In this work, the development of laminate structural battery components is attempted. Two methods; spray coating and doctor blade assisted slurry casting, are attempted in view of coating the anodic current collector with active materials. Additionally, the compounding of solid polymer electrolyte in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder is investigated computationally. A steady-state computational model is set up in Ansys-Fluent environment to understand the effect of compounding solid phase in the melt. Preliminary results indicate spray coating method to provide better dispersion over the surface area of the electrodes. The pressure contours in the kneading zone 1 show maximum pressures of 35MPa at the periphery of kneading disks, reducing to approximately 2MPa at kneading zone 4. Process optimization is underway to obtain the best possible parameter combination to obtain a uniform coating of the electrodes and a uniform distribution of conductive fillers in the extrudate.
In this paper, the piezoresistive response of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coated glass fabric is utilized to monitor thermally induced shape memory recovery response of a polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) 4-layer glass fiber fabric composite. Static thermal cycling and shape memory recovery experiments are performed and compared in order to differentiate and separate the thermal and strain induced piezoresistive response of the coated fabric. Initial results show clear and identifiable impact of shape memory recovery on the piezoresistive response where critical milestones of recovery process such as the beginning and the end of recovery along with the speed of recovery can be obtained from piezoresistive data which shows the viability of utilizing rGO coated fabrics and by extension carbon nanomaterials coated fabrics as means to monitor the shape memory response of SMP composites.
CubeSats are standardized miniatured satellites invented in 1999 and are extensively used in space exploration due to its low mission cost for applications such as remote sensing or communication. However, it is essential to stabilize the CubeSat to achieve its mission requirements. CubeSats can be controlled actively using significant power consuming actuators or by no-powered passive techniques. The aim of this research is to successfully develop, simulate and verify an effective approach to passively control the satellite attitude by modelling environmental disturbances; hence, reducing the reliance on control actuators. As a result, improving the survivability and maximizing the benefits that can be obtained from a mission.
Accurate thermal analysis of CubeSat in the design process is extremely necessary due to the absence of an active thermal control system. In this work, the effects of various thermal sources affecting Cubesats in orbit are considered. A detailed thermal model of MYSat-1 was developed using Ansys Workbench software. The average heat incidents on each surface of MYSat-1 for a whole day are calculated using CubeSat Wizard software. A simulation was conducted for a whole year, from this simulation a random day was selected to perform the simulation in Ansys. Steady-state condition thermal analysis was considered to reduce the computation time. The results of Ansys simulations were compared with the housekeeping data of MYSat-1 and CubeSat Wizard. The findings of this study showed that the thermal model is fairly acceptable.
This paper is concerned with the thermal housekeeping data generated onboard a 1U CubeSat in low earth orbit. The actual flight data was collected using 14 temperature sensors and then used to validate a numerical multi-physics model for CubeSats. The model is based on a single isothermal node approach and takes into account the orbital parameters as well as the eclipse and the solar illumination cycles on each surface of the CubeSat. In addition, the model includes the effects of the albedo and Earth Infrared heat fluxes. The presented simulations and results from the validated model were used to draw conclusions on the worst hot and cold case scenarios for MYSAT-1. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to investigate the assumed specific heat capacity effect on the generated temperature cycles
Fruits, and nuts encapsulate their embryos with a tough outer shell to protect them from predation and other environmental risks. In this paper, we look at the behavior of the Corymbia calophylla Nut, also known as Marri, under compression in comparison to other well-studied nuts such as Macadamia, Walnut, and Pistachio. This is done by 1) Exploring the role different nut orientations has on the fracture strength of the Marri 2) Creating 3D models of the nut using CT scan images and a combination of modeling software to remove the effect of its heterogeneous nature 3) performing compression tests on the 3D printed structures of the nut and comparing results with the original nuts. This structure-function study has the potential to motivate the design of new stronger bioinspired materials for various applications
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a naturally occurring, highly toxic gas that is formed from the decomposition of sulfur compounds. In wastewater collection and treatment plants, H2S is a common source of concrete and metal corrosion that has resulted in huge economic loss. Corrosion in sewer treatment systems due to the release of H2S and its subsequent oxidation has been a worldwide issue that has huge economic relevance. Microbially-induced concrete corrosion reduces the lifespan of concrete and the remediation processes are expensive. In this project, the factors leading to the generation of H2S were studied. Different parameters were measured from a wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater samples were collected for measurement of chemical properties affecting H2S generation in the laboratory. Significant parameters were identified from the collected data and correlated with H2S generation. A statistical equation was formed using the significant parameters. Patterns followed by different parameters are discussed.
Efficient light-to-heat conversion using plasmonic nanoparticles inside polymeric membranes is beneficial for improving the efficiency of membrane distillation for seawater desalination. To meet growing freshwater demand in the globe, we proposed cost-effective refractory plasmonic based composite membranes as an alternative to metal-based plasmonic structures. The as-fabricated titanium nitride polymer (TiN/PVDF) composite membrane exhibited broad band light absorption in the wavelength range of 250 to 2500 nm.
There is a need to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from waters because if present in excess they initiate eutrophication which degrades the ecosystem by depleting oxygen, killing fish, and fostering algal blooms. Unlike other treatment methods such as reverse osmosis and adsorption via activated carbon, adsorption via biochar derived from date palm waste is a promising alternative as it does not cause secondary pollution or involve the use of costly raw materials. The objective of the study is to assess the main factors responsible for the adsorption of ammonium/phosphate in single and mixed solutions (dosage, influent concentration and flow rate). It was found that increases in inlet concentrations, increases in bed depths and decreases in flow rate increased removal efficiencies and dynamic adsorption capacities for ammonium and phosphate. The results will provide a basis for the removal of ammonium and phosphate using date palm biochar.
Water security is a crucial challenge facing most of the middle east courtiers including UAE. The country was categorized as one of the world's most water-scarce nations. Therefore, the development in the wastewater treatment technologies has become an attractive area for research nowadays. Biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) can replace conventional fossil-based materials used in membrane fabrication. The integration of nanomaterials in membrane's matrix aims to improve the membrane's hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, thermal stability and water flux, which are vital membrane properties needed to active efficient removal of contaminants. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and functionalized Graphene oxide (fGO) have recently attracted attention, as they have proved to have potential in various applications. The main objective of this work was to fabricate PLA membranes incorporated with negatively charged, self-assembled MWCNT-fGO using phase inversion method. Different concentrations of MWCNT-fGO up to 8 wt% of the polymer were fabricated.
