Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Barcode Medication Administration (Bmca): 2023-24, Krishan R. Patel, Carlos E. Sosa, Mary Grace Sy

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The Barcode Medication Administration is an important system implemented within a hospital. It is the process in which nurses and other healthcare professionals prescribe and distribute medication to the patients. It aids in organizing which patient got prescribed which medication from which doctor and provides records on who was given care by who. The whole BCMA system is a multi-step process from getting the medication prescribed, to the nurses having to pick up the medication from the medication cabinet, and then having to scan the patient and the medication to finally administer medications.

The current BCMA system implemented at the …

Supermileage Competition: Vehicle Chassis, Enrico Miguel Sangalang, Walter Oppelt, Adam Ponce, Vincent Corella

Mechanical Engineering

The Supermileage Urban Concept Vehicle Chassis Project was proposed by the Cal Poly Supermileage club. The goal of this project is to deliver a fully assembled vehicle chassis by the end of the 2023-2024 school year to be used by the club in the 2025 Shell Eco-Marathon competition. The competition requires a four-wheeled vehicle to comply with various requirements outlined in the Shell Eco-Marathon rulebook, such as dimensions and some safety requirements. The team selected a backbone-style chassis as the design direction. This design consists of a main structural beam that supports all other chassis and vehicle components. This main …

Advanced Wildfire Hose Clamp, Sean King, Christopher Tokarse, Connor Buchinski, Isaac Maddox-White

Mechanical Engineering

This report describes in detail the manufacturing, assembly, and testing of our hose clamp. We start with a review of the changes we have made to our design since our last report, namely a new automatic latching system, and continue with our manufacturing and assembly processes. Then we detail our testing procedures that we created to evaluate how well our design meets user needs and discuss the results of our tests. Unfortunately, our design did not meet our residual flow rate criteria and showed excessive leaking when clamped, so we end with some discussion of the issues our design has, …

Determination Of Water Quality And Efficient Removal Of Arsenic And Iron From Groundwater Using Mahogany Fruit Husk And Banana Peduncle Charcoals, Molla Rahman Shaibur, Yasmin Khatun, Masum Howlader, Md. Mirajul Islam, Md. Wasikur Rahman, Abu Shamim Khan, Balram Ambade

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The groundwater (GW) of Bangladesh is predominantly contaminated with arsenic (As) and iron (Fe) which has a bad impact on human health. We tried to remove these elements with easily available mahogany-fruit (Swietenia mahagoni) husk charcoal (MHC) and banana (Musa acuminata) peduncle charcoal (BPC). The trial was implemented with 3 replications throughout the research. The sampled GW contained 0.06 mg As L−1 and 4.83 mg Fe L−1. Firstly, the pH was 3, 5, 7, and 9 with a 250 mg L−1 dose. The MHC removed almost 91.05 % of As at pH 5.0, and BPC removed almost 86.67 % of …

Sizing Wind Tunnel Heater For High Enthalpy Conditions, Justin M. Slavick

Master's Theses

This paper determines the feasibility of adding a heater to an existing blowdown supersonic wind tunnel to unlock new high-enthalpy test applications, considering cost and power requirements at a variety of different states. This process includes both modeling the current range of test section properties in Cal Poly's blowdown wind tunnel and determining the new range of properties that a heat exchanger could induce. These results are verified with a computational fluid dynamics study. Additionally, sublimation and ablation properties of materials are explored to create appropriate models to study atmospheric re-entry once the heat exchanger is implemented.

It is found …

Non-Linear Modeling Of Hysteresis In Piezoelectric Actuated Cantilever Beam Using The Bouc-Wen Model, Andrew Donald Maas

Master's Theses

Piezoelectric actuators frequently exhibit a time-dependent behavioral phenomenon known as hysteresis, resulting in a lag in the deformation of the actuator compared to linear models. The presence of hysteresis complicates control systems involving piezoelectric actuators. However, traditional modeling methods for piezoelectric actuated smart structures often treat the piezoelectric patches as linear actuators without considering hysteresis, leading to suboptimal controller performance.

