Department: Mechanical Engineering - Engineering Mechanics
Advisor: Mahesh Gupta

Team Members: Martin Kamensky, Daniel Mayo, Christopher McNalley, Timothy Reevs, Jillian Rothe, Adam Thielsen

Project Title: Casting Optimization
Sponsor: Kurdziel Industries

Project Summary: Kurdziel Industries is experiencing non-optimal flow rates in their grey and ductile iron processes due to slower cooling rates for a number of their parts including: counterweights, machine bases and other large support structures. Castings in this facility are comprised of a number of geometries that range in weights from 1,000 to 30,000 pounds. For the larger parts, cooling times can easily approach 72 hours. These extended cooling times have become an issue as there is limited floor space available for these castings to sit and cool. Kurdziel Industries would like to optimize three castings ranging from 10,000 to 12,000 lbs.

The objective of this project is to increase the cooling rate while maintaining acceptable material properties and microstructure. This should also be done at the lowest possible costs to capital, equipment, and manpower. Our idea is to draw heat out of the mold system by incorporating cooling lines into the flask. A coolant would be circulated through the lines to absorb heat from the mold. Accomplishing this requires a one- time equipment investment and an employee to operate the equipment.

Department: Mechanical Engineering - Engineering Mechanics
Advisor: Chuck Van Karsen

Team Members: Kevin Christian, Derek Fultz, Joseph Hernandez, Jessica Strickland

Project Title: HVAC Noise Control Test Stand
Sponsor Caterpillar

Project Summary: The noise heard by the operator inside the cabs of Caterpillar’s industrial machinery is a dominating factor in the marketing and operation of such products. To decrease noise levels within their line of operator cabs, a test apparatus that is adaptable for the various shaped and sized ducts is needed to understand the noise reduction capabilities of the various Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. This apparatus will measure the amount of insertion loss of a duct by directing planar sound waves through a reference duct and then measuring the amount of sound power reduced by a substitution duct.

Department: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Michael Neuman

Team Members: Sarah Magee, Levi Hinkelman, Jacob Betzold
Project Title: Hospital Bed-Angle Measurement Device
Sponsor: Marquette General Health Systems

Project Summary: To enhance patient care, Marquette General Health Systems commissioned Michigan Tech to develop a device that monitors the angular position of hospital bed heads in the ICU. Current research shows that the best way to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia is to place the patient in a semi-recumbent position with the bed head at an incline above thirty degrees. This device allows for accurate and reliable documentation of bed angle 24 hours a day, without wasting valuable staff time. It works as a quality control measure ensuring patients receive optimal care by decreasing length of stay and incidences of ventilator associated

Department: Biomedical Engineering
Advisor: Daniel Clupper

Team Members: Eric Minner, Stacie Wieszczyk, Danielle Miller, Lindsay Worden

Project Title: Creation and Characterization of an Antimicrobial Bone Cement
Sponsor: Dr Clupper, BME Department

Project Summary: This is a Biomedical Senior Design Project concerning the creation and characterization of a hydroxyapatite bone cement with antibacterial properties. The final formula, found to optimize desired properties, is a combination of dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, and tetracalcium phosphate. Antibacterial properties are a relatively unexplored facet for such cement, but ultimately a beneficial one, so as to prevent post-surgical infections. Gentamicin was the antibiotic used in the cement, being that it is documented to be effective against Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus bacteria. The cement’s efficacy was confirmed by testing the characteristics of strength, setting time, and porosity against

Department: Biomedical Engineering
Student Researcher: Danielle Miller

Project Title: The effects of annual periods of disuse on porous cavity densities in black bear femurs

Advisors: Seth Donahue, Biomedical Engineering


Abstract: Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by decreased bone density and increased porosity, causing reduced bone strength and increased fracture risk. In addition to the well-known age-induced condition, osteoporosis can occur as a result of reduced mechanical stresses on bone (i.e., disuse). Black bears experience disuse (hibernation) for approximately 6 months out of the year each year, but they do not suffer the adverse effects of skeletal unloading on bone mechanical properties.

The mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still unknown, yet it is likely that bears have a unique biological process that helps them maintain balanced bone remodeling during hibernation. By analyzing the porosity of black bear femurs, this study attempted to offer insight into the phenomenon of maintained bone strength in black bears despite annual hibernation. Since black bears maintain formation during hibernation and have elevated bone formation post hibernation it was hypothesized that porosity would not change with age despite annual periods of disuse with limited recovery time.

