Corrosion Resistance of Structural Steels
A new study on the cost and preventive strategies mandate by the US Congress estimated the total direct cost of metal corrosion in 26 industrial sectors to be $276 billion per year (Koch et al. 2002). Of that amount, highway bridges made of steel and concrete account for $3.79 billion per year. This includes: (1) cost to replace structurally deficient bridges; and (2) corrosion associated life cycle cost for remaining (non deficient) bridges, including the cost of construction, routine maintenance, patching, and rehabilitation. Life cycle analysis estimates indirect costs to the user due to traffic delays and lost productivity at more than 10 times the direct cost of corrosion (Koch et al. 2002, pp. 24 and D29).
The main objective of this research is to provide engineers with data on thickness loss of structural steel members resulting from corrosion. To this end, the student will collect atmospheric exposure data from research reports and journal papers and present them in graphs of thickness loss versus exposure time in a way that demonstrates the effects of environment and steel types. The environments include rural, industrial, and marine, becoming increasingly severe in that order. The steels under consideration are A242, A588, copper, and carbon steels, with their corrosion resistance decreasing in that order. Comparisons of the data with the medium corrosivity bands for weathering and carbon steels (ISO Standard 9224) will help to determine the severity of environments and the corrosion resistance of steel compositions.
Required: Ability to learn the use of SigmaPlot, which is the best graphing program available.
Mikhail Anisimov
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
2115 IPST
301-405-8049 / anisimov@umd.edu
Evaluation and prediction of thermodynamic and transport properties of fluids and fluid mixtures in the critical region.
Nonparticles size measurements by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy.
Recommended: PC skills.
Bilal M. Ayyub William L. McGill Research Project: Development and Implementation of an Open Source Data Collection Strategy for Homeland Security Risk Analysis
One of the biggest challenges with conducting risk analysis of critical infrastructures in the United States is collecting useful information to estimate risk. Fortunately, a lof the data needed is available via publicly-available (i.e., open) sources such as the Internet; however, much of this information is usually scattered across various websites, and may be of questionable reliability.
The objective of this research is to develop and implement a structured methodology for collecting and aggregating open-source information from the Internet to assess risks to critical infrastructure.
Required: Expert ability to navigate the Internet; familiarity with search engines and data mining tools a plus. Ability to skillfully use Microsoft Excel; ability to use MS Access is also a plus.
Recommended: Knowlegde of probability and statistics. Also, an interest in risk analysis and homeland security is also recommended. Bilal M. Ayyub William L. McGill Assessing the Performance of Countermeasures for Security Reliability Analysis and Homeland Security Risk Analysis This project seeks to identify and evaluate different types of countermeasures that are available for increasing the reliability and effectiveness of physical security systems. The goal is to identify the appropriate performance metrics for different countermeasure types, and integrate these into a model for security reliability assessment. The student successfully completing this research project will gain familiarity of risk and vulnerability analysis for homeland security and methods for providing security at critical assets. A detailed work plan will be negotiated between the student researcher and mentor within the first week of participation focused on achieving the above objectives. Required: Willingness to learn about security and risk as it applies to protecting critical infrastructure; commitment to at least 6 hours per week of research; ability to use MS Excel, MS Access, or equivalent Recommended: Completion or current enrollment in a probability and statistics or reliability engineering course at the University of Maryland; major in civil or mechanical engineering Rajeev Barua Research in compiler techniques for embedded and desktop computer systems,
and in low power technologies.
Required: ENEE 244 and junior level course in computer architecture. Shuvra S. Bhattacharyya Computer-aided design tools for embedded systems, with emphasis on optimized
software synthesis, domain-specific programming models and associated compiler
techniques, and hardware/software co-design.
Required: ENEE 114 ("Programming concepts for engineers") or equivalent.
Recommended: Courses in data structures, algorithms, compilers, digital
signal processing, and HDL-based design are helpful.
Research in the polymer estrusion lab and electronic packaging, including
practical experimental procedures, working with fluids in real application,
and analyzing experimental results. Students have a choice of projects.
