bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Investigations of Shock Wave Reactors Employing Head-On Colliding Shock Waves
Authors: Akbari Pejman , Tüchler Stefan , Copeland Colin D. , Shaffer James , Askari Omid
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the feasibility of hydrogen production using gasdynamic compression heating, focusing on high temperatures (> 1500 K) shock wave reactors with sufficient residence time for high fuel-to-hydrogen yield. The study compares two designs, an eight-port, and a twelve-port shock wave reactor employing head-on colliding shock waves. The novel twelve-port shock wave reactor design uses multiple pressure-reducing stages when releasing the driving gas from the reaction channels. In comparison, the eight-port design uses a single step to remove the driving gas. The novel twelve-port process is observed to increase the efficiency because the rate of entropy generation from viscous and thermal dissipations is lowered. The numerical results show that the stage-expansion design (twelve-port design) is more efficient than the single-expansion architecture (eight-port design) despite its system complexity. This finding confirms the theoretical principles and suggests that shock wave reactor designs could benefit from multi-stage expansion (and compression) process. The study provides valuable insights for the design and optimization of shock wave reactors for fuel pyrolysis process.
Numerical Studies of Hemodynamic Flow in the Aortic Vessel of Patients With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Jack Justin T. , Jensen Morten , Collins Thomas , Chan Frandics Pak , Millett Paul C.
Published: February 2024

The most prevalent type of birth defects globally are congenital heart defects (CHDs), requiring knowledge of intracardiac blood flow for their evaluation and progression. However, imaging techniques such as four-dimensional magnetic resonance and blood speckle imaging continues to lack the resolution required to extract flow data in patients with elevated flow velocities. Aortic stenosis (AS), a left ventricular outflow tract anomaly frequently associated with Williams syndrome, requires better tools for severity assessment than clinical findings and pressure gradient assessments, as these can be influenced by transient physiology and the stage of the disease. A computational framework was developed to evaluate intracardiac blood flow in a patient with an extreme aortic defect using the coupling of zero-dimensional (0D) lumped parameter models and pre- and post-intervention patient-specific reconstructed geometries to perform computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. The framework allows for the analysis and visualization of complex blood flow patterns, providing insight into changes in geometry and flow dynamics affecting cardiac function. The framework aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the surgical procedure in correcting the defective aorta.
Fabrication of Conductive Patterns by Laser Irradiation and Thermal Treatment of Silver Nanoparticle Inks for Flexible Printed Electronics
Authors: Chowdhury Rajib , Courville Justin , Jang SeonHee
Published: February 2024

A combination of laser irradiation and thermal treatment of a silver (Ag) nanoparticle (NP) ink was introduced to produce conductive patterns for flexible electronics applications. All of the patterns were laser irradiated followed by thermal treatment. The Ag patterns sintered under formic acid (FA) exhibited increased necking and coalescence. The sheet resistance of the patterns was influenced by sintering atmospheres and the Ag pattern sintered in the FA demonstrated the lowest value of 0.0016 Ω/sq. The hardness values were varied with different sintering atmospheres and the Ag pattern sintered in the FA exhibited the highest hardness value of 4.38 N/mm2. The patterns sintered in different atmospheres exhibited a weight loss in the range of 5.73–7.62% and the roughness varied from 67.95–211.3 nm. This can be attributed to the presence of organic residues after sintering and the degree of NP agglomeration. After conducting folding tests on Ag patterns for up to 50 cycles, all atmospheric conditions exhibited an increasing trend in resistance ratio with each subsequent folding cycle. The Ag patterns that were sintered under air and FA exhibited the lowest and highest resistance ratios of 1.57 and 8.58, respectively.
Prediction of the Maximum Energy Harvest Considering Year-Around Sky Coverage Conditions and Optimized Setup Angles of Fixed PV Panels
Authors: Gwesha Ammar Omar , Li Peiwen , Alfulayyih Yasir Mohammed
Published: February 2024

The installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is growing globally as the international community is on track to transition from fossil fuel energy to clean and sustainable resources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, and bioenergy. Among various renewable energy technologies, the capacity of power generation using solar PV has grown dramatically in recent years around the world. With more and more fields and building roofs covered with PV panels, setting up solar panels with flexibility at various idle surfaces becomes important for cost reduction. Regarding making use of idled areas and surfaces for solar panels, it is also important to have a tool to predict the energy harvest and the cost in order to attract more and more customers. In an attempt to maximize the irradiance fallen on a PV panel of various orientations, the present study provides a general model to predict the energy harvest and also the optimal tilt angles and orientation of the panels when needed. The analysis can accurately calculate the instantaneous sunray vector and solar panel normal vector using Solar Position Algorithm to account for the “cosine” effect of the angle of incidence. And more importantly, weather conditions or clouds coverage conditions are also combined in the calculation for precise energy prediction. The solar energy received per unit area of a PV panel in every 5 minutes is summated or integrated for daylong period from sunrise to sunset considering 21 years of averaged cloud-cover meteorological data. The model presented here is employed to two examples of geographical sites at north and south hemispheres and can be applied to any location around the world. The results for the City of Tucson Arizona USA show that the amount of yearly solar energy captured by a solar tracking panel is 3619.32 kWh/m2, whereas the annual solar energy received by an optimally tilted solar panel of a slop same as the local latitude could reach to 2206 kWh/m2 (60.9% of that from a fully tracking system). The findings also indicate that by optimally adjusting the tilt angle two times a year, four times, and monthly, the yearly solar energy accumulation can be 65.534%, 65.525%, and 66.515% of that of a system with tracking, respectively. In the absence of rooftop or ground installation options, the study reveals that vertically installing PV solar panels on walls due south would attain about 32% of the annual solar collection compared to a fully tracked system.
Vibration Phenomenon of Infants by Using a Baby Carriers
Authors: Iguchi Ryogo , Ota Shinichiro , Asano Katsuhiro
Published: February 2024

In this study, we focused on the vibration phenomenon of infants when using baby carriers. Although several safety standards for baby carriers are available, they do not consider the physical burden caused by the vibration phenomenon of infants, which may cause excessive vibration load to infants depending on the conditions of use.

The aim of this study was to clarify the vibration phenomenon of infants when using baby carriers. We conducted two measurement experiments: one was a vibration experiment using a vibration exciter and the other was a walking experiment in which participants walked at different speeds using a baby carrier and an infant dummy.

In the vibration experiment, regardless of the difference between the infant dummy and baby carrier, the amplitude of acceleration on the shaker and participant, and at each measurement point between the participant and infant dummy, varied less than 0.01 mm at 1–2 Hz, indicating that the baby carrier did not amplify the vibration. However, the acceleration amplitude was amplified when the frequency band became larger than 2 Hz. In the walking experiment, the measured acceleration amplitude peaked at 1.2 Hz at 70 BPM and at 1.5 Hz at 90 BPM, confirming that it was strongly influenced by the walking cycle.
Determination of Renewable Energy Capacity by Stochastic Optimization
Authors: Manoharan Yogesh , Headley Alexander John
Published: February 2024

The installation of renewable energy sources is becoming more common for those seeking to become self-sufficient in their energy requirements, minimize electricity costs, or limit their carbon footprint. Other technologies such as energy storage systems (ESS) or demand side management (DSM) systems are also being adopted alongside renewables to manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy and maximize potential savings. For behind-the-meter customers, significant savings can be achieved with a combination of renewable energy with battery energy storage systems (BESSs). However, batteries and renewable energy require large capital investments. There exists an interplay of benefits, costs, and generation needs that makes it is difficult to determine the proper size of renewable energy sources for maximum impact. Hence in this study a methodology for sizing renewables, batteries and optimizing savings is presented. Given the intermittent nature of renewables, stochastic methods are added to understand the impact of variability on planning procedures.

For this study both wind and solar power sources are considered. Given their significantly different generation profiles, the effect on system designs using a combination of both power sources is explored. The size of renewables and BESS are estimated using a stochastic optimization program. This study will help to improve the understanding of BESS and renewable energy sources in maximizing the savings from an entire system. The stochastic optimization gives us estimate of renewable and BESS and insight on the impact of uncertainties present in the measurement of wind speed and solar radiation on the outcome of the optimization program.
Using High-Fidelity Time-Domain Simulation Data to Construct Multi-Fidelity State Derivative Function Surrogate Models for Use in Control and Optimization
Authors: Sundarrajan Athul , Herber Daniel R.
Published: February 2024

Models that balance accuracy against computational costs are advantageous when designing dynamic systems with optimization studies, as several hundred predictive function evaluations might be necessary to identify the optimal solution. The efficacy and use of derivative function surrogate models (DFSMs), or approximate models of the state derivative function, have been well-established in the literature. However, previous studies have assumed an a priori state dynamic model is available that can be directly evaluated to construct the DFSM. In this article, we propose an approach to extract the state derivative information from system simulations using piecewise polynomial approximations. Once the required information is available, we propose a multi-fidelity DFSM approach as a predictive model for the system’s dynamic response. This multi-fidelity model consists of summation between a linear-fit lower-fidelity model and an additional nonlinear error corrective function that compensates for the error between the high-fidelity simulations and low-fidelity models. We validate the model by comparing the simulation results from the DFSM to the high-fidelity tools. The DFSM model is, on average, five times faster than the high-fidelity tools while capturing the key time domain and power spectral density (PSD) trends. Then, an optimal control study using the DFSM is conducted with outcomes showing that the DFSM approach can be used for complex systems like floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) and help identify control trends and trade-offs.
Carbon Footprint of Electricity Generation in a Conceptual Bioenergy Power Plant With Carbon Capture and Storage
Authors: Nemer Martha , Duque-Rivera Jorge , Aviles Daniel , Salas Daniel , Ramirez Angel D.
Published: February 2024