The femurs analyzed were obtained from 27 hunter-killed bears ranging in age from 2 to 20 years. Slides were prepared from the midshaft of the bone and were analyzed using semi-automated image analysis software. Porosity was defined as total porous area divided by the total cortical area (%). Total porosity did not significantly change with age in males or females. Interestingly, the males had a significantly higher porosity than females even though female bears give birth and nurse cubs every other year; this is contrary to what is seen in humans and other animals. Therefore, this study provides further evidence that black bears have a unique ability to resist the effects of disuse osteoporosis, such as increased porosity, and thus can prevent increased fracture risk.

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Consumer Product Manufacturing

Advisors: Tony Rogers, Chemical Engineering
Sean Clancey, Chemical Engineering

Project title: Consumer Product Manufacturing's Small Scale Canning Machine Design

Sponsor: Kimberly-Clark Foundation,Keweenaw Brewing Comapany

Project Summary: The project's goal is to design and build a prototype machine suitable for general beverage canning. To be useful to smaller-scale companies, the design should be simple, use common utilty connections, be easy to operate with minimal canning line faults.

Blue Marble Security

Advisors: Glen Archer Electrical & Computer Engineering

Project title: Blue Marble Security
Sponsor: Bechtel, Everett Industries, General Dynamics, Michigan Department of
Transportation, MTU Department of Electrical-Computer Engineering, Superior Controls

Project Summary: Blue Marble Security is a group of undergraduate students who have formed a virtual company focused on securing the future through thoughtful use of technology. Our student-led company combines a rich educational experience in engineering design, team building, project management, and original product development. We are working to develop security solutions for private homes, local governments to protect their communities, industries to protect their workers and their infrastructure, and international markets. Additionally, we hope to foster an international community to create curricula, Enterprise-based student organizations, and consortiums to knit together the brightest people around the world

Aqua Terra Tech

Advisors: John Gierke Geological Engineering

Project title: Aqua Terra Tech: Earth and Hydro-Science Outreach and Water Resource Protection in Developing Countries

Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency / Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Project Summary: Aqua Terra Tech has developed the Earth and Hydro-Science Outreach (EH-SO) program to help with the conception of pre-college enterprise programs at high schools with under-represented groups in science and engineering. The program also aims to spark the students' imaginations into the possibilities that a career in the sciences, more specifically engineering, may hold for them. EH-SO is collaborating with Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan to teach the students about rain gardens for storm-water treatment and help enable them to build one of their own. Aqua Terra Tech's work in Boaco, Nicaragua is being completed with the aim to find a reliable groundwater source for a city of 34,000 people who currently have running water about 3 days a week for limited hours. In addition, ATT plans to re-design the city's distribution and drinking water treatment systems in hopes of providing the people of Boaco with safe drinking water.

Wireless Communication Enterprise

Advisors: Kit Cischke, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Project title: Wireless Communication Enterprise
Sponsor: Rockwell Collins, John Deere, Alwin, Samsung, Cellular One and Guidant

Project Summary: Wireless Communication Enterprise is composed of nearly 70 members working on research and development projects for well known companies such as Rockwell-Collins, Guidant, John Deere and Samsung. This year we are working on 10 different projects ranging from voice controlled robotics and motor diagnostic systems to an autonomous air vehicle for mine detection and a system to detect and analyze enivronmental pollution. WCE students and management are focused to enhance themselves professionally and educationally preparing themselves

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Example of a Senior Design Team Presentation to judges

Prizes:

Undergraduate Research
Sponsored by the Department of Educational Opportunity
Based on Abstract, Poster and Presentation

• 1st $100.00
• 2nd $75.00
• 3rd $50.00

Senior Design Project
Sponsored by the College of Engineering
Based on Poster

• 1st $150.00
• 2nd $100.00
• 3rd $75.00
• Honorable Mention $50.00
• Honorable Mention $50.00
• Honorable Mention $50.00

Enterprise
Sponsored by the College of Engineering
Based on Poster and Presentation

• 1st $300.00
• 2nd $150.00
• 3rd $100.00