Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics News

Category: News

Madhukar Vable on Enhancing Undergraduate Engineering Education

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Madhukar Vable
Madhukar Vable

Undergraduate engineering struggles to attract women and minorities, 20 percent of the students drop out after one year, and 40 percent fail to graduate in six years. Professor Emeritus Madhukar Vable describes how we can take the elements of our (USA) world-renowned graduate education to enhance undergraduate education in the December edition of Prism. Prism articles can be accessed through the library electronic data base.

Rebuild the Foundation

When it comes to graduate education, U.S. engineering schools are clearly getting something right: They attract scholars and students from all over the world. At the same time, undergraduate engineering struggles to draw in women and minorities, 20 percent of the students drop out after one year, and 40 percent fail to graduate in six years. What can we borrow from graduate education to enhance the undergraduate experience?

Read more in PRISM Last Word, by Madhukar Vable.

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Robotics Changes Cora Taylor’s Career Trajectory

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Recent Michigan Tech alumna Cora Taylor ’18, was featured in the article “Robotics changes student’s career trajectory,” in the Charlevoix Courier. The story chronicles how Taylor’s involvement in Charlevoix High School’s robotics led her toward a career in engineering. At Tech, Taylor was a member of the Formula SAE team.

Robotics changes student’s career trajectory

“I had no interest in engineering, in fact, I was interested in art, graphic design and drafting,” Taylor said. “If I hadn’t been convinced to join the team all those years ago, I don’t think I would be even remotely close to an engineer today.”

Taylor is a 2014 Charlevoix High School graduate. She is daughter of John and Kim Taylor, of Charlevoix, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Michigan Technological University in Houghton.

Read more at the Charlevoix Courier, by Anne Kelly.

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Barr Elected to IEEE Professional Communication Society Board of Governors

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Nancy Barr
Nancy Barr

Nancy Barr (ME-EM) has been elected to the IEEE Professional Communication Society’s board of governors.

The PCS’s mission is to foster a community dedicated to understanding and promoting effective communication in engineering, scientific and other technical environments.

Barr’s three-year term began Jan. 1 and runs to December 31, 2021.

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VAKYA Business Model Places in Competition

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Karuna Rana and Mayank Bagaria
Karuna Rana (left) and Mayank Bagaria (right) share second and third place awards.

The 2018 Bob Mark Business Model Competition took place Wednesday (Dec. 5, 2018) in the Opie Library. The Competition was hosted by the Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship, a collaboration between Pavlis Honors College, the School of Business and Economics and the Vice President for Research Office.

There were more than 20 participants making up 15 teams from various majors and disciplines who pitched to a panel of judges.

Ideas ranged from hypothermia preventing life jackets to a web-based stress management program. Participants had five minutes to pitch their ideas and present their business model. The judging panel then had time following the presentation to ask questions and provide valuable feedback.

The winners of the 2018 Bob Mark Business Model Competition were:

  • First Place and MTEC SmartZone Game Changer Award – Gary Tropp (Computer Network & System Administration) for VARS (Virtual Advising Registering and Scheduling)
  • Second and Third Place – Tie between Mayank Bagaria (Mechanical Engineering) for Vakya and Karuna Rana (Environmental and Energy Policy) for Reality Check
  • Audience Favorite – Nate LaJoie (Finance) and Michael Betz (Management) for Backpack Keg
  • Honorable Mention – Deanna Springgay (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) for Little Trainer
  • Honorable Mention – Russ Crofton (Mechanical Engineering Technology) for Modern Steel Bicycles

Congratulations to all winners and participants, and thanks to the panel of distinguished judges for donating their time and expertise. The Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship would also like to thank MTEC SmartZone and Arroyo Networks for their support and prize contributions. Photos from the event can be viewed and downloaded here.

The Bob Mark Competition is part of Husky Innovate, a series of workshops and competitions that guide students through key phases of business development while emphasizing strategies for success. More information on upcoming Spring Husky Innovate events can be found at mtu.edu/husky-innovate.

By the Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship.

