Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Multidimensional Simulation Of Cool Diffusion Flame, Ejaz Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the behavior of spherical cool diffusion flames in microgravity conditions is crucial for advancing combustion research. This knowledge has significant implications for both fundamental science and practical applications, such as spacecraft fire safety and the development of advanced, high-efficiency engines that benefit from low-temperature chemistry. Spherical cool diffusion flames are typically characterized by peak temperatures between 500 and 1000K and are often followed by the radiative extinction of a hot flame. Some low-temperature ignitions can sustain indefinitely at around 700K, leading to chain-branching pathways that produce intermediate species such as C2H4, H2O2, HO2, CH2O, CH3O, and HCO. In some …

Accelerating Numerical Modeling And Optimization Of Structural Mechanical Systems, Fatemeh Hashemian

Theses and Dissertations

This research proposal presents Bayesian optimization and reduced order modeling methods to accelerate numerical analysis and design of structure mechanical system. First, a holistic framework of Bayesian optimization (BO) based on parameterized numerical models and genetic algorithm-guided adaptive sampling is developed to automate and accelerate the design of a front-loading washing machine. The research aims to address challenges associated with the model parameterization and global optimization and design. A multibody dynamics model of the washing machine incorporating a set of 9 key design variables is developed. The design variables are implemented to enable automated modifications of the dynamics model for …

Geometrically Exact Beam Theory For Gradient-Based Optimization, Taylor Mcdonnell, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Decades of research have progressed geometrically exact beam theory to the point where it is now an invaluable resource for analyzing and modeling highly flexible slender structures. Large-scale optimization using geometrically exact beam theory remains nontrivial, however, due to the inability of gradient-free optimizers to handle large numbers of design variables in a computationally efficient manner and the difficulties associated with obtaining smooth, accurate, and efficiently calculated design sensitivities for gradient-based optimization. To overcome these challenges, this paper presents a finite-element implementation of geometrically exact beam theory which has been developed specifically for gradient-based optimization. A key feature of this …

Derivative Propagation Through Vortex Particle Method Simulation, Eric Green, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Automatic differentiation (AD) is a powerful tool for evaluating numerical derivatives. In particular, reverse-mode AD provides numerical gradients in a way that is insensitive to the number of input variables. This makes reverse-mode AD well-suited for solving large optimization problems. However, reverse-mode AD has a particularly large associated memory cost because most intermediate values in operations need to be cached. This is problematic for large problems such as aerodynamics simulations, though, since the memory requirements can quickly become impractical. The solution implemented in this work is to provide analytic pullback expressions for functions for which many of the intermediate values …

Trajectory Optimization Of Evtol And Conventional Aircraft: A Comparative Analysis Of Vortex Particle Method And Vortex Lattice + Blade Element Momentum Theory, Andrew Tagg, Ryan Anderson, Cibin Joseph, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Trajectory optimization of aircraft transition maneuvers can significantly influence the design of these systems, particularly when making decisions about aircraft geometry, propulsion sizing, and control system design. This paper presents the trajectory optimization of air vehicles including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) as well as conventional aircraft. The study evaluates the influence of fidelity in trajectory design by comparing the use of two aerodynamic methods in the context of trajectory optimization. The mid-fidelity method utilizes a vortex lattice method (VLM) to model lifting surfaces while employing blade element momentum theory (BEMT) to model rudimentary rotor-wing interactions. The high-fidelity approach …

Jme 4110: Washer To Dryer Clothes Transfer Device, Scott Diep, Jared Edwards, Catherine Mcdonnell, Patrick Geldmeier

Washington University / UMSL Mechanical Engineering Design Project JME 4110

For those leading busy lives or facing mobility challenges, this project involve a custom device can transfer clothes from washer to the dryer automatically when the person is not home. This solution eliminates the need to manually move clothes from the washer, preventing formation of mildew, and ensuring that the laundry is fresh and ready to wear when you return.

Jme 4110: Inflatable Patient Wedge, Thomas Gunsten, Bushra Zaidi, Zachary Howell, Luke Prichard

Washington University / UMSL Mechanical Engineering Design Project JME 4110

The goal of this project was to design, model, and build an inflatable patient wedge, capable of lifting a patient from a laying position to an appropriate sitting position. This system had to be cheap, reliable, and strong enough to lift a wide range of different patients. The design of this project includes repurposed air mattresses, resealed with an epoxy, and shaped into an appropriately angled wedge.

