Other Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Developing And Testing An Anguilliform Robot Swimming With Theoretically High Hydrodynamic Efficiency, John B. Potts Iii

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

An anguilliform swimming robot replicating an idealized motion is a complex marine vehicle necessitating both a theoretical and experimental analysis to completely understand its propulsion characteristics. The ideal anguilliform motion within is theorized to produce ``wakeless'' swimming (Vorus, 2011), a reactive swimming technique that produces thrust by accelerations of the added mass in the vicinity of the body. The net circulation for the unsteady motion is theorized to be eliminated.

The robot was designed to replicate the desired, theoretical motion by applying control theory methods. Independent joint control was used due to hardware limitations. The fluid velocity vectors in the …

Design Of A Tandem Rotor Hovering Vehicle, Brent Kostich

Honors Theses

An investigation of thrust vectoring and an examination of existing tandem rotor dynamics were used to develop a structural body for a tandem rotor vehicle, derive the equations of motion of the system, and simulate a dynamic model of the vehicle. A vehicle prototype was constructed while further application of remote control capabilities, flight testing, and control development were researched. The dynamic simulation was based on a linear model of the system so as to open the possibility of implementing a control system. The simulation results show that thrust synchronization yields a predictable motion response. The prototype constructed did not …

Machine Components Test, Brandon Younger, Lauren Romero, Carlos Padilla

Mechanical Engineering

To enhance California Polytechnic State University’s Mechanical Engineering program, Dr. Schuster has sponsored Brandon Younger, Lauren Romero, and Carlos Padilla to design and develop a new lab for students in the Intermediate Design class to test real mechanical components. This report discusses the background and ideation process that lead to the development of the Educational Mechanical Breadboard for Transmission System Components (Machine Components Test). Additionally, detailed drawings, 3D modeling, testing plans, and analysis are included to show how the Machine Components Test design will work and be validated.

Squirting Balloon Toy, Rachael Schelley, Elizabeth Wilhelm

Mechanical Engineering

The main goal of the Squirting Balloon Toy project was to create a new toy that combined both a helium balloon and a squirting water component near the base of the balloon. The toy will be sold at theme parks, fairs, and to other retailers such as toy stores with the target audience of primarily children and their parents, or any individuals seeking a good laugh when they spray their unsuspecting target. As a result, the toy was designed to be both visually appealing and to have an element of surprise. After testing and analyzing four different conceptual designs, two …

Underwater Rope Fatigue Testing Machine, Napoleon Nino, Andrew Pimentel

Mechanical Engineering

The design and fabrication of an underwater rope fatigue testing machine meant to simulate the effects of an oceanic environment and the effects on rope.

High Temperature Hepa Filter Test Unit Upgrades, Alexander Krippner, Ian Corcorran, Michael Burlando

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Imaging Thermal Conductivity With Nanoscale Resolution Using A Scanning Spin Probe, Abdelghani Laraoui, Halley Aycock-Rizzo, Yang Gao, Xi Lu, Elisa Riedo, Carlos A. Meriles

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The ability to probe nanoscale heat flow in a material is often limited by lack of spatial resolution. Here, we use a diamond-nanocrystal-hosted nitrogen-vacancy centre attached to the apex of a silicon thermal tip as a local temperature sensor. We apply an electrical current to heat up the tip and rely on the nitrogen vacancy to monitor the thermal changes the tip experiences as it is brought into contact with surfaces of varying thermal conductivity. By combining atomic force and confocal microscopy, we image phantom microstructures with nanoscale resolution, and attain excellent agreement between the thermal conductivity and topographic maps. …

System And Method For Estimating States Of Spacecraft In Planet-Moon Environment, Piyush Grover

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

A method estimates a state of a spacecraft in a planet-moon environment by executing iteratively a particle filter. The particle filter comprising integrates individually states of each particle of the particle filter according to a probability-evolution equation using a model of the state of the spacecraft represented as a planar circular restricted three-body problem and determines a prior probability of each particle as a previous posterior probability of a corresponding particle during a previous iteration. A joint probability distribution of the state of the spacecraft is determines using the states of each particle and the prior probabilities of each particle …

