Engineering Commons^™

Power At Sea Develop Phase, Jake Lauer, Isabella Heinemann, Bailey Gargasz, Zachery Boyer

Mechanical Engineering

This project develops a renewable, wave-powered charging system designed to extend the mission duration of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles by eliminating the need for frequent manual battery replacement. Building upon a prior oscillating water column prototype from the CONCEPT phase, the team redesigned and tested an improved system capable of converting wave-induced air motion into electrical power using a Wells turbine. Key enhancements include doubling the column diameter to increase displaced air volume, integrating a flared inlet and bi-directional nozzle to improve airflow, and selecting corrosion-resistant materials suitable for long-term deployment in marine environments. Multiple prototypes were constructed and evaluated through …

Ballistics Characterization Of Micro-Truss Reinforced Lunar-Inspired Geopolymer Concrete For Space Construction, Phoebe G. Johnson

Honors Theses

This research investigates the ballistics response and compressive strength of a Fly Ash/ Lunar Regolith hybrid geopolymer concrete developed for space construction. The study aimed firstly to optimize the Fly Ash/ Regolith mix ratio for maximum mechanical performance and secondly, to evaluate the effectiveness of carbon-fiber micro-truss reinforcement, produced by 3D printing, in mitigating damage from high-velocity impacts. Concrete specimens with varying Fly Ash-to-Regolith ratios (100-50% Fly Ash) were fabricated and tested under compression and ballistic loading. Compressive strength tests followed ASTM C109 using a 110 Kip 810-MTS testing apparatus on both unreinforced and reinforced 2” cubes. For unreinforced samples, …

Cross-Facility Reliable Deep Learning Based Beef Marbling Assessment Via Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Regression, Samuel Vinson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Inconsistent quality grading in beef production leads to inefficiencies, economic disparity, and consumer mistrust. While USDA meat grading traditionally relies on skilled visual inspectors, these human evaluations suffer from cross-facility variability and subjectivity. This paper introduces the first known application of unsupervised domain adaptation regression for cross-facility beef marbling score prediction—an innovation that improves generalization across diverse environments in the beef supply chain. Utilizing numerical scores ranging from 100-900, the research employed convolutional neural networks (CNNs), including ResNet, VGG, and AlexNet architectures. The study specifically introduced and validated a unified unsupervised domain adaptation regression method using the ResNet-50 architecture to …

Tribological Evaluation Of A Graphite Coating Using A Custom Miniature Conveyor, Shae Threlfall

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Reducing friction in conveyor systems has significant economic and environmental implications, as a substantial portion of energy losses originates at the belt-bed interface. This thesis outlines the design, construction, and validation of a miniature conveyor tribological test system. Unlike conventional tribometers, which impose concentrated point contacts, the miniature conveyor replicates the distributed load consistent with industrial conveyor systems. It can measure real-time mechanical responses of steel samples coated in a low friction coating.

The mini conveyor was validated by evaluating three materials: uncoated mild steel, PDA/graphite coated steel, and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Electrical power, temperature, sound, and acceleration were recorded. Electrical …

Retrospective Analysis Of Implemented Project Management Within A Small-Scale Student Engineering Project: Beng Fountain Wars Team Case Study, Holli E. Jenkins

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This honors thesis provides a retrospective analysis of how the 2025 inaugural University of Arkansas’s ASABE Fountain Wars Student Team could be improved through project management. Project commitment, early stakeholder influence, rich communication, and a detailed project plan are all attributes of successful projects, and the team’s strengths and weaknesses within these categories were determined through a team poll. After the poll was conducted, three methodologies, Agile, Hybrid, and Waterfall, were assessed to determine how they would effectively address the team’s weaknesses. A weighted objectives table was created to compare each methodology’s effectiveness across the management categories. The analysis revealed …

Multi-City Travel Routing Tool: Reducing Travel Costs And Time Spent Planning Using Apis, Trey R. Merreighn

