Engineering Research Module

Andrew Johnson from Washington University, St Louis worked with Dr Mark Pickering from the UCD School of Medicine on a project Measuring Microplastics in Oceans via Impedance Spectroscopy. Andrew’s research aims to use readily available materials to design a mass-producible method of detecting microplastics in Earth’s oceans that can be validated by existing methods.

Click to download Andrew's Poster Presentation

Lucy Lin from the University of Pennsylvania worked with Dr Philip Cardiff from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled the Characterization of Mechanical Properties of Rubber Bands in Various Configurations. This study draws inspiration from the Rainbow Loom bands, where basic series patterns exhibit high elasticity while advanced patterns like fish-tails or hexa-fish are sturdier and less stretchable due to their configurations. The motivation for this project is to understand the mechanical properties of rubber bands in different configurations – series, parallel, and hybrid – using a Material Testing System (MTS) machine.

Click here to download Lucy's Poster Presentation

David D’Alessando from Washington University, St Louis was supervised by Dr. Kevin Nolan from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled CFD Analysis of a Formula One Car to Determine the Halo’s Effect on the Car’s Performance. In 2018, Formula One mandated that the halo, a ring-shaped frame mounted above the driver’s head in the cockpit, be implemented to increase drivers’ safety.

Click to download David's poster presentation

Gabriela Kogler from Washington University, St Louis was supervised by Dr. Adam Boyce on a project titled The Solid Mechanics of Solid-State Lithium-ion Batteries from Changing the Charge Rate and Elastic Modulus of the Electrolyte within the Cell. The increasing need for energy storage solutions has spurred demand for high-performance, long-lasting, and low-cost batteries, with solid-state batteries (ASSBs) emerging as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their safety and potential for high energy density. 

Click to download Gabriela's Poster Presentation.

Matthew Cheifetz  from Washington University, St Louis, supervised by Dr. Kevin Nolan from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering carried out An Analysis of a ball suspended by a jet of air using high-speed schlieren. The objective of this experiment was to better understand why a ball levitates when exposed to a jet of air from below. More specifically, an investigation was conducted about the airflow properties and patterns that contribute to this levitation effect. 

Click to download Matthew's Poster Presentation.

Olivia Landriscina from George Washington University was supervised by Professor Peter Kennedy from the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering on a project based on Digital Delta Sigma Modulators and MASH Equations. The first step in understanding what DDSMs are is understanding what DSMs are in general. A delta-sigma modulator is an electronic circuit used to convert analogue signals into digital data.

Click to download Olivia's Poster Presentation.

Pauline Lucas from ECAM Rennes, France was supervised by Dr. Kevin Nolan from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering. Her project titled Flow measurement Application: spot wave device for Surf. In recent years, the sport of surfing has attracted a phenomenal number of adherents, but its practice requires specific weather conditions on the coasts. However, new solutions allowing surfing all year round, whatever the conditions, are appearing thanks to the creation of wave pools. 

Click to download Pauline's Poster Presentation.

Rebecca Farrar from Smith College worked on a Sex-based Comparison of Subcortical Regions in the Human Brain under the supervision of Dr David MacManus from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering. The purpose of this project is to identify, through digitally rendered MR images of the human brain, significant differences in the volume of individual subcortical regions between female and male brains.

Click to download Rebecca's Poster Presentation.

Sadie Karp from Washington University, St Louis worked on a project titled Improving Building Energy Modelling and Analysis Processes using the graph database Neo4J under the direction of Dr James O’Donnell from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering. The objective of the project is to evaluate if graph databases are suitable to run queries that detect differences between building models and examine the impacts of these differences on energy consumption.

Click to download Sadie's Poster Presentation.

Virginie Boussard from ECAM Rennes, France investigated the toroidal propeller for drones with Dr. Kevin Nolan from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering. The aerodynamics of drones heavily rely on their propellers. This study examined two different types: traditional two-blade propellers and toroidal fans. The research aimed to investigate the airflow around moving propeller blades, utilizing a laser-based Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system.

Click to download Virginie's Poster Presentation.

Yasmein Asfour from George Washington University worked under the guidance of Professor Nikolaos Papakostas from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled Automated Counting and Inspection System. This project centres on automated counting and inspection tasks in manufacturing using the Intel RealSense D455 camera, a robotic arm, and MATLAB. Provided with a pallet of drills from the ATA Drills group, the objective is twofold: firstly, to develop a method for accurately counting the drills, and secondly, to identify any defects present.

