Life Cycle Cost Model For Transit Bus Fleets, Connor Andrew Jack

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Life Cycle Cost Model for Transit Buses

Connor Jack

Transit agencies battle with reducing emissions while trying to be cost effective. In 2009, the Transit Cooperative Research Program Report (TCRP) 132 presented a life cycle cost model to aid in procurement evaluation [1]. The model is a life cycle cost analysis tool to estimate the overall costs of procurement and compare alternative technologies [2]. The model concentrates on pre-2007 conventional diesel, diesel hybrid with first generation diesel particulate filters, gasoline hybrid, and compressed natural gas transit buses.

The objectives of this work are to implement battery electric technology into …

Effect Of Resin Bleed Out On Compaction Behavior Of The Fiber Tow Gap Region During Automated Fiber Placement Manufacturing, Von Clyde Jamora, Virginia Rauch, Sergii G. Kravchenko, Oleksandr G. Kravchenko

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Automated fiber placement is a state-of-the-art manufacturing method which allows for precise control over layup design. However, AFP results in irregular morphology due to fiber tow deposition induced features such as tow gaps and overlaps. Factors such as the squeeze flow and resin bleed out, combined with large non-linear deformation, lead to morphological variability. To understand these complex interacting phenomena, a coupled multiphysics finite element framework was developed to simulate the compaction behavior around fiber tow gap regions, which consists of coupled chemo-rheological and flow-compaction analysis. The compaction analysis incorporated a visco-hyperelastic constitutive model with anisotropic tensorial prepreg viscosity, which …

Parametric Optimization Of Friction Stir Welding Of Aa6061-T6 Samples Using The Copper Donor Stir-Assisted Material Method, Aiman H. Al-Allaq, Joseph Maniscalco, Srinivasa Naik Bhukya, Zhenhua Wu, Abdelmageed Elmustafa

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This study presents an optimization of the process parameters for the effect of copper (Cu) donor material percentage on the friction stir welding (FSW) of AA6061-T6 alloy. Extensive factorial experiments were conducted to determine the significance of the rotational speed (ω), the transverse speed (v), the interface coefficient of friction (μ), and the Cu donor material percentage in the plunge, left, right, and downstream zones. Design Expert 13 software was used to identify the number of simulation experiments to be conducted using the Abaqus simulation software. From Design Expert 13, which is a thorough multi-objective optimization analysis software, we were …

Effect Of Post-Cured Through Thickness Reinforcement On Disbonding Behavior In Skin-Stringer Configuration, Jimesh D. Bhagatji, Christopher Morris, Yogaraja Sridhar, Bodhisatwa Bhattacharjee, Krishnanand N. Kaipa, Oleksandr G. Kravchenko

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

An experimental investigation of interlaminar toughness for post-cured through-thickness reinforcement (PTTR) skin-stringer sub-element is presented. The improvement in the crack resistance capability of skin-stringer samples was shown through experimental testing and finite element analysis (FEA) modeling. The performance of PTTR was evaluated on a pristine and initial-disbond of the skin-stringer specimen. A macro-scale pin-spring modeling approach was employed in FEA using a non-linear spring to capture the pin failure under the mixed-mode load. The experimental results showed a 15.5% and 20.9% increase in strength for the pristine-PTTR and initial-disbond PTTR specimens, respectively. The modeling approach accurately represents the overall structural …

An Impedance Tube Technique For Estimating The Insertion Loss Of Earplugs, K. Carillo, O. Doutres, F. Sgard

Études primaires

This paper proposes a quick and straightforward technique for estimating the insertion loss (IL) of earplugs measured on an acoustical test fixture (ATF) using a commercial impedance tube. In this method, the earplug's acoustic properties (i.e., its transmission loss and the reflection coefficient of its medial surface) are determined from its transfer matrix measured using the three-microphones impedance tube method modified here for the current application. The IL is then estimated using a one-dimensional analytical model of open and occluded earcanals based on the wavefield decomposition theory. The method is evaluated numerically and experimentally from 50 Hz to 6.5 kHz. …