This thesis aims to establish a comprehensive model by integrating the Euler-Bernoulli beam bending model with the hysteresis dynamics induced by two opposing piezoelectric patches attached to a beam. A model expansion method is employed to transform the partial differential …

Feasibility And Characterization Of Leak-Tight Single-Track Thin Walls Produced By Laser Powder Bed Fusion In 316l Stainless Steel, Peyton J. Archibald

Master's Theses

This thesis explores the optimization of process parameters for producing single-track thin walls using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing. Using two different coupon designs, the study assesses the feasibility of creating the thinnest possible leak-tight structures within LPBF and evaluating their mechanical properties, including burst pressure and modulus of elasticity under pressure loads. A series of experimental iterations were conducted, varying laser power and laser speed to identify optimal conditions. The findings indicate that a narrow range of process parameters can produce consistently leak-tight thin walls. The results contribute to understanding how to achieve high quality, reliable thin …

The Pressure Distribution Of Rotating Cylinders Using An Onboard Wireless Data Acquisition System, Nathan Eller

Master's Theses

This thesis presents a novel, cost-effective method for mapping the pressure distribution on a rotating cylinder in cross flow, a phenomenon central to the Magnus effect. Utilizing commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensors, a high-resolution data acquisition system was developed and integrated into a rotating cylinder model. Compared to traditional approaches, such as slip rings or one-off designs, this method proved significantly cheaper and faster while achieving comparable or superior resolution. The experimental setup, including a modified continuous rotation technique and adaptable model design, facilitated rapid testing across a broad range of Reynolds numbers and reduced frequencies, exceeding the …

Product Design For Repairability: Identifying Failure Modes With Topic Modeling And Designing For Electronic Waste Reuse, Claire J. Franz

Master's Theses

Design for repairability is imperative to making products that last long enough to justify the resources they consume and the pollution they generate. While design for repairability has been gaining steady momentum, especially with recent advances in Right to Repair legislation, there is still work to be done. There are gaps in both the tools available for repair-conscious designers and the products coming onto store shelves. This thesis work aims to help set sails in the right direction on both fronts.

This research explores the use of topic modeling (a natural language processing technique) to extract repairability design insights from …

Development Of A Deep Learning Algorithm Using Electromyography (Emg) And Acceleration To Monitor Upper Extremity Behavior With Application To Individuals Post-Stroke, Nathan Dodd

Master's Theses

Stroke is a chronic illness which often impairs survivors for extended periods of time,

leaving the individual limited in motor function. The ability to perform daily activities

(ADL) is closely linked to motor recovery following a stroke. The objective of

this work is to employ surface electromyography (sEMG) gathered through a novel,

wearable armband sensor to monitor and quantify ADL performance. The first contribution

of this work seeks to develop a relationship between sEMG and and grip

aperture, a metric tied to the success of post-stroke individuals’ functional independence.

The second contribution of this work aims to develop a deep …

Design And Assembly Of A Variable Buoyancy System For An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Evan Brown

Master's Theses

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) play a vital role in the surveillance and mapping of our oceans, often requiring extensive travel in extreme environments. These data-gathering missions benefit from extended durations, making the minimization of power consumption a key consideration in AUV design. One effective strategy to reduce energy use in AUVs is to implement a variable buoyancy system (VBS) for depth control. The purpose of this work is to design, develop, test, and model a variable buoyancy system to enhance the efficiency and capabilities of a high-speed, long-range AUV.

After evaluating various VBS designs, a piston-cylinder buoyancy system was selected …

Railroad Track And Wheel Defect Detection With Onboard Condition Monitoring System, Jeffery Pams, Constantine Tarawneh, Joe Montoya, Brent Wilson, Lee Cantu, Hashem Alkhaldi

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

In the railroad industry, it was estimated by the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Office of Safety Analysis that over 1,000 train derailments occur every year in the United States, with a significant amount being caused by mechanical failures such as defects within the wheels and tracks. The use of wireless onboard health monitoring technologies as opposed to wayside detection systems has been receiving a lot of attention considering recent catastrophic derailments. Through research, development, and implementation of onboard condition monitoring systems by the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) and HUM Industrial Technology, Inc., a promising method to detect …

