Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Control Of X-Delta Arm And Self-Leveling Robot Systems For Uav Applications, Prathibha Sobha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The water droplet penetration test (WDPT) is an environmental assessment method for analyzing soil properties by measuring the penetration of water droplets into soil. This test provides insights into soil moisture retention and resilience, especially valuable in fire-prone or arid regions where soil recovery and erosion control are essential. Although this project does not conduct an actual WDPT, it investigates two key robotic systems designed to support such applications: an X-delta robot arm, which simulates precise droplet delivery patterns, and a self-leveling platform that ensures stability on uneven terrain, where the X-delta robot is mounted. Together, these systems examine the …

Mechanically Cost-Effective Approach For Bipedal Walking In Robots Using Instantaneous Collision Angle, Smit R. Patel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Humans, as bipedal locomotors, are effective at reducing the mechanical cost of transport (CoTmech) by adopting movement strategies and gaits that minimize energy expenditure for a given distance. By using different gaits at different speeds, leveraging their long spring-like tendons and muscle elasticity which store and release energy during movement, humans reduce the mechanical effort required for locomotion. Current locomotion solutions offered in bipedal robots, based on legacy walking and running gait models, are not great at energy efficiency unless walking at very low speeds. Additionally, the control system of robots, designed to ensure stability and adaptability, requires substantial resources, …

Reproducible Research Data Pipelines – Case Study Of Bubble Collapse In Subcooled Nucleate Pool Boiling, Blake Naccarato

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Vapor bubble collapse is relevant to the study of subcooled nucleate boiling, as can occur in power plants and missile systems, in studies of wear due to cavitation, and even in the study of hydrothermal vents in the Earth sciences. Empirical correlations relate the rate of bubble collapse to thermal conditions of the subcooled fluid, and one may choose to produce a purpose built correlation for any process. However, they are time and resource intensive due to the data and process requirements for automated bubble tracking. A reproducible research data pipeline has been developed to discriminate between existing correlations for …

Hitch Cart “Landing Gear”, Rebekah White, Jose Raygoza, Randy Hernandez, Brandon Leon

Mechanical Engineering

This report aims to allow our sponsor, to review our design process of the Hitch Cart Landing Gear Prototype. In the design overview section of this report, we discuss the primary design modifications we made to the wheel mechanism of the existing hitch cart prototype, including the addition of the ACME screws and the folding brackets. This allows our sponsor to see the intended improvements made to the past prototype and understand the primary goal of our project. Then, in the implementation section, we cover the entire manufacturing process to allow our sponsor to understand what manufacturing steps must be …

Pseudo Gps For Romi, Emmanuel Baez, Owen Guinane, Gabriel Coria, Conor Schott

Mechanical Engineering

The Pseudo-GPS system for Romi robots addresses the need for precise real-time location tracking in Cal Poly's Mechatronics lab. This project, developed by Emmanuel Baez, Gabriel Coria, Owen Guinane, and Conor Schott, under the guidance of instructor Charlie Refvem, provides a proof-of-concept system to enhance the Romi robots' geolocation capabilities for advanced robotic algorithms.

The proposed system uses a Raspberry Pi 4 equipped with a Pi camera module and ArUco markers to track the position and orientation of Romi robots within a lab environment. Custom 3D-printed stands secure markers on the robots, and a designated origin marker defines the coordinate …

Improving Thermionic Power Generation Via The Reduction Of Emission Barriers, Chace E. Franey

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

This thesis investigates methods to improve the performance of thermionic energy converters (TECs) by reducing the emission barriers. A TEC generates electricity from thermal energy when electrons are emitted from a hot electrode (the emitter) through a vacuum gap and absorbed by a cooler electrode (the collector). Due to their lack of working fluids and inherently compact nature, TECs have garnered attention over the years for their potential as a means of power generation in space or high-grade waste heat recovery. Historically, however, the practical implementation of TECs has been hindered by significant technical challenges. Recent advancements in microfabrication techniques …

Electrochemical Treatment Of Mining And Oilfield Wastewater Using Recycled Titanium Alloy Electrodes, Sean Michael Thompsen