This paper analyzes the efficiency of a BECCS (Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage) system as an energy generation carbon sink in Ecuador, conceptualizing a 20MW power plant whose energy source is eucalyptus wood and evaluating its carbon footprint with an attributional life cycle assessment (LCA). The paper presents the technical specifications of the equipment and the processes needed to carry out the operation. Aiming at a case study for Pichincha - Ecuador, the power plant will contribute 3.5% of the total energy needed to power the province. The selected region possesses a high concentration of optimal areas with adequate soil to plant eucalyptus, equivalent to 56% of the total available in Ecuador. The electricity generation system has a global efficiency of 33.3% without considering the internal consumption of equipment and 13.4% assuming all internal consumptions. The carbon footprint was determined using the OpenLCA software, previous work on LCA of electricity generation in Ecuador and commercial life cycle inventory databases. The result for the proposed system is −0,95 kgCO2/kWh, demonstrating that it delivers carbon-negative energy because the growth of the eucalyptus removed carbon from the atmosphere. In contrast, the traditional energy generation systems by steam generation using fuel oil combustion have a carbon footprint of 0,93 kgCO2/kWh.
Composites and Sustainability: What Is the State of the Art
Authors: Patton Ned
Published: February 2024

Sustainability in the Advanced Composites Industry means many things to many people. This paper addresses the current challenges and approaches to reaching the overall goal of sustainable composite materials. The discussion includes the state of the art in natural fiber and resin formulations, recycling composites after they have completed their useful life, research into the means of separating the fibers from the matrix plastics that bind them together, and reuse of the original constituents of the composite being recycled. The challenges are many since the resin formulations and the surface chemistry of the fibers is specifically tailored during manufacture to resist taking them apart. This paper, therefore, presents current methods for recycling, which are primarily grinding or chopping up the composite and reusing the chopped up composite in a lower performance material. It also presents current research areas that are attempting to recycle composites without creating excess greenhouse gases or hazardous chemicals, and chemical and thermo-chemical methods being proposed, some of which are in development, to render the resin or plastic binding the fibers together from a solid back into a liquid so that the fibers can be more easily removed without damaging them, making them available for reuse. The paper concludes with a description of what a Circular Economy means WRT advanced composites and what is needed to close the circle and make composites truly sustainable.
Numerical Analysis on Buckling of Ultrahigh Strength Steel Wheel
Authors: Luo Jintao , Li Zhengwen , Shan Yingchun , Liu Xiandong , Wang Yizhuo , Jiang Er
Published: February 2024

With superior mechanical properties than normal strength steels, ultrahigh strength steels (UHSS) have been increasingly used in the lightweight design of vehicle wheels. The lightweight wheels made by UHSS have superior strength and crashworthiness capabilities, but are also prone to buckling instability for the thinning cross section. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective simulation methods for predicting the critical buckling load of wheels. In this paper, a novel method is proposed for the wheel buckling analysis by introducing a finite element tire model, which provides a more accurate description of the nonlinear tire-rim interface load. Compared to the simplified method of modeling interface load with a simple function form, the proposed method shows higher accuracy in predicting the wheel buckling load, with an error of less 2% than the experimental result. In addition, the effects of material mechanical properties, and initial imperfection by manufacturing factors on the wheel stiffness are investigated. The results show that wheel buckling load can be increased by decreasing the yield strength of the wheel material. A low imperfection factor achieved by controlling the wheel processing precision also helps to improve the wheel stiffness. The research provides reliable guidance for the stiffness improvement of UHSS wheels.
Dynamic Analysis of Parametrically Excited Stable Rotors With Unbalance
Authors: De Felice Alessandro , Sorrentino Silvio
Published: February 2024