Recommended: Interest in fluid dynamics and experimental procedures;
a strong desire to further and learn from research. Richard V. Calabrese Stirred tanks and high
shear mixers are commonly employed in the manufacture of high value added products
in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. There are several ways to characterize
the processing conditions in these devices, including power requirements and
detailed velocity field information. These can be measured using modern instrumentation
or predicted from computational fluid dynamics simulations. Projects include
measurement and/or correlation of data for power draw and emulsion drop size,
and the use of modern graphics techniques to display large quantities of time
evolving flow field data as graphs, animations and videos. Required: Junior
standing in Chemical Engineering or satisfactory completion of a first course
in Fluid Mechanics or Transport Phenomena. Some familiarity with computers. Recommended: Interest
in experimental or hands-on work, and/or in computer data analysis and manipulation. Michael Coplan Three projects:
1. Data analysis of results
from solar wind satellite measurements.
2. Testing and calibration
of prototype space instruments. 3. Investigations of high
count rate, high efficiency thermal neutron detectors. Required: Physics/engineering/electronics/chemistry laboratory experience.
Familiarity with computer analysis and graphing applications, e.g., Excel.
Recommended: Practical experience with electronics, mechanical devices.
Energy, combustion and environmental pollution research.
Required: Experimental, laboratory and computer skills; discipline. Ashwani K. Gupta Laboratory assistant for research in combustion and air pollution, efficient
engines and efficient use of fossil fuels.
Required: Knowledge of computer use. Some laboratory experience useful,
but not necessary.
Recommended: Inclination to work in a laboratory environment and to
have "can do it" outlook. Henry Haslach Study of thermodynamics of solid structures. Mathematical analysis and modeling
of time-dependent behavior.
Required: Understanding of stress and strain, calculus and differential
equations skills, interest in analyzing published experiments. Jeffrey W. Herrmann Improving Mass Vaccination Clinic Operations
The objective of this research project is to create models of mass dispensing
and vaccination clinics and to develop decision support tools to help emergency
preparedness planners plan clinics that have enough capacity to serve residents
quickly while avoiding unnecessary congestion.
Required: experience using spreadsheets and computer programming.
Mechanics of aneurysm rupture in blood vessels
n aneurysm is defined as "a bulge in a blood vessel, much like a bulge on
an over-inflated inner tube. Aneurysms are dangerous because they may burst."
(American Heart Association). These bulges occur due to chronic changes in composition
and architecture of the structural matrix in vessels. The main thrust of this
project is to elucidate the physical mechanisms that underlie aneurysm rupture
(catastrophic failure of the matrix). The student will (1) gain expertise in
practical issues with mechanical testing of biological soft tissues, (2) learn
techniques in biology, biochemistry, and pathology, and (3) be exposed to a
cross-disciplinary laboratory environment.
Required: Good oral and written communication skills. Completion of
sophomore level engineering courses. Motivation and perseverance to learn and
apply knowledge.
Recommended: Experience in performing mechanical testing procedures. Boiling heat transfer in earth & microgravity, spray and droplet cooling.
