Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Closed-Loop Thrust And Pressure Profile Throttling Of A Nitrous Oxide/Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene Hybrid Rocket Motor, Zachary W. Peterson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Hybrid motors that employ non-toxic, non-explosive components with a liquid oxidizer and a solid hydrocarbon fuel grain have inherently safe operating characteristics. The inherent safety of hybrid rocket motors offers the potential to greatly reduce overall operating costs. Another key advantage of hybrid rocket motors is the potential for in-flight shutdown, restart, and throttle by controlling the pressure drop between the oxidizer tank and the injector. This research designed, developed, and ground tested a closed-loop throttle controller for a hybrid rocket motor using nitrous oxide and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene as propellants. The research simultaneously developed closed-loop throttle algorithms and lab scale …

Novel Airframe Design For The Dual-Aircraft Atmospheric Platform Flight Concept, Eric Michael Mckee

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

A high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial airframe was designed for the innovative Dual-Aircraft Atmospheric Platform flight concept that exploits stratospheric wind velocity gradients to remain aloft indefinitely. Classical aircraft preliminary design techniques and high-fidelity tools were used to establish a baseline configuration.

Performance characteristics of numerous airfoil profiles were evaluated with two-dimensional flow software in an effort to determine the best-candidate airfoil for the unique application. Vortex-Lattice method tools were used to investigate the sensitivity of three-dimensional design parameters upon overall vehicle aerodynamic performance and determine both static and dynamic stability characteristics of the airframe. Performance capabilities of the finalized airframe …

Investigation Of Shroud Geometry To Passively Improve Heat Transfer In A Solar Thermal Storage Tank, Matthew Keene Zemler

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

A shroud and baffle configuration is used to passively increase heat transfer in a thermal store. The shroud and baffle are used to create a vena contracta near the surface of the heat exchanger, which will speed up the flow locally and thereby increasing heat transfer. The goal of this study is to investigate the geometry of the shroud in optimizing heat transfer by locally increasing the velocity near the surface of the heat exchanger. Two-dimensional transient simulations are conducted. The immersed heat exchanger is modeled as an isothermal cylinder, which is situated at the top of a solar thermal …

Testing, Analysis, And Model Verification Of Miniature Linear Permanent Magnet Generators, Michael Ray Rippee

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The military has become increasingly dependent on mobile electronic equipment to ensure success and safety of soldiers in remote locations. To operate the electronics, soldiers must carry batteries that can weigh up to 12kg (26.5lb). To decrease the load soldiers must carry, a backpack with an internal linear electric generator has been proposed to provide portable power for soldiers on foot. In designing a generator for this purpose, a simulation was developed to predict the power generation capacity of linear permanent magnet generators. This thesis presents work done to experimentally verify the theoretical simulation with a desired accuracy of 20%. …

Modular Joystick Design For Virtual Reality Surgical Skills Training, Michael Head

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

A modular control interface and simulated virtual reality environment was designed and created in order to determine how the kinematic architecture of a control interface affects minimally invasive surgery. A user is able to selectively determine how many, the type, and location of degrees of freedom they require for the specific surgical simulation through the use of modular joints and constraint components. Furthermore, passive locking was designed and implemented through the use of inflated latex tubing around rotational degree of freedom joints. It is believed these features will have the ability to effectively simulate a variety of surgical simulations and …

Predicting Vehicle Dynamics For Roadside Safety Using Multibody Systems Simulations, Brett D. Schlueter

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

Accurate means for predicting vehicle dynamics is required in the design and testing of roadside safety hardware. Past research has used finite element (FE) modeling to this end, but multibody systems (MBS) modeling may provide a more efficient way to solve these problems. MBS modeling using Adams/Car was investigated by first compiling an introduction to the program, then performing basic vehicle dynamics simulations using a supplied model. Next, a model of a 2270 kg pickup was created and validated against physical test data involving impact with a speed bump. Finally, pickup trajectories in 4H:1V and 6H:1V V-ditches were predicted for …

Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis And Remediation, Cody S.. Stolle

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

On divided roadways, cross-median fatalities are disproportionately overrepresented in fatal and serious injury crashes. Many state DOTs sought to mitigate cross-median crash risk by installing cable median barriers. Despite increased crash rates, studies evaluating crash rates before and after cable median barriers were installed indicated excellent improvement in overall safety.