Jme 4110: Patient Mat Mover, Muhammad Mughal, Seth Gallamore, Gabriel Monte, Marcos Navas Gallardo, Jamie Barvian

Washington University / UMSL Mechanical Engineering Design Project JME 4110

The idea of an improved patient mat mover was suggested to help make the life of patients and their care givers easier. The typical method of using brute force to lift a patient and slide a mat under them can be very challenging and tasking on both the patient and their care giver. It is a large inconvenience in the medical field and makes the process of patient care difficult and uncomfortable. Our value is designing a solution that will eliminate pain and difficulty for both our patients and their nurses/care givers by simplifying patient transport from bed to bed. …

Repair And Surface Functionalization Of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites By Cold Spray, Ibnaj Anamika Anni

Theses and Dissertations

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are widely used in industries and applications such as energy, automotive, defense, and aerospace. This study investigates the application of polymer cold spray, an emerging additive manufacturing process, for coating and repair of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The research starts with feasibility studies focused on the cold spray deposition of thermoplastic nylon-6 particles on woven glass fiber-reinforced composites (GFRP). A parametric study determines critical process parameters window, ensuring successful deposition and bonding without compromising the macroscale mechanical behavior. These findings indicate that the cold spray process does not adversely affect the fiber integrity or surface quality of …

Python Tooth–Inspired Fixation Device For Enhanced Rotator Cuff Repair, Iden Kurtaliaj, Ethan D. Hoppe, Yuxuan Huang, David Ju, Jacob A. Sandler, Donghwan Yoon, Lester J. Smith, Silvio Torres Betancur, Linda Effiong, Thomas Gardner, Liana Tedesco, Sohil Desai, Victor Birman, William N. Levine

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Rotator cuff repair surgeries fail frequently, with 20 to 94% of the 600,000 repairs performed annually in the United States resulting in retearing of the rotator cuff. The most common cause of failure is sutures tearing through tendons at grasping points. To address this issue, we drew inspiration from the specialized teeth of snakes of the Pythonoidea superfamily, which grasp soft tissues without tearing. To apply this nondamaging gripping approach to the surgical repair of tendon, we developed and optimized a python tooth–inspired device as an adjunct to current rotator cuff suture repair and found that it nearly doubled repair …

Ultrasound Based Dynamic Reference Reflection Technique For Simultaneous Specific Gravity And Temperature Estimation, Jose Paul

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work is driven by the need for a noninvasive density estimation device for pipeline infrastructure due to the increased risk of volatility in the high energy density fuels that are available in the market. Ultrasound based techniques have proved to be a viable alternative to traditional u tube resonance or nuclear techniques due to their robustness and safety offering. The major update that this work intends to make to the existing technology is development of a system wherein the transducer or the electronic components remain isolated from the flow field.As a result, this work dives headfirst into the fundamentals …

Correction: Graph Theory And Graph Neural Network Assisted High-Throughput Crystal Structure Prediction And Screening For Energy Conversion And Storage, Joshua Ojih, Mohammed Al-Fahdi, Yagang Yao, Jianjun Hu, Ming Hu

Faculty Publications

Correction for ‘Graph theory and graph neural network assisted high-throughput crystal structure prediction and screening for energy conversion and storage’ by Joshua Ojih et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12, 8502–8515, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TA06190F.

On page 8511 in section 3.2 of the published article, the text “The single values of bonding and antibonding for each structure are obtained by performing integration over COHP curves for each atomic pair as evaluated by the LOBSTER package” should have included citations to six references. The missing references are listed below as ref. 1–6.

