As global energy demand evolves, maintaining power quality has become a critical challenge in modern electrical systems. This research project examines key factors influencing power quality, focusing on maintaining a stable voltage magnitude and frequency across the grid. To achieve this, we explore techniques such as power factor correction and its role in improving energy efficiency and reducing costs. With the increasing integration of electric vehicles, data centers, and other high-power loads, new challenges arise in grid stability and demand management. Additionally, we investigate system overloading and transmission line considerations, addressing the risks of rising power demand and strategies for mitigating losses. Through this comprehensive study, we highlight the importance of power quality in ensuring the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of modern electrical infrastructures.

This project focuses on automating and standardizing the crowning process of a 15-foot Farnham roll form machine, used to shape aluminum parts, including fuselage and wing skins. The current crowning adjustment compensates for force imbalances caused by screws positioned at the machine’s ends and requires extensive manual shimming for optimal contact along 18 adjustable brackets. This process is detrimental to the manufacturing flow, as the time it takes to adjust the Farnham Press for different types of sheet metal or bends is long enough to significantly slow down production. To streamline this process, the project’s objectives are to design a method to measure bracket-to-material contact accurately, create an adjustable bracket system without the need for shims, and provide operators with real-time measurement feedback to optimize crowning adjustments efficiently. This will be achieved by redesigning the brackets with integrated sensors to accurately read the changing force along the beam.

Progress to date includes multiple bracket designs developed by the mechanical team, featuring adjustable mechanisms such as vertical screws, wedges, and easily insertable shims for depth control. Concurrently, the electrical team has conducted extensive research into sensor options and collaborated with sensor companies to identify suitable measurement solutions. Efforts are also underway to establish a data display interface that can provide real-time readouts from all 18 sensors, enabling operators to make informed adjustments during operation. Future work aims to explore a CNC-style interface for full control automation, which would allow streamlined adjustments for different part profiles and material thicknesses. This approach is expected to significantly reduce setup time and improve consistency in part quality.

An analysis of the sound-producing characteristics of a tenor trombone has been initiated at TCU. Focus of the effort will be on the model Conn 44H "Vocabell" tenor trombone due to its unique rimless bell. A numerical model of the instrument using Autodesk Inventor has been created. The model was imported into NASTRAN for further structural and acoustic analyses.

Key areas of focus include understanding the interaction between the instrument's structural vibrations and the sound radiated from the bell. The "Vocabell" design, known for its unique construction and acoustic qualities, will be critically examined to assess how its geometry and material properties influence sound production and associated frequency spectrum. Radiated sound and structural vibration measurements have been conducted on the physical instrument, providing data for model correlation and validation. Once validated, the numerical model will be used to explore more advanced concepts of brass instrument design.

The engineered concrete slab is a fundamental structure in construction with its mechanical properties influenced by the rebar placement, curing process, and the ratios of its primary components aggregate, cement, and sand. This study investigates how variations in rebar placement, concrete composition and curing methods effect the flexural strength of the sample. In ENGR 30014, 18 engineering teams produced their best sample of concrete with different ratios, rebar patterns, and different types of curing. The results provide insights into optimizing the concrete ratios, rebar placement, and methods for curing and their effect on flexural strength.

The goal of this research was to enable information transmission through light using a Phase Light Modulation (PLM) module to decode and display encrypted information. We conducted a literature review and set up an evaluation module capable of sending encrypted messages and transmitting data without the need for optical cables. Our setup includes a laser light source, a beam expander, a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) controlled by an electronic control board, and a laptop running the software GUI provided by Texas Instruments. We conducted various experiments with these components to optimize the design and explore potential applications. Our findings highlight the potential of this technology for future data transmission and optical devices.