Advancing Research in Science & Engineering

Welcome to the hub of cutting-edge research happening at the Nuclear Energy, Science, and Engineering Laboratory (NESEL). From advancing thermal transport in nuclear fuels to innovating with computational fluid dynamics in reactor design, our work spans the forefront of engineering and science. Discover groundbreaking projects in radiation detection, pathogen dispersion, nanomaterials, robotics, and much more.

  • NESEL current projects include:

    1. thermal transport in nuclear fuels
    2. computational fluid dynamics analyses of Generation IV reactors
    3. reactor core design, analysis, and simulation
    4. radiation detector development, testing, and simulation
    5. radiation mapping prototype development
    6. neutron facility simulation
    7. tritium control using novel nanomaterials
    8. thermal transport in molten salt reactor fuels
    9. fracture of graphene by impact
    10. understanding pathogen dispersion under UV Light
    11. tracking small insects using Transparent Omnidirectional Locomotion Compensator
    12. magnetically controllable miniaturized swimming robot
    13. cell migration
    14. ion channels and cell volume control
    15. learning to learn engineering
    16. process education methodologies
    17. learning experiences using 3D printed laboratory equipment
    18. faculty development in scholarly teaching.
    • 袗. Zheltonozhsky, M. V. Zheltonozhskaya, M. D. Bondarkov E. B. Farf谩n. 鈥淪pectroscopy of Radiostrontium in Fuel Materials Retrieved from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.鈥 Health Phys. Journal. 120-4, p. 378-386, 2021. []
    • Pikam Pun, Jacobs Brown, Tyler Cobb, Robert Wessells, Dal Hyung Kim, 鈥淣avigation of a Freely Walking Fruit Fly in Infinite Space Using a Transparent Omnidirectional Locomotion Compensator (TOLC).鈥 Sensors, 21(5), 1651, 2021. []
    • Katherine Mitchell, Jungkyu Park, Alex Resnick, Hunter Horner, Eduardo B. Farf谩n, 鈥淧honon Scattering and Thermal Conductivity of Actinide Oxides with Defects.鈥 Applied Sciences, 10(5), 1860, 2020. []
    • Kim, Y., Yang, J., Diong, B. M., Yee, T. M. 鈥淔easibility of a Novel Transit Vehicle Concept - Slim Modular Flexible Electric Bus Rapid Transit (SMFe-BRT).鈥 International Conference on Transportation and Development, 2020. []
    • Yizeng Li, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, Runchen Zhao, Yoichiro Mori, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淭he Importance of Water and Hydraulic Pressure in Cell Dynamics.鈥 Cell Sci. 133 (20), jcs240341, 2020. []
    • Haiyang Wang, Yizeng Li, Jing Yang, Petr Kalab, Xing Duan, Devin B. Mair, Sean X. Sun, Rong Li. 鈥淪ymmetry Breaking in Hydrodynamic Forces Drives Spindle Rotation in Mammalian Oocyte Meiosis.鈥 Adv. 6(14), eaaz5004, 2020. []
    • Xing Duan, Yizeng Li, Kexi Yi, Fengli Guo, Haiyang Wang, Pei Hsun Wu, Jing Yang, Devin Mair, Edwin Morales Obregon, Petr Kalab, Denis Wirtz, Sean X. Sun, Rong Li. 鈥淒ynamic Organelle Distribution Initiates Actin-Based Spindle Migration in Mouse Oocytes.鈥 Commun. 11(1), 277, 2020. []
    • Leasure, D. Apple, S. Beyerlein, and T. Utschig, 鈥淎 System for Learning by Performance (LxP).鈥 International Journal of Process Education, Vol. 11, no. 1, July 2020. []
    • Jungkyu Park, Paul Pena, Ayse Tekes, 鈥淭hermal Transport Behavior of Carbon Nanotube鈥揋raphene Junction Under Deformation.鈥 International Journal of Nanoscience, p.1950013, 2019. []
    • Resnick, K. Mitchell, Jungkyu Park, E.B. Farf谩n, T. Yee, 鈥淭hermal Transport Study in Actinide Oxides with Point Defects.鈥 Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 51(5), 1398-1405, 2019. []
    • Liyuan Tan, Jamel Ali, U Kei Cheang, Xiangcheng Shi, Dal Hyung Kim, Min Jun Kim, 鈥溛-PIV Measurements of Photolithography-Fabricated Achiral Microswimmers.鈥 Micromachines 2019, 10(12), 865; 2019. []
    • James Mathias, Dal Hyung Kim, 鈥淐ost-Effective, Time-Efficient Passenger Rail System for the Eastern United States.鈥 Journal of Advanced Transportation. Vol 2019, Article ID 4364162, 12 pages, 2019. []
    • Nielsen, K., Morse, D., Yee, T., Zhang, J. 鈥淐hapter 12: Pump Intakes.鈥 Computational Fluid Dynamics: Applications in Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Treatment, 2019.
    • Yee, T. M., Catano-Lopera, Y., Zhang, J. 鈥淐hapter 9: Aereation.鈥 Computational Fluid Dynamics: Applications in Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Treatment, 2019.