Characterization Of Hydrogel Curing Methods For Manufacturability, Hannah E. Brown, Rebecca K. Kramer, Edward L. White

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

In the field of soft robotics, hydrogels possess material properties that allow them to function as both soft strain sensors and dielectric elastomer actuators. However, there is still much that needs to be understood about the curing process of hydrogels and the resulting material characteristics before manufacturing these devices can be accomplished. In this study, we investigated the effect of curing time and sample volume on the as-cured material properties of acrylamide-based hydrogels hydrated with lithium and magnesium chloride salt solutions. Samples were cured at room temperature, 60° C and 100° C, and the resulting changes in mechanical stiffness and …

Optimization In The Simulation Of Jammed Polyhedral Particles, Joseph W. Mynhier, Ishan Srivastava, Timothy S. Fisher

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Energy loss due to poor transport properties in electrically and thermally conducting materials, such as battery electrodes and thermoelectric composites, contributes to the energy inefficiency of electronic devices. For conductive materials composed of granular materials, particle-particle contact topology strongly governs the efficiency of energy transfer. Although there is a large body of existing work on the arrangements made by granular materials comprised of spherical particles, less is known about the mechanically stable arrangements of granular materials made of convex polyhedra. This project seeks to create a computer simulation of the solidification of convex polyhedra from a diffuse state into a …

Influences Of Wind On Automotive Interior Sound Quality, Sara Huelsman, Patricia Davies, Daniel Carr

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The effects of noise on human health (both mental and physical) are well known, and motivation to decrease noise in daily life is prevalent. Wind noise within automotive interior cabins could be detrimental to human health and comfort because of the negative impact on speech intelligibility and fatigue overall. There is little information on human perception of wind noise in automobile interiors though Loudness and Articulation Index have been examined as predictors of human response. They have been found to predict well in some circumstances, but not in others. In this research, a variety of sound quality metrics are being …

Towards An Optical In-Line Characterization Of Nano Petals, Yiming Ding, Huisung Kim, Euiwon Bae

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Carbon Nano Petals (i.e. CNPs) are cantilevered multilayer grapheme sheets that are seeded from core graphite fibers. The resulting structure offers a possibility of minimizing interfacial losses in transport application, improved interactions with surrounding matrix materials in composites, and a route toward substrate independence for device applications. The mass production of CNPs on the substrate required a method that can provide synchronous feedback on the sample status without pulling them out of the production line. Different optical properties can be observed when surfaces with different roughness are illuminated with a highly coherent light such as a laser beam. Similarly, CNPs …

Test Rig Design For Compact Variable Displacement Vane Pump, Pratik Chawla, Ryan Jenkins, Monika Ivantysynova

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Variable displacement vane pumps (VDVP) are one type of positive displacement pumps used in automatic transmission vehicles for lubricating the gears, cooling the transmission and actuating the clutches. Though fixed displacement pumps are widely used, they output a constant effective flow at a given speed. Depending on pump sizing considerations, the pump can be oversized at high speeds because flow demand of the transmission is independent of engine speed. The excess flow returns to the tank through an orifice that causes the oil to heat up, increasing the energy required for cooling and reducing the efficiency of the transmission. A …

An Estimate Of The Second-Order In-Plane Acceleration Sensitivity Of A Y-Cut Quartz Thickness-Shear Resonator, Huijing He, Jiashi Yang, John A. Kosinski

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We perform a theoretical analysis of the second-order in-plane acceleration sensitivity of a Y-cut quartz thick-ness-shear mode resonator. The second-order nonlinear theory of elasticity for anisotropic crystals is used to determine the biasing fields in the resonator under in-plane acceleration. The acceleration-induced frequency shift is determined from a per-turbation analysis based on the plate equations for small-amplitude vibrations superposed on a finite bias. We show that, whereas the first-order acceleration-induced frequency shift is zero for a structurally symmetric resonator under in-plane ac-celeration, the second-order frequency shift is nonzero and is quadratic in the acceleration. As the fourth-order nonlinear elastic constants …