Required: Instrumentation, programming, light machine shop; design
& fabrication
Need pople who are self-starters, who have common sense
and who take initiative on their own. Peter Kofinas Nanostructgured Polymers for Recognition of Proteins and Viruses The targeted assembly of proteins is an essential aspect of life. Within a cell, macromolecular protein assembly is often directed through the compartmentalization of individual proteins into specific organelles or membranes. Compartmentalization provides a method for concentrating and therefore enhancing the assembly of functional macromolecular structures, such as the multi-component light harvesting structures found in chloroplasts or the transcriptional complexes located in the nucleus. In almost all cases, specific classes of signal peptides direct the targeted compartmentalization of proteins to different organelles within a cell. Each class of signal peptide interacts with an organelle specific protein to facilitate its import and/or retention. In some cases these signal peptides are enzymatically removed from the mature protein while in other cases, such as nuclear targeting, the signal peptide remains attached. The use of signal peptides for targeting the localization of a protein represents a relatively simple biological solution to the problem of organizing and assembling macromolecular complexes. Using this process as a model we propose to investigate the use of engineered signal peptides for the compartmentalization of proteins within molecularly imprinted polymer hydrogels. The Spanish flu of 1918-1919 was the most destructive human pandemic, causing more than 20 million fatalities worldwide, 500,000 being in the United States alone. The emergence of a novel pandemic strain in the human population is now of considerable concern worldwide, especially in light of the recent detection of avian H5N1 in humans. Generation of viral surface protein specific molecular imprints could significantly enhance research strategies for influenza diagnostics, vaccine development and interdiction of cell specific compartmentalization via engineered posttranslational ER, Golgi mediated processing, e.g., glycosylation. Current influenza vaccine approaches are problematic, due to stringent manufacturing requirements and low yields in addition to therapeutic response of individual vaccines. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers specific for influenza viral surface proteins acting in similar fashion as neutralizing antibodies may provide a viable alternative. Equally important, molecular imprints may be very useful in diagnostically detecting the potential emergence of variants that are antigenically indistinguishable using currently available immunoreagents. Required: Chemistry and molecular biology lab techniques Recommended: Bioengineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering majors preferred Self-Assembled Polymer Electrolyte Nanoarchitectures for Flexible Batteries Peter Kofinas Flexible Nanocomposites for Radio Frequency Applications Howard Milchberg General experimental programs in intense laser-matter interaction; data collection,
electronics, numerical simulation, optics, small experimental and theoretical
projects.
Required: Electrical engineering or physics undergraduate preferred,
with GPA of at least 3.5.
James A. Milke Analysis of data from experiments in large spaces to develop correlations
describing smoke layer properties. Such is needed in engineering analyses for
designs of smoke management systems in covered malls, indoor arenas and atria.
Application of computer models to analyze smoke production and speed.
Required: Ability to analyze experimental data via Excel, conduct regression
analysis. Application of computer model (already developed).
Recommended: ENFP major James A. Milke Analysis of experimental data involving smoke detectors to better understand
the response of smoke detectors in actual fires. Such an understanding is important
toward the development of models to predict the performance of smoke detectors.
Application of computer models may be included to simulate the fire environments
associated with the experiments.
Required: Ability to apply Excel to conduct a regression analysis of
the data. Application of an existing computer model.
Recommended: Enginnering major Application of existing
heat transfer computer model to assess the fire resistance of structural members.
Of particular interest is the development of design guides that describe the
impact of missing insulating materials and the attachment of other building
components to structural members. Required: Ability
to apply an existing heat transfer computer model following a briefing on the
use of the model. Recommended:
Engineering major VLSI layout of ear-type structures.
Spice simulations for Roa's neuron.
Design of braid group transfer scattering systems.
Other topics are available depending on student interest.
Required: Undergraduate electronics.
Recommended: Willingness to learn MAGIC layout tools. Robert Newcomb VLSI Layout of Cells for Roa's Neuron
To make a VLSI layout of some channel portions of the neuron of Professor
Laura Roa. The student will work along with one of Professor Newcomb's graduate
students, who is making a VLSI chip of the neuron. In this, he/she will work
on one of the channels and do a computer aided layout of it. As part of this
research, he/she will read Professor Roa's papers, run the Matlab simulink simulations,
run Spice for the transistorized channel of Ms. Xinhua He, and do a MAGIC layout
for the channel from which a Spice extraction will be made to check the results.
Required: Suitable background in electronic circuits and use of Matlab
and PSpice Gottlieb Oehrlein Plasma Processing of Nanostructures and Nanomaterials
Plasmas are known as the fourth state of matter. Plasmas occur naturally in
the form of flames, lightning, astronomical nebulae and interstellar matter
like our sun, but man-made plasmas have recently become indispensable for advanced
materials processing in many high-tech industries. The microelectronics industry
employs plasma-based etching tools to produce the billions of microscopic features
in thin films with precisely controlled dimensions that are required in computer
chips, and also uses plasmas to synthesize insulators, conductors, diamond thin
films, solar cells, and high-temperature superconductors. Plasmas are also used
to harden the surfaces of cutting tools and to modify surfaces of plastics so
paint will stick to them.
