EngineeringQuarterly
Welcometothe firstissueofVolume 2oftheEngineering Quarterly,anewsletter publishedfourtimes ayearbytheUniversityofMarySchoolof
Engineering.Initweincludearticlesfrom eachofthefourengineeringmajorsthatwe currentlyofferoncampus:ElectricalEngineering,MechanicalEngineering,CivilEngineering,andConstructionManagement.
Wereportonitemsandeventsofinterest toengineeringstudents,engineeringcompanies,andalumniofourengineeringprogram. Youwillreadaboutourserviceandoutreach activitiesinthecommunity,thescholarships ourstudentshavebeenawarded,descriptions oftheinternshipsourstudentshaveworked atoverthesummer,guestspeakersthathave comeinandenlightenedus,andevenassignmentproblemsandprojectsthatourstudents havecompletedaspartoftheircoursework. Wehopethatyouwillenjoyrevisitingsome oftheproblemsthatyouhadtosolveback whenyouwerestudyingforyourownengineeringdegree–oratleastyouwillenjoythe factthatyoudon’thavetosolvethem!TheintendedaudienceoftheEngineeringQuarterly isengineers,engineeringstudents,engineeringalumni,futureengineeringstudents,and peopleworkinginfieldscloselyrelatedto engineeringsuchasscience,computing,and mathematics.Enjoy!
TerryPillingOnThursday,August1,thisyear’sGo BabyGoservicewascompletedandthecars werepresentedtothekids.Dr.HeatherLundeenandRodrigodaCostaAparecidoarethe facultymembersoverseeingtheproject.The studentsraised$1500andfivechildrenfrom twotosixyearsoldbenefitedwithcarsactivatedwithapushbuttonorajoystick.
firstdesign,thisservicegroup,underDr.LundeenandMr.Aparecido,haveaddedmore electronicfeaturesandmodificationstothe frame.In2017,oneofthecarshadaspecialcompartmentfortoholdabackpackwith thechild’sfeedingequipment.In2018,more childrenwereservedandsomereceivedcars withabuttonandotherswithajoystickto controlthecar.Now,in2019,onecarwashad adoubleseaterfortwinbrothers,inwhicheitherofthemcoulddrivethecar.
TheGoBabyGoprojectwasinitiated threeyearsagoasapartnershipbetweenPhysicalTherapyandEngineeringwhereEngineeringfacultyandstudentsworkside-bysidewithPhysicalTherapydoctoralstudents toadaptride-ontoysthathelpwiththeinclusionanddevelopmentofchildrenwithspecial needs.
In2006,ColeGallowayinitiatedaninclusionmovementforchildrenwithmotorimpairments,called GoBabyGo,attheUniversityofDelaware’sDepartmentofPhysicalTherapy.Thisprogramincludesmodifyinganelectrictoycarinanywaynecessary forachildwithmotorordevelopmentaldelaystoaccesstheirenvironmentandinteract withtheirpeers.
Aftertakingthefirstmeasurements,and afewweeksofdesignandbuild,wehadthe greatpleasureofgivingthecarstothechildren.Watchingthechildrenlearnhowtouse thecontrolstoaccelerate,andmoveontheir ownalongwithoraftertheirsiblingswasa beautifulexperience.
DAYOF SERVICE ByANTHONYWALDENMAIER
Forthe2019iterationoftheproject,13 PhysicalTherapydoctoratestudentsidentifiedchildrenintheBismarck/Mandanarea thatwouldbenefitfromthoseadaptercars andthencollaboratedwiththeEngineering Schooltodesignaprojectthatwouldbestfit eachindividualchild,andthenbuildandmodifythecars.
Everyyear,theUniversityofMaryhas aDayofServicewherestudentsandfaculty gooutintothecommunityandperformserviceactivitiestohelppeopleandbusinesses inBismarck-Mandan.Serviceactivitiesrange fromseasonalworklikerakingleavesorpickingupgarbagetoreadingstoriestoyoung schoolstudentsandeverythinginbetween.
ThePTstudentswoulddecidehowtobest accommodatetheneedsofthechildandthe engineeringstudentswoulddesigntheframe andelectronicstomeetthoseneeds.
Thestudentsworkedoverseveralweeks todesignthemodificationsthatwouldbenefit thechildrenandtheirfamilies.FromCole’s
WeintheEngineeringschoolalsoarrangeforourownserviceeventswhichhave auniquelyengineeringflavortothem.This year,wetraveledtoAppleCreekElementarySchoolwhereweconductedtwoseparate projects.
First,studentsstainedandperformedminormaintenanceontheGagaBallPitwhich wasconstructedon-siteduringlastyear’sday ofserviceevent.
wasselectedfortheoutdoorexposureofthe boxesandtheeventualwetconditionsofdaily watering.
thestudentbodyandthebroadercommunity) andsponsorsforthetriptentativelyscheduled torunfromApril27th toMay7th
Wewereexcitedtoseethatthepitwas lovedbytheelementaryschoolstudentsover thepastyear.Aredstainwasselectedtobring schoolspirittotheAppleCreekyard.We werealsoveryhappytoseethatthepitwas inverygoodconditionafterafullyearinthe NorthDakotaweather!
Thebottomofeachboxwasconstructed usingsixplanksofwoodwhichprovidesupporttoplasticnetting.Theboardswillcarry thebulkoftheloadofthesoil,whilethenettingwillallowfordrainage.Inthespring,studentswillinstalllandscapingfabrictothebox beforefillingwithsoilandthevariousplants.