A Concept Validation Of A Magnetometry-Based Technology For Detecting Concealed Weapons In Vehicle Door Panels, Nar Vang

Master's Theses

Acts of insurgency have become an increasing threat resulting in extensive measures being taken by the law enforcement authorities to mitigate their devastating effects on human life and infrastructure. This thesis introduces a magnetometry-based information, and signal processing methodology for detecting concealed ferrous objects in vehicle body panels. From extensive literature research, it was observed that while magnetic sensors have been used in a variety of related applications, but they have not been extensively applied to the on-road detection of firearms and explosives concealed in vehicles. This study utilized an extensive experimental protocol for preliminary concept validation. The main idea …

Biodegradable Medical Device Having An Adjustable Degradation Rate And Methods Of Making The Same, Yuebin Guo, Michael Sealy, Meisam Salahshoor Pirsoltan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Disclosed herein are biodegradable medical devices comprising biodegradable material (e.g., magnesium-calcium alloys) having an adjustable rate of degradation that can be used in various applications, including, but not limited to, drug delivery applications, cardiovascular applications, and orthopedic applications to make biodegradable and biocompatible devices. Also disclosed herein are methods of making biodegradable medical devices comprising biodegradable materials by using, for instance, hybrid dry cutting/hydrostatic burnishing.

The Future Of Rural Communities, Alondra B. Perez, Yanliang Zhang (Mentor)

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

There is a problem in how modern energy is being distributed throughout the world; less than a quarter of the population have access to energy. Limited energy access is seen in rural areas because of the costs that comes from transporting material and making modern energy resources (solar panels, wind turbines, etc..). Through research on thermoelectric devices, there have been many theories tested in order to improve energy efficiency focusing on easy maneuverable resources. At Boise State’s Advanced Energy Lab, thermoelectric generators are being created and modified which can be used to help communities from rural areas power utilities needed …

Non-Wetting Surface-Driven High-Aspect-Ratio Crystalline Grain Growth For Efficient Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells, Cheng Bi, Qi Wang, Yongbo Yuan, Zhengguo Xiao, Jinsong Huang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Large-aspect-ratio grains are needed in polycrystalline thin-film solar cells for reduced charge recombination at grain boundaries; however, the grain size in organolead trihalide perovskite (OTP) films is generally limited by the film thickness. Here we report the growth of OTP grains with high average aspect ratio of 2.3–7.9 on a wide range of non-wetting hole transport layers (HTLs), which increase nucleus spacing by suppressing heterogeneous nucleation and facilitate grain boundary migration in grain growth by imposing less drag force. The reduced grain boundary area and improved crystallinity dramatically reduce the charge recombination in OTP thin films to the level in …

Tadpole Tandem Electrically Assisted Tricycle, Austin Frederickson, Anthony Jacques, Kris Lawrence, Preston Mcelroy

Mechanical Engineering

The purpose of this senior project was to investigate the possibility of making bikes (as a regular mode of transportation) look much more appealing to the general public. To that end, an electric motor assist system was added to make it easier for the operators of the vehicle. A fairing was added to protect the rider from wind and rain, and an electrical subsystem consisting of a microcontroller and many other components was also added. The electrical subsystem was meant to store the information of different riders, calculate calories burned using a heart beat sensor, and increase visibility using strategically-placed …

Freedom Ski, Toby A. Goldsteinholm, Ashley Scharff, Justin Satnick, Markus Rutner

Mechanical Engineering

The current availability of water skis for people who are paraplegic or quadriplegic is very limited. The aim of our project is to design a system that improves upon the current models of specialized water skis. Our intent is to create a waterski system that is structurally stable and handles responsively, in order to ensure that anyone is capable of effectively using our system to waterski.

