bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graphene Reinforced PVDF Nanofibers Fabricated With the ForceSpinning® Method for Water Desalination Applications
Authors: Vera Alvarado Elmmer A. , Salam Md. Abdur Rahman Bin Abdus , Ashraf Ali , Lozano Karen
Published: February 2024

Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is a thermally driven energy and cost-efficient desalination technique where low-grade energy from solar or waste heat from plants can be used to recover fresh water from high saline water. The DCMD technique allows both the feed and permeate solutions to be in contact with the membrane, where vapor from the feed gets condensed in the permeate side once it collides with low-temperature water. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membranes were prepared by the ForceSpinning® method, these were later dip coated in graphene solutions prepared with different solvents. The ForceSpinning® method, unlike electrospinning, operates in the absence of electromagnetic fields, solely based on the use of centrifugal spinning where nanofiber production is mainly controlled by the angular velocity applied to the spinneret containing the polymer solution or melt. A 0.75 wt.% graphene solution showed adequate dispersion and distribution on the developed PVDF nanofiber membrane as confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Water contact angle and surface roughness varied depending on the percentages of graphene in the coating solution. Testing parameters such as temperature, flow rate, porosity etc. were kept constant. Stainless steel filtering wire cloth of 165*1400 mesh size with 6% opening was used to support the PVDF membrane. Among the registered fluxes after testing, 12.82 Kg m−2hr−1 and 10.98 Kg m−2hr−1 were the most relevant. To reduce the clogging during the experimentation, membranes with an EcoFlex support were additionally tested. This study presents a promising platform for moderate to high salinity rejection, as well as produced water desalination.
Mesoporous Materials Made of Mixed-Grain With Mushroom Mycelia Reinforcement As an Alternative to Styrofoam
Authors: Desai Shubhankar , Javvaji Vijay , Mammadov Rauf , Abu Zeid Ahmad , Gacura Matthew , Vanderlaan Gary , Angadi Santosh V. , Piovesan Davide
Published: February 2024

Styrofoam, also known as polystyrene foam, has become a ubiquitous material in our daily lives due to its lightweight, versatility, and durability. One of the most common uses for Styrofoam is in packaging, where it is used due to its lightweight but sturdy properties that can hold a load and absorb shocks. It is often used to protect fragile items such as glass and electronics during shipping.

Despite its many benefits, Styrofoam is not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose, which makes it a major contributor to environmental pollution. Moreover, Styrofoam is made from polystyrene, which can release harmful chemicals when heated, making it a concern for public health. To address these issues, researchers have been exploring alternatives to Styrofoam. One promising alternative are Mesoporous Materials Made of Mixed-grain with Mushroom Mycelia Reinforcement (6MRs). 6MRs are environmentally friendly and sustainable, as they are biodegradable, compostable, and can be recycled. They also have excellent insulating properties and are lightweight yet sturdy, making them ideal for packaging and construction applications.

To assess the potential of 6MRs as an alternative to Styrofoam, a study was conducted to compare the two materials’ properties. A standard experiment was conducted on the materials, testing their strength using a compression test following ASTM D-1621 standards. The results indicated that both materials have low density and can bear heavy loads. Overall, the study suggests that 6MRs have the potential to replace Styrofoam in many applications, providing a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative that is not only good for the environment but also for public health.
Design and Realization of Microscopic Optical Acoustic Sensors
Authors: Maupin David B. , Dumm Christopher M. , Klinzing George E. , Balaban Carey D. , Vipperman Jeffrey S.
Published: February 2024

Optical sensing technologies are increasingly attractive for applications where susceptibility to electromagnetic interference must be minimized. Optical fibers provide an inexpensive yet effective approach to simultaneously transmit and receive signals with high consistency and minimal attenuation. While prior work in the field considers development of various types of miniaturized sensors that have the size profile of an optical fiber, practical design and implementation of such sensors is challenging to non-specialists. Certain sensor topologies rely on construction of internal gratings in a sensing fiber, while others are based on micromechanical sensor structures that are interrogated with prescribed optical signals. This work presents a case study where a microscopic (fiber-sized) acoustic sensor utilizing optical measurement of a mechanical sensing structure is designed and constructed to dynamically transduce pressures in the acoustic and low ultrasonic frequency ranges (below 100 kHz).
Development of a Non-Destructive Ultrasonic Technique for In-Situ Battery Health Monitoring
Authors: Hossen Md Rakib , Ahmed Hossain , Sadaf Asef Ishraq , Khan Md Arif Iqbal , Bennett Grant , Mahamud Rajib
Published: February 2024

