Wind-Induced Vibration Energy Harvesting Using Piezoelectric Transducers Coupled with Dynamic Magnification

Flexible cylindrical structures subjected to wind loading experience vibrations from periodic shedding of vortices in their wake. Vibrations become excessive when the natural frequencies of the cylinder coincide with the vortex shedding frequency. In this study, cylinder vibrations are transmitted to a beam inside the structure via dynamic magnifier system. This system amplifies the strain experienced by piezoelectric patches bonded to the beam to maximize the conversion from vibrational energy into electrical energy. Realworld applicability is tested using a wind tunnel to create vortex shedding and comparing the results to finite element modeling that shows the structural vibrational modes. A crucial part of this study is conditioning and storing the harvested energy, focusing on theoretical modeling, design parameter optimization, and experimental validation. The developed system is helpful in designing wind-induced energy harvesters to meet the necessity for novel energy resources.

Investigation of Blast Wave Propagation: Correlating External Pressures to Brain Injury Predictors

Blast-induced Traumatic Brain Injury (bTBI) is the signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; however, current understanding of bTBI is insufficient. In this study, novel analysis methods were developed to investigate correlations between external pressures and brain injury predictors. Experiments and simulations were performed to analyze placement of helmet-mounted pressure sensors. A 2D Finite Element model of a helmeted head cross-section was loaded with a blast wave. Pressure time-histories for nodes on the inner and outer surfaces of the helmet were cross-correlated to those inside the brain. Parallel physical experiments were carried out with a helmeted headform, pressure sensors, and pressure chamber. These analysis methods can potentially lead to better helmet designs and earlier detection and treatment of bTBI.

Analysis of the effect of yoga on selective attention and mental concentration in young adults

Gemstone Team Om

Assessing teen risk behavior and later drug use

Gemstone Team Risky Business

Detection methods for common problems in solar home systems

Gemstone Team SHINE (Students Helping to Implement Natural Energy)

Crossing the cultural divide: assessing the needs of a local immigrant community

Gemstone Team CARE (Community Assessment of Resident Experiences)

Mobilizing Maryland: a look into the voting tendencies of students at the University of Maryland

Gemstone Team VOTE-CP (Voice of the Electorate - Collegiate Participation)

Improving the use of asset-building financial services by Latino immigrants in Langley Park, Maryland

Gemstone Team ANSWER Poverty (Assessing the Need for Services Which Effectively Reduce Poverty)

A study of the benefits of retrofitting cardiovascular exercise equipment of a gym with human energy harvesting technology

Gemstone Team HEAT (Human Energy Acquisition Technology)

Harvesting life's energy: increase in the aerotolerence of the electrogenic anaerobe geobacter sulfurreducens due to over-expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase

Gemstone Team iGEM

Excluding mammalian predators from diamondback terrapin nesting beaches with an electric fence

Gemstone Team Saving Testudo

Specializing pedestrian maps to address the needs of people using wheelchairs: a case study in community-sustainable information systems

Gemstone Team FASTR (Finding Alternative Specialized Travel Routes)

Glutamine supplementation and renal health

Gemstone Team Juiced

A navigation and object location device for the blind

Gemstone Team Vision

An investigation of the stability and diffusivity of flexible lipid vesicles for transdermal insulin delivery

Gemstone Team No More Needles