Although cable median barriers are intended to prevent serious cross-median crashes, cable barriers can also contribute to serious injury and fatality crashes which would not have otherwise occurred, including penetration and rollover crashes. In order to reduce the frequency of undesirable penetration and rollover crashes occurring with cable median barriers …

An Optimization-Based Method Of Traversing Dynamic S-Pareto Frontiers, Patrick K. Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

The use of multiobjective optimization in identifying systems that account for changes in customer needs, operating environments, system design concepts, and analysis models over time is generally not explored. Providing solutions that anticipate, account for, and allow for these changes over time is a significant challenge to manufacturers and design engineers. Products that adapt to these changes through the addition and/or subtraction of modules can reduce production costs through product commonality, and cater to customization and adaptation. In terms of identifying sets of non-dominated designs, these changes result in the concept of dynamic Pareto frontiers, or dynamic s-Pareto frontiers …

Compression Transmission Collar For Fastening, David Lecronier, Patrick Atkinson

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A compression transmission collar apparatus for implantation into a bone with a hole having a hole wall comprising an intramedullary nail defining a bore and a threaded fastener and a compression transmission collar including an exterior face and a top edge and a bottom edge and a first end interstcting the top edge at an acute angle and the bottom edge at an obtuse angle and a second end intersecting the top edge at an obtuse angle and the bottom edge at an acute angle and the first end partially overlapping and opposing the second end to define a slit …

Measurement Of Thermal Diffusivities Using The Distributed Source, Finite Absorption Model, James B. Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Thermal diffusivity in an important thermophysical property that quantifies the ratio of the rate at which heat is conducted through a material to the amount of energy stored in a material. The pulsed laser diffusion (PLD) method is a widely used technique for measuring thermal diffusivities of materials. This technique is based on the fact that the diffusivity of a sample may be inferred from measurement of the time-dependent temperature profile at a point on the surface of a sample that has been exposed to a pulse of radiant energy from a laser or flash lamp. An accepted standard approach …

A Hybrid Bishop-Hill Model For Microstructure Sensitive Design, Ribeka Takahashi

Theses and Dissertations

A method is presented for adapting the classical Bishop-Hill model to the requirements of elastic/yield-limited design in metals of arbitrary crystallographic texture. The proposed Hybrid Bishop-Hill (HBH) model, which will be applied to ductile FCC metals, retains the `stress corners' of the polyhedral Bishop-Hill yield surface. However, it replaces the `maximum work criterion' with a criterion that minimizes the Euclidean distance between the applicable local corner stress state and the macroscopic stress state. This compromise leads to a model that is much more accessible to yield-limited design problems. Demonstration of performance for the HBH model is presented for an extensive …

Can Silver Be A Reliable Current Collector For Electrochemical Tests?, Yunhui Gong, Changyong Qin, Kevin Huang

Faculty Publications

The true functionality of a current collector employed in electrochemical cells is to ensure a low- resistance steady electrons flow between the cell and instrumentation without involving in any local electrochemical reactions of the electrode. In this study, we investigated the effect of curing temperature of a common current collector, silver, on the polarization area specific resistance (ASR) of a cathode. The results explicitly showed that at least one order of magnitude lower ASR for a cathode with Ag cured at 800°C than that cured at 650°C of the same cathode configuration. Microscopic analysis of the 800°C-cured cells revealed a …

Coastal Physical Vulnerability Of Surabaya And Its Surrounding Area To Sea Level Rise, Sayidah Sulma, Eko Kusratmoko, Ratna Saraswati

