REU Projects for Summer 2009
The following are summaries of the research projects conducted during the 2009 Metrology REU, adapted from submissions by REU participants.
Characterization of Porous Titanium Structures Fabricated with Electron Beam Melting for Biomedical Applications
Rapid prototyping is widely used in the manufacturing industry and has also been implemented within the biomedical community. Implants to replace damaged bone have been prepared with bone grafts from other undamaged areas of the body. The grafts are reworked to match the anatomy of the area prior to damage. This technique has often yielded costly low quality implants. Rapid prototyping has made its way into the biomedical industry, but the prototypes produced are not always predictable and still result in less than optimal implants due to the electron beam melting phase of the prototyping method. Characteristics of the implants from the rapid prototyping method were examined to uncover the reason for deviation in the resulting implant when compared to the input parameters. The size of the pores along the prototyped implant was measured to determine whether or not cell growth and cell proliferation could occur if put into the body. The prototyping process could be altered to produce the pore size on the implant surface that results in cell proliferation.
Measurement of Interfacial Strength of Engineered Tissue Constructs
The interface between the soft tissue and hard tissue in the body is the place where most injuries occur. An increase in the interfacial strength of the two tissue types would result in great medical advances. The study involved testing the effect that magnesium oxide nanoparticles had on engineered tissue constructs. Failure tests were conducted on PCL tissue with differing combinations of hydrogel, cells, and MgO nanoparticles. The failure tests revealed the tensile strength of the tissue as well as the shear strength. It was found that the addition of magnesium oxide nanoparticles decreased the interfacial tensile strength while it also increased the interfacial shear strength of the tissue construct.
Flame Synthesis of Molybdenum-Oxide Nanostructures
The synthesis of molybdenum oxides could produce structures that have the potential use in medical applications, liquid storage, material reinforcement, or in the development of microelectromechanical systems. The synthesis of the oxides must be better understood and controlled for such potential use. After synthesis, the resulting metals were measured with a scanning electron microscope to analyze physical growth, and the metals were chemically analyzed with a photoelectron spectroscope. The combination of the chemical and physical analyses could lead to information regarding what mechanisms were responsible for growth in the synthesized oxides.
Factors that Contribute to 3D Image Quality, Scan Time, and Cost of 3D Image Development When Using the FaroArm
The FaroArm is innovative technology used for dimensioning objects rather than using traditional tools for dimensional analysis. The FaroArm has a touch probe which is used for simple geometry. The laser is used for advanced geometry and was studied to determine what types of objects produced high quality scans of the physical parts. An experiment was designed and ran to test the effects that reflectivity, surface homogeneity, and object size had on the scanned image obtained by using the laser. Advances in quality control and reverse engineering can be made with the implementation of the FaroArm for quick dimensional analysis. It was revealed that surface reflectivity did not affect the scan quality.
Constrained Optimization over Wireless Sensor Networks
The goal of the study was to test an algorithm with the objective of making all sensors in a wireless network collaborate and asynchronously compute the optimal value. The algorithm was formatted in MATLAB syntax and simulated for much iteration. Convergence occurred in some instances, but the algorithm overall proved to be unsuccessful. The success rate, being percentage of convergence, was tested for different topologies. Line topology yielded the highest convergence rate while grid topology had a very low success rate.
Spin Coated Thermoplastic Polyurethane Thin Films
Thermoplastic Polyurethane can be used in areas such as coatings, sensors, fibers, and films. In particular, the films of this study are produced using a spin coater. The effect on the film’s morphology after undergoing the spin coating was studied. The factors observed were solution concentration, dispense volume, spin coater speed, and ultrasound exposure. The dependent variables analyzed were the thickness, surface smoothness, and microstructure of each sample film. The study revealed that ultrasound exposure has a positive effect on the film’s mechanical properties. Recommendations for spin coating were made following the experiment.
Large-Scale 3D Scanning with FARO Photon Scanner
The FARO Photon Scanner is a device used for precise dimensioning of large objects. The scanner can be used for dimensioning and reverse engineering of buildings and cars. The scanner can also be used for recreation of crime scenes. It is important to understand the capabilities and limitations of this innovative technology to determine the way in which the University of Oklahoma should utilize it. In this study, many objects were scanned including: humans, cars, statues, and buildings. It was found that the accuracy of the 3D models created by using the scanner was affected by the environment, material of the object, and scanning methods implemented. The findings of this study are relevant for the potential use of the scanner.
Business Case Analysis
Participants were divided into four groups for non-research projects. Going Green was a project that dealt with studying the capability of an engineering department to provide "green" consulting services. ExxonMobil Lawrence G. Rawl Engineering Practice Facility dealt with various efficiency and management aspects of the new Engineering Practice Facility opening for OU College of Engineering students in the spring of 2010. Participants in the Reverse Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Facility project provided a business case for the establishment of a reverse engineering facility at the University of Oklahoma. And the Cost Analysis of SEAM Aero, LLC project dealt with developing a business model to foster collaboration and outsourcing for large advanced manufacturing tasks.
