University Events

Description: Mechanical Engineering (MNE) SEMINAR

DATE:
March 25, 2022

TIME:
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

LOCATION:
Charlton College of Business (CCB) 115

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SPEAKER #1:
Aysha Siddika Asha, MS student in Mechanical Engineering (advisor: Caiwei Shen)

TOPIC:
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Electric Double Layer Capacitance of Graphene Electrodes with Different Electrolytes

ABSTRACT:
Supercapacitors are electrochemical energy storage devices that have a major role to play in today's energy landscape. Compared with lithium batteries, electric double-layer supercapacitors offer faster charge/discharge rate and improved safety because of their energy storage mechanism. Moreover, supercapacitors using solid polymer electrolytes offer the possibility to develop multifunctional structural energy storage devices. However, it has been experimentally observed that performance dramatically differs when we switch liquid electrolyte to solid electrolyte and solid electrolyte gel electrolyte. This phenomenon is difficult to characterize using experiments. Here, we are planning to use molecular dynamics simulation combined with experiments to better understand the electrode-electrolyte interface in electric double-layer supercapacitors. Our group already built molecular models of carbon electrodes contacting with aqueous electrolytes and solid polymer electrolytes respectively. I am planning to build and simulate hydrogel electrolyte. Simulation results are expected to show different ionic distributions at the electrode-electrolyte interface for different electrolytes. This will help explain the experimental phenomenon and help optimize future solid and hydrogel polymer electrolytes for energy storage applications.
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SPEAKER #2:
Alan Andonian, MS student in Mechanical Engineering (advisor: Amit Tandon)

TOPIC:
Resonance of Mooring Lines From Flow Induced Vortex Shedding

ABSTRACT:
This study is part of a larger project which is integrating hydrophones into a mooring to study the acoustic measurements of rainfall. Since the flow past the mooring line can initiate resonance by vortex shedding, a question arose as to whether there will be interference on the recordings from the strumming of the mooring line. The main concern is that the mooring line would be in tension and the flow in resonance would create pressure waves that would interfere with hydrophone recordings. Hence this study focuses on the flow induced vibration of a mooring line. I conduct simulations in COMSOL to find the shedding frequency of the flow past a circular cylinder. The shedding frequency of the cable is then compared to the natural frequency of the cable found through simulation and confirmed through an analytical solution. The first part of simulations looks at a simplified version of the flexible cable. Initially, we examine a fixed 2-D cable assuming infinite length since the mooring line is much longer than the diameter. As the study progresses further, I plan to conduct simulations for a flexible cylinder, where fluid structure interaction is permitted, to get a better understanding of the flow induced vibration.

For more information please contact Dr. Hangjian Ling, MNE Seminar Coordinator (hling1@umassd.edu).

All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Students taking MNE-500 are REQUIRED to attend. All other MNE BS and MS students are encouraged to attend. EAS students are also encouraged to attend.