Plasmas are produced by adding energy to a gas. For instance, strong electric
fields may be used to accelerate free electrons in a gas. The energetic electrons
collide with the gas atoms and molecules, and produce an electrified gas consisting
of many different types of ions, and energetic neutral atoms/molecules that
are highly reactive. The production of such reactive species at temperatures
close to room temperature has opened up a wide spectrum of new possibilities
for the formation and manipulation of materials that was previously inaccessible.
Even the simplest plasma processing tool is very complex. The student will
participate in research performed in the Laboratory for Plasma Processing of
Materials on the characterization and understanding of the processes at the
plasma-material interface that control the properties of the material that is
ultimately produced. This reserach requires a variety of equipment, including
reactors which can produce the plasmas, instruments that characterize the plasma
gas phase, the electrical, optical and mass aspects, and finally the plasma-treated
materials. One focus of the work in our laboratory is plasma processing of nanostructures
and nanomaterials, and the student will be introduced to the unique aspects
of this.
Required: A keen interest in learning new things, and an interest to
challenge yourself to do new and exciting things, and some background in science
and engineering. Reinhard Radermacher "Alternative Cooling Technologies", "Cooling, Heating, and Power Systems",
and "Simulations and Optimization"
This project seeks to find responsible future refrigerants through experimental
and analytical investigations. Especially CO2, R-134a, flammable refrigerent
systems will be designed and tested.
In additional projects, students work on integrated cooling, heating, and
power projects and on developing computer code to optimize such systems.
Required: Basic thermodynamics
Recommended:Hardware design (CAD); laboratory skills (operation of
chamber, running tests); computer software (MS Office-Word, Excel, Power Point)
to analyze data; C++, VB to develop code. Srinivasa
R. Raghavan Phase Behavior of Complex Fluids
The phase behavior, microstructure and rheology of anionic surfactant solutions
will be investigated in this project.
Required: Sophomore or Junior in Chemical Engineering
Charles W. Schwartz Overall research interests are on problems of deteriorating civil infrastructure
(roads, bridges,pipelines, etc.) and methods for improving their maintenance
and management. Current research opportunities are in areas of mechanics-based
design and performance modeling (e.g., predictions of cracking and permanent
deformations) for highway pavements. Return to URAP Directory
Civil and Environmental Engineering
0305 Glenn L. Martin Hall
301-405-1956 / ba@umd.edu
Civil and Environmental Engineering
1173 Glenn L. Martin Hall
301-405-7768 / wmcgill@umd.edu
Civil and Environmental Engineering
0305 Glenn L. Martin Hall
301-405-1956 / ba@umd.edu
Civil and Environmental Engineering
1173 Glenn L. Martin Hall
301-405-7768 / wmcgill@umd.edu
Electrical and Computer Engineering
1431 A.V. Williams Building
301-405-8137 / barua@umd.edu
Electrical and Computer Engineering
2311 AV Williams
301-405-3638 / ssb@umd.edu
David Bigio
Mechanical Engineering
2151Martin Hall
301-405-5258 / dbigio@umd.edu
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
1208C Chemical & Nuclear Engineering Building
301-405-1908 / rvc@umd.edu
Please contact
Prof. Calabrese for further information
Institute for Physical Science and Technology (IPST)
3215 Computer and Space Sciences Bldg.
301-405-4858 / coplan@umd.edu / fax: 301-314-9363
A.K. Gupta
Mechanical Engineering
2159 Martin Hall
301-405-5276 / akgupta@umd.edu
Mechanical Engineering
2159 Martin Hall
301-405-5276 / akgupta@umd.edu
Mechanical Engineering
2149 Martin Hall
301-405-8865 / haslach@umd.edu
Mechanical Engineering
0151B Martin Hall
301-405-5433 / jwh2@eng.umd.edu
Adam Hsieh & Henry
Haslach
Bioengineering & Mechanical Engineering
3242 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building
301-405-7397 / hsieh@umd.edu
Jungho Kim
Mechanical Engineering
2149 Martin Hall
301-405-5437 / kimjh@eng.umd.edu / fax:
301-314-9477
Bioengineering
1120 Jeong H Kim Building
301-405-7335 / kofinas@umd.edu
Peter Kofinas
Bioengineering
1120 Jeong H Kim Building
301-405-7335 / kofinas@umd.edu
In recent years, the interest in polymeric batteries has increased dramatically. With the advent of lithium batteries used in cell phones
and laptop computers, the search for an all solid state battery has
continued. Current configurations have a liquid or gel electrolyte along
with a separator between the anode and cathode. This leads to problems
with electrolyte loss and decreased performance over time. The highly
reactive nature of these electrolytes necessitate the use of protective
enclosures which add to the size and bulk of the battery. Polymer
electrolytes are more compliant than conventional inorganic glass or
ceramic electrolytes. The goal of the proposed research is to investigate
novel nanoscale polymer electrolyte flexible tin films based on the
self-assembly of block copolymers.
