The Effects of Composition, Curing and Rebar Placement on the Flexural Strength of Engineered Concrete

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Andrea De Leon Engineering Judah Crawford Engineering Cris Gamez Engineering Elijah Klein Engineering
Advisor(s): Jim Huffman Engineering
Location: Third Floor, Table 9, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

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.

Phase Light Modulation: Encryption and Light-Based Information Transmission

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Andrea De Leon Engineering Devin Olmedo Engineering
Advisor(s): Sue Gong Engineering
Location: FirstFloor, Table 3, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

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.

Pipe Freeze Showdown: Which Plumbing Material Wins the Winter War?

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Ryan Golden Engineering Alec Hubbard Engineering Angel Mota Engineering Devin Olmedo Engineering
Advisor(s): James Huffman Engineering
Location: SecondFloor, Table 2, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Winter can turn plumbing into a battlefield, with frozen pipes bursting and their joints failing under pressure. In this study, 18 teams of student researchers will face off in a school lab to test three common plumbing materials, copper, PVC, and PEX studying their joining techniques; soldering, solvent welding, and crimping against freezing conditions.
Over two weeks, we will subject a series of pipe assemblies into brutal freeze to thaw cycles, mimicking harsh winter weather, to see which ones crack, leak, or stand strong. By analyzing failure rates and durability, we aim to uncover the ultimate cold weather champion and share practical insights for homeowners and plumbers. Get ready our pipes are about to feel the chill!

Senior Capstone: Bearing Installation Assembly

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Addison Hudelson Engineering Jason Murphy Engineering Cameron Vieck Engineering
Advisor(s): Robbert Bittle Engineering
Location: Third Floor, Table 2, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

This design proposal outlines the development of a bearing installation and proof-load testing tool intended to streamline and enhance the bearing installation process for Aero Components. The project focuses on creating an efficient and innovative solution using hydraulic press technology, with particular attention to the requirements of staking and swaging methods for securing bearings. The proposed design utilizes the HSP-30M Baileigh Hydraulic Press, which will be customized to meet specific operational needs, such as accommodating bearing diameters up to 3 inches and applying precise deformation forces. Key features include the development of a versatile attachment system, safety enhancements, and a digital feedback mechanism to monitor and control the hydraulic pressure during both installation and testing phases. The project aims to meet performance criteria, including visual inspection standards and proof-load testing requirements, ensuring the tool’s effectiveness and repeatability. Through a comprehensive testing regimen, the system’s reliability will be validated, with results documented to confirm the tool’s ability to perform under operation conditions. The proposal also includes a detailed project timeline, budget projections, and cost-management strategies, ensuring the project will be completed on time and within budget. The ultimate goal is to provide Aero Components with a tailored solution that optimizes bearing installation efficiency while maintaining high standards of safety, precision, and performance.

Sustainable Bricks for a Better Tomorrow

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Zac Schmitt Engineering London Bachelet Engineering
Advisor(s): James Huffman Engineering
Location: FirstFloor, Table 5, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

The growing environmental concern surrounding plastic waste has prompted the exploration of innovative recycling and reusing methods. This research investigates the potential of utilizing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste to create sustainable bricks. Building on the work of Gjenge Makers, who have developed pavers from recycled plastic and sand, this study aims to evaluate the strength, durability, and environmental impact of plastic-sand composites and assess their viability as a substitute for conventional construction materials.

Structural Integrity of Reinforced Concrete

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Zac Schmitt Engineering
Advisor(s): James Huffman Engineering
Location: SecondFloor, Table 1, Position 3, 1:45-3:45

This study evaluates the structural integrity of reinforced concrete by comparing the mechanical properties of steel and fiberglass rebar. The primary objective is to assess the differences in material performance, performing compressive and flexural tests to quantify the ductility, load-bearing capacity, and durability of each rebar type under stress. The expected outcome is to determine the viability of fiberglass rebar as an effective alternative to traditional steel, particularly in terms of its mechanical performance and long-term reliability.

Seeing Double: A Bifurcated Cable’s Guide to Fluorescence Detection

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Anna Tucci Engineering Ugur Topkiran Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Anton Naumov Physics & Astronomy
Location: Third Floor, Table 4, Position 3, 1:45-3:45

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have emerged as a promising platform for drug delivery and bioimaging due to their nanoscale size, water solubility, biocompatibility, and fluorescence properties. When functionalized, they enable both therapeutic delivery and real-time tracking in biological systems. This study focuses on the engineering of an optical system designed to cost effectively perform ex vivo spectra collection of GQDs. We utilized a bifurcated fiber optic cable connected to a laser and spectrometer, enabling simultaneous excitation and signal collection through a single optical path. Because excitation and collection occurred at the same angle rather than the conventional 90-degree configuration, a high optical density 840 nm long pass emission filter is utilized to optimize signal collection and minimize scattering. The system's cheap and easy to build design offers a streamlined method for studying nanomaterial-based therapeutics, providing a foundation for future advancements in biomedical imaging.

The Art of Grain Structure: Recognizing Shapes and Patterns in Materials

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Abigail Venegas Engineering Kevin Guajardo Engineering Monica Lopez Engineering Damilare Olukosi Engineering
Advisor(s): Jim Huffman Engineering
Location: SecondFloor, Table 7, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

This study aims to educate participants about the formation and significance of grain structures in metals, focusing on the processes by which grains form and how these structures influence material properties. Using 1018 steel (low-carbon), 1045 steel (medium-carbon), 1080 steel (medium-carbon), ductile and grey cast iron, and PbSn (lead-tin) samples, 18 teams explored the random formation of grain structures through a series of preparatory steps, including mounting, grinding, polishing, etching, and hardness testing. Each team examined their samples at four magnifications to identify microstructural features and measure grain size using two different methods. In addition to the technical analysis, the teams focused on uncovering the artistic patterns that emerge from the randomness of grain formation. The study will highlight the art found in these naturally occurring structures, demonstrating how materials science and art intersect. By the end, participants gain an understanding of grain theory and microstructural analysis while also developing an appreciation for the unexpected artistic forms created by these random processes in materials like steel, cast iron, and lead-tin alloys.

Assessing the Impact of Land Use Change on Water Quality in Lake Worth, Texas

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Portia Asare Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Environmental Sciences Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: SecondFloor, Table 7, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

Rapid urbanization in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area is increasing pressure on water resources, including Lake Worth. This project will investigate the relationship between land use, land cover change, and water quality degradation in Lake Worth, a reservoir facing increasing development pressure near Fort Worth. The project will use historical land data to quantify land use/land cover change (LULC) within the watershed between 2000 and 2023. This land use data will be integrated with the publicly available water quality data (nutrients, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity) from the Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program and locations of permitted industrial discharge points from the Texas Commission on Water Quality. GIS techniques, including spatial joins, buffer analysis, and statistical modeling (regression, hotspot analysis), will be used to analyze the correlation between LULC and water quality parameters and identify pollution hotspots. The expected outcomes include detailed land use maps, a geodatabase of water quality and discharge points, statistical models quantifying the land use-water quality relationship, and identifying areas requiring management intervention. The study's findings will inform land use planning, water resource management, and sustainable urban development practices in the region while acknowledging limitations related to data availability, spatial resolution, causality, and model generalizability.

The Effect of Urban Development-Driven Tree Removals on Land Surface Temperature in a Growing City

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Hannah Buckhalter Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Brendan Lavy Environmental Sciences