WewillbeworkingwiththeAyaviriPrelatureandSalesianSisters,toservetheneeds oftheSisters,thechildreninaspecialneeds schooltheSistersoperate,and/orthebroader communityofAyaviri.Thetripwillconclude withtheopportunitytohiketoMachuPicchu (oneofthesevenwondersoftheworld!).
Anotherelementofthedesignwasmobility.Theschooldidnotwanttosecuretheseto thegrounduntilfurthergroundskeepingand landscapingplansaremade.Theboxesare lightenoughtobemoved,butsturdyenough tolastformanyyears.
Second,weconstructedabove-ground planterboxesthattheschoolcanuseforgardensandplantscienceprojectsinthecoming springandsummer.Thefinaldesignwas basedonseveraldo-it-yourselfdesigns,but cateredtotheneedsoftheschool.
Wereallyenjoyedtheseprojectsandare gladtobringsomeengineeringskilltothe DayofService.WehopetocontinueprovidingEngineeringprojectstothecommunityfor yearstocome!
JOINOUR PERU MISSION TRIPFOR ENGINEERS!
ByJAMESCARRICOANDPAULA KITZENBERG
Thiscomingsummer,ifthereisenough participation,theSchoolofEngineeringwill formallyparticipateinthePrelatureSupport Mission(formerlyknownastheMedicalMission)inPeru,forthefirsttime.
Theplanistoidentifyappropriateprojects whichmayincludeworkonwaterheaters, waterpurification,constructionprojects, and/orotherneedsandwewillalsoconduct anon-siteneedsassessmentforfuturetrips.
Duringthespringsemesterwewill plan/prototypetheprojectandthenexecute/deployitwhenwearrive.Pleasenote thatitisnotnecessaryforyoutoparticipate intheplanning/prototypingstageinorderto goonthetrip.
Sixoftheseboxeswereconstructedonsitetoalloweachgradeleveltohaveitsown setofplantingprojects.Theboxesstandat2ft hightoallowyoungerstudentstoplant,and eachboxis4ftby6ft.Greentreatedwood
Weareseekingparticipants(bothwithin
Theallinclusivecostofthetripwillbe between$2,000and$3,000andsowearecur-
rentlyseekingsponsorshipandfund-raising opportunitiesforparticipantsfrominterested companiesandcommunitymembers.
Participants: Weneedatleast21studentparticipantstotal(atleastsixfromengineering). Pleaseinformyourfriendsandclassmates!
Contact: Formoreinformationorifyouare interestedinparticipatinginthetrip,sponsoringstudents,orifyouhaveinformationabout potentialfund-raisingopportunitieswecould pursuepleasecontact:
Dr.JimCarrico,jdcarrico@umary.edu
Dr.PaulaKitzenberg,phkitzenberg@umary.edu
SUMMER PROJECTSAND INTERNSHIPS
Manyofourengineeringstudentswhoare Sophomorelevelandabovehaveinternships eachsummerandtheyreturnwithmanygreat storiesofthefunandinterestingthingsthey didwhileworkingatcompaniesandfirms. Herearesomeoftheirstories.
BradenBenz is aFreshmanEngineeringstudentwho workedforAdvanced Mechanicalthissummer.AdvancedMechanicalisanHVAC andplumbingcompanybasedoutofBismarck.However,many jobsrequiretraveltoDickinson,Williston, andsometimesMontanaorSouthDakota.
“ThissummerImainlyworkedinBismarck, butworkedtwoweeksinDickinson,”Braden said,“andmyjobconsistedofavarietyof thingsincludinginstallingnewairconditionersandfurnacesinresidentialhousesaswell ascommercialjobsites,installingductwork inavarietyofplaces(oneincludingthenew engineeringcenterfortheUniversityofMary) aswellasdemolitionofoldductworkand heatingandairconditioningsystemsalsoat theUniversityofMary.IworkedinDickinsonfortwofullweeks.Oneweekconsistedof addingzoningtoaschooltoprovideamore comfortableatmosphereforeachclassroom.
ThenextweekIhelpedintheconstructionof anewelectriccompanybuilding.”
“IalsofollowedservicetechsanddidserviceworkonHVACequipmentatplaces likeSteffesManufacturinginDickinson,ND, otherhousingHVACequipment,andmany otherplacesaroundBismarck.Ilearnedalot abouthowHVACsystemsworkandhowto servicethemaswellasknowledgefromeach jobsiteaboutconstructioningeneral.The companywasimpressedbymyworkethic andhoweasilyIcaughtontoeverything.”
MarkSammons isa SophomoreMechanicalEngineeringstudentwhostartedhis firstinternshipduring thespringsemesterof hisFreshmanyearwith FinleyEngineeringin Bismarck,ND.Heis continuingitthrough
the2019-2020academicyear.Markworked mainlywithAutoCAD,ArcGIS,andMap WisedesigningFiberOpticbroadbandinternetand911addresslayoutfortheSouth DakotacommunitiesofArlington,DeSmet, andLakePreston.Healsoworkedfixingand redesigningtheexistingandnewlybuiltaerial andburiedFiberOpticinternetinGlasgow, MTalongwithotherprojectsacrossNorth Dakota,SouthDakota,andMontana.