Block copolymers will be synthesized. Casting of the synthesized polymer from a solvent results in a self-assembled flexible nanocomposite structure, with high ionic
conductivity and high lithium ion transference. A variety of microstructure, thermal and electrical properties characterization tools will be employed to evaluate the self-assembled nanostructured polymeric electrolyte's performance. The microstructure of flexible thin and bulk polymer films will be characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Study into the thermal behavior of the electrolyte will be carried out using differential scanning calorimetry to characterize its response to
variations in operating temperature. Complex impedance spectroscopy will
be performed to assess ion transmission and cyclic voltammetry to address
the battery performance.
The ease of processing a polymer electrolyte using alternative non-solvent techniques would allow for the mass production of thin film nanoscale self-assembled flexible batteries that could be wound into coils or processed as coatings and sheets. A solid polymer electrolyte based on the nanoscale self-assembly of block copolymers will
provide for devices with integrated electronics and yet be distributed over a large area substrate as freestanding flexible films or coatings. The active circuit components would be directly integrated on the flexible substrate. The substitution of current corrosive electrolytes would greatly augment the safety aspects of the battery and would outmode the need for bulky protective casings. Such a light weight, shape versatile polymer electrolyte based battery system could find wide spread
application as energy sources in miniature medical devices.
Required: Chemistry, Materials Science or Chemical Engineering Majors
Bioengineering
1120 Jeong H Kim Building
301-405-7335 / kofinas@umd.edu
The goal of this research is to develop polymeric magnetic nanocomposites with high permitivities and permeabilities for use in radio frequency (RF) applications. The nanocomposites will be based on the self-assembly of block copolymers.
The block copolymer microphase separation can be effectively used as a template to confine nanoparticles of inorganic materials within one of the
nanodomains. The self-assembled nature of the domain structure in block copolymers allows control over the shape and size and dispersion of 10 - 500 Angstrom nanoparticles. A variety of mixed metal oxides of high dielectric constant and high magnetic susceptibility will be templated within different block copolymer structures. Microstructure and electrical properties characterization tools will
be employed to evaluate the flexible RF nanocomposite system's morphology and magnetic properties. The ease of processing a polymer would allow the production of thin film nanoscale self-assembled RF devices such as antennas and radomes that could be wound into coils or processed as coatings and sheets.
Required: Chemistry Laboratory skills
Recommended: Chemistry, Materials Science or Chemical Engineering Majors
Insitute for Physical Science & Technology
2122 IPST Building
301-405-4816 / milch@umd.edu
Fire Protection Engineering
0151 Martin Hall
301-405-3995 / milke@umd.edu
Fire Protection Engineering
0151 Martin Hall
301-405-3995 / milke@umd.edu
James A. Milke
Fire Protection Engineering
0151 Martin Hall
301-405-3995/milke@umd.edu
Robert W. Newcomb
Electrical Engineering
1347 A.V. Williams Building
301-405-3662 / newcomb@umd.edu / fax: 301-314-9281
Electrical Engineering
1347 A.V. Williams Building
301-405-3662/newcomb@umd.edu
Materials Science & Engineering
2119 Chem/Nuclear Engineering Bldg.
301-405-8931 / oehrlein@umd.edu
Mechanical Engineering
4164A Martin Hall
301-405-5286 / raderm@umd.edu
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
1227C Chemical &
Nuclear Engineering Building
301-405-8164 / sraghava@umd.edu
Civil & Environmental Engineering
0147C Martin Hall
301-405-1962 / schwartz@umd.edu / fax:
301-405-2585