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Description
The Compact X-Ray Light Source (CXLS) and Compact X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (CXFEL) are two novel compact X-Ray sources that enable the study of fundamental processes in science and nature. The CXLS uses inverse Compton scattering of relativistic electrons with a high- energy infrared laser to generate X-Ray photons in a way that greatly reduces the size and cost of these machines. The X-Ray beam produced by the CXLS is delivered to an Experiment Chamber housing motorized stages, infinity-corrected optical systems, and a Montel Optic which focuses the X-Ray beam to an interaction point. This X-Ray beam can be used to take snapshots of samples at the atomic level, providing unique insight in the study of quantum materials, medicine development, and renewable energy generation. In order for experiments with the CXLS to take place, samples must be remotely delivered to this interaction point in a way that provides users with a precise view of the interaction. In order for the samples to be mounted in the Experiment Chamber, cassettes were designed and fabricated in an iterative process to accommodate a particular sample chip or set of microfluidic fittings and components. These cassettes were manufactured using a resin-based 3D printer, and the final designs were able to securely house samples and be mounted in a sample holder frame. To bring the sample to the interaction point, a stack of PI Stages and a Hexapod were brought under EPICS control. Input/Output Controllers for each device were installed on a Linux computer, exposing process variables that facilitated the development of controls interfaces. Using MATLAB, user interfaces were created via an Agile software development approach that emphasized iterative refinements and user feedback. A calibration procedure was developed to maximize the accuracy of scans performed by the stages. During testing, the software was able to successfully implement coordinate transformations to bring many different targets on a single chip to an interaction point as part of a single scan.
ContributorsDupre, Alan (Author) / Holl, Mark (Thesis director) / Teitelbaum, Samuel (Committee member) / Ros, Alexandra (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Department of Physics (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The objective of this project was to test new construction and launch methods for high-powered model rocketry. The two new methods that this project aimed to use were parallel staging and 3D printing.
Research was done on different filaments and carbon fiber filled filament was chosen and tensile tests were done. Errors occurred with this filament and PETG was picked as the new filament. A rocket was initially designed in OpenRocket, later modeled in SolidWorks and then printed using various 3D printers. The connection method for the side boosters required several iterations. Once a design was chosen, the separation was tested prior to launch. Black powder was chosen as the method to separate the side and main boosters and several tests were conducted to finalize the final quantity of black powder to be used for separation. Once the rocket was printed and the separation mechanism tested, the rocket was launched.
The launch was not a complete success. The two side boosters did not ignite at the same time causing the rocket to spin out of control. However, safety measures that were incorporated allowed the rocket to burn out the side booster without the main booster igniting, preventing any further hazards. It was concluded that an additional igniter and a rail system for launch would need to be used for future launches.
ContributorsReese, Jackson (Author) / Cruz Lozano, Ricardo (Thesis director) / Murthy, Raghavendra (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This research study aimed to improve on the results of the Improved Mixed-Mode Bending paper by Fard and Bonney (2021), to improve the stiffness of testing fixtures for delamination testing in composites. This included a three-phase process, beginning with a literature review concluding on the flexibility of the current fixture, fabrication of revised parts with machining experts, and a Finite Element Analysis of 28 configurations of the fixture using ANSYS 2023, to a yield a maximum increase in stiffness of 40%.
ContributorsVerma, Swastik (Author) / Fard, Masoud (Thesis director) / Stefanaki, Aikaterini (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Psychedelics have received attention in research due to their therapeutic potential,
prompting a need for a deeper understanding of their effects. Perception, a cognitive process
involving sensory stimuli and interpretation, is known to be altered by psychedelics. This project aims to investigate body image perception under psychedelics' influence, utilizing virtual reality (VR) and motion capture technology. To validate findings and mitigate memory biases in the experiments by Helms-Tillery et al. (1991) VR can be employed to control stimuli and measure body location perception. Motion capture data serves as a reliable reference system, aiding in the translation of VR data. MATLAB scripts are developed to process motion capture data, defining body position accurately. Troubleshooting and debugging are crucial in ensuring data accuracy. The project culminates in a generalized code applicable to diverse experimental setups, facilitating spatial perception research and laying groundwork for psychedelic studies.
ContributorsBozzo, Isabella (Author) / Helms Tillery, Stephen (Thesis director) / Buneo, Christopher (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This paper reports on the investigation of the effect of nose length of a high-speed train in a tunnel on the drag experienced by the train. Additionally, the effects of having a tapered rear end to the train are also investigated. The operation of a train in a tunnel causes significantly greater aerodynamic drag than in operation in open air due to the constricted nature of the tunnel preventing air from easily being displaced outward by the train, resulting in increased power requirements when running in tunnels. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted in ANSYS Fluent to determine the drag produced by a train with several configurations of nose length and an alternate tail design, both within a tunnel and in open air. The tunnel cases each exhibited over twice as much drag as the open-air case with the same train design. A clear trend emerged in the open-air cases for longer noses leading to a reduction in drag, but this expected trend was not clear in the tunnel case. The use of a tapered tail showed significantly lower drag in both open-air and tunnel cases than any of the designs without it. Suggestions for improvements for more accurate results in future simulations are made.
ContributorsGiovangrandi, Thomas (Author) / Huang, Huei-Ping (Thesis director) / Kim, Jeonglae (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This thesis utilizes the four frames (structural, human resource, political, and symbolic) introduced by Bolman and Deal’s Reframing Organizations to analyze the onboarding process at Nammo Defense Systems Inc and suggest potential solutions. The document begins by introducing Nammo Defense Systems Inc. (NDS), including information about the company’s history, products and organizational structure. Next, research is provided to show the negative effects that lackluster onboarding programs have on the business and the effects that influence employees to resign early in their tenures. The issues surrounding employee onboarding processes are introduced as the primary contributors to prolonged ramp-up time in engineering staff, prominently being NDS’s lack of training documentation and training program/structure and mismanagement of engineering aids (3D printers). Each issue illustrates a disconnect between leadership and onboarding employees causing costly ramp-up times for the organization and slow workdays for new employees. The four frames are used to explore solutions addressing the underlying issues present in NDS’s traditional onboarding process and to promote more rigid processes in the future. By including descriptions documented in Reframing Organizations, solutions such as organizing an
onboarding program were analyzed to correct current shortcomings within NDS. As a result, it is recommended that NDS implement a formalized training program for a minimum of 12 weeks accompanied by reference documents and appointing personnel for asset management of the company’s 3D printer resource.
ContributorsPocock, Allistair (Author) / deLusé, Stephanie (Thesis director) / Adamo, Nick (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2024-05