CarterTrefz isa SophomoreMechanicalEngineeringstudentwhoworkedfor CommonSenseMFG undertheSolardivision.“Theshop whereIworkedislocatednearFaulkton SD,howevermostof thetimeIwasontheroaddoinginstallations allacrossNorthandSouthDakota.Ibuiltand installedsolarpoweredwatertanksforcattle whichinvolvedwelding,wiring,plumbing, heavyequipmentoperating,equipmentrepair, andtruckdriving.SomefunthingsIlearned includeshowtotalktocustomersaboutour productandtroubleshootingbrokensystems. Mybosswasimpressedwithhowdiversemy skillsetwassteppingintothispositionand howeagerIwastolearnmore.”
EvanSekerak isa sophomoreMechanicalEngineeringstudentwhodidaninternshipatCurationFoods, Inc.inBowlingGreen, OHoverthesummer. Muchofhisworkwas usingAutoCADLTto layoutequipmentontheproductionfloor andtodesignnewequipment.Someofhis projectsevencametofruitionbeforecoming backtoschool,includingnewconveyorsand equipmentstands.Throughworkinginthe freshfoodindustry,specificallygreenbeans andsalads,helearnedalotaboutsanitarydesign,refrigeration(38◦F)andstainlesssteel, bothessentialtokeepingproductssafefrom harmfulcontamination.Workingunderthe engineerthere,hecouldseeintothelifeof thecompanyandcorporatestructurethrough onlinetownhallmeetingsandvisitswith salesmen.Healsogottotraveltoanother plantinHanover,PAandobservetheiroperations,especiallyautomationrobotsandsystems.“I’vealwaysjokedIcoulddoCADall day,”Evansays,“butduringthisinternship,I reallydidandlovedit!”
Snæd´ısDan´ıelsd´ottir isajuniorElectrical Engineeringstudent whoworkedforan engineeringfirmin Iceland.“Thissummerwasmysecond summerinterningat Verk´ısConsultingEngineers.”shesaid,“It isoneofthelargestconsultingengineeringcompaniesinIceland.Iworkedattheir headquartersinReykjav´ıkasanassistantin ElectricalEngineeringprojectsintheEnergy division.Ispentmostofmytimethereus-
ingDIgSILENT:PowerFactorytomodela geothermalpowerplant, Svartsengi,which notonlyproduceshotwaterandenergy,but alsoproducesthelagoonintheknown Blue Lagoon.Someofmyotherprojectswereto drawbothmiscellaneouselectricalandgeneralschematicsandevenelectricalfloorplans forsummerhousesasasideprojectfrom anotherdivision.IdidtheaboveprojectsusingAutoCAD.Whileworkingthissummer, Ilearnedalotabouthighvoltagesubstationsandgeothermalpowerplants.But,my coworkersreallyenjoyedthatlittleboostof confidencetheygotwhenIaskedthemeven thesimplestquestionsrelatedtoourprojects orelectricalengineeringingeneral.Lastly, notonlyweremycoworkersimpressedwith mybackgroundasajourneymanelectrician, buttheywerealsoparticularlyimpressedwith myquicklearningskillswithallthedifferent programstheyused.”
LoganMahoney is ajuniorCivilEngineeringstudentwho workedforHopfauf CustomBuildersoutsideofMandanthis summer.“Thetype ofworkthatIdid forHopfaufincluded framingcarpentryand abitoffinishcarpentry.Iusuallyworkedonhigh-endresidentialandlightcommercialbuildings.The sitesthemselveswerescatteredaroundthe Bismarck-Mandanarea,includingthenew RunningsinMandanandthenZorell’sJewelryStoreon9thinBismarck.Themainthing thatIlearnedthissummerwasthefundamentalsofframingcarpentryandstructure building.Thisexperiencegavemeadifferent perspectiveontheconstructionprocess.It allowedmetoseetheimplicationofadesign andseeitgofromdesigntoconstruction.I alsogottoseethelogicalpartofthebuilding processaswell.”
LoganalsoworkedwithCHISt.Alexiuson thedesignofamemorialfortheemployees theylostinanairplaneaccidentlastyear.Logan’steamcompetedinadesigncontestfor thememorialandhisteam’sdesignwasone oftheoneschosenforthememorialspace. Loganwillwriteanarticleaboutthedesign andtheNovember18memorialserviceinthe next EngineeringQuarterly
PeterCollart isa JuniorMechanical Engineeringstudentwhoworked atSteffesheadquartersinDickinson,ND.Steffes isamanufacturing companyprovidingalotofproductsfortheoilindustry.Additionally,SteffescreatesElectricThermal Storageproductsusedinseveralstatesand countries,andcontractswithcompaniessuch asBobcat.Peter’sworkconsistedmostly ofdraftingand3DdesignusingSolidworks, CreoParametric,andAutoCAD.“Istarted thejobwithverylittle3Ddesignexperience; however,nowIwouldconsidermyselfextremelyproficientat3Dmodelinganddraft-
ing!IwasassignedavarietyofprojectsbutI willmentiontwoofthem:IworkedwithBobcatandSteffeslocationsinGrandForkstoimprovetheSG60stumpgrinderwhichSteffes manufacturesforBobcat.Thisrequiredmany phonecalls,3Ddesign,andupdatingdrawing dimensionsandwelds.Ialsoworkedwith anotherinterntoperform FlowSimulations inSolidworks.Wewereassignedthetaskof delvingintothisnewsoftwaretodetermine whetheritissomethingthatcouldbeofuse tothecompany.Wesimulatedairflowand heattransferinheatingunitsmanufactured bySteffes.ItwasajoytoworkwithSteffes thissummerandIampleasedtoannouncethe companyhasmadethelistof50BestPlaces toWorkforthefifthyearinarow!Iwould highlyrecommendthecompanytoanyone lookingforajobormanufacturer.”