    • Panagiotis Mistriotis, Emily Wisniewski, Kaustav Bera, Jeremy Keys, Yizeng Li, Soontorn Tuntithavornwat, Robert A. Law, Nicolas Perez, Eda Erdogmus, Yuqi Zhang, Runchen Zhao, Sean X. Sun, Petr Kalab, Jan Lammerding, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos. 鈥淐onfinement Hinders Motility by Inducing RhoA-Mediated Nuclear Influx, Volume Expansion and Blebbing.鈥 Cell Biol. 218(12), 4093 鈥 4111, 2019. []
    • Yizeng Li, Lingxing Yao, Yoichiro Mori, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淥n the Energy Efficiency of Cell Migration in Diverse Physical Environments.鈥 Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 116(48), 23894 鈥 23900. 2019. []
    • Runchen Zhao, Alexandros Afthinos, Tian Zhu, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Yizeng Li, Selma A. Serra, Yuqi Zhang, Christopher L. Yankaskas, Shuyu He, Miguel A. Valverde, Sean X. Sun, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos. 鈥淐ell Sensing and Decision-Making in Confinement: The role of TRPM7 in the tug of War Between Hydraulic Pressure and Cross-Sectional Area.鈥 Adv. 5(7), eaaw7243, 2019. []
    • Sitong Zhou, Michael Giannetto, James DeCourcey, Hongyi Kang, Ning Kang, Yizeng Li, Suilan Zheng, Hetince Zhao, William R. Simmons, Helen S. Wei, Bodine M. David, Philip S. Low, Maiken Nedergaard, Jiandi Wan. 鈥淥xygen Tension-Mediated Erythrocyte Membrane Interactions Regulate Cerebral Capillary Hyperemia.鈥 Adv. 5(5), eaaw4466, 2019. []
    • Debonil Maity, Yizeng Li, Yun Chen, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淩esponse of Collagen Matrices under Pressure and Hydraulic Resistance in Hydrogel.鈥 Soft Matter 15(12), 2617 鈥 2626, 2019. []
    • Tekes, T. Utschig, and T. Johns. 鈥淒emonstration of Vibration Control Using a Compliant Parallel Arm Mechanism.鈥 International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, November, 2019. []
    • T. Utschig, 鈥淭eam-Based Learning in Nuclear Engineering.鈥 Engaged Student Learning: Essays on Best Practices in the University System of Georgia, Vol. 1, 2019. []
    • Jungkyu Park, Eduardo B. Farf谩n, Katherine Mitchell, Alex Resnick, Christian Enriquez, Tien Yee. 鈥淪ensitivity of thermal transport in thorium dioxide to defects.鈥 Journal of Nuclear Materials, 504, 198-205, 2018. []
    • Jungkyu Park, Eduardo B. Farf谩n, and Christian Enriquez. 鈥淭hermal Transport in Thorium Dioxide.鈥 Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 50, 731-737, 2018. []
    • Dal Hyung Kim, Jungsoo Kim, Joao C Marques, Abhinav Grama, David G C Hildebrand, Wenchao Gu, Jenifer Li, Drew Robson, 鈥淧an-neuronal Calcium Imaging with Cellular Resolution in Freely Swimming Zebrafish.鈥 Nature Methods 14, no. 11: 1107, 2017. []
    • Cho, H., Yee, T. M., Heo, J. 鈥淎utomated Floodway Determination Using Particle Swarm Optimization.鈥 MDPI, Water 10(10), 2018. []
    • Zhang, J., Yee, T. M. 鈥淓xtent, Capacity and Possibilities of Computational Fluid Dynamics as a Design Tool for Pump Intake: A Review.鈥 Water Science and Technology. Water Supply, 2018. []
    • Yizeng Li, Sean X. Sun, 鈥淭ransition between Actin-Driven and Water-Driven Cell Migration Depends on The External Hydraulic Resistance.鈥 J. 114(12), 2965 鈥 2973, 2018. []
    • Florence Yellin, Yizeng Li, Varun K. A. Sreenivasan, Brenda Farrell, Manu B. Johny, David Yue, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淓lectromechanics and Volume Dynamics in Non-excitable Tissue Cells.鈥 J. 114(9), 2231鈥2242, 2018 (Featured Article). []
    • Hurd, T.T. Utschig, and S. Beyerlein, 鈥淯se of Reading Logs to Promote Learning to Learn in a Freshman Course.鈥 International Journal of Process Education, Vol. 9, no. 1, May 2018. []
    • Yizeng Li, Lijuan He, Nicolas A. P. Gonzalez, Jenna Graham, Charles Wolgemuth, Denis Wirtz, Sean X. Sun, 鈥淕oing with the Flow: Water Flux and Cell Shape during Cytokinesis.鈥 J., 113(11), 2487鈥2495, 2017. [Link]
    • Jiaxiang Tao, Yizeng Li, Dhruv K. Vig, Sean X. Sun, 鈥淐ell Mechanics: A Dialogue.鈥 Prog. Phys., 80(3), 036601, 2017. []
    • L. Lowder, M.M. Atiqullah, T.M. Yee, S. Das, M.A. Karim, D.R. Ferreira, A. Kaleed, R. Singh, D. Colebeck, and T.T Utschig, 鈥淧eer Observation: Improvement of Teaching Effectiveness through Class Participation at a Polytechnic University.鈥 Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research, Vol. 18, no. 4, p. 51-56, Oct-Dec 2017. []
    • Yizeng Li, Karl Grosh, 鈥淭he Coda of the Transient Response in a Sensitive Cochlea: A Computational Modeling Study.鈥 PLoS Comp. Biol., 12(7), e1005015, 2016. [Link]
    • Jain and T.T. Utschig, 鈥淟everaging Elements of Process Education to Extend Biggs鈥 Model of Constructive Alignment for Increasing Learner Achievement.鈥 International Journal of Process Education, Vol. 8, no. 2, September 2016. []