An in-situ structural health monitoring technique for the safe operation of Lithium-Ion Battery (LIB) using Rayleigh-Lamb wave is reported herein. While the LIBs are important because of their high energy density, long cycle life, fast charging, low self-discharge rate, and environmental friendliness, they also come with safety concerns. Even though LIBs are electrochemical devices, their structural integrity must be maintained for its safe operation. Whenever a LIB operates outside of its safe operating limits, the structural integrity gets disrupted, and its performance drops significantly. This can lead to challenges such as a rise in internal resistance or temperature which may eventually lead to thermal runway. While the battery management systems (BMS) can take care of some preventive measures, such as overcharge/discharge protection, an effective in-situ sensing system to monitor battery internal structures is currently non-existent. While X-ray tomography, Neutron imaging or Electron microscopy can provide internal images, these off-situ techniques are nonconventional to integrate with the BMS. To circumvent these issues, a non-destructive ultrasonic guided wave-based acoustic technique is experimentally developed herein. In particular, the battery state of charge (SoC) in terms of voltage level is determined by analyzing ultrasonic transmission (UT). Also, the correlation between surface temperature and UT is established.
Modular Tactile End Effector Design for Enhancing Haptic Feedback in Teleoperated Robotic Systems
Authors: Huynh Jenny , Duong Han Xuyen , Huang Gaojian , Etu Egbe-Etu , Quintero David , Jiang Lin
Published: February 2024

This paper describes a novel end effector design that combines off-the-shelf sensors and an endoscopic camera to improve haptic perception. By providing realistic force feedback through the tactile end effector, the aim is to enhance the operator’s situational awareness and sense of touch during teleoperations on a laparascopic surgical simulator. Modular tactile end effectors include a load cell, a force resistive sensor (FSR), a linear actuator, an endoscope, a surgical forcep, and custom fixers. The modular base allows users to switch easily between different tools. Through experiments on a teleoperated robotic system, the feasibility of using the modular tactile end effector to differentiate the stiffness of materials when grasping objects was demonstrated. The results highlight the potential of the designed end effector to improve teleoperation and robot control in various applications.
Mosquito-Inspired Cannula to Improve Control of Active Surgical Needle in Soft Tissue
Authors: Acharya Sharad Raj , Kim Doyoung , Hutapea Parsaoran
Published: February 2024

Active needles obtain more significant tip deflection and improved accuracy over passive needles for percutaneous procedures. However, their ability to navigate through tissues to reach targets depends upon the actuation mechanism, the tip shape, and the surface geometry of the shaft. In this study, we investigate the benefits of changing the surface geometry of the active needle shaft in a) needle tip deflection and b) trajectory tracking during tissue insertion. The modifications in passive needle surface geometry have been proven to reduce friction force, tissue displacement, and tissue damage. This study incorporates the effect of modifying the regular smooth cannula with a mosquito proboscis-inspired design in the active needles. The changes in insertion force, tip deflection, and trajectory tracking control during insertion into a prostate-mimicking phantom are measured. Results show that insertion force is reduced by up to 10.67% in passive bevel-tip needles. In active needles, tip deflection increased by 12.91% at 150mm when the cannula is modified. The bioinspired cannula improved trajectory tracking error in the active needle by 39% while utilizing up to 17.65% lower control duty cycle. Improving tip deflection and tracking control would lead to better patient outcomes and reduced risk of complications during percutaneous procedures.
Effect of Upstream Deflector Plate Position on the Performance of Savonius Rotors
Authors: Prasad Deepak D. , Pesamino Marisilina , Cavuilati Amenatave , Ram Krishnil , Ahmed Mohammed Rafiuddin
Published: February 2024

Global warming has resulted from the excessive use of fossil fuels that are being used to meet the increasing energy demand. The use of renewable sources of energy for power generation has become important now than ever to mitigate the effects of global warning. Wind energy is one such alternative. It is clean, non-emitting, sustainable and environmentally friendly. In the present work, the performance of a Savonius rotor for wind energy application is studied experimentally and numerically. Three different rotor configurations having blade arc angles of 65°, 110° and 148° were tested in a wind tunnel. The rotor with blade arc angle of 110° performed the best. The peak power outputs for the 65°, 110° and 148° configurations are 0.05 W, 0.15 W and 0.11 W respectively. The 110° rotor model was later used to study the effect of deflector plate on the rotor performance. The best deflector plate position is γ = 0.3 at an exposure ratio of 0.6. At this configuration, the power coefficient is 0.06 compared to 0.021 recorded for the 110° model without deflector plate. Finally, the flow characteristics are studied in detail using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code ANSYS-CFX. The presence of the deflector plate shielded the returning plate from the approaching flow, hence reducing the negative torque and directed the flow onto the advancing blade. The combination of these two improved the performance of the Savonius rotor.
An Energy Transition Pathway Towards Building Decarbonization – Coupling CHP Units With Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Naman Yasin , Zenouzi Mansour , Kowalski Gregory
Published: February 2024

Integration of combined heat and power (CHP) systems, also known as cogeneration, with renewable energy and energy storage along with electrification of buildings is an energy transition pathway to create resilient, efficient, and economic solutions towards decarbonization and a 100% renewable energy system. Designing and optimizing the size of a CHP system to satisfy both electrical power and thermal load of a given facility while minimizing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide production is a challenging problem. The thermal load can consist of a combination of heating, cooling, or hot water production. Integration of renewable energy sources and/or energy storage presents additional design challenges towards a more sustainable solution.