Prototyping Low-Cost Tribometer With Block On Ring Configuration For The Optimization Of Metal-Forming Applications, Immanuel A. Edinbarough, Jaime Taha-Tijerina

Informatics and Engineering Systems Faculty Publications

Applications in the metal-mechanic industry require the analysis and support of tribo-evaluations in their manufacturing processes. Experimentation with various metals and components could be performed under controlled conditions, including the ability to apply testing with a fluid or lubricant media or in dry conditions. The aim of this work is to design and fabricate a working block for a ring tribometer at low cost. Present and future stakeholders will have the ability to analyze material properties in friction, wear, and displacement while saving the university over 500% in costs of an industrial tribometer. The integrity of the machine must adhere …

Solar Farm, Parker Folsom, Jon Copeland, Julia Fay, Aiden Taylor

Mechanical Engineering

This senior project focused on creating a portable single-axis solar follower. The purpose of this solar follower is to allow for single-axis tracking of the sun at various points on our sponsor's property to gather information on solar power production. This data will be utilized to locate future sites for a utility-scale solar farm.

The final design of the solar follower comprises four subsystems: two legs, the frame, and the panel assembly. This modular design allows for portability and adjustability on challenging terrain. Following the design stage, our team purchased and manufactured all of the necessary components. All manufacturing work …

Bird Trail Stairway Access Replacement, Mackenzie Wright, William Spellman, Nicholas Buccino, Jack Long

Mechanical Engineering

Dana Adobe & Cultural Center, a non-profit organization in Nipomo, California, seeks to restore access to the Bird Trail located on their site. This project aims to design and manufacture a replacement stairway for safe creek bed crossing on the trail. Within this document, we have detailed our system design, function, and justification for our design. The procurement, manufacturing, and assembly plan have been outlined along with tests we completed.

One of the most important functions of our design is for the structure to be retractable so that it can be removed from the creek bed when needed. To address …

Scitechatorium Exhibit, Adam Khan, Cole Busch, Logan Femling, Alan Onuma

Mechanical Engineering

This document outlines the final stages of development and analysis of our interactive children’s exhibit for the Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School’s SciTechatorium. We will showcase the final form of our ball and track display, giving a detailed look at each component and subsystem.

To describe how our final prototype will be built we have included a detailed manufacturing summary for our design. Our models have been designed with manufacturability in mind, and we have outlined which processes were used to produce all our parts.

There are also detailed descriptions of testing that were conducted to verify the performance of the …

On The Transitional Wake Past A Streamwise Rotating Prolate Spheroid, Yuxin Wu, Jianzhi Yang, Helge I. Andersson, Jianyu Chen, Xiaowei Zhu

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Direct numerical simulations are performed to study the behavior of the wake behind a 5:2 streamwise rotating prolate spheroid. The Reynolds number Re = 1000 under different rotational speeds over a large range of is considered, where Ω is the non-dimensional rotational speed based on the freestream velocity and the volume-equivalent diameter of the prolate spheroid. By successively increasing the rotational speed, seven distinct flow regimes were identified and explored: steady state, low-speed steady rotation state, axisymmetric state, high-speed steady rotation state, twofold rotational symmetrical state (TFRS), quasi-periodic vortex shedding state (QVS), and weakly chaotic state. Among these wake regimes, …

Settingsorder Article Reprints Open Accesseditor’S Choicearticle Exploring The Impact Of Spray Process Parameters On Graphite Coatings: Morphology, Thickness, And Tribological Properties, Adedoyin Abe, Josue A. Goss, Min Zou

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study explores, through a full factorial experimental design, the effects of graphite concentration and spray flow rate on the morphology, thickness, and tribological performance of graphite coatings for potential tribological applications. Coatings were applied to rough substrates using varying concentrations and flow rates, followed by analysis of their morphological characteristics, roughness, thickness, coefficient of friction (COF), and wear behavior. The results revealed distinct differences in the coating morphology based on flow rate, with low-flow-rate coatings exhibiting a porous structure and higher roughness, while high-flow-rate coatings displayed denser structures with lower roughness. A COF as low as 0.09 was achieved, …

Heat Sink With Fins And Phase Change Material For Cooling Of High-Power Electronic Devices, Farooq Fakher Mahmoud

Theses

Electronics are integral to modern life, present in everything from household appliances to advanced computers. The performance and reliability of these devices are closely tied to their operating temperatures. High-power operations can lead to significant heating, necessitating effective thermal management to enhance functionality and prevent failure. This requirement drives the demand for efficient heat sinks, which dissipate the heat generated by these devices. Phase change material (PCM)-based heat sinks have become a popular passive cooling solution, increasingly replacing traditional heat sinks.