The dynamic analysis of parametrically excited rotors is a research field of great interest and practical importance, since instability and resonant behavior can cause issues ranging from anomalous noise and wear to catastrophic failures. This study is focused on the effects of unbalance on a parametrically excited rotor operating in the asymptotically stable domain, a research topic which in the scientific literature has not been investigated. Rotor unbalance causes an additional harmonic load acting on flexural deflection, influencing the frequency response together with the parametric excitation, yielding additional combination external resonances. As a first insight into this problem, to study the effects of angular speed independently of variations of the natural frequencies, and to facilitate decoupling of the equations of motion, a simplified model of a distributed-parameter slender rotor is considered, consisting of a homogeneous Euler-Bernoulli beam with circular section, rotating at constant angular speed about its longitudinal axis on isotropic supports. It is affected by unbalance and loaded by an axial end thrust, assumed to have a harmonic time-dependent component. The steady-state response is studied after decoupling the equations of motion, reducing the problem to the analysis of a non-homogeneous single-degree-of-freedom damped Mathieu equation.
Modeling of Rate Effects in Detachment of Mushroom-Shaped Adhesive Structures
Authors: Li Ruozhang , Li Dongwu , Zhang Wenming
Published: February 2024

Gecko-inspired fibrillar adhesives have attracted much attention and have good application prospects in many fields. Rate-dependent adhesion of the fibrillar adhesives is a commonly observed but less discussed issue, particularly for mushroom-shaped structures. Mushroom-shaped structures have become a popular design in recent ten years due to the optimal interfacial stress and thus better adhesion performance than the traditional flat-ended structure. However, the rate-dependent adhesion in mushroom-shaped structures is far less known. In this study, we do a preliminary study with a focus on the influence of retraction velocity on the pull-off force of the mushroom-shaped adhesive structure. Two mechanical models corresponding to two typical crack propagation modes (center crack and edge crack), respectively, are established to describe the pull-off dynamics. It is found that the pull-off force-velocity relation shows a power law at large velocities for both two crack propagation modes. The power exponent is about 0.2, almost the same for both modes, when the power exponent in the Gent-Schultz law is equal to 0.5. This power exponent value is found to be consistent with experiments. This study would provide theoretical insight into the rate-dependent adhesion of mushroom-shaped adhesive structures and promote optimal designs in related applications.
Mechatronic System Design of a Ball Launcher Machine for Speed and Anticipation Training in Combat Sports
Authors: Roa Prada Sebastián , Barreto Sosa Duvan Smith
Published: February 2024

This research work presents the design and development of a ball throwing machine using the V-methodology. The machine aims to automate one of the most common exercises in martial arts for the development of anticipation speed. Samples were taken from different athletes performing the exercise to determine the response requirements of the machine. The design was then conceptualised based on the required movements and the different ways of solving them. The idea of a thrower with horizontal and vertical movement and ball speed was proposed. The dimensions were estimated based on trends in human proportions and commercial elements such as the ball, wheels, motors, gears, etc. Once the sketch was clear, the system was modelled using CAD software.

The next step was to calculate the actuator requirements to meet the needs identified in the first stage. Based on these requirements, commercially available actuators were selected along with their respective operating modules. The construction material was selected and the appropriate assembly was carried out, giving the physical properties to the CAD model. The physical dimensions of the parts were calculated and a structural analysis of the parts was carried out, making the necessary adjustments so that the parts could withstand the static and dynamic loads of the system.

The various subsystems were built and tested. Once the mechanical subsystems had been validated, general assembly was carried out and the tracking system was mounted. Calibration was performed on the mechanical system and the tracking system was tested with a laser, allowing real-time tracking to be compared with the generated model and the actual position of the body part being tracked.

A user interface was implemented where the randomness of speed and launch times could be selected, and launches could be tracked to verify that they were as requested. This completed the full validation of the system. The functional model was used to observe possible improvements and factors affecting the performance of the machine. The proposed ball launch machine allows for variation in the trajectory, speed, frequency and randomness of ball launches, thus personalising the triggering action in the athlete’s training. In addition, the machine provides a training optimisation solution by automating an exercise that under normal conditions can be monotonous and ineffective depending on the expertise of the available training partner or lack thereof. The machine also allows for personalised training schedules and times, as the athlete can train alone.
Deep Neural Network Based Saturated Adaptive Control of Muscles in a Lower-Limb Hybrid Exoskeleton
Authors: Ting Jonathan A. , Basyal Sujata , Allen Brendon C.
Published: February 2024

Hybrid exoskeletons are used to blend the rehabilitative efficacy and mitigate the shortcomings of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and exoskeleton-based rehabilitative solutions. This paper introduces a novel nonlinear controller that may potentially improve the rehabilitative efficiency of a lower limb hybrid exoskeleton by implementing four key features into the FES and exoskeleton controllers. First, the FES input to the user’s muscles is saturated based on user preference to ensure user comfort. Second, rather than discarding the excess control effort from the saturated FES input, it is redirected into the exoskeleton’s motor controller. Third, a safe deep neural network (DNN) is designed to estimate the unknown dynamics of the hybrid exoskeleton and the DNN is implemented in the FES controller to improve the control efficiency and tracking performance. Fourth, an adaptive update law is designed to estimate the unknown muscle control effectiveness to facilitate the implementation of the DNN. Lyapunov stability-based methods are used to generate real-time adaptive update laws that will train the adaptive estimate of the muscle effectiveness and the output layer weights of the DNN in real-time, ensure the effectiveness and safety of the controllers, and prove global asymptotic tracking of the desired trajectory.
It’s Curling Night in New Orleans!
Authors: Stach Eric , Lipp Genevieve , McGuire Patrick , Santillan Sophia
Published: February 2024