An interactive design software was developed by the authors to quickly estimate the performance of different configurations of CHP and renewable energy sources and it was tested for an office complex of 4 commercial buildings found in NREL’s dataset End-Use Load Profiles for the U.S. Building Stock. The software is intended to size CHP devices and calculate the Energy Utilization Factor (EUF), CO2 emissions and the rate of Entropy Production. New features were introduced to the software for this study, including a heat pump module and solar PV with electrical storage. The objective of this paper is to compare different configurations of renewable or low emissions technologies and design an appropriate solution for a test data set for a Typical Metrological Year (TMY). The software requires energy inputs separated by cooling load, heating load and electric demand as a time series and the software is used to optimize the plant size to match all the loads to the corresponding systems.
Application of Machine Learning in Process Analysis of the Friction-Stir Welding Technique
Authors: Ahmed Radif Uddin , Alam Chowdhury Sadid , Rahman M. Shafiqur
Published: February 2024

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a popular metal joining technique due to its solid-state deformation mechanism and high joining strength. The process is controlled by adjusting the process parameters, including rotational speed, translational speed, and axial force. However, the lack of proper settings and optimization of these parameters can result in a defective weld joint and unexpected failure. The traditional trial-and-error-based experimental and computational approaches for finding the optimal combination of parameters are expensive, time-consuming, and intricate. Machine Learning (ML), a data analysis technique, can be a useful alternative to optimize the process parameters in the FSW process. The tool rotational speed, translational speed, and axial force in FSW can be categorized as the input parameters or feature variables in the ML dataset. On the other hand, a performance parameter, such as the ultimate tensile strength of the welded joint, can be set as the output parameter or the target variable in the dataset. This study presents an ML modeling technique to predict the ultimate tensile strength for an FSW welded joint. A dataset is developed by collecting data for the three features and a target variable from experimental procedures. The skill of the trained ML model is estimated using the k-fold cross-validation procedure. The ML modeling findings for several supervised algorithms are evaluated based on the mean absolute error, root means squared error, relative absolute error, and root relative squared error. The sensitivity analysis is conducted by finding the global correlation coefficient. The ML model is validated by comparing its results with the experimental data and showing a good agreement between the ML model prediction and experimental results.
Slips, Trips and Falls Associated With Floor Mats and Runners
Authors: Kennedy Eugenia , Chen Michelle , Guttag Mark
Published: February 2024

Floor mats and runners are commonly used to protect floor surfaces, prevent exposure to slippery floor surfaces, remove dirt, grit and moisture from footwear and provide ergonomic relief to workers. Floor mats are often installed to prevent slip, trip and fall incidents. However, it has been estimated that annually about 38,000 adults over the age of 65 years old are treated in U.S. emergency departments for slip, trip and fall injuries associated with carpets and rugs. [1] Furthermore, it is estimated that 85% of worker injuries resulting in workers’ compensation claims are attributed to slipping on slick floors. [2] Incidence of falls reportedly increases with each decade of life. [3]

In 2012, an industry standard, “Standard Guide for Commercial Entrance Matting in Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls” was introduced to provide “Criteria for the selection, installation, inspection, care and maintenance of entrance mats and runners in commercial facilities to reduce slips, trips and falls. [4]

This paper will focus on identifying the hazards associated with floor coverings, reviewing the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 2002 to 2022 injury data for all age groups to better understand the trends, quantifying risks associated with floor coverings, and exploring safety controls available to mitigate these risks. Furthermore, the number of incidents related to slips, trips and falls due to floor mats and runners before and after the introduction of the industry standard will be studied.
An Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of a Soft Metamaterial
Authors: Loop Walter , Su Ji , Chakravarty Uttam K.
Published: February 2024