Click to download Yasmein's Poster Presentation.

Austin Younger from Rochester Institute of Technology worked with Dr Kevin Nolan from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project that analysed rocket engine nozzle flow via a 2 mirror schlieren assembly.

The primary goal of this research was to employ the use of a schlieren machine to image and catalogue supersonic flow patterns of pocket engine nozzles, while using pressurized air as the fluid medium.

Click to download Austin's Poster Presentation

Bennett Schmitt from the University of Notre Dame worked with Dr Veronica Sofianos from the UCD School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering on a project to Catalyze a Green Hydrogen Future: Investigating Iron-Nickel Borides as Nanocatalysts for Water Electrolysis. His work investigates the synthesis and characterization of iron nickel borides and explores their capacity as electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in green hydrogen production.

Click to download Bennett's Poster Presentation

Eric Seng from Duke University worked with Dr Anton van Beek from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project Using Generative AI Models to Design Novel Shapes.

In order to optimize the design of complex shapes, there can be a larger number of variables which can lead to difficult optimization problems. Simplifying to a smaller dimensional latent space can dramatically increase the efficiency of the optimization.

Click to download Eric's Poster Presentation

Alanis Wilson-Ehrenthal from University of Colorado, Boulder worked with Dr Vincent Hargaden from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled DesignPlan: Graphical User Interface Prototype. It entailed an educational tool for use of facility layout planning software’s and the literature review and development of GUI prototype.

Click to download Alanis Wilson-Ehrenthal Poster Presentation

Brendan Kornatz from Vanderbilt University worked with Dr Kevin Nolan and Dr Luca Biancofiore from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled Viscoelasticity Characterization. His research covered an experiment done to characterize the torque, shear-rate, and other attributes of two non-Newtonian fluid mixtures, in order to help computers model non-Newtonian fluids.

Click to download Brendan Kornatz Poster Presentation

Carly Ward from Syracuse University worked with Dr Kevin Nolan and Dr Conan McCaul from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled Investigation into the Role of Tube Crimping in Medical Devices for Failed Epidural Analgesia. The goal of her research was to determine if any or enough crimping occurs within an epidural catheter that would cause complications using various catheter types.

Click to download Carly Ward Poster Presentation

Jack Ward from Washington University, St Louis worked with Dr Malachy O’Rourke from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled The Segmentation and Flow Velocity Visualization of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. The goal of his research was to gain familiarity with the segmentation and flow visualization of a patient with an abdominal aortic aneurysm using 3D Slicer and Ansys Fluent.

Click to download Jack Ward Poster Presentation

Jenna Rogge from Washington University, St Louis worked with Dr David McKeown from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled EIRSAT – 1 Thermal Analysis. EIRSAT-1 is the Educational Irish Research Satellite 1. It is a 2U CubeSat being developed as part of the European Space Agency's Fly Your Satellite programme.

Click to download Jenna Rogge Poster Presentation

Jonah Goldman from George Washington University worked with Dr Lizbeth Godman from the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering on a project titled Critical Review of Eye Tracking Technology in the Study of Autism. In order to successfully connect with children with autism, one of the most important keys in therapy is to hold their attention to reinforce skills like emotional mimicry and eye contact.

Click to download Jonah Goldman Poster Presentation

Kha Trinh from St Olaf College worked with Dr Niall English from the UCD School of Chemical & Bioprocessing Engineering on a project titled Molecular Dynamics Simulation of a new effective inhibitor for CO2 Hydrate Formation. This project aimed to qualitatively understand and examine the potency of TETA from the microscopic perspective with the assistance of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

Click to download Kha Trinh Poster Presentation

Zachary Shuler from Syracuse University worked with Dr Donal Holland from the UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering on a project titled Modelling Pneumatic Inflatable Actuators (PIA). Pneumatic Inflatable Actuators (PIA) are devices that can be used in soft robotic actuators.

Click to download Zachary Shuler Poster Presentation

Bianca Acot, Princeton University carried out her research in the laboratory of Professor Michael Gilchrist, UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering. She did an analysis of traumatic brain injuries using Kinovea (Phase 1) and the University College Dublin Brain Trauma Model (Phase 2). Overall, Bianca’s project is an example of a methodology for performing forensic reconstructions of sports-related head impacts to improve helmet testing and elucidate the mechanics of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Bianca aims to continue her research under the mentorship of Professor Michael Gilchrist when she returns to Princeton and use her analysis on rugby head impacts using finite element for her undergraduate thesis project.  Bianca continued her UCD work for her thesis when she returned to Princeton. Professor Gilchrist acted as her external advisor along with two academic advisers from Princeton.  

