Engineering Commons^™

Joint Capacity Allocation And Job Assignment Under Uncertainty, Peng Wang, Yun Fong Lim, Gar Goei Loke

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We study a multi-period joint capacity allocation and job assignment problem. The goal is to simultaneously allocate resources across J different supply nodes and assign jobs from I different demand origins to these J supply nodes, so as to maximize the reward for matching or minimize the cost of failure to match. We consider three features: (i) supply is replenishable after some random time, (ii) demand is random, and (iii) demand can wait and needs not be fully fulfilled immediately. Such problems emerge in many service management settings such as fleet re-positioning for car-sharing, and patient management in healthcare. We …

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 …

Design Of Novel Formwork System And Development Of Numerical Model For Comparison Between Formwork Systems, Ahmed Yehia Abdel Aziz El Sayed

Theses and Dissertations

The formwork industry has witnessed major breakthroughs in the last decades. However, they required huge amount of materials leading to negative environmental impacts. Also, the commercially available systems have big number of accessories and requires the extensive use of units to cover the areas to be poured. There was an attempt to target all these disadvantages by introducing the Funicular Arched Steel Truss (FAST) system. However, this system had its own drawbacks, and this is why the researcher introduced an extendable version named the “Extendable Funicular Arched Steel Truss (EAST) system.”

To reach the final version of the EAST design, …

Fly Ash Proppant Developed For Hydraulic Fracturing, Raz Rzgar Haydar

Theses and Dissertations

Proppants are critical components in hydraulic fracturing, used to maintain fracture conductivity and enhance reservoir stimulation. In high-pressure and harsh reservoir environments, the use of high-strength proppants is essential to ensure well performance. Conventional proppants, being sand, ceramic, and sintered bauxite can be expensive, and their use often requires costly fracture fluids. This study investigates the possibility of utalizing fly ash geopolymers as a sustainable alternative that is also cost-effective for proppants manufacturing. Fly ash, a by-product from the combustion of coal and other materials, was explored as a base material for proppants, utilizing an alkaline solution as an activator …

Breech Baby, Madison Kaufman, Cassidy Allen, Lilian Mills

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our project aims to develop a non-invasive device to assist in turning breech babies to a head down position before delivery. Pregnant women facing breech presentations often need safe and effective solutions, yet current options like external cephalic version (ECV), maternal positioning techniques, and cesarean sections can present challenges. Key barriers include variability in maternal and fetal anatomy, patient comfort, compliance, and training for healthcare providers, along with cost and insurance concerns.

Our innovative device will address these issues by providing clear guidance and support throughout the process. It will prioritize minimizing discomfort and risk, ensuring adaptability for various stages …

Microscopic Insights On Shear Rheology Of Polyampholyte Ionomers Via Molecular Simulations, Kyle Vonscio

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Ionomers are polymers that contain a small fraction of charged groups. The ionic attraction of charged groups allows ionomers to act similarly to crosslinked polymers. Depending on the strength of electrostatic interactions and structure of the ionomers, different dynamics and rheological responses can be observed. With moderate attraction between ions, these noncovalent crosslinks can be broken when heated, allowing ionomers to flow and show the strength of a crosslinked network at low temperatures. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations will be performed under shear in the xy-plane and the macroscopic rheology and conformation of the polyampholyte ionomer will be determined. The …

Nail Salon Appointment Management System., Alexander Tran

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

I will create an appointment management system for my family's nail salon. This will contain a database and tables that keep track of data of the employees, customers, and the receptionist to make it easier to book appointments for the nail salon. This was originally made to create an appointment system because I have family members who don't understand technology well and wanted to make something simple and intuitive for anyone to use, since the appointment system that we currently use is extremely off the cuff, and this should remedy that.

Optimization Of Energy Management In Malaysian Microgrids Using Fuzzy Logic-Based Ems Scheduling Controller, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Tarek Abedin, Nur Aini Samsudin, Jana Petrů, Abdulwasa Bakr Barnawi, Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar, T. M.Yunus Khan, Muhammad Nasir Bashir, Mohammad Aminul Islam, Boon Kar Yap, Tiong Sieh Kiong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The microgrid (MG) faces significant security issues due to the two-way power and information flow. Integrating an Energy Management System (EMS) to balance energy supply and demand in Malaysian microgrids, this study designs a Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) that considers intermittent renewable sources and fluctuating demand patterns. FLC offers a flexible solution to energy scheduling effectively assessed by MATLAB/Simulink simulations. The microgrid consists of PV, battery, grid, and load. A Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller helps to extract the maximum PV output and manages the power storage by providing or absorbing excess power. System analysis is performed by observing …

The Significant Impact Of Hot Isostatic Pressing On The Corrosion Behavior Of Ti-6al-4v Alloy Prepared By Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion, Hongyu Zheng, Yun Bai, Wentao Hou, Zirong Zhai, Lai Chang Zhang, Shujun Li, Rui Yang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This work investigated the effect of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) on the corrosion behavior of Ti-6Al-4V samples prepared by electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF). After the HIP treatment, the TiO2 content decreased but the growth rate of passivation films increased, leading to increase in internal defect density, thereby degrading the corrosion resistance. Amongst the different factors impacted by HIP including pore defects, β-phase, texture and morphology of α-phase, the morphology of α-phase played a dominant role in determining the corrosion performance of EB-PBF processed alloy.