When designing and manufacturing an air or space craft, material selection is very important. Each material selected for the vessel will have different purposes including strength or hull integrity, support, and insulation. No matter what the material’s purpose is, however, the material must be light in order to reduce the force required to achieve lift thus reducing the cost of fuel as fuel is one of the highest costs for air and space travel. Soft metamaterials could be an option to fill some of the roles in manufacturing of air and space craft. While soft metamaterials will not be able to replace steel that forms the hull or supporting structures, they have other possible applications. Soft metamaterials are highly resistant to plastic deformation and are effective acoustic dampeners. Soft metamaterials could be used to insulate the cockpit of a flying vessel to dampen noise and provide some protection from any impact forces that may occur. The objective of this paper is to explore the viability of the application of a soft metamaterial to the aerospace and space industry. The metamaterial in question is manufactured using a mixture of Eccoflex 00-30 and Dragonskin 20 by Smooth-On Inc. in a honeycomb composite structure. The final soft composite material is tested for its mechanical properties including its tensile strength, compressive strength, and its fatigue strength. For the tensile tests, the material is formed into an ASTM D638 shape and stretched until failure in accordance with the ASTM standards. After these physical tests are conducted, a finite element study is analyzed in ANSYS and the results are compared with the physical test results. The model used for the finite element analysis is the neo-Hookean model for elastic materials.
The Influence of Microstructure Models on the Mechanical Behavior of Nickel Coated Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: Aluko Olanrewaju , Aboelkassem Yasser
Published: February 2024

The microstructural design and modeling of composite materials plays a significant role in both computational and manufacturing innovations. The computational modeling provides the opportunity to rapidly access the influence of the constituents in the metal matrix composites (MMC) on the overall performance of the composite at a minimum cost. However, the continuum descriptions of mechanical behaviors of MMC via the atomistic-informed multiscale method are not fully available. A multiscale analysis of nickel coated continuous carbon fiber reinforced aluminum metal matrix composite is presented herein with different microstructural geometric models and volume fraction of micro constituents. The methodology involved different length scales ranging from nano to macro scales. In this hierarchical multi-scale modeling technique, the outputs of each lower scale are fed into the next higher scale as input data. Molecular Dynamics modeling was performed at the nano scales and polycrystalline materials model was done at meso scale. High-fidelity Generalized Method of Cells (GMC) micromechanical model was utilized at the macro length scale. The results are in agreement with the experimental data in the literature and also provide a better understanding of the link between the material variables and the composite performance.
Uncertainty Quantification in the Prediction of Remaining Useful Life Considering Multiple Failure Modes
Authors: Gandur Nazir Laureano , Ekwaro-Osire Stephen
Published: February 2024

Despite the substantive literature on remaining useful life (RUL) prediction, less attention is paid to the influence of epistemic uncertainty and aleatory uncertainty in multiple failure behaviors in the accuracy of RUL. The research question in this study was: can uncertainties be quantified in predicting the RUL of systems with multiple failure modes? The first objective was to quantify the uncertainties in the prediction of RUL, considering known multiple failure modes. This objective used vibration data from accelerated degradation experiments of rolling element bearings. The second objective was to calculate the uncertainties in the prediction of RUL, considering the multiple failure modes as unknown. The experimental data used in this objective was from run-to-failure tests of Li-ion batteries. An analysis was performed on how the uncertainties affect the RUL prediction in systems with known multiple failure modes and systems with multiple failure modes as unknown. A Bayesian neural network was used to quantify epistemic and aleatory uncertainty while predicting RUL. The results of the qualitative uncertainties on RUL in systems with multiple failure modes were presented and discussed. Also, the study yielded an RUL uncertainty quantification model for multiple failure modes. The proposed framework’s performance in the RUL prediction was demonstrated. Finally, the epistemic and aleatory uncertainties were quantified in the RUL of the system. It was shown that multiple failure modes have more sources of uncertainties, leading to an increase in the total uncertainty in the estimated RUL and a lower RUL value. The results in this paper may lead to the design of more reliable systems that exhibit multiple failure modes.
Hammering-Assisted Incremental Forming of Al Alloy 1050: Assessment Of Mechanical and Fracture Properties
Authors: Shahare Harshal Y. , Dubey Abhay Kumar , Kumar Pavan , Tandon Puneet
Published: February 2024

Incremental sheet forming (ISF) has gained popularity as a dieless manufacturing method for forming free-form shapes in small batches. Nonetheless, the traditional incremental sheet forming (ISF) process is characterized by poor surface quality and uneven thinning. Incremental sheet hammering (ISH), a hybrid process that integrates hammering into the ISF process, improves formability, surface quality, and mechanical properties. The ISH process creates impact marks and overlapping regions between two impacts during the forming operation, which helps achieve better surface quality. This research investigates the improvement in mechanical properties of the fabricated component using the ISH process when compared with the conventional ISF process. The experiments are performed on 2 mm thick sheets of AA1050, which are also used for the material characterization tests, including tensile and fracture toughness tests. The results show that the component formed via the ISH process has higher elongation of about 13%, resulting in higher ductility and strength. Additionally, the components fabricated with the ISH process show 4% higher fracture toughness while the mechanical strength is almost similar to those formed using the ISF process. The ISH process not only improves structural accuracy but also enhances the mechanical properties of the formed components.
Analytical Modeling of Metal Foam Composite Phase Change Materials (PCM) in Thermal Energy Storage Using Asymptotic Analysis
Authors: Xu Minghan , Akhtar Saad , Zueter Ahmad F. , Mohit Mohammaderfan , Sasmito Agus P.
Published: February 2024