The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for …

Design Of A Pick-And-Place Robot With Computer Vision And Optimized Sorting Algorithms, Dan Kilula

Student Theses and Dissertations

In computer science, the Multiple Travelling Salesman Problem (mTSP) is a special case of Travelling Salesmen where one salesman travels through a network of cities (end nodes) and goes back to the starting city (start node) rather than stopping at the targeted end node. Numerous search and optimization algorithms are used to find the most time-efficient path for the salesman to visit each node. In this work 3 optimization methods and algorithms such as linear programming and A* pathfinding are utilized and compared to solve the mTSP applied to a 3 degrees-of-freedom pick-and-place robot that uses computer vision to detect …

Lunar: Automated Input Generation And Analysis For Reactive Lammps Simulations, Josh Kemppainen, Jacob R. Gissinger, S. Gowtham, Gregory Odegard

Michigan Tech Publications

Generating simulation-ready molecular models for the LAMMPS molecular dynamics (MD) simulation software package is a difficult task and impedes the more widespread and efficient use of MD in materials design and development. Fixed-bond force fields generally require manual assignment of atom types, bonded interactions, charges, and simulation domain sizes. A new LAMMPS pre- and postprocessing toolkit (LUNAR) is presented that efficiently builds molecular systems for LAMMPS. LUNAR automatically assigns atom types, generates bonded interactions, assigns charges, and provides initial configuration methods to generate large molecular systems. LUNAR can also incorporate chemical reactivity into simulations by facilitating the use of the …

Work In Progress: Development Of A Bootcamp For Freshman Student Success During Covid-19 Transition, Noe Vargas Hernandez, Arturo A. Fuentes, Javier A. Ortega, Laura Benitez, Edna Orozco-Leonhardt

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Assessment results show that passing rates in introductory courses and retention rates of firstyear students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of X, a predominantly Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), significantly dropped with the onset of COVID-19. These results and trends highlight the academic preparation of incoming students, particularly the new cohort of underrepresented Hispanic students from underserved and challenged communities in the region, who may not have the necessary skills (e.g., adaptability, persistence, and performance) for the rigor of engineering education. To address this challenge, an onboarding “boostcamp” was created for incoming and transfer students …

Board 294: Hsi Implementation And Evaluation Project: The Freshman Year Innovator Experience (Fyie): Bridging The Urm Gap In Stem, Noe Vargas Hernandez, Javier Ortega, Arturo A. Fuentes, Eleazar Marquez

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The Freshman Year Innovator Experience (FYIE) program at The University of X, a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), aims to enhance the freshman experience for incoming students by developing key academic success skills. The program is developing self-transformation skills in freshman mechanical engineering students to help them overcome academic and professional challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. FYIE participants are taking two courses simultaneously: Introduction to Engineering (Course A) and Learning Frameworks (Course B). In Course A, students will complete a 6-week engineering design project, and in Course B, they are completing a 6-week academic career path project. During these parallel …

Work In Progress: Teaching Engineering Students To Self-Transform: Parallelisms Between Product Innovation And Student Career Path Planning, Noe Vargas Hernandez, Javier Ortega, Arturo A. Fuentes, Eleazar Marquez

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Freshman engineering students can have a hard time transitioning to college. The freshman year is critical to the students’ academic success; in this year they learn basic skills and establish essential networks with other students, faculty, and resources. How can we help these freshman engineering students in this transition? We propose that freshman students can learn from the engineering design innovation process and apply it by analogy to the design of their academic pathways. There are multiple similarities between product innovation (i.e., technology) and the continuous academic challenges faced by the student. Engineers as designers and innovators have a vast …

Investigating The Feasibility And Mechanisms Of Cold Spray Deposition Of Polymer-Based Powders On Fiber-Reinforced Composite Substrates, Nicholas Beau Mennie

Theses and Dissertations

Fiber-reinforced composites have become important structural components in industries such as aerospace and energy due to their high mechanical strength and relatively light structural weight. However, during operation, these materials can be prone to impact damage and disintegration. Effective protection via metalization and repair of composites would, therefore, reduce the cost and time for replacement parts. Polymer-based cold spray, while a relatively new technique, can be utilized to metalize and possibly repair composite materials subjected to impact-induced damage. In this work, studies involving polymers and composite cold spray were performed to enable the process of safeguarding, enhancing, or repairing various …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of Multifunctional Cellular Structures For Enhanced Impact Energy Mitigation Performance, Kazi Zahir Uddin