    • T.T. Utschig, 鈥淐ontributing Editor, 25 Years of Process Education: Commemorating 25 Years of Process Education and the 10th Anniversary of the Academy of Process Educators.鈥 International Journal of Process Education, Vol. 8, no. 1, February 2016. []
    • Lingxing Yao, Yizeng Li, Yoichiro Mori, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淒eciphering the Role of Myosin Contraction in Mammalian Cell Migration Velocity and Energy Output.鈥 The American Society for Cell Biology, EMBO Meeting, December 2鈥16, 2020. Virtual.
    • Mohammad Ikbal Choudhury, Yizeng Li, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Eryn Dixon, A. C. N. Vasconcelos, Debonil Maity, Morgan Benson, Rebecca Walker, Feng Qian, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, Owen Woodward, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淭rans-epithelial Fluid Pumping Performance of Renal Epithelial Cells and Mechanics of Cystic Expansion.鈥 The American Society for Cell Biology, EMBO Meeting, December 2鈥16, 2020. Virtual.
    • N.Giannakakos, A. Tekes, and T. Utschig. 鈥2 Dof Compliant 3d-Ple System Demonstrating Fundamentals of Vibrations and Passive Vibration Isolation.鈥 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, an American Society of Mechanical Engineers conference, Portland, OR, November 16-19, 2020.
    • Van Slyke and T. Utschig. 鈥淒eveloping Tips for Performance Mentoring,鈥 Process Education Virtual Conference, June 25-27, 2020.
    • Khalid and T. Utschig. 鈥淯sing and Education Ideas Forum to Foster Institutional Innovation Starting from the Grassroots Level.鈥 2020 American Society for Engineering Education Virtual Conference, June 21-24, 2020.
    • Khalid and T. Utschig. 鈥淔ostering Institutional Innovation through an Engineering Education Ideas.鈥 ASEE Southeastern Section Conference, Auburn, AL, March 8-10, 2020.
    • Alex Resnick, Jungkyu Park, Biya Haile, Eduardo B. Farf谩n, 鈥淭hree-Dimensional Printing of Carbon Nanostructures.鈥 ASME IMECE 2019, November 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah.
    • K.Mitchell, H. Honer, A. Resnick, Jungkyu Park, E. B. Farf谩n, T. Yee, A. Hummel, 鈥淪ensitivity of Thermal Transport in Uranium Dioxide to Fission Gas.鈥 ASME IMECE 2019, November 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah.
    • K.Mitchell, H. Honer, A. Resnick, Jungkyu Park, E. B. Farf谩n, T. Yee, A. Hummel, 鈥淭hermal Transport in Actinide Oxide Fuels with Interstitial Defects.鈥 ASME IMECE 2019, November 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah.
    • Dal Hyung Kim, 鈥淚mage Registration for fluorescence-based brain images in larval zebrafish.鈥 20th KOCSEA Technical Symposium, Atlanta, GA, USA, November 17, 2019
    • J.Baudier, T. Stromie, and T. Utschig, 鈥淗umanizing Relationships: Building Connections Through a Learning-Focused Syllabus Study,鈥 Proceedings, Professional Organizational Development Network Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, November 13-17, 2019.
    • S.R. Chaudhury, J. Foo, A. McCauley, C. Mercedez, M. Seiler, T. Utschig, M. Wallace, B. White, and K. Yasuhara, 鈥淐onnecting with STEM Educators: Conversations Addressing Challenges and Opportunities,鈥 Proceedings, Professional Organizational Development Network Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, November 13-17, 2019.
    • Runchen Zhao, Alexandros Afthinos, Tian Zhu, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Yizeng Li, Selma Serra, Yuqi Zhang, Christopher L. Yankaskas, Miguel Valverde, Sean X. Sun, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos. 鈥淐ell Sensing and Decision-Making in Confinement: The Role of TRPM7 in a Tug of War between Hydraulic Pressure and Cross-Sectional Area.鈥 2019 AIChE Annual Meeting. November 10鈥15, 2019, Hyatt Regency, Orlando, FL. 
    • Y. Woldermariam, M. Garcia, T. Utschig, and A. Tekes. 鈥淒esign, Development, and Implementation of Vibratory Mechanisms to be Utilized in Dynamics and Vibrations Courses,鈥 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, an American Society of Mechanical Engineers conference, Salt Lake City, UT, November 11-14, 2019.
    • Emily Wisniewski, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Kaustav Bera, Jeremy Keys, Yizeng Li, Soontorn Tuntithavornwat, Robert Law, Eda Erdogmus, Yuqi Zhang, Runchen Zhao, Sean X. Sun, Petr Kalab, Jan Lammerding and Konstantinos Konstantopoulos. 鈥淐onfined Cell Migration Induces Nuclear Volume Expansion and Blebbing by Triggering RhoA-Mediated Nuclear Influx.鈥 2019 AIChE Annual Meeting. November 10鈥15, 2019, Hyatt Regency, Orlando, FL. 