Nanao/Organocatalyat Sio2/4-(2-Aminoethyl)-Morpholine As A New, Reusable, And Efficacious Catalyst For The Synthesis Of Polyhydroquinolines Derivatives And Antibacterially Active Evaluation, Leila Amiri-Zirtol, Zahra Karimi, Javad Farahbakhsh, Ahmad Gholami, Seyedeh Narjes Abootalebi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this study, a new nanocomposite comprising 4-(2-Aminoethyl)-morpholine, an organic catalyst, was prepared on the surface of silica. The absence of metal in the catalyst structure contributes to its environmental friendliness. This novel nanocatalyst was used for multi-component reactions (MCRs). Having a nano size for the composite enhances the contact between the raw materials and the catalytic surface, leading to significant advancement in the reaction. The synthesized composite was identified and evaluated using FT-IR, EDX, EDX-Mapping, TGA, XRD, BET, TEM, and FE-SEM analysis. The characteristic analysis confirmed the synthesis of both nano-silica/4-(2-Aminoethyl)-morpholine catalyst and polyhydroquinoline. The composite’s catalytic properties for …

Photocatalytic Performance Of N-Doped Ti3o5 Nano-Catalyst For Phenolic Compounds Removal From Industrial Wastewaters, Mehdi Narimani, Maryam Gonbadi, Mahsa Navabi, Fatemeh Khezri-Shooshtari, Amin Ale Ebrahim, Mohammad Mahdi Zerafat

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study is focused on the synthesis and evaluation of TiO2 and N-doped Ti3O5 for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol as a noxious substance commonly present in the industrial process effluents with harmful effects on human and the environment. The research addresses the critical environmental challenge posed by phenol-contaminated effluents from petrochemical industries. Leveraging Response Surface Methodology with Box-Behnken design, 17 experiments were conducted to analyze the impact of independent variables such as photo-catalyst dosage, pH, and irradiation time on degradation efficiency. Notably, the average crystallite sizes were determined as 20 nm for TiO2 and 58.3 nm for N-doped Ti3O5. …

Bio-Inspired Computational Intelligence Metaheuristic-Based Optimization And Sensitivity Analysis Approach To Determine Techno-Economic Feasibility Of Hydrogen Refueling Stations For Fuel Cell Vehicles, Paul C. Okonkwo, Samuel Chukwujindu Nwokolo, Saad S. Alarifi, Stephen E. Ekwok, Rita Orji, Sunday O. Udo, Ahmed M. Eldosouky, El Manaa Barhoumi, Barun Kumar Das, David Gomez-Ortiz, Kamal Abdelrahman, Anthony E. Akpan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study presents a comprehensive economic and technological evaluation of renewable hybrid power systems for hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) in Nizwa, Oman, leveraging cutting-edge optimization algorithms to determine the most cost-effective and efficient hybrid energy system configurations. Three hybrid energy systems of photovoltaic-wind turbine-battery (PV-WT-B), photovoltaic-wind-fuel cell-battery (PV-WT-FC-B), and wind turbine-battery (WT-B) were evaluated based on net present cost (NPC), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). The study employs advanced optimization techniques, including the Mayfly Algorithm, Genetic Algorithm, CUKO Search, Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Constrained Particle Swarm Optimization (CPSO), Harmony Search (HS), and Flower Pollination …

Automated Livestock Fan With Ultrasonic Radar Integration, Brandon M. Cyr, Mason Andes

Engineering – Undergraduate Research Projects

—The majority of livestock species do not produce their own sweat for body heat dissipation. Therefore, alternative methods for cooling livestock are needed during the summertime and warm climates for animal wellbeing. However, constant day long use of a fan for this purpose can prove expensive, with cooling only necessary when livestock are in range. The goal of this project is to incorporate a motor-powered fan with a radar dish using Arduino Software. The ultrasonic radar dish will rotate counterclockwise to detect motion, which will mimic the movement of livestock in this case. When motion is found, the IDE program …

Effects Of Wc Additions On The Phase Formation Of (Hf,Nb,Ta,Ti,Zr)C-(Hf,Nb,Ta,Ti,Zr)B2 High Entropy Dual Phase Ceramics, Rubia Hassan, William G. Fahrenholtz, Gregory E. Hilmas

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High entropy dual phase (Hf,Nb,Ta,Ti,Zr)C-(Hf,Nb,Ta,Ti,Zr)B2 ultra-high temperature ceramics were produced from powders synthesized by boro-carbothermal reduction. Systematic additions of 2.5 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt% WC were incorporated after powder synthesis. Additions of 2.5 wt% and 5 wt% WC dissolved into the host ceramics, resulting in complete solid solution formation and nearly full densification. In contrast, a secondary monoboride phase evolved for the composition with 10 wt% WC, in addition to the main high entropy carbide and diboride phases. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that WB formation was favorable for WC additions in the presence of metal diborides at the sintering …