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the relationship between the structural design of cellular solids and their macroscopic behavior and focuses on the customization of properties through advanced fabrication techniques. The concepts of density gradation and their integration in both non-ordered and ordered cellular structures have been proposed. The investigation focuses on the development of functionally graded foam materials (FGFMs) and mechanical metamaterials to obtain tunable mechanical performance. One significant focus is the fabrication of density-graded foam stacks with various interface adhesives. From the insights gained from the study of interfaces in density-graded foams, certain design and fabrication principles are applied to enhance …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Vanadium Nitride/Carbon Nanocomposites, Helia Magali Morales, Horacio Vieyra, David A. Sanchez, Elizabeth M. Fletes, Michael Odlyzko, Timothy P. Lodge, Victoria Padilla-Gainza, Mataz Alcoutlabi, Jason Parsons

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The present work focuses on the synthesis of a vanadium nitride (VN)/carbon nanocomposite material via the thermal decomposition of vanadyl phthalocyanine (VOPC). The morphology and chemical structure of the synthesized compounds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The successful syntheses of the VOPC and non-metalated phthalocyanine (H2PC) precursors were confirmed using FTIR and XRD. The VN particles present a needle-like morphology in the VN synthesized by the sol-gel method. The morphology of the VN/C composite material exhibited small …

Study Of Polymer-On-Polymer Cold Spray Deposition Windows Under Apparently Similar Conditions, Ülar Tiitma

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to explore and expand the capabilities of polymer-on-polymer cold spray demonstrated herein using polyamide 6 (PA6)-based powder and substrates. Experiments were conducted using three different cold spray systems described in this work, permitting more in-depth examination of process response to different cold spray process control parameters, such as nominal system pressure and temperature. Two specific responses of interest were the deposition window (DW) and deposition efficiency (DE) of PA6. The DW was determined by performing several sprays at different calculated particle impact velocities and temperatures. The composite result from these experiments was identification of …

Automating An Industrial Dishwashing System Using Hardware-In-The-Loop Plc Simulation With Factory I/O, Paniz Khanmohammadi Hazaveh, Nathir Rawashdeh, Dunsten M. X. Dsouza, Joshua Olusola, Joshua Albrecht, Eric Houck

Michigan Tech Publications

While industrial automation is growing in many industries, the hospitality industry has not seen much technological innovation recently. This leaves a wealth of potential for the implementation of automated solutions, especially at large-scale operations, like university dining halls or cruise ship restaurants. This paper details a student project developed in the advanced programmable logic controllers class. It is part of the master program in mechatronics. Students work in groups in a creative setting, where they learn to integrate various automation technologies and learn to write scientific publications. The project implements the automation of a student dining hall dishwashing system using …

Plc Multi-Robot Integration Via Ethernet For Human Operated Quality Sampling, Jeevan S. Devagiri, Paniz Khanmohammadi Hazaveh, Nathir Rawashdeh, Sai Revanth Reddy Dudipala, Pratik Mohan Desmuhk, Aditya Prasad Karmarkar

Michigan Tech Publications

In automation, quality control inspection is a critical requirement to ensure product standards. The goal of this work is to insure product quality without interrupting the production line flow. The multi-robot system presented, connects a programmable logic controller (PLC), as the main controller, to a conveyor belt and two FANUC industrial robotic arms via EtherNet/IP. Human interaction is implemented to pick a work piece from the moving conveyor and return it with a quality label. This label is used by the PLC to execute the correct robot action; either to return the inspected part to the conveyor or discard it …

Board 125: Work In Progress: Faculty Experiences And Learning Through Oral-Assessment Implementation In Engineering Courses, Minju Kim, Carolyn L. Sandoval, Josephine Relaford-Doyle, Torus Washington Ii, Saharnaz Baghdadchi, Nathan Delson, Marko Lubarda, Alex M. Phan, Curt Schurgers, Huihui Qi

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

This WIP qualitative research paper explores faculty experiences with implementing oral exams in high-enrollment undergraduate engineering courses at a research university. With a primary goal to improve conceptual mastery, as well as a desire to ensure academic integrity in the sudden move to remote instruction at the height of the pandemic, a group of faculty in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments implemented oral assessments in their own engineering courses across several quarters. They formed a research group with educational developers in a teaching and learning center on campus, and investigated the impact of oral assessments …

Estimation Of Vehicle Traffic Parameters Using An Optical Distance Sensor For Use In Smart City Road Infrastructure, Rafał Burdzik, Ireneusz Celiński, Minvydas Ragulskis, Vinayak Ranjan, Jonas Matijošius