    • Runchen Zhao, Alexandros Afthinos, Tian Zhu, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Yizeng Li, Selma Serra, Yuqi Zhang, Christopher L. Yankaskas, Miguel Valverde, Sean X. Sun, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos. 鈥淐ell Sensing and Decision-Making in Confinement: The Role of TRPM7 in a Tug of War between Hydraulic Pressure and Cross-Sectional Area.鈥 2019 BMES Annual Meeting. October 16鈥19, 2019. Philadelphia, PA.
    • Emily Wisniewski, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Kaustav Bera, Jeremy Keys, Yizeng Li, Soontorn Tuntithavornwat, Robert Law, Eda Erdogmus, Yuqi Zhang, Runchen Zhao, Sean X. Sun, Petr Kalab, Jan Lammerding and Konstantinos Konstantopoulos. 鈥淐onfined Cell Migration Induces Nuclear Volume Expansion and Blebbing by Triggering RhoA-Mediated Nuclear Influx.鈥 2019 BMES Annual Meeting. October 16鈥19, 2019. Philadelphia, PA. 
    • T.Utschig, D. Leasure, and D. Apple. 鈥淟earning by Performing (LxP) 鈥 A Practical Framework for Authentic Learning鈥, ISSOTL19 - SoTL Without Boarders: Engaged Practices for Social Change, Atlanta, GA, October 9-12, 2019.
    • T.Utschig, T. Stromie, and J. Baudier. 鈥淏uilding Bridges: Connecting Faculty and Students Through Learning-Focused Syllabi,鈥 ISSOTL19 - SoTL Without Boarders: Engaged Practices for Social Change, Atlanta, GA, October 9-12, 2019.
    • T.Utschig. 鈥淭eaching Students to Generalize Knowledge,鈥 Process Education Conference, Mobile, AL, June 24-26, 2019.
    • Chan-Hilton, J. Morelock, E. Ingram, and T.T. Utschig. 鈥淐onnecting Theory with Practice: Four Change Projects in Faculty Development for Engineering,鈥 American Society for Engineering Education Conference, Tampa, FL, June 16-19, 2019.
    • K.Mitchell, A. Resnick, Jungkyu Park, E. B. Farf谩n, T. Yee, A. Hummel, 鈥淓ffect of Interstitial Point Defect on Thermal Transport in Uranium Dioxide and Plutonium Dioxide.鈥 American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting 2019, June 2019, Minneapolis, MN.
    • Runchen Zhao, Alexandros Afthinos, Tian Zhu, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Yizeng Li, Selma Serra, Yuqi Zhang, Christopher L. Yankaskas, Miguel Valverde, Sean X. Sun, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos. 鈥淐ell Sensing and Decision-Making in Confinement: The Role of TRPM7 in a Tug of War between Hydraulic Pressure and Cross-Sectional Area.鈥 8th International Conference on Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, May 28鈥31, 2019, Baltimore, MD.
    • Yizeng Li, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淐ells under Different Physical Environments Utilize Different Force-Generation Mechanisms and Consume Different Energy to Migrate.鈥 Philly Motility 2019. May 4, 2019, Drexel University, Main Campus, Philadelphia, PA. 
    • Yizeng Li, Debonil Maity, Sean. X. Sun. 鈥淓xternal Hydraulic Resistance Influences Cell Motility.鈥 The Biophysical Society 63rd Annual Meeting, March 2鈥6, 2019, Baltimore, MD USA. Biophys. J. 116 (3), 124a, 2019.
    • Mohammad Ikbal Choudhury, Yizeng Li, Panagiotis Mistriotis, Eryn Dixon, Debonil Maity, Rebecca Walker, Morgan Benson, Leigha Martin, Fatima Koroma, Feng Qian, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, Owen Woodward, Sean Sun. 鈥淭ubular Renal Epithelia Cells are Active Mechanobiological Water Pumps.鈥 The Biophysical Society 63rd Annual Meeting, March 2鈥6, 2019, Baltimore, MD USA. Biophys. J. 116 (3), 244a, 2019. 
    • Sisi Jia, Siew Cheng Phua, Yuta Nihongaki, Yizeng Li, Michael Pacella, Sean X. Sun, Takanari Inoue, Rebecca Schulman. 鈥淕rowth and Site-Specific Organization of Micron-Scale Biomolecular Devices on Living Mammalian Cells.鈥 The Biophysical Society 63rd Annual Meeting, March 2鈥6, 2019, Baltimore, MD.
    • Resnick, K. Mitchell, Jungkyu Park, H. Maier, E. Farfan, T. Yee, C. Velasquez, 鈥淭hermal Transport in Defective Actinide Oxides.鈥 ASME IMECE 2018, November 2018, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • Jungkyu Park, Paul Pena, 鈥淪train Effect on Thermal Transport in Carbon Nanotube-Graphene Junctions.鈥 ASME IMECE 2018, November 2018, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • Ayse Tekes and Jungkyu Park, 鈥淒esign and Analysis of Electrostatically Actuated Mechanical Sensor For Graphene.鈥 ASME IMECE 2018, November 2018, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • Jungkyu Park, E. Farfan, K. Mitchell, A. Resnick, C. Enriquez, T. Yee, 鈥淭hermal Conductivity of Thorium Dioxide with Defects.鈥 ANS Annual Meeting, June 17-21, 2018, Philadelphia, PA.