This research investigates finned PCM-based heat sinks using numerical simulations validated by existing literature and experimental data. Gallium is …

Interaction Of Particles With Plasma And Shock Produced By Pulsed Spark Discharge, Shomik Mukhopadhyay

Dissertations

Interactions of powders with high-temperature plasma and shockwaves occur in diverse scenarios, such as nuclear blasts, accidental industrial dust explosions, solid propellant combustion in explosive charges and when removing contaminants from surfaces. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), known for generating shock and plasma, is a promising lab-scale technique for simulating these interactions. Studies with ESD involved placing powders near a spark-producing gap between electrodes and observing mechanical and chemical processes like particle motion and ignition. A limited range of spark conditions and material properties have been tested, which facilitated the development and validation of preliminary computational models describing this system. Significant gaps …

Reproducible Fluid Structure Interaction For Complex Flows In Engineered Systems, Allen Prasad Varghese

Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the application of numerical models to study Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) in the industrial context. The emphasis is on a series of case studies belonging to practical applications in design and manufacturing and that are solved by a synergistic use of theoretical and computational models. The first study looks into the hydrodynamic actions experienced by vibrating slender structures immersed in viscous fluids near the free surface. This study case is relevant to applications such as, for example, marine propulsion, micro-electro-mechanical systems, and atomic force microscopy. The hydrodynamic problem is governed by three parameters, namely the frequency, …

Impact Of Polymer Structure In Polyurethane Topcoats On Anti-Icing Properties, Donghyeon Lee, Junho Park, Min Ji Woo, Juhyeong Lee, Joung-Man Park, Hyung Mi Lim, Tae Kyung Lee, Seong Baek Yang, Sang Yong Nam, Dong-Jun Kwon

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Icing on the topcoat layer of structures or mobility systems can be a factor leading to functional failures or accidents. Material engineering approach to prevent icing involves creating hydrophobic surfaces. In this study, it was confirmed that the method of controlling the structure of polymers using solvents to adjust surface hydrophobicity and ice prevention effects is effective. Polyurethane (PU) topcoats are primarily used on the exterior of mobility devices; therefore, structure of PU was manipulated using xylene. Through the adjustment of the ratio between PU and xylene, changes in the curing enthalpy and crystal structure were observed, which led to …

Passive Mechanical Properties Of Cardiac And Arterial Tissue: A Paired Comparison Study In A Calf Model, Ola Alsaadi, Jieyang Zhang, Masod Sadipour, Ali N. Azadani

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Purpose: The mechanical behavior of heart tissue plays a crucial role in elucidating cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. Accurate measurement of the mechanical properties of cardiac and arterial tissues is indispensable for advancing computer simulations and developing medical devices. This study aimed to assess the passive mechanical properties of cardiac and arterial tissue in a calf model using a paired comparison method.

Methods: A planar biaxial stretching device was used to determine the mechanical characteristics of 84 square specimens obtained from 14 different anatomical regions. Cauchy stress-Green strain curves were constructed for each anatomical area, and a Fung-type constitutive …

Impact Of Student Beliefs And Self-Efficacy On Performance In Higher Education Stem Courses, Lauren Nicole Fogg

Doctoral Dissertations

In engineering education, students often face feelings of inadequacy, leading to academic struggles and potential dropout. This dissertation investigates the impact of interactive course materials on students' confidence and self-efficacy in problem-solving, focusing on an Engineering Materials class at Louisiana Tech University. Over four quarters, involving seven sections and 218 students, a 13-question Likert scale survey was administered repeatedly, alongside demographic data and textbook usage surveys. The study aims to compare students’ attitudes and beliefs when not using a textbook versus when using an interactive web-native book. Hypotheses suggest that the interactive book will enhance problem-solving beliefs, confidence, and grades. …