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Tech student teams compete in business

VAKYA Presentation by the speaker
Presentation on the VAKYA business model by Mayank Bagaria.

Bagaria’s proposal was for VAKYA, a set of glasses that would listen to speech and print the text on the lens for the wearer. Bagaria has those with total or partial hearing loss in mind for the first phase, but the second phase could include translation from different languages.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Joshua Vissers.

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ME-EM is Represented at Noise and Vibration Conference

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ISMA 2018 conference sign outsideThree members of the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics presented at and attended the ISMA-USD Noise and Vibration Engineering conference at KU Leuven in Leuven Belgium. The 28th International Conference on Noise and Vibration engineering (ISMA2018) was organized in conjunction with the 7th International Conference on Uncertainty in Structural Dynamics (USD2018) on September 17-19, 2018. Approximately 700 people (50% from industry, 50% from universities) attended the conference.

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Jon Furlich, PhD student presented “Application of STFT and Wavelet analysis to MT clunk data: a case study.” Andrew Barnard (ME-EM) presented “Active noise control in pipes and ducts using carbon nanotube thermophones” and “Top 10 mechanical experiments for the teaching of sound and vibration in mechanical engineering”. Barnard also taught a seminar on acoustics in London Sept. 20.

  • Furlich, J. E., Blough, J., and Robinette, D. L., ‘Analysis of experimental mt clunk with stft and cwt to observe mode participation and reduction’, Michigan Technological University. ( abstract, full paper )
  • Barnard, A., and Senczyszyn, S., ‘Active noise control in pipes and ducts using carbon nanotube thermophones’, Michigan Technological University. ( abstract, full paper )
  • Peres, M. A., and Barnard, A., ‘Top 10 mechanical experiments for the teaching of sound and vibration in mechanical engineering’, The Modal Shop, Inc.. ( abstract, full paper )

Read more at ISMA Past Editions.

Jason Blough (ME-EM) chaired a session, attended the conference and met with peers to discuss future research topics.

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Craig Friedrich Presents at Arthroplasty Conference

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ISTA 2018 showing the conference audience and stage.

Craig Friedrich (ME-EM) presented two podium papers, “Enhanced Bone Fixation of TKA Tibial Tray Implants with TiO2 Nanotubes” and “In Vivo Anti-Bacterial Effectiveness of Nanotextured Titanium Implant Surfaces” at the 31st International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty (ISTA) Conference in London, England.

The conference, which addressed innovative solutions for arthroplasty, took place Oct. 10-13, 2018 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. Established in 1988, ISTA is dedicated to advancing the art and science of technology in joint replacement by connecting the leading clinicians, engineers, researchers, and industry members from around the globe.

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Enhanced Bone Fixation of TKA Tibial Tray Implants With TiO2 Nanotubes

Daniel Justin – Nanovation Partners – Orlando, USA
Young S. Ngyuen – Optimotion Implants, LLC – Orlando, USA
William Walsh – University of New South Wales – Randwick, Australia
Matt Pelletier – Surgical &Orthopaedic Research Laboratory – Sydney, Australia
Craig R. Friedrich – Michigan Technological University – Houghton, USA
Erin Baker – Beaumont Health System – Royal Oak, USA
Sungho Jin – University of California San Diego – San Diego, USA
Clyde Pratt – Kinamed. Inc. – Camarillo, USA

Recent clinical data suggest improvement in the fixation of tibia trays for total knee arthroplasty when the trays are additive manufactured with highly porous bone ingrowth structures.

Read more at ISTA Online.

In Vivo Anti-Bacterial Effectiveness of Nanotextured Titanium Implant Surfaces

Craig R. Friedrich – Michigan Technological University – Houghton, USA
Erin Baker – Beaumont Health System – Royal Oak, USA
Sachin Bhosle – Michigan Technological University – Houghton, USA
Daniel Justin – Nanovation Partners – Orlando, USA

Periprosthetic infection remains a clinical challenge that may lead to revision surgeries, increased spending, disability, and mortality.

Read more at ISTA Online.

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