Graduate Work

Master's Final Project

My final Master's Project built on my first, but concentrated on multiple orifices in a series flow configuration. The study utilized numerical analysis via Computation Fluid Dynamic software. The model environment was validated using the results studied in the single orifice Master's study.

Master's Project (1)

This Master's Project focused on the impact of compressible fluid flow through a single sharp edge orifice using theoretical derivations and analysis, coupled with actual manufacturing and test results. The main interest in this topic centered around the use of highly restrictive metering elements in propellant management systems  for electric or ion propulsion. 

Advanced Heat Transfer - Thermocouple Accuracy

This was a project assigned in my Advanced Heat Transfer course which focused on the ability to use heat transfer concepts to analyze the accuracy of a thermocouple. The problem used an exhaust pipe with flowing gas to measure the temperature read by the thermocouple with and without a shield when the actual static gas temperature is known. 

Discrete Event Simulation of Manufacturing Processes

In my Manufacturing Logistics course, I chose to study discrete event simulation which is utilized across many industries in an effort to adapt and evolve with growing demand. Just as CFD or FEA allows for computational analysis of complex engineering problems, DES uses computer simulations to optimize manufacturing plant layouts, amusement and theme park rides or line queues, and much more! To couple my studies with my work environment, I utilized DES and queueing theory to optimize a bottleneck station and explore if alternate types and number of machines could improve throughput, enhance quality, and reduce manufacturing costs. Some of the alternate machines increase upfront costs, but the simulation allows for cost analysis to justify the purchase overtime.

Lean Six Sigma DMAIC Project

In my Lean Six Sigma course, we were tasked with completing a full DMAIC project in one semester. I had to come up with a process at work to improve and put together a cross functional team to study and analyze the process and then implement improvements. This study looked at removing a cleaning operation that was found to make precisions orifices inconsistent and inaccurate. The orifices were measured using a Keyence Optical Comparator. This project will demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a DMAIC project at a high level which can be used for other process improvements in any work place.

Finite Element Analysis - Deformation of Rupture Discs

Rupture discs are used in many industries such as oil tool and aerospace for isolating pressure and then rupturing at specific pressures. This rupture can be either intentional for applications such as chemical injection or as a safety mechanism. This Finite Element Analysis project studied a rupture disc with and without a score to see if using a score in the plate would yield more favorable results upon rupture. The mode of bursting can prove to be quite unpredictable unless controlled tightly and without a score, the disc may shed or crack, which is not ideal for all systems. The paper starts out with simple beam analysis, then explores the Galerkin approximation for the beam and plate. Maplesoft was used for the first half of the problem set and was used to aid in validation of the COMSOL program. After validation, COMSOL was used to complete the study.

Vibration Isolation Analysis - Drop Forge

This project explored a drop forge to analyze the optimal damping ratio to utilize for the drop pad from an efficiency standpoint. I studied the behavior of the vibration in the system when the damping pad was structured using four different damping situations; undamped, underdamped, overdamped, and critically damped.

Braze Junction Optimization - Motor Cable

During the operation of a motor, extra heat can be produced in a few situations where the motor will draw several times its rated current. The motor has an aluminum motor stator that is connected to a copper power cable by a welded or brazed joint. At the joint, the high electrical resistance causes extra heat. When the motor draws more current than it is rated for, the heat at the junction increases a larger non-conducting interface grows. Two situations are studied where the initial condition at the motor is either a sine wave or a square wave. By utilizing a partial differential equation in the form of the heat diffusion equation and Fourier series analysis, we are able to show how the temperature distribution varies as we move the junction further from the motor which decreases as we move further from the source even with differing inputs.

Finite Difference Method and TDMA Analysis of 2D Steady State Fluid Flow Through a Channel

A two-dimensional, steady state, incompressible flow with a constant inlet velocity in the x direction is to be analyzed to study the behavior of the fully developed region in the form of velocity profiles. The finite difference method utilized an iterative processing on the pressure gradient to satisfy the continuity equation and the TDMA approach to step through the channel until the pressure gradient converged.

Nozzle Flow Analysis

A one-dimensional, steady state, incompressible flow with negligible momentum upstream of point one before a nozzle inlet was analyzed to study the pressure at the center as well as the velocities throughout the nozzle. Utilizing given boundary conditions, equations to describe the flow nozzle, initial approximations, and governing equations of fluid dynamics we were able to obtain the governing equations and discretization equations to describe the problem at hand. Further, using the iterative solution process in the SIMPLE algorithm and studying the effects of relaxation methods, we found the best rate of convergence and stability to obtain the velocities in the differing sections.