Advancements And Challenges In Additively Manufactured Functionally Graded Materials: A Comprehensive Review, Suhas Alkunte, Ismail Fidan, Vivekanand Naikwadi, Shamil Gudavasov, Mohammad Alshaikh Ali, Mushfig Mahmudov, Seymur Hasanov, Muralimohan Cheepu

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

This paper thoroughly examines the advancements and challenges in the field of additively manufactured Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs). It delves into conceptual approaches for FGM design, various manufacturing techniques, and the materials employed in their fabrication using additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. This paper explores the applications of FGMs in diverse fields, including structural engineering, automotive, biomedical engineering, soft robotics, electronics, 4D printing, and metamaterials. Critical issues and challenges associated with FGMs are meticulously analyzed, addressing concerns related to production and performance. Moreover, this paper forecasts future trends in FGM development, highlighting potential impacts on diverse industries. The concluding section summarizes …

A Project-Based Learning Activity For An Engineering Technology Heat Transfer Course To Design A Shell-And-Tube Heat Exchanger, Nathan Luetke, Orlando Ayala

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Thermofluids courses demand a strong grasp of mathematics and employ physics extensively to describe physical systems. Heat transfer, in particular, presents challenging topics, which can be even more daunting for engineering technology students. In this paper, we present the implementation of a project-based learning activity in the engineering technology heat transfer course. The students' task involves designing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger to meet specific minimum requirements. The objective is to provide students with a real-world assignment that enhances their heat transfer calculation skills. To accommodate instructors' busy schedules, we have developed an assignment that is user friendly. Detailed instructor guides …

Impact Of Quenching Intensity Conditions On Using A Finite Element Model To Investigate The Microstructure And Hardenability Of Low-Alloy Steel, J. S. Alabi, E. Heidari, M. F. Buchely, K. Chandrashekhara, S. N. Lekakh, R. J. O'Malley, V. Athavale, A. Kumar

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Quenching is one of the primary processes to improve mechanical properties in steels, particularly hardness. Quenching is well established for different geometries of individually treated steel components; while in-steam quenching of large diameter continuously cast steel bar has several specific features which are difficult and costly to experimentally optimize. the end-quench Jominy test has been used extensively to study the hardenability of different steel grades. Different numerical, analytical, and empirical models have been developed to simulate the Jominy process and to understand quenching of steels. However, it is not straight forward to translate experimental data from Jominy test on instream …

Void Fraction And Quality Correlation Analysis Using The Separated Flow Model For Pulsed-Power Heat Loads, Zachary Joseph Carner

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft platforms are continually upgraded with increasingly high quantities of high-powered electronics. As such, efficient thermal management systems are crucially important to overcome system instabilities and support pulsed power profiles. To create effective thermal control systems, it is imperative to thoroughly examine and account for a variety of potential system behaviors caused by transient changes in the flow regime. If left unconstrained, these changes will create thermal instabilities, which can severely damage electronics and hurt the overall reliability of the aircraft. These instabilities can be described by both void fraction and quality. Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) allows for the collection …

Mechanical Reliability Of Aerosol Jet Printed Sensors And Interconnects, Lemuel A. Duncan

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Heterogeneous integration (HI) is currently being investigated to maintain the pace of technological progress in the electronics industry. With the recent acceleration witnessed in additive manufacturing (AM) technology, interest has been expressed in introducing aerosol jet (AJ) printing to the fabrication process for sensors and electronic packages. Integrating AM technology in these areas promises design flexibility and minimal material waste. Three AJ printed applications investigated in this work include strain sensors, electrical interconnects, and metal embedded chip assemblies. Before moving forward with the use of AJ printing in these applications, it is necessary to evaluate their performance under standard mechanical …