The following are summaries of the research projects conducted during the 2009 Metrology REU, adapted from submissions by REU participants.
Characterization of Porous Titanium Structures Fabricated with Electron Beam Melting for Biomedical Applications
Rapid prototyping is widely used in the manufacturing industry and has also been implemented within the biomedical community. Implants to replace damaged bone have been prepared with bone grafts from other undamaged areas of the body. The grafts are reworked to match the anatomy of the area prior to damage. This technique has often yielded costly low quality implants. Rapid prototyping has made its way into the biomedical industry, but the prototypes produced are not always predictable and still result in less than optimal implants due to the electron beam melting phase of the prototyping method. Characteristics of the implants from the rapid prototyping method were examined to uncover the reason for deviation in the resulting implant when compared to the input parameters. The size of the pores along the prototyped implant was measured to determine whether or not cell growth and cell proliferation could occur if put into the body. The prototyping process could be altered to produce the pore size on the implant surface that results in cell proliferation.
Measurement of Interfacial Strength of Engineered Tissue Constructs
The interface between the soft tissue and hard tissue in the body is the place where most injuries occur. An increase in the interfacial strength of the two tissue types would result in great medical advances. The study involved testing the effect that magnesium oxide nanoparticles had on engineered tissue constructs. Failure tests were conducted on PCL tissue with differing combinations of hydrogel, cells, and MgO nanoparticles. The failure tests revealed the tensile strength of the tissue as well as the shear strength. It was found that the addition of magnesium oxide nanoparticles decreased the interfacial tensile strength while it also increased the interfacial shear strength of the tissue construct.
Flame Synthesis of Molybdenum-Oxide Nanostructures
The synthesis of molybdenum oxides could produce structures that have the potential use in medical applications, liquid storage, material reinforcement, or in the development of microelectromechanical systems. The synthesis of the oxides must be better understood and controlled for such potential use. After synthesis, the resulting metals were measured with a scanning electron microscope to analyze physical growth, and the metals were chemically analyzed with a photoelectron spectroscope. The combination of the chemical and physical analyses could lead to information regarding what mechanisms were responsible for growth in the synthesized oxides.
Factors that Contribute to 3D Image Quality, Scan Time, and Cost of 3D Image Development When Using the FaroArm
The FaroArm is innovative technology used for dimensioning objects rather than using traditional tools for dimensional analysis. The FaroArm has a touch probe which is used for simple geometry. The laser is used for advanced geometry and was studied to determine what types of objects produced high quality scans of the physical parts. An experiment was designed and ran to test the effects that reflectivity, surface homogeneity, and object size had on the scanned image obtained by using the laser. Advances in quality control and reverse engineering can be made with the implementation of the FaroArm for quick dimensional analysis. It was revealed that surface reflectivity did not affect the scan quality.
Constrained Optimization over Wireless Sensor Networks
The goal of the study was to test an algorithm with the objective of making all sensors in a wireless network collaborate and asynchronously compute the optimal value. The algorithm was formatted in MATLAB syntax and simulated for much iteration. Convergence occurred in some instances, but the algorithm overall proved to be unsuccessful. The success rate, being percentage of convergence, was tested for different topologies. Line topology yielded the highest convergence rate while grid topology had a very low success rate.
Spin Coated Thermoplastic Polyurethane Thin Films
Thermoplastic Polyurethane can be used in areas such as coatings, sensors, fibers, and films. In particular, the films of this study are produced using a spin coater. The effect on the film’s morphology after undergoing the spin coating was studied. The factors observed were solution concentration, dispense volume, spin coater speed, and ultrasound exposure. The dependent variables analyzed were the thickness, surface smoothness, and microstructure of each sample film. The study revealed that ultrasound exposure has a positive effect on the film’s mechanical properties. Recommendations for spin coating were made following the experiment.
Large-Scale 3D Scanning with FARO Photon Scanner
The FARO Photon Scanner is a device used for precise dimensioning of large objects. The scanner can be used for dimensioning and reverse engineering of buildings and cars. The scanner can also be used for recreation of crime scenes. It is important to understand the capabilities and limitations of this innovative technology to determine the way in which the University of Oklahoma should utilize it. In this study, many objects were scanned including: humans, cars, statues, and buildings. It was found that the accuracy of the 3D models created by using the scanner was affected by the environment, material of the object, and scanning methods implemented. The findings of this study are relevant for the potential use of the scanner.
Business Case Analysis
Participants were divided into four groups for non-research projects. Going Green was a project that dealt with studying the capability of an engineering department to provide "green" consulting services. ExxonMobil Lawrence G. Rawl Engineering Practice Facility dealt with various efficiency and management aspects of the new Engineering Practice Facility opening for OU College of Engineering students in the spring of 2010. Participants in the Reverse Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Facility project provided a business case for the establishment of a reverse engineering facility at the University of Oklahoma. And the Cost Analysis of SEAM Aero, LLC project dealt with developing a business model to foster collaboration and outsourcing for large advanced manufacturing tasks.
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