This project involved research into solar thermal and geothermal energy generation as possible solutions to the growing U.S. energy crisis. Background research into this topic revealed the effects of climate and environmental impacts as major variables in determining optimal states. Delving into thermodynamic engineering analyses, the main deliverables of this research were mathematical models to analyze plant efficiency improvements in order to optimize the cost of operating solar thermal and geothermal power plants. The project concludes with possible future research areas relating to this field.

The purpose of this paper is to establish the rules governing current combat robotics and showcase an idea on how to create a more powerful robot. The robot would use its weapon to spin the rest of its body while having the weapon's gyro forces lift the entire robot and move it a set distance while spinning. Performing both of these actions simultaneously would create a more powerful robot through the use of a more destructive weapon system. Many initial tests were conducted to verify that the electronics and code worked and that the wheels could withstand the significant gyro forces when spinning. Multiple prototype chassis were designed and optimized to better handle the shape and the electronics went through several revisions so that they could be packaged in a cleaner and more space efficient way. A final prototype was designed with the knowledge from the initial tests which was then manufactured and tested to verify that the weapon could rotate the entire robot.

The Tesla valve, originating from Nikola Tesla's "valvular conduit" patent in 1920, offers a unique solution to fluid control challenges by enabling unidirectional flow while impeding reverse flow. With applications ranging from fluid pumps to high-power engines, Tesla's design functions as a fluidic diode, inducing pressure drops across the valve to define its efficiency through diodicity. Through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using ANSYS Fluent, the impact of removing the bifurcated section on Tesla valve efficiency is explored. The T45-R, D-Valve, and GMF Valve designs are analyzed across a range of Reynolds numbers (Re). Results show that while the absence of bifurcation can lead to higher diodicity values due to increased flow divergence and vortex formation, efficiency varies depending on flow conditions. The T45-R valve exhibits linear diodicity increase with Reynolds number, plateauing at higher values due to reduced fluid inertia influence. Conversely, the D-Valve with bifurcation excels at lower Re values, while the non-bifurcated version proves more efficient at higher Re values. The GMF Valve with bifurcation demonstrates efficiency at lower Re values but decreases in effectiveness as Re rises, with the non-bifurcated version showing lower efficiency overall. Overall, this research provides insights into the fundamental physics and design considerations of Tesla valves, offering guidance for optimizing fluid control applications across diverse industries. The study underscores the importance of considering geometric variations and flow conditions when designing Tesla valves for specific applications, highlighting the intricate relationship between valve geometry, flow dynamics, and efficiency.

With the growth of the additive manufacturing (AM) industry for metal components, there is an economic pressure for improved AM processes to overcome the shortcomings of current AM technologies (i.e., limited deposition rates, surface roughness, etc.). Unfortunately, the development of these processes can be time and capital-intensive due to the large number of input parameters and the sensitivity of the process’s outputs to said inputs. There consequently has been a strong push to develop computational design tools (such as CFD models) which can decrease the time and cost of AM technology developments. However, many of the developments that have been made to simulate AM through CFD have done so on custom CFD packages (as opposed to commercially available packages), which increases the barrier to entry of employing computational design tools. For that reason, this paper has demonstrated a method for simulating fused deposition modeling using a commercially available CFD package (Fluent). The results from this implementation are qualitatively promising when compared to samples produced by existing metal AM processes, however additional work is needed to validate the model more rigorously and to reduce the computational cost. Finally, the developed model was used to perform a parameter sweep, thereby demonstrating a use case of the tool to help in parameter optimization.

"Tea and Cake with Friends" is a heartwarming children's storybook inspired by the late Anthony Bourdain, a celebrated chef and storyteller who believed in the power of food to unite people from diverse backgrounds. Drawing upon Bourdain's philosophy that sharing a meal creates bonds and celebrates cultural diversity, this enchanting tale invites young readers on a culinary journey filled with friendship, acceptance, and joy. Set in a whimsical world inhabited by charming animal characters, the story unfolds as a group of friends gathers for a delightful tea party. Each character brings a unique dish to share, showcasing the rich tapestry of flavors and traditions from their respective cultures. From savory scones to sweet pastries, the table overflows with delectable treats that reflect the diversity of the animal kingdom. As the friends come together to enjoy their feast, they discover the beauty in embracing each other's differences and celebrating what makes them special. Through heartfelt conversations and laughter-filled moments, they forge deep bonds of friendship that transcend language barriers and cultural boundaries. Illustrated with vibrant and engaging artwork, "Tea and Cake with Friends" celebrates the joy of togetherness and the magic of sharing a meal with loved ones. With its uplifting message of acceptance and unity, this enchanting story encourages children to embrace diversity, cherish their friendships, and savor the simple pleasures of life.