MichaelStorick isa juniorElectricalEngineeringstudentwho workedforKilldeer MountainManufacturinginDickinsonthis summer.“Istartedout withafewmiscellaneousprojects,mostly prepworkforanewairplanecontractKMM hadrecentlyacquired.Thisinvolvedalotof excelentry,soovertimeItaughtmyselfsome VBAtospeeduptherepetitivepartsofmy job.IeventuallyworkedonaVBAprojectto automatetheprepworkforfuturecontracts, savingthecompanywork-hourswhichwould normallybespentonthat.”Thecompanywas extremelyhappywithMichael’sworkand theyhavecontractedhimtocontinuetowork ontheprojectremotelyovertheschoolyear.
WilliamBlewett isa SeniorCivilEngineeringstudentwhointernedforAdvanced EngineeringandEnvironmentalSciences (AE2S)wherehe workedoncivilmunicipalprojects.His summerlocationwasinNewSalemandhis jobdealtwithnewutilitiesandroads.William wastheresidentprojectrepresentative(RPR) onthejobsiteandhishardworkethicand attentiontodetailimpressedhisbosses.
AaronBales isaseniorElectricalEngineeringstudentwho workedforBobcat thissummerandcontinuestoworkwith themthroughtheir studentdevelopment programthissemester.“Myinitialproject wastobuildupthreeenvironmentalteststationsforelectricaltesting.Theteststations includeaPC,aprogrammablelogiccontroller,abreakouttosixconnectorsforunits (logiccontrolsystem),amongotherthings.I alsoperformedtestingofelectricalequipment whichincludesvibrationandthermalshock. MytimeatBobcathasbeenextendedtocompleteandassistinprojectssuchasimproving certaintestequipment.Theseimprovements includewritingprogramsinC#tocommunicatewithsuchequipment,performance,and
basicallymakingsomethingcomplexeasyfor everyonetouse.IhavelearnedmorethanI couldimaginewithmytimeatBobcat.I’ve learnedprojectmanagementskills,ladder logic,differentprogramminglanguages,and moreaboutindustrycircuits.AsIcontinueto workatBobcatIhopethatIcancontinueto improvethetestenvironmentandreducetime thatisrequiredtoperformsuchtasks.”
RichardBendish isa seniorElectricalEngineeringstudentwho workedforPrairieEngineeringthissummer intheirBismarckOfficeandon-siteatvariousjoblocations.Hisjobincludedworking inCADandRevitdoingmodeling.Healso performedcircuitandloadcalculationsand createdspecsheets.Richardenjoyedlearningloadcalculationsforcircuitsinbuildings andleaningmoreaboutthecircuitryoflarger scalepowersystems.ThecompanywasimpressedwithRichard’shardworkandhis eagernesstolearn.
LeviClagett isaseniorCivilEngineering studentwhoworked fortheCityofBismarckEngineering Departmentasareturningintern.Levi says,“Iworkedall overtheCityofBismarckonalltheroads,sidewalks,andnew developments.Myjobwastoinspectthe qualityoftheconstructionworkandensure itwasuptospecifications.ThemainthingI learnedwashowtostayveryorganized,and thatit’sachallengewhenitrainsafterpouringconcrete.I’vebeenimpressedwithhow hardconstructioncrewsworkeveryday.It’s beenagreatexperienceandI’velearnedan incrediblenumberofpracticalskillsforthis careerfield.”
JaradZittleman isa seniorMechanicalEngineeringstudentwho workedforBartlett& Westthissummerin Bismarckaswaspart oftheMEP(Mechanical,Electrical,Plumbing)group.Jaradmentionedthat“Bartlett&WestarethemechanicalengineeringcontractorfortheUniversityofMary’snewengineeringschool,so Iwasluckyenoughtodoalotofworkon theproject.Iwasabletoattendweeklyon sitejobmeetingsandseehowtheschoolwas comingalong.Ialsoplayedrolesinjobsin KansasandMissouri.Ididbuildingheatload calcs,submittalreviews,lightingcalcs,mechanicalandplumingdesign,andanyextra draftingthatneededtobedonethroughoutthe summer.Iwasabletolearnhowconsulting engineersinteractwithclientsandachieve deadlinesalongwithunderstandinganynew engineeringsoftware.Ialsotraveleddownto Topekatospendaweekwiththeotherinterns throughoutthecompany.Myabilitytolearn newthings,pastworkexperienceinplumbing andHVAC,andtimemanagementandpeople skillswereallthingsthatimpressedmyfel-
lowco-workers.Thisinternshiphasdecided formewhichareaofMechanicalEngineering thatIwouldliketopursueaftergraduation.”
IdaNarbuvoll isaseniorCivilEngineeringstudentwhohad aninternshipatthe BridgeDivisionatthe NDDOTthissummer. Shesays,“Ispentmost ofmytimeatthecentralofficeinBismarck,butIgottogoout onseveralfieldtripstovariousstructuresin NorthDakota.Theinternshippositionwas setupsothatIsplittimebetweentheHydraulicsSectionandtheBridgeManagement Section,andmymaintasksincludedpreparingfieldreviewdocuments,issuingoverload permits,andreviewingbridgeinspections.It wasveryinterestingtogetabetterinsightin alltheworkandchallengesthatgoesintodocumentingdata,inspecting,maintaining,and improvingthecurrentbridgesandculverts inthestate.Particularly,Ienjoyedlearning aboutbridgeinspectionsandhowtheprocess ofstoringandanalyzingthedatafromallthe structuresisdone.”