    • Panagiotis Mistriotis, Emily Wisniewski, Yizeng Li, Robert Law, Kaustav Bera, Soontorn Tuntithavornwat, Alexandros Afthinos, Runchen Zhao, Sean X. Sun, Petr Kalab, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos. 鈥淧erinuclear Actin Flow Promotes Efficient Cell Migration in Confinement.鈥 2018 AIChE Annual Meeting (Food, Pharmaceutical & Bioengineering Division). October 28 鈥 November 2, 2018, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • Yizeng Li, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淲ater, Ion, and Actin Dynamics in Cell Migration, Cytokinesis, and Volume Control.鈥 2018 BMES Annual Meeting. October 17鈥20, 2018. Atlanta, GA.
    • Yizeng Li, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淐ellular Responses to Different Hydrodynamic Environments.鈥 Mechbio Conference 2018: The Mechanome in Action. July 26 鈥 27, 2018. Gross Hall Conference Center, UC Irvine.
    • T.T. Utschig, 鈥淪TEM Consultations 鈥 Are STEM Faculty Really So Unique?鈥 Professional Organizational Development Conference, Portland, OR, November 14-18, 2018.
    • T.T. Utschig, W.L. Scheller II, J. Morgan, D.M. Litynski, D. Leasure, M. El-Sayed, V. Cox, S.R. Chaudhury, S. Beyerlein, and D. Apple. 鈥淟earning to Learn Engineering 鈥 A Learning Sciences Approach to Engineering Curriculum Design and Implementation,鈥 Frontiers in Education Conference, San Jose, CA, October 3-6, 2018.
    • T.T. Utschig. 鈥淐reating a Usable Educational Development Assessment Plan,鈥 The International Consortium for Educational Development Conference, Atlanta, GA, June 15-18, 2018.
    • Yizeng Li, Kaustav Bera, Alexandros Afthinos, Runchen Zhao, Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淭ransition Between Actin-Driven and Water-Driven Cell Migration Depends on the External Hydraulic Resistance.鈥 The American Society for Cell Biology, EMBO Meeting, December 2鈥6, 2017, Philadelphia, PA.
    • Yizeng Li, Lijuan He, Nicolas A. P. Gonzalez, Jenna Graham, Charles Wolgemuth, Denis Wirtz, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淕oing with the Flow: Water Flux and Cell Shape During Cytokinesis.鈥 The American Society for Cell Biology, EMBO Meeting, December 2鈥6, 2017, Philadelphia, PA. 
    • Jungkyu Park, Eduardo B. Farf谩n, Christian Enriquez, Nicholas Kinder and Matthew Greeson. 鈥淭hermal Transport in Thorium Dioxide.鈥 ASME IMECE 2017, November 3-9, 2017, Tampa, Florida.
    • S.Beyerlein, D. Apple, and T.T. Utschig. 鈥淒eveloping Engineering Capacity in Students 鈥 A Learning to Learn Engineering Approach,鈥 Transforming STEM Higher Education: Discovery, Innovation, and the Value of Evidence, an Association of American Colleges and Universities Conference, San Francisco, CA, November 2-4, 2017.
    • Jungkyu Park and Eduardo B. Farf谩n. 鈥淭hermal Transport in Thorium Dioxide.鈥 2017 ANS Winter Conference and Nuclear Technology Expo., October 29-November 2, 2017, Washington, DC.
    • R.V. Pucha, S.H. Newton, M. Alemdar, J. Lindsey, and T.T. Utschig. 鈥淎ssessing Concept Generation Intervention Strategies for Creativity Using Design Problems in Freshman Engineering Graphics Course,鈥 American Society for Engineering Education Conference, Columbus, OH, June 25-28, 2017.
    • T.T. Utschig, E. Farfan, S. Das, and V. Sooklal. 鈥淢anaging Interdisciplinary Senior Design with Nuclear Applications,鈥 American Society for Engineering Education Conference, Columbus, OH, June 25-28, 2017.
    • Yizeng Li, Sean X. Sun. 鈥淔-Actin and Water both Can Drive Cell Migration in Different Physical Environments, Physical Science of Cancer.鈥 Gordon Research Conference, February 5鈥10, 2017, Hotel Galvez, Galveston, TX.
    • R.V. Pucha, S.H. Newton, A. Alemdar, and T.T. Utschig. 鈥淧rocess-Oriented Intervention and Reflection Strategies for Creativity in Student Design Projects,鈥 International Conference on Design Creativity, Atlanta, GA, November 2-4, 2016.
    • E.Jordan, L. Stewart, T. Utschig, and M. DiPietro. 鈥淛ust-in-Time Programming for Institutional Transitions,鈥 Proceedings, Professional Organizational Development Network Conference, Louisville, KY, November 9-13, 2016.
    • R.V. Pucha, T.T. Utschig, S.H. Newton, M. Alemdar, R. Moore, and C.R. Noyes. 鈥淐ritical and Creative Thinking Activities for Engaged Learning in a Graphics and Visualization Course,鈥 American Society for Engineering Education Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 26-29, 2016.
    • T.T. Utschig, J. Ludlum, and K. DeAmicis. 鈥淓xploring Relationships Among SRI Survey Items to Overall Effectiveness,鈥 Association for Institutional Research Annual Forum, New Orleans, LA, May 31-June 3, 2016. 