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

In recent decades, the dynamics of road vehicle traffic have significantly evolved, compelling traffic engineers to develop innovative traffic monitoring solutions, especially for dense road networks. Traditional methods for measuring traffic volume along road sections may no longer suffice for modern traffic control systems. This is particularly true for induction loops, a widely used method since the last century. In contrast, measuring techniques using microwaves or visible light offer better accuracy but are often hindered by the high cost of sensors. This paper presents new techniques for measuring traffic flow and other parameters that adapt to changing traffic dynamics using …

Study On The Tribological Properties Of Din 16mncr5 Steel After Duplex Gas-Nitriding And Pack Boriding, Rafael Carrera Espinoza, Melvyn Alvarez-Vera, Marc Wettlaufer, Manuel Kerl, Stefan Barth, Pablo Moreno Garibaldi, Juan Carlos Díaz Guillen, Héctor Manuel Hernández García, Rita Muñoz Arroyo, Javier A. Ortega

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

DIN 16MnCr5 is commonly used in mechanical engineering contact applications such as gears, joint parts, shafts, gear wheels, camshafts, bolts, pins, and cardan joints, among others. This study examined the microstructural and mechanical properties and tribological behavior of different surface treatments applied to DIN 16MnCr5 steel. The samples were hardened at 870 °C for 15 min and then quenched in water. The surface conditions evaluated were as follows: quenched and tempered DIN 16MnCr5 steel samples without surface treatments (control group), quenched and tempered DIN 16MnCr5 steel samples with gas-nitriding at 560 °C for 6 h, quenched and tempered DIN 16MnCr5 …

Continuum Mechanics Modeling Of High Strain Rate Impact Of Thermoplastic Polymer Particles, Jeeva Muthulingam

Theses and Dissertations

The study of particle impact at high strain rates is crucial in fields ranging from materials science and engineering to space exploration and environmental science. In the particular case of cold spray, a particle undergoes intense plastic deformation upon impact, causing it to adhere to the target substrate. While metallic particles impacting on metallic substrates have been extensively studied, understanding the mechanical characteristics of polymeric particles on polymer and metal substrates requires further research. This study focuses on single particle impact modeling, analyzing impact parameters such as particle size, velocity, and angle of incidence using continuum mechanics finite element modeling …

Cognitive Manufacturing: Definition And Current Trends, Fadi El Kalach, Ibrahim Yousif, Thorsten Wuest, Amit Sheth, Ramy Harik

Publications

Manufacturing systems have recently witnessed a shift from the widely adopted automated systems seen throughout industry. The evolution of Industry 4.0 or Smart Manufacturing has led to the introduction of more autonomous systems focused on fault tolerant and customized production. These systems are required to utilize multimodal data such as machine status, sensory data, and domain knowledge for complex decision making processes. This level of intelligence can allow manufacturing systems to keep up with the ever-changing markets and intricate supply chain. Current manufacturing lines lack these capabilities and fall short of utilizing all generated data. This paper delves into the …

Large-Scale Research Infrastructure Empowers High-Quality Development Of Private Enterprises: Current Situation, Challenges, And Policy Recommendations, Lingling Zhang, Fuqiang Wang, Mingze Zhang, Zexia Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Private enterprises have become an important source of innovation in China’s economic development. Large-scale research infrastructure, as a crucial strategic support and innovation element for breaking through key technologies, provides a platform for the innovative development of private enterprises. At present, some large-scale research infrastructures in China, such as the China Spallation Neutron Source and the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, have begun actively exploring mechanisms to serve private enterprises. These efforts have helped a number of private companies overcome critical technological bottlenecks and achieve original innovations. Nevertheless, in the current process of opening up large-scale research infrastructures to private enterprises …

Investigation Of Process-Structure-Property Relationships In Additively Manufactured Chopped Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites, Indu Modala

Theses and Dissertations

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are widely used in various industries because of their high stiffness-to-weight ratio. However, traditional manufacturing processes restrict the application of FRP composites to the production of parts with simple geometries. With the advent of additive manufacturing (AM), it is possible to produce topologically optimized parts with complex geometries using chopped FRPs. Fully leveraging the advantages of AM in the fabrication of chopped FRP parts requires a thorough understanding of the effect of the process parameters on the microstructure, and subsequently on the mechanical properties of the manufactured part. This research focuses on studying the process-structure-property (P-S-P) …