In a sophomore level dynamics class in Duke University’s Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science department, a tabletop sized ice rink was built to demonstrate collision mechanics of Curling stones. Cameras and image processing techniques were used to collect object position versus time data for single impact scenarios. The data was then analyzed by students to calculate the coefficient of restitution and velocities of each object after collision. Through this interactive, hands-on laboratory experiment, students were able to learn this foundational engineering concept.
A Performance-Based Reliability Approach
Authors: Mandelli Diego , Wang Congjian
Published: February 2024

Over the past decade, nuclear power plants have been transitioning from periodic to predictive maintenance strategies in order to reduce operational costs. This type of transition requires that new data be retrieved and different decision processes employed. Advanced monitoring and data analysis technologies are essential for supporting predictive strategies, as they can provide precise information on the health of a given component, track its degradation trends, and estimate its expected failure time. With such information, maintenance operations can be performed on a component shortly before its expected failure time. Classical reliability modeling is not suited for this dynamic context of maintenance operations, thus a new reliability mindset is required — one in which component health information (and not failure rates/probabilities) is propagated from the component to the system level in order to inform and optimize plant operations. The present paper addresses this situation by providing an alternative reliability modeling approach based on component margins rather than failure rates/probabilities. In this approach, component condition data and diagnostic/prognostic information can be directly employed to quantify component health in terms of margin. Lastly, we show how margin values can be propagated from the component to the system level in order to assess system health and identify those components most critical to system operation.
Optimization of Vane-Style Variable Area Flowmeter Calibration Through CFD Analysis
Authors: Imran Syed , Ma Shilei , Silaen Armin , Hackett Peter E. , Walla Nicholas , Guo Xipeng , Moss Robert , Zhou Chenn
Published: February 2024

Precise measurement of the flowrate is crucial for both process control and energy consumption evaluation. The main aim of this work is to develop a methodology to calibratea vane-style variable area flowmeter, designed to measure high viscosity fluids, in water. In order to accomplish this, a series of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis are carried out to determine how the vane’s angle of rotation varies with different flow rates of water and high viscosity fluids. This data is recorded and analyzed to develop calibration curves that relate the vane’s angle of rotation to the flow rates. From the calibration curves, it can be determined the required water flow rate to achieve the equivalent vane’s angle of rotation in a specified viscosity. This methode provides an efficient and cost-effective calibration process because it eliminates the need for calibrating using heated engine oil to achieve the fluid viscosity of the flow meter is designed. Flowmeter sensitivity analysis was also permored and it was observed that the angle of pointer curves converges as the size of the flowmeter increases suggesting that the effect of viscosity on flowmeter sensitivity decreases as the size of the flowmeter is increased, likely due to reduced resistance to flow and smaller pressure drops.
Evaluation of Power-Assisted Wheelchair to Reduce Burden on Elderly Caregivers
Authors: Asano Katsuhiro , Ota Shinichiro , Takato Jinro
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this study is to verify the effectiveness of a mechanical power-assisted wheelchair that does not require electrical charging for its operation. In this study, we investigated the burden experiences by a caregiver when pushing the wheelchair along with the assistive force with and without the power assistance.

First, the wheelchair was tested on a slope where the caregiver would feel strain while pushing the wheelchair, and the wheelchair pushing force and sensory evaluation were measured. The results showed that the caregiver’s pushing force was independent of the implementation of power assist in the wheelchair, and the sensory evaluation indicated that the power assist wheelchair was effective.

Furthermore, to investigate the inherent assist force of the power-assisted wheelchair, we conducted a static experiment without the caregiver and compared the results with theoretical values of the assist force. The static experiment showed that the power-assisted device exerted an assist force in the direction of the wheelchair motion.