The use of phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage can release or absorb a significant amount of latent heat during the freezing or melting process, offering a higher energy storage density. One of the main drawbacks of PCMs is their low thermal conductivity, resulting in poor thermal performance. Recent research has attempted to enhance heat transfer and increase the thermal conductivity of PCMs, including the use of metal foams. However, modeling the metal foam composite PCM using conventional methods is computationally expensive. This paper proposes an asymptotic solution for a Stefan-like problem subject to a convective boundary for outward solidification in a hollow cylinder, capable of predicting the freeze-melt cycle of the metal foam composite PCM. Specifically, three temporal regimes and four spatial layers are considered in the asymptotic analysis for each phase change process. The thermal conductivity is calculated by a theoretical three-dimensional tetrakaidecahedron model, while other thermophysical properties are obtained using the method of volume averaging. The results are verified with numerical data and validated against experimental data in the literature. The presented analytical modeling framework could have the potential to be applied to other types of composite PCMs with considerably lower computational costs compared with conventional methods.
Energy Aware Motion Planning for Underwater Gliders With Energy Harvesting Capabilities
Authors: Ordonez Camilo , Boylan Jonathan , Duval Samuel , Bradley Sara , Molnar Patrick , Nanclares Camilo , Johnson Michael , Osorio Julian , Ordonez Juan C.
Published: February 2024

This paper presents design, modeling, and simulation considerations for an underwater glider. The design section covers strategies for buoyancy control, packaging of electronics, and placement and integration of energy harvesting systems. The modeling efforts covers the glider dynamics and the energy harvesting, which relies on use of solar energy, phase changing materials, and thermoelectric units. The dynamics and energy harvesting models are integrated to a motion planning algorithm that uses a Sampling-Based Model Predictive Optimization approach to plan glider’s trajectories that satisfy imposed constraints and generate optimal trajectories. The power requirements for the missions considered are within the power generation range of the thermoelectric units.
Design and Development of ARDEL (Active-Assist Rehabilitation Device for Elbow)
Authors: Desai Shubhankar , Piovesan Davide , Dagli Chaitali
Published: February 2024

The paper presents a proposed design for an Active-assist Rehabilitation Device for Elbow (ARDEL) to increase elbow joint mobility in patients suffering from medical conditions such as stroke, lateral epicondylitis, and medial epicondylitis. The article highlights the importance of early rehabilitation intervention for stroke survivors to prevent permanent disabilities and deformities. The effectiveness of various elbow rehabilitation devices, including dynamic elbow braces, customized elbow braces, and robotic exoskeletons, has been discussed based on previous studies. The proposed ARDEL design is aimed at addressing the supervision requirement in active-assist exercises, which is widely used by therapists for elbow rehabilitation. The design uses a 3-D printed brace, which allows the patients to perform active-assist exercises with the assistance of the device. The article emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of the proposed design and its potential for widespread accessibility. The proposed design has the potential to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from elbow joint-related medical conditions.
Modeling Running via Optimal Control for Shoe Design
Authors: Fay Sarah C. , Hosoi A. E.
Published: February 2024

Shoe manufacturing technology is advancing faster than new shoe designs can viably be evaluated in human subject trials. To aid in the design process, this paper presents a model for estimating how new shoe properties will affect runner performance. This model assumes runners choose their gaits to optimize an intrinsic, unknown objective function. To learn this objective function, a simple two-dimensional mechanical model of runners was used to predict their gaits under different objectives, and the resulting gaits were compared to data from real running trials. The most realistic model gaits, i.e. the ones that best matched the data, were obtained when the model runners minimized the impulse they experience from the ground as well as the mechanical work done by their leg muscles. Using this objective function, the gait and thus performance of running under different shoe conditions can be predicted. The simple model is sufficiently sensitive to predict the difference in performance of shoes with disruptive designs but cannot distinguish between existing shoes whose properties are fairly similar. This model therefore is a viable tool for coarse-grain exploration of the design space and identifying promising behaviors of truly novel shoe materials and designs.
Detailed Engineering of the Automation of a Test Bench for Drilling Fluids and Cuttings Transport of Ecopetrol – ICP
Authors: Santiago Álvarez Julio Cesar , Jerez Pérez Samuel David , Roa Prada Sebastián , Moreno Olano Gonzalo Andres , Mantilla Hernández Hernán Dario , Saavedra Trujillo Nestor Fernando
Published: February 2024

During well drilling processes, the accumulation of cuttings downhole can cause several problems such as stuck pipe, increased torque, bit burnout and, most importantly, a considerable decrease in the drilling penetration rate, all leading to prolonged operating periods and increasing costs of up to 10% of the forecasted budget. Therefore, it is necessary to study, in a controlled environment, the behavior of the variables involved in the drilling process in order to improve the efficiency the operations involved.

The Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo, ICP, fluids and drilling cuttings transport test bench is composed of different systems, in which tests are carried out to simulate the behavior of fluid and drilling cuttings transport in different stages of the process of creating a well for oil extraction. Automation is key to achieve any efficiency improvement goal. This test bench lacks the automation systems needed to monitor and control of the variables involved in the process. Due to this, ICP has considered initiating the development of a project to automate the drilling fluids test bench, in order to perform a series of different tests autonomously, with the possibility of remote controlling and monitoring the operation of the test bench, in addition to achieve greater efficiency and traceability in data collection.

This work shows an early stage that involves the detailed engineering of automation and redesign of the existing system for the incorporation of rock cuttings into the hydraulic circuit of the test bench, which currently presents malfunctions. This is done through a sequential stages methodology which includes phases such as identification, definition, and investigation of the different subsystems that make up the test bench and their functioning, followed by the proposal, selection, and validation by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD, simulation of the redesign of the cuttings incorporation system to solve the current backflow failure. Once this stage is completed, the selection and documentation of the necessary instrumentation (actuators, sensors, and electronic control equipment) for the automation of the test bench is carried out through decision-making tools such as Quality Function Deployment, QFD, matrices. Then, the design, programming, and simulation in a virtual environment of the strategies for controlling the physical variables of the test bench and the Human-Machine Interface are developed, followed by the testing and integration of the entire solution. Thus, the detailed engineering stage of the project is concluded, obtaining all the necessary information and documentation to begin the implementation of the equipment for the automation of the Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo, ICP, fluids and drilling cuttings transport test bench.
Computational Study of Transport Phenomena Within a Poultry Incubator
Authors: Fernandes Melvy , Burgreen Greg , Drewry Jessica , Bhushan Shanti
Published: February 2024

The quality of hatchery conditions has a crucial impact on the health of hatched chicks. An insight into the spatiotemporal distribution of environmental factors like temperature, humidity, ventilation, and gas concentration within an incubator can be the key to reduce the risk of pathogen spread. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has the potential to provide a better understanding of such complex biological systems. The objective of this study is to create a computational model of the hatcher incubator by using Ansys Fluent software. The goal is to predict the spatiotemporal gradients such as temperature, velocity, and concentration of key species like water vapor (WV) and carbon dioxide (CO2), through transient simulations, assuming egg tray to be fixed. The preliminary results show non-uniform temperature and humidity distribution due to egg and tray obstructions affecting the airflow. The temperature between the eggs in a large incubator depends on proximity to the inlet, fan and the heat exchange between the eggs and the microenvironment. A parametric study is performed to understand the accumulation of moisture and CO2 depending on the fan speed, and to identify computationally cheaper numerical models for fan to reduce computational cost and allow long time simulations. Investigation of varying fan speeds (0–375 rpm) revealed higher fan speeds enhanced flow mixing and scalar variable distribution, emphasizing the significance of meticulous fan speed selection for creating an ideal incubation environment. MRF technique emerged as a cost effective alternative with 60% reduction in computational cost and its potential to allow larger time step establish them as the optimal blade modeling approach for future extended duration simulations.
Design and Development of a Mini-Channel Thermal Management System With Active Liquid Cooling for Electromechanical Actuators in Aircrafts
Authors: Baes Hans Matthew , Sandja Tchamba Herve , Telha Abdulbasit , Abdelaziz Hamza , Xu Jaijun
Published: February 2024

The steady advancement of technology significantly influences the complexity and increases capability of modern aviation vehicles. As systems become more intricate and reduced in size to allow greater number of features to be added, traditional heat dissipation systems become nonfunctional and outdated. In recent years, the incremental transition to electric powered vehicles resulted in an increase of demand and study in thermal management systems for electromechanical actuators (EMAs). The application of EMAs within the aviation and aerospace industries are numerous, prominently in aircraft control systems. However, overheating is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. Given an efficient thermal dissipation system, an EMA system can provide significant advantages in multiple aspects compared to hydraulic and pneumatic systems. The aim of this research is to design and develop an active liquid-cooling system to regulate the heat temperatures of the motor of an EMA for aircraft applications. Variations of water & ethylene glycol were used as working fluid, and the heat generated by the motor was mimicked by a cartridge heater. Although manufactured using conventional methods, the system is lightweight, small, and inexpensive. An EMA of a fighter aircraft was used as a reference and its complete flight cycle. The duration of a full flight cycle consists of multiple phases, with a cumulative time of 2400s and producing a total energy waste of 340.8W (in the form of heat). It is also noted that the combat phase holds the highest heat generation. The results from the developed system in this study were validated using numerical calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics.
Design and Optimization of Tuned Mass Dampers to Improve Settling Time of a Precision Optical System
Authors: Sidletsky Stephen D. , Amirkulova Feruza A. , Pharand Michel , Furman Burford J.
Published: February 2024