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Travel planning is a time-consuming and ever-changing problem that can diminish the travel experience and greatly increase expenditure, if not done correctly. It is important to have an easy travel planning experience so you can enjoy the travel experience more and not waste time where it is not needed. This thesis aims to minimize the costs and time spent on travel planning using APIs and simple optimization models, creating a travel planning tool. This travel planning tool was developed in Java with the main API being Amadeus, this was combined with a greedy best-permutation heuristic to create the main route …

Quantitative Phase-Field Modeling Of Nonequilibrium Microstructural Evolution In Rapid Solidification For Additive Manufacturing, Leiji Li, Fei Xiao, Ying Zhou, Xiaorong Cai, Chongfeng Zhang, Jinzhong Gao, Xiaopeng Shen, Tianchi Zhu, Sihan Wang, Yijia Gu, Xuejun Jin

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fusion-based metal additive manufacturing (AM) relies on layer-by-layer deposition and rapid solidification, where the material transitions swiftly from liquid to solid. A key phenomenon during this process is solute trapping, a nonequilibrium effect governed by a velocity-dependent partition coefficient, which critically influences microstructure kinetics, morphology, and phase formation. In this study, we employ a recently proposed quantitative phase field (PF) model to systematically explore solute trapping, solute drag, and their impacts on pattern formation during rapid solidification at AM-relevant velocities, in both one and two dimensions. Our simulations reveal a growth mode transition from planar to cellular to dendritic, and …

Autonomous Vehicle Adoption Behavior And Safety Concern: A Study Of Public Perception, Fatemeh Nazari, Mohamadhossein Noruzoliaee, Abolfazl (Kouros) Mohammadian

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Realizing the economic and societal benefits of autonomous vehicles (AVs) hinges on widespread public acceptance. However, existing research offers limited insights into two key behavioral factors shaping AV acceptance, namely, perceived AV safety concern and travel behavior, the latter reflecting how heterogenous mobility patterns influence the AV acceptance. These factors are often treated as exogenous, limiting insight into their true behavioral interdependencies with AV acceptance and their distinct behavioral roots. This study addresses these gaps by introducing a recursive trivariate econometric model that jointly estimates AV acceptance, perceived safety concern, and current travel behavior (proxied by annual vehicle-miles traveled or …

Advancing Activated Carbon Production: Utilizing Pine Pruning Biochar Via Induction Heating With Co2and Iron-Based Catalysts, Ahmet Erdem, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, Ahmed Jasim

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study introduces an induction heating approach for producing activated carbon from biochar obtained by thermal degradation of pine pruning waste from timber-related industries, using CO₂ and iron-based catalysts as activation agents. Activation experiments were performed using a 10 kW high-frequency induction system (28–40 kHz) under continuous CO₂ flow (15 mL min⁻¹), with electric current intensities of 200, 300, 400, and 500 A (corresponding to 700–1100°C) and durations of 30, 60, and 90 min, employing 45 g of iron-based catalysts (Fe–Ni–Ti–C, 85:6:3:6 wt.%) per 3 g biochar (15:1 w/w). Mass loss increased from 13.7 % (200 A, …

Quantitative Comparison Of Different Ultrasound Simulation Approaches For Civil Engineering Applications, Fabian Dethof, Simon Schmid, Jean-Marie Henault, Thomas Schumacher, Sylvia Kessler, Salvador Villalobos

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Interpreting ultrasonic waveforms is often challenging, especially in the presence of tilted boundaries that introduce multiple reflections, mode conversions, and echoes. To analyze such complex signal patterns, wavefield simulations provide a valuable tool. To ensure confidence in the simulation results, the accuracy of the numerical method is crucial. Another consideration when using simulations is their computational expense. Especially in civil engineering applications, large structures need to be investigated, which may not be feasible given the available resources. In this study, different numerical methods and software implementations commonly used for simulations in civil engineering are compared, including the Elastodynamic Finite Integration …

Failure Of Infrastructure Systems: A Multilevel Network Analysis Of Decision-Making And Influential Behavioral Constructs, Tamima Elbashbishy, Radwa Eissa, Islam H. El-Adaway, Jeffrey S. Russell