The static experiment showed that the power-assisted wheelchair was not effective in the dynamic experiment with the caregiving participants but was effective in the static experiment without the caregivers. In addition, the reasons for the differences in assist force between the static and dynamic experiments were discussed.
Fabrication of NiTi Samples Using Pressureless Sintering of Uncompacted Metal Powder
Authors: Alawwa Fares , Abu Al-Rub Rashid K. , El-Khasawneh Bashar , Zaki Wael
Published: February 2024

Among the several metal systems capable of shape memory behavior, nickel-titanium (NiTi or nitinol) remains the most utilized. One way to fabricate nitinol components is by way of sintering of compressed elemental or pre-alloyed metal powder; a process that involves the design and use of an appropriate mold. This study investigates pressureless sintering of pre-alloyed NiTi powder, which eliminates the need for compaction to form a green part. The method involves preheating and sintering at an appropriate rate and time in a vacuum to achieve sintering of nitinol. After heat treatment, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms reveal that the material exhibits shape memory performance through phase transformation peaks. Moreover, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) is performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to reveal a homogenous mixture of Ni and Ti. Brinell hardness test is used to demonstrate the qualitative performance of shape memory. Vickers hardness test revealed that the sample demonstrates a hardness value comparable to those reported in literature. Finally, micro-CT results demonstrating minimal porosity in the sample are presented. Overall, the results of this work show that pressureless sintering of pre-alloyed NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) powder can be an effective and efficient method for the fabrication of functional nitinol. The elimination of the need for a mold to compress nitinol powder into a green part simplifies the fabrication process and reduces production cost. The structural homogeneity of the obtained samples and absence of easily distinguishable porosities further suggests that this method can result in high-quality NiTi samples.
Stimulating Critical Thinking Through Report Peer-Review in a Project-Based Learning by Engineering Freshman Students
Authors: Alves Anabela C. , Leão Celina P. , Abreu M. Florentina , Pimentel Carina , Malheiro M. T. , Oliveira Sérgio , Ramos M. Piedade , Oliveira Jorge Miguel
Published: February 2024

Project-based learning (PBL) is an active learning methodology proposed in the early 20th century. Nevertheless, it continues to be a very suitable methodology for the current generation of students. Probably, it is more relevant now than before, since recent generations are more motivated by these learning methodologies. This is due to the fact that today’s students are totally absorbed by technologies that, in spite of being useful, are a cause of distraction, in particular in what concerns the most important objective: learning. With PBL, many learning aspects could be explored, from the integration of course content to provide the technical to the transversal competencies such as: critical thinking, teamwork, personal relationship, project management and emotional intelligence development. PBL is used in the Integrated Project of Industrial Engineering and Management 1 (IPIEM1) course. IPIEM1 is an interdisciplinary project developed during a semester by teams of freshman students. These teams should apply the contents and knowledge learned in the five project support courses to develop the IPIEM1. Eight teams were formed with seven to nine members. The project theme involves sustainability and in the year of 2022/23 was to design a production system to value end-of-life clothes. Among other deliverables, student teams must review a report from a different team. This paper discusses the critical thinking developed by the student who undertake this report peer-review by analyzing the feedback given, questionnaire and technical aspects checklist and reports content results.
Bi-Level 3D Reconstruction of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Volume From CT Images
Authors: Ghidotti Anna , Regazzoni Daniele , Weiss Cohen Miri
Published: February 2024

This paper introduces an assistive system for diagnosing malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), a highly aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The system assists healthcare providers in accurately determining the tumor’s volume and the appropriate dose of chemotherapy to administer. It employs a bi-level process that uses machine learning and deep learning techniques to classify CT images of lungs and then calculate the tumor’s volume. The study addresses the challenges associated with deep nets, such as the need for large and diverse datasets, hyperparameter optimization, and potential data bias. Two CNN architectures, Inception-v3 and ResNet-50, were compared in terms of their features and performance, and three hyperparameters were optimized for each model to generate a broad range of training scenarios. To estimate the amount of cancer cells to target, CT images were used to calculate the tumor’s volume. This process involved image pre-processing, cropping volume, registering and filtering images, filling holes, segmentation, and 3D reconstruction. The results demonstrate that the developed system utilizing CNN optimizations and reconstruction of 3D images from CT images can benefit the treatment of MPM patients. The system has the potential to improve the accuracy of MPM diagnosis and the effectiveness of chemotherapy, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Development of Modified Perturbation Solutions to the One-Phase Stefan Problems With a Convective Boundary
Authors: Xu Minghan , Mohit Mohammaderfan , Akhtar Saad , Sasmito Agus P.
Published: February 2024

The classical Stefan problem is used to track the moving solid-liquid interface during the freezing process. Perturbation theory has often been applied to find an approximate analytical solution due to the nonlinearity of the moving interface. However, the Stefan number (i.e., the sensible over latent heat) must be small and usually less than 0.01 to assume the perturbation expansion, which in turn limits the thermal engineering applications. In this study, a modified perturbation solution is developed by adding a correction term after the leading-order solution to be valid for a much wider range of Stefan numbers (i.e., 0.01 ≤ Ste ≤ 1). Specifically, a one-phase Stefan problem is first formulated subjected to a convective boundary in the Cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical coordinate systems for inward solidification. The leading-order solution is calculated based on the regular perturbation theory, while the correction term is obtained using the Monte-Carlo method and a multi-variant regression. Results show that the correction term has a linear relationship with the Stefan number and is not significantly influenced by the Biot number. The proposed modified perturbation solution can accurately and rapidly predict the nonlinear moving interface motion for the freezing process.
Flood Assessment & Modeling
Authors: Thibodeaux Austin , Monev Zhulien , Tyler Tabitha , DeCoursey Abbie , Zhang Ning
Published: February 2024