This paper presents a method of designing and optimizing tuned mass dampers (TMDs) for a precision optical metrology structure using a state-space representation to significantly reduce the design time. The proposed method utilizes a finite element model (FEM) to obtain a solution of an eigen-value problem, which is then used to create a state-space representation of the structure. This state-space representation incorporates a single input single output tuned mass damper in a feedback loop. The state-space model can be iterated many times to determine the optimal tuned mass damper design parameters: location, stiffness, and damping values. The optimal values found are compared to a harmonic finite element solution. The validated approach is then used to find the optimal TMD design parameters for the optical metrology structure. The TMDs are fabricated and installed on the structure. Finally, the attenuation of each mode and total reduction in settling time is presented.
Thermal Testing of an AMDROHP (Additively Manufactured Deployable Radiator Oscillating Heat Pipes) for Use in High-Powered CubeSats
Authors: Miesner Spencer , Wolk Kieran , Furst Ben , Daimaru Takuro , Sunada Eric , Roberts Scott , Bellardo John , Kuo Jim
Published: February 2024

High-power small satellites will play an important role in reducing the cost of space missions. High power levels are required to satisfy high bandwidth communication needs, as well as to accommodate other critical systems such as propulsion and high-power electronics. One of the current high-power limitations is the need to overcome the thermal challenges associated with high thermal loads. While substantial work has been done in the development of deployable solar arrays, relatively little attention has been given to small satellite deployable radiators. Previous deployable small satellite radiators rely on a mechanical hinge to conduct heat from spacecraft to radiator. However, this presents a thermal choke point and limits heat flow. Thus, a deployable radiator design concept is currently being explored as a thermal solution for high powered electronics in CubeSats. This Additively Manufactured Deployable Radiator Oscillating Heat Pipes (AMDROHP) design concept combines the function of a deployable radiator with high performance Oscillating Heat Pipes in this compact thermal solution. In this project, significant efforts have gone into developing the mechanical, deployable aspect of this design while maximizing its thermal performance, and this joint development has been discussed in previous publication. This initial design was additively manufactured and thermally tested at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The results of the thermal testing of the initial AMDROHP design are discussed and presented in this work. The device is tested across a range of heat inputs under “micro-gravity” and “gravity-assisted” orientations for the working fluids R134a and Ammonia. The performance and behavior of the AMDROHP device are characterized by transient temperature measurement data under these different conditions. The results were interpreted to determine the feasibility of the design. Although AMDROHP did operate under “gravity-assisted” orientation, it did not start-up under “micro-gravity” orientation. Furthermore, the range of operation under “gravity-assisted” orientation was less than expected. Based on these results, possible design changes have been identified to improve AMDROHP performance under space-like conditions. These changes include creating a shorter adiabatic length by decreasing the path length of the helical joint, as well as increasing the inner channel diameter. These changes will allow for better thermal performance and to better avoid any imperfections in the additive manufacturing process to cause negative effects on OHP operation. In this study, experimental testing provided actionable information about the initial design of AMDROHP to lead to design improvements. These design improvements will be implemented in the next design iteration of AMDROHP.
Physiological Sensing in HALO/HAHO Environment
Authors: Bloch Audra , Kersten Nolan , Short Eli , Stevens Parker , Simonson Benjamin , Hoyer Brodie
Published: February 2024

Health risks are a prevalent concern during High-Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High-Altitude High Opening (HAHO) operations due to the low-oxygen environment. Jumpers must be constantly monitored to ensure safety prior to exiting the aircraft. To objectively monitor the biometrics of jumpers a piece of clothing was developed that would use wearable biometric sensors. Although there have been previous products intended for the same purpose, they were not suitable for the special needs of these operations. After discussing the intention of the product with experts, customer requirements and engineering specifications were developed and used to create four Army Combat Shirt (ACS) prototypes with integrated sensors to monitor the biometrics of jumpers in real-time. The goal is to integrate the sensors into a product to output the biometric data effectively and efficiently to the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) system, providing easily interpreted data to the jumpmaster. Testing of initial prototypes found that none met the durability and useability requirement of the HALO/HAHO environment. After multiple iterations of testing and product refinement, an arm sleeve was developed with an integrated sensor that would be worn on the left forearm of the jumper. The final product of an ATAK sleeve system will be created to objectively monitor jumpers heart rate variability and oxygen saturation levels before exiting the aircraft.
Design of a New Rocket Stove and Performance Testing With Different Varieties of Wood
Authors: Tuicolo Aseli , Gounder Kavitesh , Ahmed Mohammed Rafiuddin
Published: February 2024