Materials Testing For Large Format 3d Printing, William Jenkins

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

An ABS Carbon Fiber blend was printed into single walled hexagons at a variety of settings on a Cincinnati BAAM large format 3D printer. These hexagons were then cut down into sheets and had tensile and flexural test samples cut out of them, in order for materials testing to be performed. Tensile strength, tensile strain, young’s modulus, flexural strength, deflection and elastic modulus were all determined. A desktop CNC machine and a planer were purchased for the manufacturing of these samples, and an efficient cutting procedure was designed and optimized. After all data collection concluded, this data was thoroughly analyzed, …

Stanley Black And Decker Slag Removal Design Project, Colt Hemphill, Kyle Stober, Andrew Raymond, Robert Artrip

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My group given the task of designing a system to remove the slag of large metal plates. Removing this slag is an important step in creating the final assembly of a model. Currently we the operators are flipping the plates using a large magnet and crane. The issue that we see with the current method is the risk of injury while having the plate suspended in the air. These plates can reach upwards of 600lbs and poses a serious threat to the operators if the magnet is not secured correctly. Our new system for removing the slag is designed to …

Development Of A Solidworks Api, Andrew Magyar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With the current advancements in CAD software, and precision of modern motors, we believe that a new way to communicate from hardware to software is possible. This report details the steps we have taken to attempt just that. The essential idea behind this is that modern controls for robotics are not as user friendly as they can be. The general action taken is to create an API for SolidWorks that connects it to the other necessary controller software and makes it so that a robot, and its exact current position, can be changed simply and intuitively from SolidWorks. Furthermore, the …

Yankee Manufacturing Multi-Assembly Pvc-Gasket Assembly Mechanism, Lily Coss, Jessica Kun, Dana Chapin, Jenan Hasan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project focuses on designing and implementing an efficient mechanism to connect PVC and gasket pieces in the door assembly process at Yankee Manufacturing. The aim is to improve process efficiency and productivity by increasing the assembly rate from 130 to 195 assemblies per hour, a 38% improvement. The project involved research, design iterations, performance evaluations, and adherence to engineering codes and standards, particularly focused on safety, ergonomics, and sustainability. The design process includes addressing challenges from a previous attempt, redefining project scope, and incorporating new elements such as transitioning to the packaging process seamlessly. Ethical considerations include promoting operator …

Robotic Gutter Cleaner, Zachary Nopper

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Gutters redirect rainwater away from nearly every roof and home in America and Europe but build up debris over time and require constant maintenance. Manual gutter cleaning is unpleasant, time-consuming, and dangerous, with 80,000 injuries/year attributed to people cleaning their gutters and overreaching from ladders in the U.S. alone. This difficult situation implies that consumers would be interested in a method to make this process safer and easier. In an age of increasing automation of tasks, especially those that might be dangerous to complete, a gutter cleaning robot is a solution that could alleviate several of these problems at once. …

Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (Cure) In Engineering Technology, Bill Hutzel, Craig Zywicki, Stephanie M. Gardner

School of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Although most universities provide excellent research experiences for outstanding undergraduate students, the number of interested students typically outstrips the supply of faculty and graduate student mentors. Addressing this shortfall is the reason Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) were created. CUREs face obvious challenges because they operate at a larger scale than the traditional apprentice-based model for undergraduate research, creating resource issues for experimental research that requires equipment, laboratory space, and staff oversight. To help address these hurdles, one university has created a professional development program that provides training, collegial mentoring, and financial support to interested faculty. This paper provides an …

Short Strand Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polylactic Acid Filament For Additive Manufacturing, Dale Chenoweth, Lukas Seggi, Luke Phillips

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In this design project, the additive manufacturing filament of short strand carbon fiber (SSCF) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composite was developed. The micro-size, precision cut SSCFs were mixed with the PLA pellets through a melting homogenization process. Through this process the composite material block is cut and divided into pieces for ease of pelletizing. The material block pieces are then pelletized to be fed through the single screw extruder to develop the SSCF-PLA composite filament. The SSCF-PLA filaments were manufactured with a varying amount of SSCF ranging from 0.5% to 10% of the material block's weight. Development of a 1% …