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

This thesis explores the integration of circular economy principles into wastewater treatment through the innovative use of recycled Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy electrodes. By repurposing titanium alloys from metal additive manufacturing (AM) waste, the research aims to address the treatment of acidic and oil-contaminated industrial wastewater in a sustainable manner. The recycled electrodes demonstrate notable stability and fouling resistance in challenging acidic conditions, attributed to their unique surface porosity and conductive properties. Electrochemical processes, including hydrogen evolution at the cathode, facilitate metal ion precipitation and destabilize surfactant-stabilized oil droplets. Cyclic voltammetry and long-term stability tests highlight the electrodes’ resilience, providing an …

Development Of A Surface-Mounted Strong Post For The Midwest Guardrail System, Gnyarienn Selva Kumar

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

This research investigated the development of a surface-mounted strong post for the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS), designed to replicate the behavior of the standard MGS post, a W6 x8.5, 72-in. long post embedded 40 in. into strong soil. The MGS is a strong post, W-beam guardrail system that has been successfully evaluated in many applications using crashworthiness criteria described in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). However, in some locations, conventional soil-embedded posts are impossible to install due to subgrade obstructions like concrete slabs, mow strips, utilities, and limited right-of-way. …

Greek Key-Inspired Fractal Metamaterials With Enhanced Flexibility And Energy Absorption., Zhennan Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Architected materials with intricate three-dimensional (3D) geometries offer unique properties and functionalities but face challenges in manufacturing costs and complexity. This research explores the integration of simple 2D Greek Key-inspired lattices into fractal designs to achieve exceptional mechanical performance. Using 3D printing and kerfing, these fractal structures demonstrate enhanced flexibility and energy absorption capabilities. Through three-point bending and in-plane tensile tests, the 2D fractal lattices exhibited a 600-fold reduction in bending force and a tensile stretch capacity of up to 520%, significantly outperforming brittle parent materials. Out-of-plane compression tests revealed a five-fold increase in energy absorption compared to honeycomb structures, …

Synthesis And Doping Effects In Highly Conductive Chalcogenide Solid Electrolytes., Selim Halacoglu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lithium and sodium ion batteries have been a vital component in the growth of small, portable electronic devices and EVs over the past 30 years. For future energy needs, changes to battery chemistry and composition will be necessary for two primary reasons: safer and higher energy batteries. Metal anodes have not seen widespread commercialization because of their propensity to react aggressively with the flammable liquid electrolytes commonly used in modern batteries. Non-flammable solid-state batteries (SSB) with solid electrolytes can safely be used with metal anodes, potentially providing a solution to both problems. The future perspective of safer battery is that …

High Energy Density Lithium-Ion Battery Materials., Rachel Dewees

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growth of the EV industry has created an increased demand for Li-ion battery electrode materials, and support of a robust lithium-ion battery supply chain is a national imperative. For mainstream acceptance in the American market, the range of EVs must be improved, i.e., the energy density of the battery must be increased. Increasing the specific capacity of the electrode materials is the most direct strategy for increasing the energy density of the battery. Silicon anode materials have a theoretical capacity of over 3700 mAh·g^-1 - an order of magnitude beyond that of the graphitic materials which are currently implemented. …

Improving Robustness Of Learning-Based Approaches In Autonomous Systems And Engineering Education, Godwyll Aikins

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation advances the development of robust learning-based approaches across two complementary domains: engineering education and autonomous systems. Through four studies, this research addresses critical challenges in preparing data-proficient engineers and developing reliable autonomous systems that can operate under uncertainty and incomplete information. The engineering education study examines how mechanical and aerospace engineering undergraduates conceptualize and develop data proficiency skills essential for modern engineering practice. Through interviews with 27 students, the research employs the How People Learn framework to analyze student perspectives on information literacy, data interpretation, and computational thinking. The findings inform pedagogical strategies for developing data proficiency in …

Investigation Of Conductive Die-Top Thermal Capacitors During Short Circuit Operation Of Silicon Carbide Devices, Youssef Abotaleb

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their superior thermal and electrical properties compared to traditional silicon devices. However, SiC power devices suffer from severe reliability issues arising from their mechanical properties. This is because the Young's modulus of SiC is about three times larger than that of silicon, which correspondingly raises the mechanical stresses acting on the bonding structure, often leading to device failure under power shock events.