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High-profile failures of infrastructure systems are often attributed to design flaws. However, these incidents can also stem from a broader set of interconnected decisions made by stakeholders involved in the planning, management, and operation of these systems. While ethical guidelines and professional codes are designed to prevent such failures, cognitive biases may undermine adherence. Previous research efforts, primarily focused on ethical violations using case studies, have overlooked how behavioral ethics constructs and professional conduct could drive these breaches. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by (1) conducting an analysis of three system failure cases at the micro, meso, and macro …

Methodology For Surface Defect Assessment In 3d Concrete Printing Using Computer-Vision And Ultrasonic Testing Considering Structural Build-Up, Seongho Han, Eunjong Ahn, Myoungsu Shin, John S. Popovics, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study quantifies how interlayer time gaps and mixture rheology jointly influence interfacial integrity and mechanical performance in 3D concrete printing (3DCP). Two mixtures incorporating identical binders, but differing limestone fineness (4 and 50 μm) were printed with interlayer delays of 0, 2, and 5 min, corresponding to stacking rates of approximately 9, 0.5, and 0.2 m/h. The finer limestone mixture exhibited higher plastic viscosity (13.2 vs. 11.5 Pa s) and faster structural buildup (58 vs. 38 Pa/min), resulting in accelerated early stiffening. Deposition yield stress derived from buildup measurements remained low for 0–2 min (1400–1500 Pa for the higher-thixotropy …

New Insights Into Dynamic Evolution Of Colloidal Network Structure During Early-Age Hardening Of Cementitious Materials, Hengrui Liu, Kaiyin Zhao, Shipeng Zhang, Hanghua Zhang, Shuangshuang Liu, Lucen Hao, Hongyan Ma, Kamal Khayat, Chi Sun Poon

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The evolution of microstructure in cementitious materials during their transition from fluid to solid state plays a critical role in determining their ultimate mechanical strength and overall performance. This hydration stage primarily involves a dynamic densification process occurring within the colloidal network. However, the field of cement-based materials currently lacks a comprehensive theoretical framework and associated parameters capable of effectively characterizing the specific structural regions within this network. In this study, we propose an Improved Particle Linkage (IPL) theory for describing the strength, types, and quantities of particle linkages within colloidal network. The IPL theory classifies the internal network structure …

Thermally Stable Sic Particulate-Reinforced Sic Composites Up To 2000 ℃ Fabricated By Precursor Impregnation And Pyrolysis Method, Jian Gu, Vu Viet Hung, Lun Feng, William G. Fahrenholtz, Daejong Kim, Seyoung Kim, Sea Hoon Lee

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The thermo-mechanical properties of SiC particulate-reinforced SiC composites (SiC-PRCs), fabricated using precursor impregnation & pyrolysis (PIP) process, were analyzed up to 2000 ℃. The relative density of the SiC-PRCs after 4 PIP cycles was 88.6 %. The number of PIP cycles required decreased to nearly half compared with the conventional PIP method by using ultra-high concentration slurries up to 70 vol%. In addition, room-temperature bending strength (215 MPa) and Young's modulus (269 GPa) improved as the solid loading of the slurry increased. The bending strength increased to 232 MPa at 2000 ℃ in Ar. Despite the thermal deterioration of the …

Microstructural Evolution Of Zirconium Diboride Irradiated With 5–10 Mev Au Ions At Room Temperature And 570 °C, Narrie Loftus, José Olivares, Miguel Crespillo, Esther Enríquez Pérez, Jeremy Watts, Eric W. Bohannan, Gregory Hilmas, William Fahrenholtz, Joseph Graham

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Zirconium diboride was irradiated with 5 MeV Au^2 + , 7 MeV Au⁴⁺ and 10 MeV Au³⁺ ions at room temperature and 570 °C to doses from 1 to 8 displacements per atom (dpa). Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) analysis revealed no secondary phase formation. Rietveld analysis of the GIXRD data indicated an accumulation of microstrain at low dpa and room temperature. Dislocations observed in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) cross-sections are likely the main contributor to the microstrain. High dpa and high-temperature samples exhibit lower lattice distortion than lower dpa samples, suggesting the presence of enhanced defect …