The purpose of our project aims to visualize, simulate, and analyze flood patterns on certain locations which have been impacted by flooding in the past. Blender is used to model the area and the FLIP Fluids Addon is then used to simulate the fluid causing the flood. The FLIP Fluids addon utilizes a cloud of particles which are based upon the Navier-Stokes equation which is the expression that describes the motion of any viscous incompressible fluid. This powerful addon can simulate the accurate flood patterns of fluid flowing with a designated velocity in any chosen direction. The velocity can be manipulated, as well as the viscosity of the fluid, gravity of the simulation world, and even the visual representation of the fluid type. FLIP Fluids words by assigning a domain, inflow, and any obstacles the fluid will interact with to the created model in Blender. Creating the model in Blender using topography data and building blueprints so that our model is as accurate as possible. One application of this is that of a building located on the southern side of McNeese State University named Collette Hall. Collette Hall is a co-ed dormitory that has a history of flooding from not only heavy rains but rising water levels in a canal just north of the building (Contraband Bayou). In our simulation, we not only worked to produce the direct behavior of flood waters entering the building, but also to demonstrate the rising water levels of Contraband Bayou using various velocity profiles of the flowing water. FLIP Fluids allows for a whitewater adaptation of the canal’s water level and gives an opportunity to manipulate and record velocity values so that the user can study the possible flooding effects. This can help administration predict the behavior of flood patterns in the Bayou, as well as giving students a visual representation of how the surrounding areas will be affected in the case of rising water levels. Our project drives home the importance of understanding flood patterns in the case of an emergency, while offering a scientific simulation for administration and students to analyze at their disposal.
Prediction of Insect Locomotion to Control the Transparent Omnidirectional Locomotion Compensator (TOLC)
Authors: Rahman Kaushik , Ehme Daniel , Ackerman Matthew , Penick Clint , Kim Dal Hyung
Published: February 2024

This paper presents prediction schemes of a walking insect for model predictive control (MPC) method for the Transparent Omnidirectional Locomotion Compensator (TOLC). The MPC method uses an average velocity vector or moving average (MV) of the previous gaiting cycle to estimate the future trajectory of the walking insect. Integration of the current heading angle (MCH) of the insect or the mean of the heading angles (MMH) of previous gaiting cycle with the existing MV scheme improves the overall prediction of insect locomotion to control the TOLC. The results of the experiment and simulation demonstrate that when the MMH is integrated with the MV in predicting the future insect trajectory, it yielded the lowest average distance error of 0.28mm. Additionally, the proposed methods effectively compensated the small error that occurred due to the oscillation of the insect body while gaiting. This claim was verified when the average distance errors for MCH and MMH were 0.28mm and 0.25mm respectively in a straight locomotion. In contrast, the average distance error for MV scheme was 0.34mm for a straight motion. The method proposed in this study provides a highly accurate and precise approach to tracking insect behavior, with potential applications in areas such as insect behavior research and the design of insect-inspired robots. The adoption of this method may lead to the development of novel control strategies for complex locomotion systems, with a wide range of potential uses across various fields.
Excavators Using Adjustable Linkages
Authors: Kotte Manoj Kumar , Zhou Hong
Published: February 2024