Traditional packaging materials and designs tend to constrain SiC performance, as hot-spot temperature resulting from a power shock is one of the key factors …

Identifying Challenges Faced By Small And Medium Enterprises (Smes) In The Middle East And North Africa (Mena) Region Through Total Quality Management, Mohamad Atef

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have become recognized as an important driver of global economic growth and innovation. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the MENA region, where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make a significant contribution to the businesses. SMEs offer significant benefits in terms of job creation, revenue generation, and fostering economic diversity. Although SMEs have a vital contribution in the economy of the MENA region, SMEs face many challenges that hinder their development and long-term viability. Focusing on these challenges is very important for fostering a vibrant and resilient economic environment. The objective of this thesis …

Heterogeneous Collaborative Robotics: Multi-Robot Navigation In Dynamic Environments, Tyler Nicholas Raettig

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: The challenges of multi-robot navigation in dynamic environments, focusing on uncertainties in obstacle complexities, partial observation, and the transition of policies from simulations to the real world. The proposed approach utilizes a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework enabling a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-equipped robot to communicate with a camera-equipped robot to achieve optimal paths despite their different sensors. The key contributions include the development of a cooperative architecture for information exchange between robots, a DRL-based framework for learning navigation policies, and a training mechanism based on dynamic randomization for enhanced real-world adaptability. Experimental validation using Gazebo simulations demonstrates …

Fatigue Endurance Of Alsi10mg Post Hip Heat Treatment With High Duration Thermal Aging, William Venable Newcomb

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

AlSi10Mg is one of the cornerstones of additive manufacturing (AM), with its materialproperties and relatively low cost making it extremely popular as an AM metal choice, specifically using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). Many publications have focused on this material, studying tensile strength, fatigue, heat treatments, and more. However, an area that requires further study is the effect of aging on the materials fatigue properties, with this study examining an industry standard heat treatment of Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP). Using studies that have already been completed, AlSi10Mg was fatigue tested at near 100% UTS and 75% yield strength after HIP …

Monitoring Of Laser Soldering Process In Hybrid Additive Manufacturing, Alexander P. Pustinger

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) has been a maturing technology that has expanded over the course of the last decade in major advancements especially in accessibility, process monitoring, modeling, and stock material design. As its industry use is growing, the demand for added improvements such as multi-functionality increases, such as with a hybrid system that allows for modification of printed parts with different electrical components like the Foundry Multi-3D system. The system's purpose is to create AM parts with multifunctional electrical components with the vision to expand to other areas of interest in manufacturing such as ISAM. This work explores the use …

Neural Operator And Physics-Informed Deep Learning Approaches For Inverse Design Of Composites And Manufacturing Processes, Minglei Lu

All Dissertations

In this dissertation, artificial intelligence (AI) models are designed and used to accelerate inverse design of composites and manufacturing processes. The critical bottlenecks in machine learning (ML) including data availability, data quality, model generalization and adaptation, interpretability, physical consistency, and the ’black box’ nature of models for the inverse design are addressed. And the proposed AI models are tested under different engineering scenarios. Firstly, a fast deep neural operator (DNO) structure was developed to significantly reduce training time. This model was tested in the context of additive manufacturing, a transformative industrial technology that allows for the creation of materials with …

An Efficient Computational Frameworks For Design And Analysis Of Metamaterials, Raj Pradip Khawale

All Dissertations

Advancement in additive manufacturing helps in building artificial lattice structures with unique properties that are not available in naturally occurring materials or in continuum structures. Specifically, beam-based lattices are well known for producing lightweight structures with very high strength, auxetic behavior, and energy absorption capabilities. In recent years, numerous research studies have been conducted on generating algorithms and frameworks to obtain unusual properties based on the variation in the cell geometry and material properties. However, the exploration of the full design space is hampered in practice primarily due to restrictions on cell tiling variation. Additionally, the lattices are very intricate, …