Makara Journal of Technology

The study for coastal vulnerability to sea level rise was carried out in Surabaya and its surrounding area, it has focused on calculations of the physical vulnerability index were used coastal vulnerability index (CVI) methods. It was standardized by the multi criteria analysis (MCA) approach according to the study area. The score of each physical variable derived from remote sensing satellite data and the results of studies that have been done, such as modeling results and thematic maps, and then integrated into geographic information systems (GIS). Result of this study shows that the coastal areas of Gresik, Surabaya, and Sidoarjo …

The Effect Of Size And Crumb Rubber Composition As A Filler With Compatibilizer Pp-G-Ma In Polypropylene Blends And Sir-20 Compound On Mechanical And Thermal Properties, Erna Frida

Makara Journal of Technology

Having been researched the development of thermoplastic elastomer material of polypropylene and natural rubber SIR- 20 compound with Crumb Rubber as the filler. Reinforced polypropylene with size 60 mesh with 1 mm, and the composition of the Crumb rubber (30, 40, and 50) wt%. Observed mechanical properties are tensile strength, fracture elongation, Young's modulus, tear strength and impact strength. Thermal properties are analyzed by DSC and DTA/TGA. It is acquired that for the size of 60 mesh crumb rubber tensile strength, fracture elongation, Young’s modulus, tear strength and impact strength are bigger than 1mm size. The addition of 60 mesh …

Cdm Potential In Palm Solid Waste Cogeneration As An Alternative Energy In Aceh Province, Mahidin Mahidin, Izarul Machdar, Muhammad Faisal, Muhammad Nizar

Makara Journal of Technology

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) as a solid waste in Crude Palm Oil (CPO) industry does not utilized yet as an alternative energy source to generate electricity. It is well known that use of solid wate (biomass) as an energy source is part of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) scheme due to direct reduction of Green House Gases (GHGs) emission and provide a direct contribution to sustainable development. Utilization of EFB as a source of energy is very potential to be implemented in Aceh since this province has 25 CPO Mills at the moment which actively produce about 870,000 ton EFB …

Small Scale Experiment: Thermal Performance Comparison Between Fiber-Cement Roof And Photovoltaic Roof In Malang, Indonesia, Nurhamdoko Bonifacius, Sri Nastiti Nugrahani Ekasiwi

Makara Journal of Technology

Irradiation on the surface of photovoltaic module heats up the photovoltaic module itself and the room underneath the roof of integrated photovoltaic building in the tropics area. Room heating reduces thermal condition and photovoltaic module surface heating reduces its performance in generating electricity. This paper discusses an experiment of measuring the surface temperature of photovoltaic modules and fiber-cement roof surface as a comparison. This experiment also measures the impact of rising temperatures in each space underneath. It used small-scale mock-ups exposed to direct sunlight. The result of the experiment shows that photovoltaic roof surface temperature is lower than fiber-cement roof …

Benchmark For Country-Level Earthquake Strong-Motion Instrumentation Program, Widjojo Adi Prakoso, I Nyoman Sukanta

Makara Journal of Technology

An empirical study to develop benchmark models at country-level to assess the suggested number of earthquake strongmotion stations based on a framework encompassing geographic, demographic, and socio-economic parameters is reported. The models are to provide a working estimate of the required number of stations for improving the strongmotion instrumentation program of Indonesia. National earthquake strong-motion networks of New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Iran, Turkey, and Italy were used as the references. The parameter proposed is the number of stations in land area of 1,000 km2, and three models based on the exponential regression analysis are presented as functions of population density, …

Worst Case Of Relative Disturbance Gain Array For Uncertain Distillation System, Rudy Agustriyanto, Jie Zhang

Makara Journal of Technology

This article discusses the constrained nonlinear optimization formulation for calculating the worst case of lower and upper bounds of relative disturbance gain array (RDGA) for uncertain process models. The proposed approach seeks the minimum and maximum values of the relative disturbance gains subject to the constraints in which the process and disturbance gains are within their uncertainty ranges. RDGA ranges are useful for control structure determination and the related robustness, as they provide information regarding the sensitivity to gain uncertainties. The proposed method is demonstrated by ternary distillation column case study. Closed loop simulation results support the analysis based on …