Type of Research

  • Efficient thermal transport in nuclear fuels is an important research topic that is directly related to the life-time of nuclear fuels. During the operation of a nuclear reactor, a large temperature gradient is induced in nuclear fuel pellets; the temperature at the center of fuel pellets becomes much higher when compared to the temperature at the outer shells of the pellets. This large temperature gradient generates thermal stresses that generally result in cracks in fuel pellets. Moreover, the hot spots in fuel pellets increases the rate of fission gas release and can cause fuel pellet swelling, due to fission gas bubbles and thermal expansion. Fission gas release degrades the fuel鈥檚 mechanical quality further by causing embrittlement in grain boundaries. Therefore, thermal transport study is an important research topic in nuclear fuels.

    NESEL researchers have employed molecular dynamics simulations to explore thermal transport in various oxide nuclear fuels with defects such as uranium oxide and plutonium oxide. In particular, the effect of vacancy and substitutional defects on the thermal transport in actinide oxides have been investigated. It has been found that the thermal conductivities of these oxide nuclear fuels are significantly reduced by the presence of vacancy defects. In spite of their small size, oxygen vacancy is shown to alter the thermal conductivity of oxide fuels greatly; 0.1% oxygen vacancy reduces the thermal conductivity of plutonium dioxide by more than 10% when the number of unit cell in length is 100. It has been shown that the missing of larger atoms alters the thermal conductivity of actinide oxides more significantly. For the case of uranium dioxide, 0.1% uranium vacancies decrease the thermal conductivity by 24.6% while the same concentration of oxygen vacancies decreases the thermal conductivity of uranium dioxide by 19.4%. However, the uranium substitutional defects are shown to have a minimal effect on the thermal conductivity of plutonium dioxide because of the small change in the atomic mass.