Local Hydrodynamics And Phase Distribution In Large-Scale Trickle Bed Reactors Using Multi-Detector Γ-Ray Densitometry, Sebastián Uribe, Ahmed Jasim, Saba A. Gheni, Nora Selem, Nouhaila Filali, Tiberiu M. Leib, Sourav Sengupta, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study presents a new approach of using gamma ray computed tomography (CT) in a form of arc multi-detector γ-Ray Densitometry (Arc MD-GRD) Technique where it measures the line averaged holdups of the phases which are projected on the diameter of the column to obtain their diameter profiles. This technique then was used to investigate the diameter profiles of the phases' holdups in a 12-inch diameter trickle bed reactor (TBR) using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as the gas phase to represent to a certain extent the industrial higher density of the used gas phase due to either the type of the …

Influence Of Organic Matter And Mineral Composition On Carbonate Source Rock Wettability: Implications For Co2 Geostorage, Muhammad Usman, Nurudeen Yekeen, Muhammad Ali, Mujahid Ali, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer, Volker Vahrenkamp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Wettability is critical in determining carbon dioxide (CO2) behavior during geological sequestration in unconventional reservoirs. Unconventional reservoirs are compositionally heterogeneous, affecting CO2 plume migration, containment security, and storage capacity during geological sequestration. Previous studies on CO2 storage in unconventional reservoirs have primarily attributed to changes in organic matter content; however, this study examines how variations in the mineralogical and organic matter content combined affect wettability in CO2/brine systems under subsurface conditions. Three samples with varied mineralogy and TOC content were selected from a well drilled in Jordan source rocks—an immature analog of marine-derived, carbonate-dominated, Type IIS source rocks. Samples were …

Co2-Induced Changes In Rheology, Structural Evolution, And Particle Characteristics Of Cement Paste, Seongho Han, Tae Yong Shin, Seung Mo Kim, Jae Hong Kim, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The injection of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into cementitious systems has emerged as a promising approach to enhancing sustainability in concrete production. This study explores the impact of CO₂ injection on the rheological behavior, structural build-up, and particle size evolution of cement paste by systematically varying the water-to-cement ratio (w/c) (0.35, 0.4, and 0.5) and CO₂ concentration (0.06, 0.28, and 0.84 mol). Rheological analysis revealed a significant increase in initial yield stress with CO₂ injection. Using the Modified Bingham model, yield stress increased by 72 % and 150 % for 0.28- and 0.84-mol CO₂, …

Evaluation Of Towed Tem Potential For Rapid Characterization Of Levee Foundations, Kolawole Arowoogun, Katherine Grote, Jeremy Maurer

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Assessing the geologic conditions of levee foundation soils is a challenging task owing to the extensive length of most levees and the heterogeneity of many alluvial deposits. Traditional investigation techniques (such as boring and cone penetrometer testing [CPT]) are expensive, invasive, and provide spatially-limited information. As a result, they are restricted to pre-identified problematic zones in the levee. To overcome these challenges, geophysical instruments capable of better spatial coverage are proposed for rapid geoelectrical characterization of levees. In this study, we presented a field-based application of the towed time-domain electromagnetic method (tTEM) system in characterizing the subsurface geology adjacent to …

Extraction Of Aluminum From Lunar Regolith Through Molten Salt Electrolysis, Jacob N. Ortega, Todd P. Sander, Jeffrey D. Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David J. Bayless, William Schonberg, Daniel S. Stutts, Frank D. Han

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents the methodology, development, and results of an end-to-end regolith-to-metal concept for producing aluminum in-situ on the lunar surface, namely, the Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production through Molten Salt Electrolysis (LISAP-MSE) method. Using electrolytic reduction, aluminum oxide (i.e., alumina) can be reduced into aluminum and oxygen via electrolysis in a molten salt bath. A steady supply of hydrogen chloride could allow this in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) method to supply several necessary materials consumed in the electrolytic reduction step of the process to produce bulk aluminum metal, oxygen, water, and silica from anorthite abundant in lunar highland regions. In this …

Class Activity, Understanding And Applying Tolerances, Noemi Liberati

AI in Engineering

This assignment is designed to help EGR120 – Graphical Communication students understand, interpret, and apply dimensional tolerances in engineering drawings. It is structured into four main parts: Pre-assessment, AI-supported learning, application and calculation, and final reflection. In the Pre-assessment, students begin by reflecting on their initial understanding of dimensional tolerances and how parts fit together, which promotes critical thinking and activates prior knowledge. The AI-supported learning phase involves using tools like CoPilot or ChatGPT to explore and clarify key concepts such as tolerance, types of fit between mating components, nominal values, and real-world examples. This fosters responsible AI use as …