Finite-Time Control Strategies For Rendezvous And Proximity Operations, John Tamotsu Akagi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

One common metric to use when designing a controller is the time that the system will take to reach the desired state. Unfortunately, many approaches to developing controllers only guarantee that the system will approach, but not exactly reach, the desired state. This can become a limitation in time-sensitive situations where rapid and complete convergence is necessary. One group of control methods, known as finite-time control, does guarantee both faster convergence and that the desired state will be reached, but often fails to define exactly what time that will occur, how much control will be used to get there, and …

Simulation-Based Methodology To Investigate The Impact Of Material Type And Compressive Speed Variation On Effective Strain Rate And Springback, Radhi Nurvian Amrullah, Syamsul Hadi, Muhammad Akhlis Rizza

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

To obtain the desired results in the manufacturing process, especially the bending process, the occurrence of springback must be reduced. The effective strain rate must be increased to predict the increase in material. This study uses a simulation method to determine the influence of material type and compressive speed variation on spring back and effective strain rate. This study uses 3 kinds of materials: JIS SPHD, JIS A1100 BE, and JIS SN400A, and speed variations, namely: 90 mm/s, 105 mm/s, and 120 mm/s. This study shows that JIS SN400A material has the smallest springback value compared to JIS A1100 BE …

Characterization And Performance Nanofiltration Membranes In Water Quality For Goldfish (Carassius Auratus) Aquaculture, Inpita Casuarina Eqisetia Utari, Uun Yanuhar, Asus Maizar Suryanto Hertika, Heru Suryanto, Jibril Maulana, Nico Rahman Caesar, Mahrus Ismail, Leong-Seng Lim

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Water quality is an important factor in aquaculture activities, including goldfish (Carassius auratus) farming. One approach to improving water quality is the use of nanofilters. This study aims to evaluate the performance of nanofilters made from Sargassum sp. with the addition of copper oxide nanoparticles. The method used involves the fermentation of bacterial cellulose from Acetobacter xylinum using Sargassum sp. extract as a medium, followed by homogenization and the addition of CuO-NPs at concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%, and subsequent oven drying. The nanofilter membrane will then be analyzed using SEM, XRD, and FTIR to characterize its properties. Performance …

The Potential Of Ramie Fiber As Reinforcement In Calcium Carbonate-Filled Polyester Resin Matrix Composites For Roofing Applications, Reinaldo Reinaldo, Djoko Setyanto

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Polymer matrix composite roofing materials available in the Indonesian market typically consist of 30%wt chopped strand mat glass fiber embedded in unsaturated polyester resin, filled with 30 parts per hundred resin (PHR) calcium carbonate. The aim of this research is to evaluate whether natural ramie fibers can potentially replace glass fibers. In the first stage of the study, we compared three types of natural fibers abundant in Indonesia: banana stem fibers, sugarcane bagasse, and ramie. Showed that ramie fiber performed the best. Its flexural strength, flexural modulus, and impact toughness were the highest, measured at 191.57 MPa, 6691 MPa, and …

Analysis Of Titanium Mesh Ti6al4v Formation Using Die Press Forming Machine For Cranioplasty, Ahmad Ayyub Syaiful Rizal, Mahros Darsin, Robertoes Koekoeh K. Wibowo, Khairul Anam

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Cranioplasty is required for patients with head defects, where the deformed part of the head is replaced with Ti6Al4V titanium wire implants. The titanium wire forming process is usually done manually, which can take a long time and give results that do not match the anatomical shape of the head. Therefore, it is important to develop domestic technology that can produce titanium wire automatically. This study aims to analyze the frame and mold of the automatic wire mesh molding machine before production. The tool is made using press forming method and finite element analysis with ANSYS software. The machine frame …

The Influence Of Sodium Chloride Treatment On The Sisal Fiber Bundle’S Properties, Tamaryska Setyayunita, Heru Suryanto, Aminnudin Aminnudin

