Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
Displaying 21 - 30 of 31
Description
In a society that is becoming more technologically driven, it is important to have people to design, test, and build new things in order for society to progress. This is oftentimes the role of an engineer. However, engineering school is not easy, and engineering students don’t always make it all the way through school to get an engineering job. This thesis is an in-depth analysis of an engineering student’s path - from choosing engineering as a major to ultimately transitioning into a full-time engineering job. It will do this by covering (1) what engineering is and what career opportunities exist within the discipline, (2) common pitfalls that students may encounter while going through engineering school, (3) how to get an engineering job in industry, and (4) how to appropriately transition into an industry job using the skills from engineering school. While talking about what engineering is and what career opportunities exist, this thesis will discuss engineering as a profession, the ABET accreditation board, and careers in industry vs academia. As part of common pitfalls that engineering students face, this thesis will discuss tenure track, theory vs reality, cooperative learning, and misconceptions about engineering. In order to talk about how to get an industry job, this thesis will discuss the impact of grades, relevant experience, communication, personal branding, and industry options. Finally, while talking about effectively transitioning into industry, this thesis will discuss understanding the skills gained from engineering school, the different roles in industry, and how to appropriately apply those skills. Ultimately this thesis aims to be a resource for students interested in engineering so that they can understand how to successfully make it through school and move into the work force effectively.
ContributorsJordan, Arminta Claire (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Zhu, Haolin (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
An experimental investigation was conducted to calculate the aerodynamic drag on a cyclist wearing different types of clothing. The different outfits worn for this experiment were a professional skinsuit, a professional cycling kit, a t-shirt and shorts, and a long-sleeved flannel and jeans. The aerodynamic drag was ultimately found using the coast down method, a process in which a cyclist increases their speed to a chosen maximum threshold, and upon reaching this speed, ceases the pedal stroke and maintains the aero position until the bicycle comes to a stop. The data was gathered using an AeroPod, speed sensor, and GPS unit. The data gathered was imported into Excel for data analysis. The average CdA values at race speed (26-30 ft/s) for the skinsuit, cycling kit, t-shirt and shorts, and flannel were calculated to be 4.180 ft2, 3.668 ft2, 4.884 ft2, and 4.223 ft2, respectively. These race speed averages were found using data from three separate Ironman Triathlons. The cycling kit was found to be the most aerodynamic at the race speed. The results of this study reveal that cycling apparel can only be optimized for a small range of speeds and cycling outside of this optimal range delays the initiation of the reduction of boundary layer separation, thus resulting in more critical time spent in the flow transition region. The skinsuit’s performance was more aerodynamically efficient than the cycling kit at speeds greater than 36.8 mph. The cycling kit is more aerodynamic for speeds slower than 36.8 mph. The slickness of the skinsuit was found to be detrimental to the cyclist’s aerodynamic drag, as the lack of roughness on the skinsuit prevented the initiation of turbulent flow, which results in a decrease in drag. Overall, the experiment confirmed the hypothesis that a cyclist is more aerodynamic when wearing cycling apparel as opposed to casual, loose-fitting clothing.
ContributorsGlynn, Julia Daniel (Co-author) / Duffy, Kyle (Co-author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Bergmann, Ande (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-12
Description
This paper describes the development of a software tool used to automate the preliminary design of aircraft wing structure. By taking wing planform and aircraft weight as inputs, the tool is able to predict loads that will be experienced by the wing. An iterative process is then used to select optimal material thicknesses for each section of the design to minimize total structural weight. The load analysis checks for tensile failure as well as Euler buckling when considering if a given wing structure is valid. After running a variety of test cases with the tool it was found that wing structure of small-scale aircraft is predominantly buckling driven. This is problematic because commonly used weight estimation equations are based on large scale aircraft with strength driven wing designs. Thus, if these equations are applied to smaller aircraft, resulting weight estimates are often much lower than reality. The use of a physics-based approach to preliminary sizing could greatly improve the accuracy of weight predictions and accelerate the design process.
ContributorsKolesov, Nikolay (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Patel, Jay (Committee member) / Kosaraju, Srinivas (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-12
Description
Intellectual property law and the controversy surrounding its nuances, loopholes, and obscure definitions have existed and grown since the inception of the original U.S. Constitution. The original idea was to legislate a way so that innovators and inventors of every generation could be incentivised to create new products which could increase the efficiency and productivity in all aspects of American life. However, the generalizations placed in the law, perhaps for the purpose of giving inventors more leeway, has become, over time, a double-edged sword. Because lawsuits and the lucrative settlements that follow were attached to violating intellectual property law, other individuals have mischievously used this to their advantage, namely creating as many random ideas as possible and patenting them so that when someone ingeniously creates an actual product or physical manifestation, those individuals can sue that inventor for supposedly “stealing” their “idea”. These individuals are basically unable to bring their idea to life so they set traps for those who can. So the law, which originally was supposed to motivate Americans to create has now become a weapon that can be used against those true innovators. Our topic then is to look more in-depth at a specific aspect under the broad umbrella of intellectual property law: can intellectual property law apply to biotechnology? We want to look into different forms of biotechnology, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, observe where patent law has deviated from its original path and where it is going.