Developing countries are always looking for compact and efficient rocket stoves that burn wood efficiently and cause minimum harm to the environment. An improved design of the rocket stove and its performance as per the Clean Cook Stove Alliance procedures are reported in the present work. Previous works indicate that the square cross-section does not have a continuous air velocity. Divergent sections reduce fluid velocity and improve combustion and flow as well as reduce losses. The key features of the new design are: (a) cylindrical shape for even flow of air around the stove and improved stability for outdoor use, (b) secondary air inlets for improved combustion of wood fuel, (c) divergent combustion chamber for reduced air flowrate, which in turn would increase mixing of air and fuel, (d) double-walled cover for reduced heat losses and improved safety, and (e) base air intake design - fresh air is directed from the base. The resulting design allows better handling, improved heat transfer, easier ash collection, and improved aesthetics. Insulation was provided at the outer surface to minimize heat loss. Both cold-start and hot-start testing were carried out indoors and outdoors. Four types of wood were tested in this work. The results showed that the use of insulation and 360-degrees air entry points complement each other well in achieving a consistent air supply to the burning fuel. Arranging the wood vertically reduces the smoke expelled and increases the burning rate. The calorific values of the four wood species did not greatly differ from each other. However, Bruguiera Gymnorhiza, locally known as Dogo, gave the maximum efficiency of 36% due to the closely compacted hydrocarbons in it.
Probabilistic Risk Assessment Approach for the Transportation of Micro Reactors: Evaluating the Impact of Highway Accidents on the Surrounding Population
Authors: Prins Molly , O’Connell Thomas M. , Alzahrani Yahya A. , Diaconeasa Mihai A.
Published: February 2024

The Department of Defense (DoD) embarked on research into mobile nuclear power plants (MNPPs) in the late 2010s to address energy needs in remote locations during peace and war. Project Pele, an MNPP prototype, seeks to advance nuclear power plant engineering and inform decision-makers comprehensively. Due to the complexities and mobility of MNPPs, conducting probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs) is crucial for operational and transportation safety. This paper presents Project Pele’s transportation framework, utilizing a multi-mode event tree analysis to assess MNPP transportation risks. A transportation event tree for highway transport is developed based on extensive research into accident causes and outcomes. Additionally, insights into radionuclide release and transport, determined using RADTRAN, are provided. The paper includes a preliminary case study illustrating the effects of an MNPP transportation accident. The proposed framework offers decision-makers a unique perspective on probabilistic risks associated with transporting micro reactors, facilitating informed decision-making, enhanced safety measures, and improved hazardous material transportation during MNPP deployment.
Electropolishing (EP), ChemPolishing (CP), and As-Built Additively Manufactured Metal Components for Electroless Nickel Plating Research
Authors: Sanchez Pablo , Tyagi Pawan
Published: February 2024

The current study investigates electroless nickel plating and surface finishing techniques such as ChemPolishing (CP) and ElectroPolishing (EP) for postprocessing on additively manufactured stainless-steel samples. Existing additive manufacturing (AM) technologies generate metal components with a rough surface that typically exhibit fatigue characteristics, resulting in component failure and undesirable friction coefficients on the printed part. Small cracks formed in rough surfaces at high surface roughness regions act as a stress raiser or crack nucleation site. As a result, the direct use of as-produced parts is limited, and smoothening the Surface presents a challenge. Previous research has shown that CP ChemPolishing has a significant advantage in producing uniform, smooth surfaces regardless of size or part geometry. EP Electropolishing has a high material removal rate and an excellent surface finishing capability. Electropolishing, on the other hand, has some limitations in terms of uniformity and repeatability. On additively manufactured stainless-steel samples, electroless nickel deposition has a higher plating potential. Nickel has excellent wear resistance, and nickel-plated samples are more robust as scratch resistant than not plated samples when tested for scratch resistance. This research uses medium-phosphorus (6–9% P) and high-phosphorus (10–13% P). The L9 Taguchi design of experiments (DOE) was used to optimize the electroless nickel deposition experiments. The mechanical properties of as-built and nickel-coated additive manufacturing (AM) samples were investigated using a standard 5 N scratch test and the adhesion test ASTM B-733 thermal shock method. The KEYENCE Digital Microscope VHX-7000 was used to examine the pre- and post-processed surfaces of the AM parts. The complete scratch and Design of Experiment (DOE) analysis was performed using the Qualitek-4 software. This work is in progress concerning testing the optimum conditions, completing measurements, and analyzing the results.