Biodiesel Production From Waste Cooking Oil Using Hydrodinamic Cavitation, Muhammad Dani Supardan, Satriana Satriana, Mahlinda Mahlinda

Makara Journal of Technology

The aim of this research was to study biodiesel production from low cost feedstock of waste cooking oil (WCO) using hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus. A two-step processes esterification process and transesterification process using hydrodynamic cavitation for the production of biodiesel from WCO is presented. The first step is acid-catalyzed esterification process for reducing free fatty acid (FFA) content of WCO and followed by base-catalyzed transesterification process for converting WCO to biodiesel as the second step. The result of esterification process with methanol to oil molar ratio of 5 and temperature of 60 oC showed that the initial acid value of WCO …

Knowledge Dictionary For Information Extraction On The Arabic Text Data, Wahyu Syaifullah Jauharis Saputra, Agus Zainal Arifin, Anny Yuniarti

Makara Journal of Technology

Information extraction is an early stage of a process of textual data analysis. Information extraction is required to get information from textual data that can be used for process analysis, such as classification and categorization. A textual data is strongly influenced by the language. Arabic is gaining a significant attention in many studies because Arabic language is very different from others, and in contrast to other languages, tools and research on the Arabic language is still lacking. The information extracted using the knowledge dictionary is a concept of expression. A knowledge dictionary is usually constructed manually by an expert and …

Effects Of Deposition Parameters And Oxygen Addition On Properties Of Sputtered Indium Tin Oxide Films, Badrul Munir, Rachmat Adhi Wibowo, Kim Kyoo Ho

Makara Journal of Technology

Indium tin oxide (ITO) films were sputtered on corning glass substrate. Oxygen admixture and sputtering deposition parameters were optimized to obtain the highest transparency as well as lowest resistivity. Structural, electrical and optical properties of the films were then examined. Increasing deposition rate and film thickness changed the crystallographic orientation from (222) to (400) and (440), as well as higher surface roughness. It was necessary to apply substrate heating during reposition to get films with better crystallinity. The lowest resistivity of 5.36 x 10-4 Ω•cm was obtained at 750 nm film thickness. The films’ resistivity was increased by addition of …

The Effect Of Rubber Mixing Process On The Curing Characteristics Of Natural Rubber, Abu Hasan, Rochmadi Rochmadi, Hary Sulistyo, Suharto Honggokusumo

Makara Journal of Technology

This research is aimed at studying the relationship between rubber mixing processes and curing characteristics of natural rubber. The curing characteristic analysis was carried out through a natural rubber formula having been masticated and mixed, followed by curing. As many as four mastication methods were finely applied; each respected four sequences of rubber mixing process. In the first method, rubber was masticated for 5 minutes and then rubber chemicals and carbon black N 330 were simultaneously added. In the second and the third methods, rubber was masticated for 1 minute and then carbon blacks and rubber chemicals were also simultaneously …

Improved Optical Probe For Measuring Phytoplankton Suspension Concentrations Based On Optical Fluoresensce And Absorption, Retno Wigajatri Purnamaningsih, Nining Betawati Prihantini

Makara Journal of Technology

This paper discusses the results of improved optical probe that works according to optical fluorescence and absorption phenomena for measuring the phytoplankton suspension concentrations. Measurements are made on the Scenedesmus sp. culture. The laboratory test has shown that range of concentration from 104 up to around 1 x 106 cells/mL; fluorescence intensity at λ = 685 nm; and logarithmic of transmission intensity at λ = 405 nm are proportional to the cell concentration linear with proportional constant γ = 4 × 10-5 and β = –2 × 10-7 mL/cell respectively.