Excavators or backhoes are construction machines that are employed to create foundations, holes or trenches by moving or digging dirt through their attached end buckets. Excavators have been widely used for various construction or other projects. Tracked excavators are suitable for heavy-duty projects or on harsh terrain conditions because of their outstanding traction, excellent stability and high digging depth. Wheeled ones are preferred for inner-city or urban projects due to their dexterous maneuverability in narrow space and low impact to the contact ground. An excavator arm consists of bucket, stick and boom that are connected serially by R joints. The arm is pivoted to the excavator’s house that rotates with respect to its undercarriage. An excavator performs its tasks through its arm motion together with its rotatable house and locomotive undercarriage. The three R joints of an excavator arm have parallel axes and form its arm motion plane. They are driven by their corresponding hydraulic cylinders. The moving trajectories and orientations of the bucket of an excavator for digging or other tasks are generated from the three driving cylinder linkages of its arm. The reachable workspace of the bucket on its arm motion plane depend on the dimensions of the three arm linkages. The workspace has no flexibility if the dimensions of the three arm linkages of an excavator are fixed, which limits the applications of the excavator. In order for an excavating machine to have workspace flexibility, one or more motion related parameters of its three arm linkages have to be adjustable. This research aims at improving operation flexibility of excavators through using adjustable arm linkages. Excavators without and with adjustable parameters are analyzed and simulated. Their performances are evaluated and compared. The results from this research will provide some useful guidelines for developing excavating machines.
Electric and Pneumatic Regulation of a Dual Planetary Gearing System Using a Programmable Logic Controller
Authors: Achord Gillian , Hackett Kyle , Burlton Cahil , Azzouz Salim
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this project is to create a new lab apparatus for the Machine Element Design course at the McCoy School of Engineering at Midwestern State University. The apparatus is designed so that future students can visualize and understand how a car transmission system works, specifically in regards to the concepts of mechanical advantage, gear ratios and efficiency. The transmission control system utilizes pneumatic-mechanical clutches and electro-mechanical brakes to realize one of the six possible gear ratios. The system is automated by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) that is able to shift the transmission into the different gear configurations and allow the students to determine the mechanical advantage and the efficiency of each configuration.

To achieve the stated goals, necessary modifications have been made to a transmission built and modified by previous senior design groups. The current team of senior design students used the SolidWorks CAD software to design a new clutching and braking system that works more effectively. The team also created a new PLC program. The PLC controls the pneumatic cylinders for the clutch system, the linear actuators for the braking system, and it reads and displays the torque readings from two transducers. The PLC is used in conjunction with a Human Machine Interface (HMI). The HMI has been programmed so that the user may select a gear configuration simply by tapping a digital button on the touch screen.
Implementation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Instructional Support System in a Virtual Reality (VR) Thermal-Fluids Laboratory
Authors: Ayre Dennis , Dougherty Carolyn , Zhao Yitong
Published: February 2024

Physical laboratory experiments have long been the cornerstone of higher education, providing future engineers practical real-life experience invaluable to their careers. However, demand for laboratory time has exceeded physical capabilities. Virtual reality (VR) labs have proven to retain many benefits of attending physical labs while also providing significant advantages only available in a VR environment. Previously, our group had developed a pilot VR lab that replicated six (6) unique thermal-fluids lab experiments developed using the Unity game engine. One of the VR labs was tested in a thermal-fluid mechanics laboratory class with favorable results, but students highlighted the need for additional assistance within the VR simulation.

In response to this testing, we have incorporated an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant to aid students within the VR environment by developing an interaction model. Utilizing the Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) large language model (LLM) and augmented context retrieval, the AI assistant can provide reliable instruction and troubleshoot errors while students conduct the lab procedure to provide an experience similar to a real-life lab assistant. The updated VR lab was tested in two laboratory classes and while the overall tone of student response to an AI-powered assistant was excitement and enthusiasm, observations and other recorded data show that students are currently unsure of how to utilize this new technology, which will help guide future refinement of AI components within the VR environment.
Multiscale Surface Force Models for Adhesive Metasurfaces
Authors: Heyes Corrisa R. , Brown Joseph J.
Published: February 2024

This work advances small-scale surface adhesion modeling, motivated by recent advancements in adhesive metamaterial surfaces, also known as metasurfaces. Specifically, with microfabrication of Mechanical Interlocking Structure (MIS) metasurfaces onto a substrate, micro and nano-scale interlocking features can be used to produce mechanical bonding. This allows two similarly fabricated surfaces to form a press-fit mechanical connection in the absence of chemical adhesives. Design and optimization of nano-scale MIS for application in 2nd level electronics packaging could replace current techniques integrating chips and chiplets for improvements in assembly processing, temperature tolerance, and accommodation of thermal expansion mismatch. Robust modeling of the physical contact behavior of MIS surfaces allows for investigation the importance of scaling effects in contact performance by modeling interaction behavior prior to subcomponent assembly.
Improvement of Screw Compressor Performance by Rotor Profile Modification to Reduce Mechanical Losses
Authors: Patil Sumit , Abdan Suraj , Asati Neeraj , Stosic Nikola , Kovacevic Ahmed
Published: February 2024

A mathematical model has been developed to increase the efficiency of oil injected twin screw compressors by improving their rotor profiles. Unlike those currently in use, based purely on geometric considerations, it includes estimates of mechanical losses, mainly due to oil drag, with the aim of minimising them, by use of homotopy procedures. The manufacture of such rotors is only minimally more expensive than those with a conventional N Profile and it has been experimentally demonstrated that by their use, compressor efficiencies can be improved by 1.5–2.5%. Moreover, the scope of these procedures may possibly have a wider range of use in applications concerned with the optimisation of rotor profile shape and size.