    NESEL researchers are expanding their thermal transport study to different nuclear fuels such as Molten Salt Reactor nuclear fuels that are drawing attention from researchers these days. The goal is to obtain a microscopic understanding on the thermal transport in these nuclear fuels and propose optimized structures for these nuclear fuels, so they may exhibit efficient thermal transport properties while maintaining their fuel efficiency.

    Schematic of sample preparation for Reverse Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics
    Schematic of sample preparation for Reverse Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics (RNEMD). Nx and Ny denote the number of unit cells in x and y directions, respectively. Ny is chosen to be the same as Nz in the present study. Nx is selected to be the half of the total number of unit cells in the x direction since the characteristic length for thermal conductivity estimation during RNEMD is the distancebetween the hot bath and the cold bath, not the total simulation box length.
    A representative temperature profile during RNEMD simulation
    A representative temperature profile during RNEMD simulation. The thermal gradient is obtained from the linear portion of the temperature profile using the linear regression function in MATLAB.
    Various defects in the unit cell of ThO2.
    Various defects in the unit cell of ThO2.
    Phonon density of states of ThO2 with oxygen and thorium vacancy defects, and uranium substitutional defects.
    Phonon density of states of ThO2 with oxygen and thorium vacancy defects, and uranium substitutional defects.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a numerical technique to analyze fluid flow and phenomena. CFD technique is widely applied across different engineering disciplines, including Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering. NESEL students have the opportunity to be involved in research using the CFD technique to simulate different types of flow phenomena. Among the projects, that NESEL researchers are currently working on simulations of Pebble Bed Reactors (PBRs) and, more recently, the Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs).

    Pebble Bed Reactor (PBR)

    NESEL CFD researchers have modeled the fluid flow within the pebble bed reactor and will continue this effort throughout this year. The goal of this study is to evaluate the possibility of enhancing the performance of the PBR by making adjustments to pebble size and arrangements. PBRs are more cost efficient when heat transfer is optimized. In a pebble-bed reactor, optimizing heat transfer involves the analysis of complex flow. Therefore, CFD is being utilized to simulate fluid movement in a structured cubic packing arrangement with a purpose in finding an optimal size of pebbles that will yield the fastest heat transfer rate. The simple cubic pebble arrangement has been used to determine if pebble size was key to optimizing heat transfer in the reactor. More complex arrangements of pebbles have also been used as comparison to the simple cubic packing in order to determine if changing pebble size in new arrangements were just as significant in its effects towards heat transfer characteristics. An additional purpose to this work has been to observe the effect of pebble packing on the temperature, velocity, and pressure distribution around the pebble. To study only the effects from the arrangement of pebbles, the simulations consist of the standard six-centimeter pebbles in different packing arrangements with a fixed inlet velocity and a fixed pebble surface temperature. To study the effects of pebble size, the standard six-centimeter pebble was reduced to three centimeters in diameter for each arrangement. The key packing structures being considered are simple cubic packing, body centered close packing, and hexagonal close packing.

     

    Temperature distribution of pebble bed reactor
    Temperature distribution of pebble bed reactor taken at two different locations (one cutting through the center of the pebbles and the other cutting through void space)

     

    Molten Salt Reactor (MSR)

    The purpose of this research is to observe how fluid flow, rheology and geometry of the reactor affects temperature profile within the reactor. MSRs are a generation IV reactors that have been selected by the World Nuclear Association for their potential in the advancement of reactor sustainability, economics, safety, reliability, and proliferation-resistance. MSRs were originally designed in the 60s by the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Oak Ridge National Laboratory and have recently gained popularity because of their economic and technological advantages. Since this prototype鈥檚 introduction to the world, there have been multiple additions to the MSR family. These additions include different arrangements, fuel compositions, and power outputs. Literature shows differing mixed composition of uranium and flouride salts being utilized in the reactor core. Depending on the mixed composition, each mixture has different effects on the core overall temperature distribution. Temperature distribution within the reactor is important due to safety concerns. In addition, the overall output temperature determines the power output and efficiency of the reactor. This research effort involved studying the temperature variation in MSRs when different salt mixtures are used. NESEL researchers have used CFD to study the influence of the different mixtures on temperature distribution and geometry in homogenizing the flow velocity within the reactor. This research may lead to a more reliable, efficient and safer MSR reactor design.