The characterization of spall microstructural damage metallic samples is critical to predicting and modeling modes of failure under blast, ballistic, and other dynamic loads. In this regard, a key step to improve models of dynamic damage is making appropriate connections between experimental characterization of actual damage in the form of discrete voids distributed over a given volume of the specimens, and the output of the models, which provide a continuous measure of damage, for example, void fraction as a function of position. Hence, appropriate homogenization schemes to estimate, e.g., continuous void fraction estimations from discrete void distributions, are key to calibration and validation of damage models. This project seeks to analyze 3D tomography data to relate the homogenization parameters for the discrete void distributions, i.e., homogenization volume size and step, as well as representative volume element size, to the local length scales, e.g., grain size as well as void size and spacing. Copper disks 10 mm in diameter and 1 mm thick with polycrystalline structures were subjected to flyer plate impacts resulting in shock stresses ranging from 2 to 5 GPa. The spall damage induced in samples by release waves was characterized using X-ray tomography techniques. The resulting data is thresholded to differentiate voids from the matrix and void fraction is obtained via homogenization using various parameterization schemes to characterize void fraction distributions along the shock and transverse directions. The representative volume element is determined by relating void fraction for varying parameterized window sizes to the void fraction in the overall volume. Results of this study demonstrate that the optimal representative volume element (RVE) to represent void fraction within 10% error of the overall sample void fraction for this Hitachi copper sample is .2304 mm3. The RVE is found to contain approximately 255 grains. Statistical volume elements of 1300 µm3 or smaller are used to quantify void fraction as a function of position and while the results along the shock direction, i.e., the presence of a clear peak at the expected location of the spall plane, are expected, the void fraction along the transverse direction show oscillatory behavior. The power spectra and predominant frequencies of these distributions suggest the periodicity of the oscillations relates to multiples of local material length scales such as grain size. This demonstrates that the grain size in the samples, about 120 µm, is too large compared to the sample size to try to capture spatial variability due to applied loads and the microstructure, since the microstructure itself produces variability on the order of a few grain sizes. These results may play a role for the design of experiments to collect real-world 3D damage data for validating and enhancing the accuracy and definition of simulation models for damage characterization by providing frameworks for microstructural strain variability when modeling spall behavior under dynamic damage.

The need for cleaner, renewable energy is at a high demand as our world is at a critical point in changing the way in which we source our energy. Petroleum, coal, and natural gas are becoming less relevant. Energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy are becoming more resource-able and dependable options. As we, as a society, become more cautious as to how we take care of our planet, we must continue to look into renewable energy sources. Tidal wave energy has been a concept some companies and governments have been researching into. Tidal wave energy has been used for over a thousand years, originally used to operate grain mills in Europe. It is important as a society to understand how we resource and collect our energy sources, as we lean away from nonrenewable sources to more eco-friendly options. Having a deep understanding of how the system in place works allows society to better alter and adapt its use to better fit our needs. How tidal wave energy is collected and stored, for the most part, follows the same pattern/structure for all companies. Wave energy converters capture the tidal wave energy and are then converted into electricity. This electricity can then be put into the grid system, being able to power households. However, how tidal wave energy platforms are created can have a relatively big range in their design. Designing a tidal wave system that maximizes the amount of energy collected, while also limiting harm to sea-life, will allow for greater ways to support the energy needed for human purposes as nonrenewable energy begins to phase out of many industries. The intent for this thesis research paper is to dive into the mathematical analysis such as static and theoretical stress analysis for an offshore single body point absorber. Due to design limitations, the design for this thesis paper will be purely conceptual. Therefore, this design is analyzed purely for the intent to demonstrate mathematical findings for the gear and shaft system and understanding its potential limitations within the design. From the research and mathematical analysis, specific measurements and forces were calculated in order to determine what is needed to ensure no failure occurs within the system and the energy is collected for potential use.