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Currently, composite board manufacturing using natural fiber has the potential to be expanded due to environmental awareness. To produce high-performance natural fiber, treatment is needed to improve natural fiber’s mechanical and physical properties. One of chemical treatments is by using sodium chloride (NaCl). This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of sisal fiber after NaCl treatment. The concentrations of NaCl treatment were 1, 3, and 5 (wt.%) at room and boiling temperature and the soaking duration was 1 hour. Meanwhile, tensile strength, strain, and Young’s modulus were tested to evaluate the mechanical properties. Fiber bundle diameter, weight change due to …

Analysis Of Tidal Energy Potential In The Merauke Papua River Waters Indonesia, Peter Sahupala, Daniel Parenden

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The purpose of this study is as a source of information to study the potential of tidal energy at the estuary of the Maro River in the waters of Merauke Regency. This study uses a quantitative method, while the method for determining the location of the study used is the purposive sampling method where the data collection point is right at the end of the estuary of the Maro River because it faces directly onto the Arafura Sea. Tide data for 5 months, namely September 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024 with a pool area of 1,260,000 m2, with the …

Innovations In Additive Manufacturing For Socket Fabrication: An Overview, Linda Ziyadatul Faiza, Wahyu Caesarendra, Wahyu Dwi Lestari

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has transformed the prosthetics industry, particularly in socket production, which plays a critical role in the comfort, fit, and functionality of prosthetic limbs. This article examines the latest advancements in AM technologies and their applications in socket fabrication. Key techniques like stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), and fused deposition modeling (FDM) have facilitated the production of highly personalized, lightweight, and durable prosthetic sockets. These methods not only improve design precision but also allow for the use of biocompatible, flexible materials, enhancing both comfort and functionality. Digital design tools have streamlined the production process, reducing lead times …

Tactical Activities To Improve The Effectiveness Of Concrete Batching Plant Based On Overall Equipment Effectiveness Analysis, Yurida Ekawati, Iddo Christian Sutrisno, Teguh Oktiarso

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The growth of infrastructure projects has led to an increased demand for ready-mix concrete. A company that produces ready-mix concrete using a batching plant encountered difficulties in fulfilling customer orders due to the high rate of machine downtime. Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) was employed to examine these issues at the tactical activities, where the root causes of losses that occur in the OEE components of availability, performance, and quality were addressed. The OEE analysis was extended to encompass maintenance effectiveness measures, as the anticipated solution to the problem was not the replacement of the machine, but rather an enhancement of …

Structural Simulation Of Wheelchair Ramp Using Finite Element Method, Bhre Wangsa Lenggana, Agung Nugroho, Ubaidillah Ubaidillah

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Wheelchairs are essential mobility aids for people with disabilities, but they are often limited to flat surfaces and cannot overcome height differences. Portable ramps are an effective solution to overcome this limitation. This research aims to simulate and analyze the structure of a portable ramp for wheelchairs. Simulations were conducted using finite element method analysis software to assess the portable ramp's von Mises stress, deformation, and safety factor in various loading positions. Finite element method (FEM) analysis software was utilized to evaluate key mechanical properties, including von Mises stress, deformation, and safety factor, under different loading conditions and positions. The …

Analysis Of Biomass Briquette Mixed Bagasse And Sugarcane Peel On The Performance Of Forced Top-Lit Updraft Gasifier Stove, Intan Hardiatama, Aron Enruico, Yuni Hermawan, Muhammad Trifiananto, Skriptyan N.H. Syuhri

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The population growth in Indonesia from 270 million in 2020 to 279 million in 2024 has increased LPG consumption, potentially leading to future fuel shortages. The top-lit updraft (TLUD) gasifier stove using renewable biomass materials, offers a sustainable alternative. Biomass such as bagasse and sugarcane peel can be optimized into charcoal briquettes with high calorific value and low emissions. The calorific value of briquettes can be further enhanced by blending other high–calorific biomass materials. This experimental research focuses on testing the calorific value of raw bagasse and sugarcane peel before carbonization, as well as briquette mixtures (70:30, 50:50, 30:70) using …