CalebWeisgarber is aseniorCivilEngineeringstudentwho workedforHollyBeck SurveyingandEngineeringbasedoutof Bismarckthissummer. Hesays“Iworked onsurveyingtheBismarckairport,Minotbypass,andmultiple propertysurveysaroundtheBismarckarea.I wasabletofurthermyeducationinthearea ofwhathappensonaconstructionsite,especiallyinthesurveyingarea.Theywerevery pleasedonhowIwasabletohittheground runningbecauseofwhatIlearnedinoursurveyingclassandthepriorexperienceIhave had.”
EvanAnderson isaSeniorElectricalEngineering studentwhowent toPhoenixArizonatoworkfor CentralArizona Projectthissummer.CentralArizonaProject(CAP)isArizona’ssinglelargest resourceforrenewablewatersupplies.CAPis designedtobringabout1.5millionacre-feet ofwaterfromtheColoradoRivertoCentralandSouthernArizonaeveryyear.More than5millionpeople,ormorethan80%of thestate’spopulation,liveinMaricopa,Pima andPinalcounties,whereCAPwaterisdelivered.CAPworkstobringwaterfromthe ColoradoRivertothreecountiesthroughout Arizona.Thecanalstretchesabout340miles fromLakeHavasutosouthofTucson.Along thecanalthereare15pumpingstationswhere thewaterisliftedandthendescendsalongthe canal.CAPisalsothelargestpowerconsumer inthestateofArizona.Evansaid,“whatIdid wascreateadocumentontheSEL-421relaysettingsusedatoneofthemainpumping stationsaswellasworkingontheHuman MachineInterfaces(HMI)atseveralplants
andworkingonalarmsplacedoneachmotorofeachpumpusingPLCs.Iwasableto learnalotaboutthepowerindustryaswellas substationdesignandthefutureofthepower industrybyattendingconferenceshostedby GEandSchweitzerEngineeringLaboratories. WhileinmypositionInoticedquitealarge agegapinthefieldofpowersystems.Many ofmyco-workerswereapproachingretirementageandalthoughexpertsintheirfield werenottechnologicallyinclinedsomostof theworkIdidwithPLC’sorontheHMI’sor withtherelaysoftwarewasprettyimpressive tothem.Beingabletonavigatesoftware,use terminalcommands,anduseladderlogic/functionblocksweresomeoftheskillsthey liked.”
NoahKrebs isa SeniorCivilEngineeringstudent whoworkedwith BARREngineeringthissummer inBismarck.His projectsincluded Civil3D,Pipeline routingandplanning,estimationcostsfor projects,CCRRemovalInspection,ConstructionObservation,SPCCPlans,MicrosoftOffice,andRisa.Noahsays“mysummerwas mainlyfocusedaroundCivil3D,whichIhad noexperienceinbeforeIstartedworkingat Barr.IquicklybecameoneoftheEngineeringTechsthathadCivil3Dsheetstoworkon everyday.Ilearnedalotabouttheconsulting worldofengineeringandreallyenjoyedwhat Ididthissummer.Mydifferentknowledge ofavarietyofsoftwareimpressedthem.It showedthatIwasversatileatwhateverthey putinfrontofmeIwouldfindawaytoget itdone.TheyalsolikedhowpersonableI am,whichisaveryimportantattributewhen beinginaconsultingcompany.Myinternship mayhaveendedbutIamplanningonstaying onsoIamintheprocessofinterviewingfor theCivilEngineer-EntryLevelpositioninthe Bismarcklocation.”
JosefSollmann isa seniorElectricalEngineeringstudentwho workedforKilldeer MountainManufacturing(KMM)attheir Dickinsonsite.“I spentthesummerdesigningcomponents andprocessesformachineswhichKMM wantedtousetoautomateaprocessintheir manufacturingline.PrettymuchIwasgiven therundownofwhattheyenvisioneditwould lookliketoimplementitintheirfacilityand whattheywanedittobecapableofandthenI wasgivenfreerangetomakeitworkhowever Icould.BythetimeIleftIhadcompleted myprojecttothepointwhereitcouldstart tobeused.Ilearnedagreatdealof3DdesignandmodelingusingAuto-CAD,aswell asprogramminginVisualBasicfordatamanipulationandorganization.Ialsolearned aboutcreatingprocessesforoperatorswhile adheringtooutsidespecification.Ithinkthe companywasimpressedwiththeideasand solutionsIcameupwithtomakeeverything work.Theyalsowereimpressedwithacode
Iworkedonwithanotherinternwhichcompiledspecificdatapertainingtoourproject intoreadableformatfortheautomatedmachines,savingthemabout1-2monthsofwork haditbeendonebyhand.Overall,Ithinkthey werepleasedwiththeworkthatIputinand theprogressImadeonmyproject.”