Battery Dunnage, Paul Hirsch, Alex Cox, Ben Strubbe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Schaeffler is launching a new assembly line for a battery in 2025. As part of the project, it is necessary to design and fabricate a reusable dunnage (packaging) specialized for the battery, meant for safe domestic transportation in the United States. Through an iterative process, the team developed a final dunnage design out of steel components that had a maximum footprint of 62 in X 43.5 in X 29.25 in and a weight of 821.682 lbs. The dunnage is stackable on itself up to two high, weighing a total of 4,918.724 lbs. when loaded with four batteries. The design was …

Ambient Temperature Strength Degradation Of A Ceramic Matrix Composite Due To Solid Particle Erosion, Jonathan Clawson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Solid particle erosion (SPE) is an issue for aircraft exposed to hard, fine particles, such as sand or dust, that can be ingested into the engine at a high velocity without reaching their melting point, resulting in material removal. SPE can be attributed to the intake of particulate debris from the runway or from airborne particulates. The cumulative mass loss from SPE damage affects the structural integrity and performance of the engine; however, its effects on ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), that are being employed in the aerospace industry, are not well understood in literature. The limited SPE research studies that …

Development Of A Modular Solar Shingle, David Dye, Andrew Schmidt, Mitchell Cozzens

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this research project is to design, prototype, and test an array of solar roofing shingles using print-in-place principles using an automated circuitry printer and 3D printed components. The shingle shall emphasize ease of installation, maintenance, and affordability in contrast to the current market for solar roofing. The design goal is to develop a manufacturing process to be more cost and time effective than current manufacturing techniques. The prototype will consist of a roof with this system, demonstrating the durability, assembly, and ease of installation. Finally, material/design suitability will be implemented in conjunction with postprocessing techniques to create …

Schaeffler Icvd Coating Machine, Louis Mcgrath

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is mutual technology used to deposit thin film through a gaseous phase by vaporizing the solid materials. This conventional process usually requires high thermal stability of the materials, which is not applicable for most of the polymeric materials. Therefore, a novel process, initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD) is developed by introducing the gaseous monument and initiator to form the thin film in-situ. By adjusting the free-radical polymerization in the vapor phase, a variety of thin and uniform polymer films can be achieved. Depending on the chemistry, iCVD has many categories. This report explains the design …

3d Printed Drone (Body And Controls), Michael Dick, Hayden Pinkelman, Tanner Henderson, Logan Prince

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective is to build a scaled down model of a 3D printed drone capable of carrying a payload scalable to 50 lbs. for a wide array of applications. Some applications of the drone could include delivering support materials during natural disasters, such as foam to put out fire or medical aid packs to provide aid to injured people, food or package delivery, or military applications. The project has been split up into two groups. One group will be focusing on the propulsion aspect of the project, such as the electric motors and airfoil. Simultaneously, this group will design the …

Zips Racing Electric Brakes Design, Zachary Koneval, Andrew Thompson, Cory Baczkowski

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Zips electric racing team is a collegiate team full of engineering students to make a formula electric car that competes against other universities and their cars. But before the cars make it to competition they go through a series of tests to make sure the car is able to perform in all of the actual competition stages. One of the tests for the cars is the brakes test. Where the car has to lock up all four wheels at once and stop in a square that is on the ground. So in this report we have detailed out our …

Design Of An Experimental Solid Rocket Motor, Johnathan Bettes, Andrew Fuller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project utilizes mechanical and chemical principles to characterize propellant grains and to manufacture a custom nozzle to create experimental Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) with a propellant called Angry Listerine. For the propellant grains, one major non-chemical factor that determines its thrust performance is the grain geometry, or the core of the grains for which hot gases flow through the propellant and out of the nozzle to further react with exposed chemical surfaces. The two kinds of grain geometries analyzed and tested in this report are called MoonBurner, an offset circular core, and Finocyl, a gear-shaped core. The nozzle for …