Applying Two-Stage Risk-Based Market Structures For Energy Hub-Based Plug-In Electric Vehicles Using Information Decision Gap Theory And A Hybrid Recurrent Convolutional Network, A. Heidari, R. C. Bansal, R. Bo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper investigates the optimal operation of an energy hub engaged in both day-ahead and real-time trading. A two-stage optimization framework Information Gap Decision Theory (IGDT) for day-ahead bidding and stochastic programming with Monte Carlo scenarios for real-time recourse is applied. Risk-neutral, risk-averse, and risk-taking strategies are considered to capture different risk preferences. The hub integrates combined heat and power, renewable energy, plug-in electric vehicles, and vehicle-to-grid and grid-to-vehicle technologies. Price and load forecasts are generated using a hybrid recurrent convolutional network (HRCN). Results highlight the trade-off between risk management and economic performance: costs are 16.5 % higher in the …

Clear And Concise: Technical Writing For Biological Engineers, Abigail S. Engelberth

Purdue University Press Books

Clear and Concise: Technical Writing for Biological Engineers is a practical guide designed to help students and early career engineers communicate their work with clarity and confidence. Drawing on years of teaching experience, Abigail S. Engelberth breaks down the essentials of technical writing into approachable steps, showing readers how to organize ideas, present data effectively, and write reports that meet professional standards.

Rather than overwhelming readers with theory, the book focuses on real-world application. It includes examples, checklists, and strategies for common engineering documents including formal and memo-style lab reports. Special attention is given to visuals, formatting, and the role …

Artificial Intelligence, Society 5.0 And Smart City Adaptation Initiatives For Businesses: An Integrated Approach, Ines A. M. Gila, Fernando A. F. Ferreira, Neuza C. M. Q. F. Ferreira, Florentin Smarandache, Momtaj Khanam, Tugrul Daim

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

The mass migration of human populations to urban areas has resulted in unprecedented challenges for city services. To address and find solutions for these emerging issues, decision-makers must embrace the smart city and Society 5.0 paradigms, which comprehensively tackle various dimensions of the problem and ensure adaptability to evolving citizen needs. Central to the success of these paradigms is technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). AI’s transformative capabilities enable the expansion of services, automation of tasks, efficient operationalization and processing vast amounts of data to address urban challenges, aligning with several sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as sustainable cities and communities …

Rapid Flood Inundation Mapping For Dam Failure And Operations, Shivakumar Balachandran, Parvaneh Nikrou, Ayman Mokhtar Nemnem, Reza Saleh Alipour, Sagy Cohen, Xingong Li, Erfan Goharian, Jasim Imran

Faculty Publications

Dam failure often causes catastrophic flooding. Although conventional hydrodynamic models are available for generating flood inundation maps, there is a need for low-complexity models that can provide rapid inundation estimates during emergency situations. Operational releases of large volumes may also lead to downstream flooding. This study utilizes two DEM-based models, OWP HAND-FIM and FLDPLN, to produce flood inundation maps for near-real-time operational applications. Three dam-related scenarios, including failures and controlled operations, are examined using these simplified models for the Fall River Dam in Kansas. Breach flows are estimated using empirical relationships, and discharge attenuation is calculated using an analytical approach. …

Hybrid Data-Driven Cement-Stabilized Soil Design: An Integration Of Machine Learning, Multi-Objective Optimization, And Life Cycle Assessment, Chikezie Chimere Onyekwena, Yunli Li, Ikenna J. Okeke, Ubani Obinna Uzodimma, Monday Uchenna Okoronkwo, Wenping Wu

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Soil stabilization is crucial in geotechnical engineering, yet conventional methods are often time-consuming, resource-intensive, and environmentally unsustainable. Despite growing interest in Machine Learning (ML) and optimization tools for mix design, few studies integrate these methods with decision-making techniques and environmental assessment to support practical implementation. This study proposes a hybrid data-driven framework for predicting strength, optimizing mix compositions, and evaluating environmental impacts via life cycle assessment of cement-stabilized soft soils. Six ML models were evaluated, and the top-performing eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model was further improved using the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO). The optimized XGB-GWO model, integrated with a polynomial …