AlexDavis isasenior CivilEngineeringstudentwhocompleted his2ndyearinternshipwithBraunIntertecthispastsummer outoftheDickinson, ND,office.Alexsays, “mostofmyworkwas aroundWatfordCity ND.TheservicesIprovidedincludedsoils andconcretetestingandtheworkvariedfrom anewhighschoolbeingdeveloped,toanold cityreceivingbrandnewroads,orevenperformingepoxygrouttestsforagasplanton itsfinalstagesofcompletion.Iwasallover theplacethispastsummerlearningfromengineers,contractorsandevenfellowcoworkers.Thethingthatmostimpressedmethe mostwashowmuchworkisavailablewest ofBismarckandhowmuchNorthDakotais growingasawhole.Iamexcitedtoseewhere weareatinthenext10yearsandamvery thankfulfortheopportunitygiventomethis pastsummer.”
AustinKonschak is aseniorCivilEngineeringstudentwho workedforNorthern Technologies,LLC outofBismarckasan EngineeringTechnicianIntern.Austin says,“IworkedprimarilyinBismarck, NDandNewTown, ND.Iwouldtakemyworktrucktovarious constructionsitestoperformplasticitytests onconcreteornucleardensitygaugetestson compactedfill.Additionally,Iwouldperform proctorandgradationtestsonsoilsamples broughtintothelab.Ilearnedmoreaboutthe constructionprocessandhowtohandleconfrontationalsituationsonjobsites.Icannot speakformyboss,butIfeltthatIwasahard workerandthatIhandledmyunpredictable andextensiveworkscheduleverywell.”
PhillipSpringsteen isasenior ElectricalEngineeringstudent whoworkedat GEHealthcare thissummer.He workedasafield engineeringapprenticeinBismarckandMinot. Hisjobinvolved repairingimagingequipmentsuchasMRI, CTscanners,ultrasoundimagers,etc.Later inthesummerheworkedasabiomedical engineeringapprenticewherehisjobentailedrepairingbiomedicalequipmentsuch aselectro-surgicalunits,IVpumps,blood warmers,etc.Phillipsays,“Itraveledaround thestatetovarioushospitalsandrepaired
allkindsofmedicalequipment.”Heimpressedhiscoworkersandsupervisorswith howquicklyhelearnedeachmodality.He enjoyedworkinginthemedicalengineering fieldandsaysthathemaybeinterestedina careerintheareaupongraduationbutisgoing tokeephisoptionsopensinceheisinterested inawiderangeofsubjects.
PROBLEMSTO TRY
REINFORCED CONCRETE PROBLEM ByERICGARCIA
Determinethevalue φMn forthesection shown.
CIRCUITS IPROBLEM ByTERRYPILLING
Inthefollowingcircuiteachoftheresistorsis 1 8 kΩ,findtheresistancebetween points a and b.Note:youmaywanttousea ∆ Y transformation.
Checkyouranswerusing NGSPICE
DYNAMICS PROBLEM ByERICGARCIA
ArobotarmmovessothatPtravelsina circleofradius 0 8m aboutPointB,whichis notmoving.KnowingthatPstartsfromrest, anditsspeedincreasesataconstantrateof 10mm/s2,determine
(a) themagnitudeoftheaccelerationwhen t =4s
(b) thetimeforthemagnitudeoftheaccelerationtobe 80mm/s2
byfaroneofthemostphenomenalexperiencesthatfacultymembersattheUniversity ofMaryencounter.
circuit.net
∗ Pyramidresistornetwork
TheRLCcircuitisdrivenbyasinusoidal voltagesource, vs(t)=100cos(500t +30◦) Findthecurrent, i(t),asafunctionoftime.
ThisretreattookplacethisyearfromFridayOctober18thuntilSundayOctober21st. Inthisretreatthatstartsfrom8:00AMuntil around9:00PMeveryday,newlyhired,facultymembersfromEngineering,Theology, Communications,Biology,Artsandotherdisciplinesthroughouttheuniversitycometogetherundertheinspiringguidanceofthe UniversityPresidentMonsignorShea,the deepsupportoftheVPforAcademicaffairs Dr.DianeFladeland,andtheintellectualcare oftheheadofCatholicStudiesDr.Scott Cleveland,totalkabouthowtoworktogether andincorporateCatholicandBenedictinevalues.Thisbeautifulandmindliftingdialogue isimmersedinanenvironmentoffriendship, finediningandgreatentertainment.Atthe endoftheretreat,newfacultymemberspray theSundayeveningMasstogetherwiththe studentsandthefaithfulattheAnnunciation chapelattheUniversity,andtheyarecommissionedafterMassbyMonsignorSheainadelightfulceremonywheretheyaregivenicons thatcarrythewordsoftheVirginMaryafter theannunciationthatsay:“EcceAncillaDomini”andmean:“BeholdIamthehandmaid oftheLord”
V1a02k
R1ac1.8k
R2ad1.8k
R3dc1.8k
R4ce1.8k
R5c01.8k
R6e01.8k
R7de1.8k
R8df1.8k
R9fe1.8k
.control op printi(V1) .endc .end
Werunthiscodeusing: ngspice < circuit.net
Theoutputis:
No.ofDataRows:1 i(v1)=-1.00000e+00
whichsaysthat 1 A ofcurrentflowsfromthe battery.Hencewehaveverifiedthatthetotal resistancebetween a and b inthecircuitis 2 kΩ
• Dynamicsproblem:
TherearenumerousaspectsoftheUniversityofMarythatmakesitdifferentthan anyotheruniversityintheUnitedStates.The mostimportantofalltheseaspectsisitsculture.ThecultureoftheUniversityofMaryis acultureofunity.Alloftheemployees,staff andfacultymembersworkinunityforthe samemission,purposeandgoals.Thequestionthenarises,howisthisgrandteamwork beingachieved?Whoisbehindthat,andhow isitbeinglead?Thereareseveralanswers tothisimportantquestion.However,oneof themostprevalentanswersisaveryspecial eventthateveryfacultymemberattheUniversitygoesthroughatthetimeoftheirhire. Thiseventiscalled:NewFacultyFormation Retreat.