Nfpa Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, Rachel Wasik, Kimberly Griggy

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective of this project is to design a system which prioritizes safety and efficiency that uses human power converted to hydraulic power to drive a bicycle. This project is being done to compete with other university teams in making the best vehicle that runs on fluid power. It will help the members of the team to gain design and testing experience, learn about fluid power systems, and gain experience with working as a team and sharing/distributing responsibilities.

Development Of A 2-Dof Robotic Uterus Manipulator, Jeremiah Eggleston, Nicole Pishnery, Siddharth Navaneetha Raj

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective for our senior design project was to design a better uterus manipulator to assist with hysterectomies. We worked with our advisor Dr. Sam Song from the university’s Mechanical Engineering department. There are a variety of uterus manipulators on the market currently, each with unique design features to make the manipulator safer and more effective (van den Haak et al, 2015). Our group’s design modifies and sets itself apart from manipulators currently on the market. Going off others’ attempts to make a better manipulator (Fournelis, 2022), the key modifications our design incorporates are an additional degree of freedom (for …

Application Of Conductivity Techniques For Interlayer Discontinuity Detection In Additively Manufactured Metal Materials, Joshua D. Newell, Riley R. Myers

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Additive manufacturing is becoming increasingly more popular and efficient. One drawback is the possibility of interlayer discontinuities forming in the material. A non-destructive technique utilizing the changing resistivity of the material as discontinuities appear was used to detect those discontinuities and was verified through additional testing of manually added through-thickness discontinuities. This technique has been proven to be useful in understanding fatigue crack growth of conventional metal and composite structures. Experimental investigation of fatigue in steel with an edge notch has been performed using these techniques to understand source and location of crack formation and growth in conventional material. Application …

Ion Current Analysis And Misfire Prediction During Cold Start In A Compression Ignition Engine, Manan Jyotin Trivedi

Wayne State University Dissertations

In future, compression ignition engines are anticipated to continue powering heavy-duty trucks and certain machinery, while passenger vehicles and light-duty vehicles will increasingly be battery powered. However, compression ignition engines face challenges such as combustion instability, misfiring, and high unburnt hydrocarbon emissions when started under severe cold conditions. These issues can be mitigated through the use of real-time feedback to the engine's control module.

The ion current signal, reflective of combustion and emissions characteristics, has proven to be a reliable feedback signal under warmed-up conditions. In this dissertation, the potential of the ion current signal as a feedback mechanism during …

Autonomous Robot For Indoor Enhanced Living (Ariel), Prabhjot Kaur

Wayne State University Dissertations

The global population is aging rapidly, with the total percentage of older adults (65 years and older) projected to increase from 10\% of the total population in 2022 to 16\% by 2050, according to the World Population Prospectus 2022 issued by the United Nations. For certain parts of the world such as Europe and North America, this translates to 1 in every 4 persons is projected to be 65 years or older by 2060. This trend raises concerns about providing quality long-term care for the older population. Moreover, according to the 2021 survey by the American Association of Retired Persons …

Development Of Advanced Multi-Nozzle Multi-Material 3d Printing, Mohammed Al Ali

Wayne State University Dissertations

Extrusion-based 3D printing methods, such as Direct Ink Writing, are extensively utilized across sectors like biomedical, energy, and electronics, employing a diverse range of materials. However, the lengthy printing times associated with single-nozzle systems limit their application in complex mass production and rapid prototyping. While multi-nozzle systems have attempted to address this issue, they often result in costly, and bulky setups with limited material options. This research introduces a novel multi-nozzle multi-material system that allows for simultaneous 3D printing using bent nozzles. The system is cost-effective, simple in design, and capable of printing a wide range of materials. Its universal …