A Computational Investigation Of Wood Selection For Acoustic Guitar, Jonah Osterhus

Senior Honors Theses

The acoustic guitar is a stringed instrument, often made of wood, that transduces vibrational energy of steel strings into coupled vibrations of the wood and acoustic pressure waves in the air. Variations in wood selection and instrument geometry have been shown to affect the timbre of the acoustic guitar. Computational methods were utilized to investigate the impact of material properties on acoustic performance. Sitka spruce was deemed the most suitable wood for guitar soundboards due to its acoustic characteristics, strength, and uniform aesthetic. Mahogany was deemed to be the best wood for the back and sides of the guitar body …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, Mar 2024, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Prediction Of Defects In Deep Drawn Rectangular Parts Using Finite Element Analysis (Fea) And Response Surface Methodology (Rsm), Mustafa M. Semman Eng., Mostafa Shazly, Mohamed H. Gadallah, Tamer Adel Mohamed, Abdallah S. Wifi

Mechanical Engineering

Abstract. Deep drawing defects such as thinning and earing present challenges to sheet metal forming industry while designers tend to favour the usage of new materials and production processes. The present work introduces an integrated approach using Design of Experiment, FEA experimentation and RSM to study the effect of deep drawing process parameters and resulting defects associated with sheet metal forming processes such as thinning and earing particularly in deep drawing of non-circular parts. The Design of Experiment (DoE) is used to generate a series of experiments for different process parameters in deep drawn rectangular products which are then simulated …

Distributed Conflict Detection And Optimal 4d Trajectory Resolution Leveraging Polynomial Based Methods, Michael Klinefelter, Austin Stone, Joshua Miller, Cameron K. Peterson, John Salmon

Student Works

This paper presents a methodology for distributed conflict detection and resolution of aircraft following time-dependent flight paths. We use parametric fifth-order polynomial splines to define the full, time-based paths of vehicles. This representation can be exploited to rapidly detect conflicts and calculate optimal resolution solutions that minimize deviations from the original path. Conflicts are identified using a Sturm sequencing procedure and resolutions are found using gradient-based optimization techniques. Simulations show the locally optimal resolution of complex multi-vehicle conflicts and large-scale scenarios. Also, a method of fitting the flight path model to data sets is presented and flight path trajectories are …

Estimation Of Useful-Stage Energy Returns On Investment For Fossil Fuels And Implications For Renewable Energy Systems, Emmanuel Aramendia, Paul E. Brockway, Peter G. Taylor, Jonathan B. Norman, Matthew K. Heun, Zeke Marshal;

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The net energy implications of the energy transition have so far been analysed at best at the final energy stage. Here we argue that expanding the analysis to the useful stage is crucial. We estimate fossil fuelsʼ useful-stage energy returns on investment (EROIs) over the period 1971–2020, globally and nationally, and disaggregate EROIs by end use. We find that fossil fuelsʼ useful-stage EROIs (~3.5:1) are considerably lower than at the final stage (~8.5:1), due to low final-to-useful efficiencies. Further, we estimate the final-stage EROI for which electricity-yielding renewable energy would deliver the same net useful energy as fossil fuels (EROI …

A Multi-Material Platform For Imaging Of Single Cell-Cell Junctions Under Tensile Load Fabricated With Two-Photon Polymerization, Jordan Rosenbohm, Grayson Minnick, Bahareh Tajvidi Safa, Amir M. Esfahani, Xiaowei Jin, Haiwei Zhai, Nickolay V. Lavrik, Ruiguo Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We previously reported a single-cell adhesion micro tensile tester (SCAμTT) fabricated from IP-S photoresin with two-photon polymerization (TPP) for investigating the mechanics of a single cell-cell junction under defined tensile loading. A major limitation of the platform is the autofluorescence of IP-S, the photoresin for TPP fabrication, which significantly increases background signal and makes fluorescent imaging of stretched cells difficult. In this study, we report the design and fabrication of a new SCAμTT platform that mitigates autofluorescence and demonstrate its capability in imaging a single cell pair as its mutual junction is stretched. By employing a two-material design using IP-S …