Priortothiswonderfulevent,newlyhired facultymembersaregivenapacketthatincludesanumberofselectpassagestoberead thoroughlypriortotheeventanddiscussed indetailinthisthree-dayretreat.TheselectedtextsarefromtheCatholicIntellectual andBenedictineWisdomTradition.Theyinclude:“TheUniversityandTheChurch”by thelatefounderoftheCatholicStudiesprogramDr.DonBriel,“ExCordeEcclesiae”by SaintJohnPaulII,excerptsfrom“Theideaof aUniversity”bythenewlycanonizedSt.John HenryNewman,“CatholicUniversities:Dangers,HopesandChoices”byAlasdairMacIntyre,“TheDeclineandFalloftheChristianCollege”byJamesBurychael,twoaddressesofMonsignorJamesShea,thefirst tookplaceonhisinaugurationasPresidentat theUniversityofMary,andthesecondisentitled:“ExCordeEcclesiaeattheUniversity ofMary”,andnumerousotherreadingsthat discussthefarmcultureofGerman-Russian immigrantsofNorthDakota,theSportsand CatholicStudiesprogram,aswellastheMissionandIdentityStatementattheUniversity, alongwithseveralotherinsightfulreadings. Whilethissoundslikeatedioustask,itis
Thisoverwhelmingexperienceallowsfacultymemberstotalkwitheachotheropenly, agreeanddisagreerespectfullywitheach other,andlaughandsharetheiremotionstogether.Theresultofthisremarkableexperienceisagroupoffacultymembersthatfeel veryclosetoeachotherandtotheadministration.Theysharetogetheraclearvision onwhatthepurposeoftheuniversityis.A servantleadershipvisionthatstartedwiththe SistersoftheAnnunciationMonasteryandis beingcarriedouttothisdaybytheprevious andcurrentadministrations.Theyfeelentrustedwiththesoulsandfuturesoftheirstudents.Theygoaboutitinthebeautiful,warm, andembracingNorth-Dakotaculture.Where doesanexperiencelikethistakeplaceanywhereinHigherEducationexceptattheUniversityofMary?
Inaplacelikeno-other,theUniversityof MaryFacultymembersanddepartmentsdo notco-exist.Quitethecontrary,theywork hand-in-handinunionunderaparentingadministrationthatguidesthemandhelpsthem achievetheirultimatemission,theformation ofourstudentsaccordingtotheChristian, Catholic,andBenedictinetradition.
a) a =10 20mm/s2,b)t=25.2sec
• PowerSystemsproblem:
i(t)=0 707cos(500t 15◦) A
TESSERACTS,HYPERCUBES, AND INFINITE DIMENSIONAL RESISTOR NETWORKS
ByTERRYPILLING
SOLUTIONSTO PROBLEMS
• ReinforcedConcreteproblem: φMn =379 1kft
• CircuitsIProblem:
Theresistancebetweenpoints a and b is R =2 kΩ whichwecheckbyhookingup a 2 kV batterybetween a and b andverifying that 1 A ofcurrentflowsfromit.Hereisan NGSPICE netlistthatsimulatesthecircuit:
ATesseractisa4-dimensional‘hypercube’whichiswhathappenstoa3dimensionalcubewhenyouaddanadditional directionateachvertex.Inthesameway thataddinga3rddirectiontotheverticesof asquaregiveyouacube,addinga4thdirectiontotheverticesofacubegiveyoua Tesseract.Unfortunately,onecannotdrawa Tesseractonapieceofpaperlikewecanfora squareandacube.However,theprojectionof itinto3-dimensionalspacelookssortoflike theabovepicture.Onecancontinueinthis fashiontocreate‘hypercubes’ofhigherand higherdimensionalitybysimplystartingwith acubeofdimension d andaddinganother directiontospaceandthenattachinganother edgetoeachoftheverticestoproduceacube ofdimension d +1
Thisarticlecomesastheresultofaguest lecturethatwehadinmyEEL206Circuits I,course.Asweoftendoinourengineering courseshereattheUniversityofMaryEngineeringSchool,Iinvitedanengineerfromindustrytocomeandspeaktothestudents.For thiscourse,IinvitedClydeEisenbeis,aretired electricalengineer,whoworkedinelectronicsformanyyearswiththecompany3M,to comeandspeaktotheclass.Hespokeabout hiscareerasanelectricalengineerandheimpartedwordsofwisdomandadvicetothestudents.Duringhistalkhechallengedthestudentswiththefollowingproblem.Findthe resistancebetweenpoints a and b inthiscube madeoutof 1Ω resistors:
thenthree,andsoon,untilyoustarttoseethe generalpattern.Inthecaseofaresistorcube, thezerodimensionalcaseisjustasinglepoint withatotalequivalentresistanceofzero.This isnotveryinterestingsincetherearenoresistors,sowewillinsteadbeginwiththenext casewhichisaone-dimensionalcube.This isjustaline,containingaresistor,connecting twopoints.Theresistanceisjustthatofthe resistor–whichinourcaseis 1Ω.Atwodimensionalcubeisasquare: b