ContributorsLai, Edward (Co-author) / Goudamanis, Christy (Co-author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / VanAuker, Michael (Committee member) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The goal of this thesis project was to build an understanding of supersonic projectile dynamics through the creation of a trajectory model that incorporates several different aerodynamic concepts and builds a criteria for the stability of a projectile. This was done iteratively where the model was built from a foundation of kinematics with various aerodynamic principles being added incrementally. The primary aerodynamic principle that influenced the trajectory of the projectile was in the coefficient of drag. The drag coefficient was split into three primary components: the form drag, skin friction drag, and base pressure drag. These together made up the core of the model, additional complexity served to increase the accuracy of the model and generalize to different projectile profiles.
ContributorsBlair, Martin (Co-author) / Armenta, Francisco (Co-author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Herrmann, Marcus (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
This thesis outlines the creation of an excel tool designed to utilize public flight data for a given flight and determine further information such as general flight properties, weight estimation, and aerodynamic and stability characteristics. In depth analyses is done for a TV Relay flight of a Beechcraft Super King Air 200 to display the data processing and accuracy of the values. From this analyses it is displayed that the aircraft is flown safely and well within its performance parameters for the entire mission. The usefulness of this tool comes from its ability to successfully analyze critical properties and perform pilot and crash reconstruction analysis.
ContributorsSchierbrock, Aaron James (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Niemczyk, Mary (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The dynamics of friction as they relate to automobile behavior have been heavily analyzed under conditions that are favorable and predictable in the realm of daily driving. The scope of this project is to investigate behavior of slip in unfavorable conditions and develop a mathematical solution that allows users to predict behavior of oversteer and excessive sideslip. I am fascinated by the topic as I have developed a background in the sport of drifting (controlled oversteer) and would like to contribute to the understanding of this lesser appreciated science. Highly valued components of the project such as velocities, forces, coefficients of friction, steering angles, slip angles, and multi-wheel analysis will all lead to a deeper understanding of relationships between aspects of a vehicle undergoing oversteer.
ContributorsRoden, Michael (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Murthy, Raghavendra (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The dynamics of friction as they relate to automobile behavior have been heavily analyzed under conditions that are favorable and predictable in the realm of daily driving. The scope of this project is to investigate behavior of slip in unfavorable conditions and develop a mathematical solution that allows users to predict behavior of oversteer and excessive sideslip. I am fascinated by the topic as I have developed a background in the sport of drifting (controlled oversteer) and would like to contribute to the understanding of this lesser appreciated science. Highly valued components of the project such as velocities, forces, coefficients of friction, steering angles, slip angles, and multi-wheel analysis will all lead to a deeper understanding of relationships between aspects of a vehicle undergoing oversteer.
ContributorsRoden, Michael Joseph (Author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Murthy, Raghavendra (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
Description
This experiment investigated the effects of different vortex generator sizes and configurations on the induced drag of a 2006 Honda Accord, with comparisons to a control test. Tuft tests were carried out prior to any data collection. The tufts were placed along the roof and rear window of the vehicle for each of the five vortex generator types. Video was taken of the tufts for each set of vortex generators, allowing a visual comparison of the flow characteristics with comparison to the control. Out of the four vortex generators tested, the two that yielded the most substantial change in the flow characteristics were utilized. The data collection was conducted utilizing the two sets of vortex generators, one large and one small, placed in three different locations along the roof of the vehicle. Over a course of four trials of data collection, each vortex generator size and configuration was tested two times along a stretch of Interstate 60, with each data set consisting of five minutes heading east, followed by five minutes heading west. Several experimental parameters were collected using an OBD II Bluetooth Adaptor, which were logged using the software compatible with the adaptor. This data was parsed and analyzed in Microsoft Excel and MATLAB. Utilizing an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) analytical scheme, the data was generalized to account for terrain changes, steady state speed fluctuations, and weather changes per night. Overall, upon analysis of the data, the vortex generators showed little-to-no benefit to either the fuel efficiency or engine load experienced by the vehicle during the duration of the experiment. This result, while unexpected, is substantial as it shows that the expenditure of purchasing these vortex generators for this make and model of vehicle, and potentially other similar vehicles, is unnecessary as it produces no meaningful benefit.
ContributorsMazza, Seth (Author) / Walther, Chase (Co-author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Middleton, James (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2022-05
Description
This experiment investigated the effects of different vortex generator sizes and configurations on the induced drag of a 2006 Honda Accord, with comparisons to a control test. Tuft tests were carried out prior to any data collection. The tufts were placed along the roof and rear window of the vehicle for each of the five vortex generator types. Video was taken of the tufts for each set of vortex generators, allowing a visual comparison of the flow characteristics with comparison to the control. Out of the four vortex generators tested, the two that yielded the most substantial change in the flow characteristics were utilized. The data collection was conducted utilizing the two sets of vortex generators, one large and one small, placed in three different locations along the roof of the vehicle. Over a course of four trials of data collection, each vortex generator size and configuration was tested two times along a stretch of Interstate 60, with each data set consisting of five minutes heading east, followed by five minutes heading west. Several experimental parameters were collected using an OBD II Bluetooth Adaptor, which were logged using the software compatible with the adaptor. This data was parsed and analyzed in Microsoft Excel and MATLAB. Utilizing an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) analytical scheme, the data was generalized to account for terrain changes, steady state speed fluctuations, and weather changes per night. Overall, upon analysis of the data, the vortex generators showed little-to-no benefit to either the fuel efficiency or engine load experienced by the vehicle during the duration of the experiment. This result, while unexpected, is substantial as it shows that the expenditure of purchasing these vortex generators for this make and model of vehicle, and potentially other similar vehicles, is unnecessary as it produces no meaningful benefit.
ContributorsWalther, Chase (Author) / Mazza, Seth (Co-author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Middleton, James (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2022-05