The main client of our project is Quality of Life Plus, an organization that aims to aid veterans of the armed forces who have physical disabilities to still enjoy a good quality of life. …

Jonathan’S Natural Juices Mechanical Juice Dispenser, Andrew Meyer, Jesus Gutierrez, Danielle Lauinger

Mechanical Engineering

Team AJD was tasked with trying to create a juice dispenser that did not utilize pumps, but rather explore the venturi effect to see if it could be a suitable substitute. The venturi effect is when a fluid in a pipe goes through a gradual reduction in diameter in a pipe to increase the velocity and lower the pressure of a fluid. Utilizing this principle the team constructed a testing device to be able to run tests and verify the theory. The team was able to verify that the venturi effect was able to make juice at the correct mix …

Smart Water Meter, Jeff Hufford, Eric Adler, Garrett Hall

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Solar Decathlon 2015, Solar Cal Poly; Solar Cal Poly Project Engineers, Cristina Paquin, Julien Blarel, Sanchit Joshi

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Vibration Table For Environmental Chamber, Michael Czabaranek, Dylan De Caussin

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Solar Decathlon Plumbing Subsystem Final Design Report, Robert Burtt, Chris Lutze, Tyler Dunaway

Mechanical Engineering

The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will be hosting an international public competition called the Solar Decathlon in Irvine, CA during October 2015 to showcase high-efficiency houses. Cal Poly students created a team – Solar Cal Poly – to participate. Three mechanical engineering students joined the team to work on the plumbing section of the competition. The team completed multiple iterations and designs of the plumbing system within the Solar Cal Poly house as the house was designed and redesigned. The construction and final design of the plumbing system will be decided by the construction crew and architecture team …

Solar Cal Poly Water Systems, Jake L. Morris, Zachary F. Yasuda, Lauren P. Jones

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Solar Cal Poly Active Hvac Project, James Cornish, Jake Cosmo, Patrick Weston

Mechanical Engineering

For this project, the goal was to conceptualize, design, test, and implement an active HVAC system to be used in the Solar Cal Poly house competing in the Department of Energy’s 2015 Solar Decathlon. With many house iterations, it was decided to use a split system with an outdoor heat pump and indoor air handler, paired with a HRV for ventilation. Through system modeling using Design Builder and Energy Pro 6.5, the cooling load of the house was determined along with the cooling schedule. The foreseen safety precautions and limited construction time guided the entire project, along with the active …

Evaluation Of Design Tools For The Micro-Ram Air Turbine, Victor Fidel Villa

Master's Theses

The development and evaluation of the design of a Micro-Ram Air Turbine (µRAT), a device being developed to provide power for an autonomous boundary layer measurement system, has been undertaken. The design tools consist of a rotor model and a generator model. The primary focus was on developing and evaluating the generator model for the prediction of generator brake power and output electrical power with and without rectification as a function of shaft speed and electrical load, with only basic manufacturer specifications given as inputs. A series of motored generator evaluation test were conducted at speeds ranging from 9,000 to …

Beverage Dispensing Backpack Design And Business Plan, Sterling Blake Grande

Biomedical Engineering

Grande Beverage Equipment

Mission Statement:

To deliver beverage dispensing products, services, and solutions to our customers in innovative and cost effective ways.

Product:

We provide portable beverage dispensing backpacks that can deliver soda or beer from pressurized tanks.

Design Improvements Of Wirelesshart Enabled Field Device, Yuxuan Zeng

Graduate Theses - Electrical and Computer Engineering

WirelessHART, as an improvement of HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer), provides a simple, reliable, and cost-effective method to deliver information without the trouble of wiring in the field. WirelessHART is being used more and more in field devices. Several years ago, Endress + Hauser (U.S.) Automation Instrumentation Inc. designed a WirelessHART solution by attaching a wireless adapter to a field device. The goal of this thesis is to improve the WirelessHART solution of Endress + Hauser to make it less expensive, smaller, and less power-consuming. The work is done in two parts. The first part is to redesign an I/O …