+
5
Finally,letusseewhatishappeningto theresistancesasthedimensionofspaceincreases.Sofarwehave:
R1 =1 000
R2 =1 000
ThewaythatClydesolvedthisinclasswasto explainthat,becauseofthesymmetryofthe situation,theverticeswhichareonestepaway from a mustbeatthesamevoltagesince,if yourotatetheentirediagramby 120◦ around thevertex a,youwouldgetexactlythesame diagram.Hencethosevoltagescouldnotbe differentfromeachother.Sincethevoltages onestepawayfrom a arethesame,thenif youhookedupabatteryacross a and b, 1/3 of thecurrentwouldflowdowneachedgeaway from a.Next,eachoftheedgeswhichcontinuefrom a splitintotwoandsohalfofthe current, 1/6 ofthetotal,flowseachway.The exactsameargumentfromtheoppositecornertellsusthat 1/3 ofthetotalcurrentmust flow toward b througheachedgemeeting b Theentirecubeisthereforeequivalenttoacircuitwiththreeparallelresistorsinserieswith sixparallelresistorsinserieswiththreeparallelresistors.Thetotalequivalentresistanceis thus:
Req = 1 3 + 1 6 + 1 3 = 5 6 Ω
atthispointintheclassIinterruptedwitha grin,“Iamgoingtoassignthestudentstofind theequivalentresistanceofa4-dimensional Tesseract!”towhichoneofthestudents,MargaretKuhar,saidwithasmirk,“Ifyoucan drawitontheboardthenwewillfindtheresistance.”Haha.Clevergirl.Sheknowsitis impossibletodrawafourdimensionalcubein threedimensionalspace.
AftertheclassIcouldn’thelpbutcontinue tothinkabouttheproblemoftheequivalent resistanceofaTesseract.Ifigured,whynot seeifIcandoit?Except,insteadofjust theTesseract,whynottrytofindageneral formulafortheequivalentresistanceofan ndimensionalhypercubefor any valueof n?
Weseethatanimaginarylineconnecting a and b hasasymmetryunderreflection.I.e. ifwethinkofthelineasamirroronsideisthe mirrorimageoftheother–meaningthereis asymmetryunderreflection,or 180◦ rotation abouttheaxiscomingoutofthepage.The circuitisequivalenttotworesistorsinseries, inparallelwithanothertworesistorsinseries. Theequivalentresistanceistherefore:
Req = 1 2 + 1 2 =1Ω
Nextwemoveontothreedimensions, andfindtheanswerwefoundaboveforthe cube.Thecaseofthefour-dimensionalcube, orTesseract,isjustavertex a withfouredges leavingitinparallel.Theothersideofthe Tesseracthasvertex b withfouredgesleaving itinparallel.Eachoftheseedgesmustendon avertexandeachvertexmusthavefouredges attachedtoit.Henceeachofthefourlines mustthenbranchintothreemorelinesfora totalof12edgesinparallel.Thetotalresistanceis:
1 4 + 1 12 + 1 12 + 1 4
2 3
Nowwewanttoseeifwecangoeven further!Canwedistinguishageneralpattern here?Let’swriteoutthesumswehavefound sofar:
R3 =0 833
R4 =0 667
R5 =0 533
R6 =0 433
WecanwriteaCprogramwhichproduces thesenumbers:
hypercube.c
#include < stdio.h>
#include < stdlib.h>
#define N30
float Cube( int k, int n) { float i; float R1=1.0; float R2=1.0; float R3=1.0;
for (i=1.0;i <=n k 1;i++)R1 =R1∗ i;
for (i=1.0;i <=k;i++)R2=R2∗ i;
for (i=1.0;i <=n;i++)R3=R3∗ i;
return (R1∗R2)/R3; } int main( int argc, char ∗∗ argv) { float R; int n; for (n=1;n<=N;n++) { R=0.0; for ( int k=0;k<n;k++)R=R +Cube(k,n); printf(”%d%f \ n”,n,R); } return 0; }
Let’sgraphtheoutput:
thisisactuallyaveryinterestingpatternof numberscalleda HarmonicTriangle.Each entryisequaltothesumofthetwoentries directlybelowitandbelowtotheright.For example 1/2=1/3+1/6,or 1/6=1/12+ 1/12,etc.Thegeneralformulain n dimensionsis:
As n →∞ thegraphapproachesthecurve R =2/n.Soaninfinitedimensionalhypercubewillhaveresistance R → 2/∞ =0 Forthosewhoareinterestedinexploringthis problemfurtherhereisapuzzleforyoutotry:
Problem: Wehavegiventhe formulafortheresistancefrom onecornertotheoppositecorner ofan n-dimensionalhypercube. Canyoufindtheresistancebetweenanytwopointsadistance of k resistorsapart?
TheanswerisgiveninD.Singmaster, Problem79-16,SIAMReview,21:4(1978)559,
andalsointhepreprintbyProf.Nicholas PippengerfromHarveyMuddCollegeentitled TheHypercubeofResistors,Asymptotic Expansions,andPreferentialArrangements, whichcanbefoundat https://arxiv. org/abs/0904.1757.Prof.Pippenger alsogivesthedetailedderviationofthe asymptoticlimit, R =2/n,whichwehave foundexperimentally.
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