Click to download Bianca Acot’s Poster Presentation

Claire McFarland, Washington University St Louis carried out her research in the laboratory of Dr Nan Zhang, UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering who is searching for the best method to print human cardiovascular vessels. Claire investigated the best method of cell depositing during the 3D printing process – bioprinting. Her research focused on four main processes; extrusion based; droplet-based; laser-based and digital light processing (DLP) and concluded that DLP was the most effective method.

Click to download Claire McFarland’s Poster Presentation

Taylor Chapman, Yale University carried out her research in the laboratory of Professor Andrew Keane, UCD School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Mr Michael Power, (opens in a new window)UCD Energy Institute. Taylor’s project focused on the documentation of energy management systems and the DUtrain power system handler. The goal of Taylor’s project was to provide documentation of the DUtrain PSH for users that included relevant background information, network set-up within the lab, and execution of network applications.

Click to download Taylor Chapman’s Poster Presentation

Dylan Logan, University of Massachusetts, Amherst carried out his research in the laboratory of Dr Nan Zhang, UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering and analysed the capability and utility of open source motion tracking software Kinovea and blender for research application. Dylan’s work was motivated by his desire to find a suitable and capable motion tracking and modelling software that was offered open source. His goal was to find something robust that people could gain access to for free and could learn during schooling and it would still be practical for them after research. 

Click to download Dylan Logan’s Poster Presentation

Hayden Simmons, Washington University St Louis carried out his project in the laboratory of Professor Lizbeth Goodman in the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering and Mr James O’Connor in the SMARTlab. Hayden explored the viability of utilizing smart home devices in aiding communication with patients with Locked in Syndrome (LIS). Smart home devices are those that use the internet and various non-physical switches to function. For example, the popular Amazon Alexa enables its users to activate connected devices by voice and motion controls.

Click to download Hayden Simmon’s Poster Presentation

Colin Marchus, University of Idaho carried out his research in the laboratory of Dr Nan Zhang, UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering who is searching for the best method to print human cardiovascular vessels. Colin investigated 3D bioprinting and bioinks for the creation of vascular structures.

3D bioprinting is a relatively new field of research that has only been around for a little over 15 years. Because of this so much is unknown when it comes to the possibilities behind bioprinting. The main topic of Colin’s research focused on investigating the possibilities of printing functioning vascular structures.

Click to download Colin Marchus Poster Presentation

Kathryn Jaroszynski, George Washington University carried out her project in the laboratory of Professor Lizbeth Goodman in the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering. Kathryn analysed the biomechanical and neurological controls associated with Sit-to-Stand (STS) transfer.  Sit-to-Stand movement is defined as a rapid transition from a large base of support (BOS) in a stable position, to a smaller BOS in a less stable position. Kathryn carried out a detailed literature review during her project to further understand the STS transfer and process. 

Click to download Kathryn Jaroszynski Poster Presentation

Sydney Krivitsky, Washington University St Louis carried out her project in the laboratory of Professor Lizbeth Goodman in the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering and focused her research on the safety precautions and modification of furnace lid for the use of magnesium heating. Modification of the furnace lid is to allow for magnesium to be placed in the furnace without opening the full lid and being able to remove the small amount of magnesium with the cauldron to then pour into the cast. Her goal was to make a new lid, that would replace the original with the hole for the magnesium heating.

Click to download Sydney Krivitsky’s Poster Presentation

Alexander Thill, University of Alabama carried out his project in the laboratory of Professor Lizbeth Goodman in the UCD School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering where he investigated Drone Fluid Dynamics and the Qualitative Analysis of High-Velocity Fluid Packets. Computational analysis of airflow through and around drone propellers is an emerging field, but some work done already shows the potential for improving drone design using CFD. The object of his own research was to illustrate these pockets of high velocity, where they are created, where they can move, and how they originate and dissipate through physical means. Alexander attempted to do this for a single propeller, as he did not have access to a multi-rotor UAV.

Click to download Alexander Thill’s Poster Presentation