Mechanical And Thermal Properties Of Polypropylene Reinforced By Calcined And Uncalcined Zeolite, Nurdin Bukit

Makara Journal of Technology

This study was carried out to compare mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene (PP) reinforced with uncalcined and calcined zeolites. The PP samples were reinforced with zeolites at various quantities of 2, 4, and 6 (wt %). The comparison of the two types of zeolite was based on mechanical properties, including tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young’s modulus, and thermal characteristics analyzed using DSC, and DTA/TGA technique. The results obtained clearly revealed that both zeolites were able to significantly increase tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the samples, with calcined zeolite was found to work better. Addition of calcined …

Observation Of Center Disaster Damage On Pariaman And Wasior Using Differential Sar Interferometry (Dinsar), Dodi Sudiana, Mia Rizkinia

Makara Journal of Technology

This study focuses on disaster observations in Pariaman (West Sumatera) and Wasior (Papua) using remote sensing techniques (differential SAR interferometry). Differential interferometry (DInSAR) method was performed on two PALSAR data sets with different acquisition months, i.e. about a month after and before disaster, respectively. The center damage of Pariaman earthquake and Wasior flood can be determined by deriving Land Subsidence using DInSAR method.

Physico-Chemical, And Sensory Properties Of Soy Based Gouda Cheese Analog Made From Different Concentration Of Fat, Sodium Citrate And Various Cheese Starter Cultures, Abu Amar, Ingrid Suryanti Surono

Makara Journal of Technology

Gouda cheese analog (GCA) was made using soy protein isolate (SPI), skim milk powder (SMP), fat (palm fat and butter fat), and water (W) at optimal ratio of SPI : SMP : F : W = 14 : 6 : 20 : 60. The effects of butter fat, sodium citrate, and cheese starter culture on the sensory properties of ripened product were assessed by preference test, hedonic test, and the texture profile analysis (TPA) of GCA. The free fatty acids, water-soluble nitrogen, and reduction in pH value of progel were also measured. The use of 100% butter fat (BF) produced …

Development Of Local-Economic-Development Small And Medium Industries (Led-Sme) In East Java, Rachmad Hidayat, Sabarudin Akhmad

Makara Journal of Technology

This paper presents the effects of Indonesian government’s developmental efforts of assistance and training performed on the growth of LED-SME business units and business performance. Both parameters of the government’s assistance and training were used to analyze the impact to the growth and performance of business unit. To achieve a comprehensive result, samples acquired in this research were about 190 entrepreneurs and managers of LED-SME from East Java. Based on the parameters above, there are five hypotheses made to prove the relationship of the assistance and training to the growth and performance of business units. The structural equation modeling (SEM) …

Process Improvements For Establishing Cmmi Certification At Company Xyz, Megan Farrell

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

CMMI stands for Capability Maturity Model Integration and is an enterprise-wide Process-Improvement model that provides a set of best practices that addresses productivity, performance, costs, and stakeholder satisfaction. This improvement model is generally used in computer software companied and not only does it improve their processes, but many contracts will only be awarded with those companies who are CMMI certified, so it is very important for Company XYZ. This goal of this project was to help improve the CMMI efforts at Company XYZ in 4 of the 20 distinct processes areas to attain a CMMI Maturity Level of 3. Improvement …

Design And Manufacture Of Natural Composite Canoe, Derek Baptista

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Abstract

This report looks into the application and feasibility of manufacturing natural composite canoes. The main fabrics that were analyzed are flax, hemp, and jute. These were then compared to carbon fiber and fiberglass to see the difference in mechanical properties. It was found that the natural fibers have lower mechanical properties but that this could be overcome by designing a balsa wood core with ribs running up the walls. After manufacturing a hemp canoe, many lesson were learned and areas of interest were further explored. With the use of different natural fibers, these canoes can greatly reduce the carbon …

Chsr Clothing: How To Start A Small Business Clothing Line To Be Run Efficiently With Minimum Capital And Maximum Profit, Kayvon Banisalam

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Executive Summary

Many clothing brands have failed because they did not design marketable products with a suitable business plan. Often times, clothing brand owners do not use the capital they possess in efficient ways. They can get caught off guard with unexpected costs and are not running the business in the most resourceful and professional way.

The goal of this project is to create a clothing brand that portrays distinctive designs to go along with an effective business model. This includes implementing decision analysis at several points of the planning phase, along with quality and cost controls. Creating quality products …