And Computational Modeling, Ohiedul Haque Mohammad Asad

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Observations indicate that there is a discrepancy between water level measurements from NOAA’s acoustic gauges and radar gauges. NOAA’s acoustic gauges use a downward-looking acoustic sensor that measures the instantaneous distance from the sensor to the water level. To create a calm water surface for measurements, the sensor is placed in a PVC tube that penetrates the water surface to a certain depth. This tube is called the stilling well. In this thesis, discrepancies in water level measurements from acoustic and radar sensors were explored through data analysis and computational modeling. Specifically, the correlations between the error, which is defined …

Characterization Of Cure And Temperature Dependent Properties Of Filament Wound Composite Structures, Aaron Riley Sinkler

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Residual stress development in filament wound composites presents a critical challenge for the fabrication of thick composite structures exposed to elevated temperatures during operation. This study focused on determining temperature and cure dependent material properties to aid in understanding the residual stress build-up during the cure. Material characterization of a filament wound composite materials was performed by investigating thermo-chemical shrinkages in resin, lamina, and bi-lamina configurations. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of both the neat resin and the fiber was measured, and the gel point and chemical shrinkage of the neat resin were investigated. A filament wound unidirectional laminate …

Mechanochemical Reaction Kinetics—A Theoretical Modeling And Experimental Study, Maria Dolores Masso Ramirez

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Mechanochemical reactions represent a class of chemical processes triggered by mechanical energy, widely recognized for their efficiency, solvent-free nature, and environmental benefits. They are increasingly applied in synthetic chemistry, a branch of science focused on creating new chemical compounds through controlled laboratory reactions. However, the mechanisms underlying mechanical activation remain poorly understood, primarily due to the difficulty in quantifying energy transfer during milling, where solid reactants are ground together using a ball mill. This thesis aims to bridge the gap in understanding the relationship between mechanical parameters and reaction kinetics by developing and validating a theoretical framework based on dimensional …

Multiphase Iterative Algorithm For Mixed-Integer Optimal Control, Chaoying Pei, Sixiong You, Yu Di, Ran Dai

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mixed-integer optimal control problems (MIOCPs) frequently arise in the domain of optimal control problems (OCPs) when decisions including integer variables are involved. However, existing state-of-the-art approaches for solving MIOCPs are often plagued by drawbacks such as high computational costs, low precision, and compromised optimality. In this study, we propose a novel multiphase scheme coupled with an iterative second-order cone programming (SOCP) algorithm to efficiently and effectively address these challenges in MIOCPs. In the first phase, we relax the discrete decision constraints and account for the terminal state constraints and certain path constraints by introducing them as penalty terms in the …

Model-Predictive Optimal Control Of Ferrofluidic Microrobots In Three-Dimensional Space, E. Olga Skowronek, Luke Silas Baker, Reza Ahmed, Hamid Marvi

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Ferrofluid microrobots have emerged as promising tools for minimally invasive medical procedures. Their unique properties to navigate complex fluids and reach otherwise inaccessible regions of the human body have enabled new applications in targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, and diagnostics. This paper proposes a model-predictive controller for the external magnetic manipulation of ferrofluid microrobots in three dimensions (3D). The internal optimization routine of the controller determines appropriate changes in the applied electromagnetic field to minimize the deviation between the actual and desired trajectories of the microrobot. A linear system governing locomotion is derived and used as the equality constraints of …

Helical Products Parts Display Stand, Binh Nguyen, Emily Yuan Mendyke, Zoe Porter

Mechanical Engineering

Helical Products needs a new product display stand that will demonstrate their custom springs, couplings, and u-joints. Their current display stand, a marble run contraption, is large, loud, and difficult to transport, so they would like the new stand to remedy these issues. The goal of this senior project is to create a display stand that captures the attention of their customers with dynamic product demonstrations while addressing the issues outlined above.

The new display stand is also a marble run contraption, but instead of being almost 4 feet tall and 3 feet long, it is 23” tall, 26.25” long, …

Frequency-Based Rapid Structural Damage Detection Using Embedded Edge Computing On Resource-Constrained Devices, Ryan Yount

Theses and Dissertations

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is essential for ensuring reliability and longevity of useful structures. Traditional SHM approaches rely on manual or remote data transmission and external processing, which introduce latency and can depend on stable communication links. This work aims to advance SHM by integrating edge-computing techniques for rapid damage detection to enable faster and more autonomous structural assessments in resource-constrained environments. The research spans three key contributions including 1) frequency-based damage detection of civil structures using a sensor package with the addition of an edge processor, 2) additions to the computational efficiency of the edge-computing sensor package in a …

Bilateral Gait Trainer For Transtibial Amputees, Desmond Greer, Odinachi Anene, Andrew Wallace, Noah Hill

Bioengineering Senior Theses

Lower limb amputation affects over 2.3 million individuals in the U.S., with peripheral vascular disease and diabetes as leading causes. Prosthetic rehabilitation is critical for restoring mobility, yet barriers like therapist shortages, cost, and inconsistent at-home training limit patient outcomes. This thesis presents the design, development, and testing of a bilateral gait training device that addresses these challenges by providing real-time haptic feedback and quantitative gait metrics for at-home rehabilitation. The device integrates force-sensitive resistors embedded in insoles to monitor plantar pressure distribution, haptic actuators (eccentric rotating mass motors) mounted on thigh straps to deliver corrective feedback, and an Arduino-based …

Effects Of High Temperature Compaction On 3d Printed Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites, John D. Barber

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation was to study the effects of hot temperature compaction (HTC) upon the polymorphism and the mechanical behavior of an additively manufactured (AM), carbon fiber reinforced polyamide (PA6). Different pressure and temperature levels during HTC were tested to determine the overall effect upon the mechanical behavior and the material crystalline composition. Treated, carbon fiber reinforced PA6 samples were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, double cantilever beam testing and three-point bending testing. When considered with respect to as-printed samples, an HTC temperature of 190°C combined with 80 psi pressure resulted …

Wind Tunnel Automation For Propeller Testing, David Ricardo Lara

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An automated propeller test capability for the ODU Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Facility is demonstrated; implementing automation improved both ease of testing and quality of results. An experiment was performed with and without automation to compare results. Prior to this effort, propeller RPM and airstream velocity were manually controlled, leading to time consuming experiments. The setpoint for RPM had to be adjusted at each run to compensate for changes in airstream velocity.

LabVIEW, a graphical programming software, was used to develop the controllers and automation algorithm. A Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control approach was developed to simultaneously control airstream velocity and …

Accelerating High-Throughput Phonon Calculations Via Machine Learning Universal Potentials, Huiju Lee, Vinay I. Hegde, Chris Wolverton, Yi Xia

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Phonons play a critical role in determining various material properties, but conventional methods for phonon calculations are computationally intensive, limiting their broad applicability. In this study, we present an approach to accelerate high-throughput harmonic phonon calculations using machine learning universal potentials (MLIPs) combined with an efficient training dataset generation strategy. Instead of computing phonon properties from a large number of supercells with small atomic displacements of a single atom, our approach uses a smaller subset of supercell structures where all atoms are randomly displaced by 0.01 to 0.05 UŮ, significantly reducing computational costs. We train a state-of-the-art MLIP based on …

Automated Fiber Placement Laminate Level Optimization: A Physics-Inspired Method To Analyze Through-Thickness Defect Interactions, Nishan Patel

Theses and Dissertations

With the growing adoption of composite materials in industries such as aerospace, automotive, naval, wind energy, and even sectors like sports and consumer goods, there has been a strong push towards improving manufacturing reliability and productivity. One key method that has gained significant traction is Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), an additive manufacturing technique valued for its precision, efficiency, and adaptability in producing complex composite parts. As industries continue to shift from traditional metal-based structures to more advanced composite materials, the need for efficient and high- quality manufacturing solutions has become even more critical, prompting a focus on automation and optimization …

Explainable And Reduced-Feature Machine Learning Models For Shape And Drag Prediction Of A Freely Moving Drop In The Sub-Critical Weber Number Regime, Md Amanullah Kabir Tonmoy

Theses and Dissertations

Accurately predicting the shape and drag of a moving drop is crucial in many spray applications. However, due to the complex interaction between the drag force and drop shape deformation, accurate prediction of drop shape and drag from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation requires large computational resources and time. A novel data-driven approach using NARXNN (Non-linear Auto Regressive eXogenous input Neural Network) is proposed in this study, which recurrently predicts the drop shape and drag for a given Weber number (We) and Reynolds number (Re), in the sub-critical We regime where there is no drop breakup. The average error in …

Experimental Investigation Of Heat Transfer To Tightly Packed Cylinder Arrays, Cameron M. Sexsmith

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

With the increased emphasis on the development of hybrid electric aircraft and other electric driven vehicles, the thermal demand on batteries is increasing. Unique to the aviation sector is the combined need of high battery thermal loads and a light-weight thermal management system. A proposed configuration is an array of batteries directly cooled with a dielectric coolant. The knowledge of heat transfer characteristics of battery cooling is becoming an ever pressing issue due to the need to optimize volume and mass in a safe manner. Tighter spacings between batteries provide higher pack densities, however, at the cost of increased cooling …

Exploring New Applications Of Municipal Solid Waste, Harrison Appiah, Ezra Bar Ziv, Jordan L. Klinger, Armando G. Mcdonald

Michigan Tech Publications

This study aimed to (i) characterize municipal solid waste (MSW) sourced from Utah and Michigan transfer stations and (ii) upcycle, produce, and evaluate composites derived from this MSW. Composition analysis showed that the MSW was composed of a variety of commodity plastics, paper/cardboard, and inorganic materials. Detailed chemical analysis for lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lipids was performed. The plastics identified were mainly polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and poly (ethylene terephthalate). The compoundability of the MSW was assessed by torque rheometry. Composites were prepared by compounding the MSW in an extruder. A composite flexural strength of 29 MPa and a modulus of …

Effective Cleaning Of Cotton In A Saw Gin, Rustam Shennikovich Sulaymonov, Amirqulovich Begzod Irgashev, Zarshid Omonov Jumanazar O'G'Li

Technical science and innovation

In order to improve the efficiency of the cotton cleaning process and improve the quality of the fiber, the Gin feeder was improved with a colosnik grid. This constructive change serves to more effectively separate cotton raw materials from impurities and reduce the likelihood of fiber damage. Studies have found that the cleaning efficiency of the feeder in cleaning Cotton of varieties I and III has increased by an average of 2.4 (abs)% compared to the current system. Fiber quality also improved by 0.46% (abs) for Type I cotton and 0.22% (abs) for Type III cotton. Experimental results showed that …

Development Of Analytical Dependencies For Determining Kinematic Parameters Of The Drive Of The Working Engine Of The Mixing Machine, N. A. Maksudova

Technical science and innovation

The requirement of any technological process of product preparation is intensive mixing. This ensures uniform distribution of components. At the initial stage of designing planetary mechanisms, special attention is paid to determining the kinematic parameters. The dimensions, weight and design of the mechanism depend on the value of these parameters. The main criterion for assessing the scheme of the planetary mechanism is the kinematic parameters of the gear wheels of the mechanism. The article presents a kinematic scheme of the planetary mechanism of the kneading machine. The principle of rotation of the gear wheels of the planetary mechanism of the …