  • One of the NESEL research focuses is an exploratory exercise of the nuclear attributes of molten salt fuels in MSRs; particularly, fluoride-based thorium salts and the feasibility of their use in nuclear reactors. A scoping analysis is being performed to look at the behavior of molten salts in various reactor core geometric configurations, such as a cylindrical core of various dimensions and core arrangement in a repeated lattice structure.  The Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP), developed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and OpenFOAM are being used for MSR simulations. In conjunction with other NESEL research projects, this study is part of an effort to provide integral data for the completion of a comprehensive study of MSRs, their fuels, and the potential part they play for the future of the nuclear power industry.
    Reactor Core Layout
    Core layout of a graphite moderated, micro-reactor concept. Full core view (without control drums/elements).
    Reacator core micro reactor concept
    Core layout of a graphite moderated, micro-reactor concept. Full core view (Up close view of each lattice hex).
    Core reactor pipe cooled
    Heat pipe-cooled, fast micro-reactor design using curved fuel plate elements.
    Core reactor section pipe cooled
    Section of Heat pipe-cooled, fast micro-reactor design using curved fuel plate elements.
  •  

    Fully functional radiation detectors have been developed, calibrated, and tested using various beta and gamma radiation sources 鈥 including phosphorous-32, cobolt-60, cesium-137, and americium-241. The calibration is completed using calibrated rate meters. The detectors are compact and rugged. They can be wirelessly connected to a smart phone, tablet, or computer for data transmission. A general-purpose Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code has been used to simulate the developed detectors for various radioactive sources and source-detector geometries. The simplicity and cost of the detectors make them ideal detection devices for use in radioactively contaminated areas while allowing the monitoring of dose rates and cumulated dose levels from a distance, due to its wireless capabilities.

  • Most current radiation detection technology only works in a 鈥測ou鈥檙e getting warmer/colder鈥 functionality. The detection technologies currently available that generate an image, offer either a still image 鈥 whose film must be removed and developed 鈥 or a video image using a cost-prohibitive camera, the weights of which can limit its portability and functionality. No cost effective and reasonably mobile solutions for gamma imaging exist. Such technology has a wide range of possible applications including, but not limited to, shipping container safety scanning, nuclear contamination evaluation, nuclear medicine, non-destructive testing, and general nuclear physics research. By leveraging the existing technology, such as digital sensors, a live video gamma detector could be developed using pinhole camera construction of various designs. The pinhole camera must be constructed of a material that would not permit gamma radiation to pass outside the hole. The material of choice for this use include materials with a high atomic numbers such as tungsten and depleted uranium. The development of these devices include simulations using MCNP (Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code).
  • The development of a neutron source facility is being considered at Kennesaw State University (KSU). A californium-252 source will allow researchers at 黑料网 to complete a number of experiments, including activation of samples. The neutron source will be encased in a stainless steel capsule surrounded by water, which will be contained in a larger vessel and located in the middle of a room. The walls of the room will be made of concrete that will form a maze. In addition, concrete shielding will be added to the ceiling and floor to minimize ski-shine and ground-shine effects, respectively. The facility should be tested for safety and functionality before any construction is done.

    A general-purpose Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code has been  used to simulate neutron transport to determine the neutron shielding properties of water and concrete. This information has been analyzed to determine the unique depths of concrete and water that are safe enough for the public. This information has been used to simulate a safe neutron source facility within a general-purpose Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP). The facility is a room within a building; however, the concrete walls and water container will be added to the existing structure. During the simulations, various detectors have been placed around and inside of the facility at critical points within the simulation to measure radiation. The neutron source facility simulation yield results that indicated that the operation of the facility is safe for the public (less than 0.1 rem/yr) and facility staff (less than 5 rem/yr).

    Neutron facility MCNP

    MCNP simulation of sealed californium-252 source located in the middle of the blue water container. The red dots represent locations of dose and dose rate measurements.
  • Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that has a detrimental health effect in humans. Advances and growing interests in molten salt reactor fuels demand more research efforts for tritium generation and the efficient control of such hydrogen isotope. Graphene is a single layer of graphite that possesses a highly efficient thermal transport property and high mechanical strength. We utilize molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the possibility of using graphene for tritium control.
    Simulation structure of graphene with 100 tritium atoms (a) before impact and (b) after impact.
    Simulation structure of graphene with 100 tritium atoms (a) before impact and (b) after impact.
  • Molten salts are expected to play a vital role in future nuclear power technologies. For example, molten salts can be used as a nuclear fuel for molten salt reactors and as a coolant for high temperature reactors. Microscopic understanding on the thermal transport of such materials is critical to the optimization of them for fuel efficiency and safety. We utilize molecular dynamics to explore the thermal transport properties of a LiF-ThF4 mixture that is a representative molten salt reactor fuel candidate.
    Simulation structure of LiF-ThF4 during RNEMD.
    Simulation structure of LiF-ThF4 during RNEMD.
    Thermal conductivity and density of LiF-ThF4 as a function of ThF4 mole fraction at 1000 K.
    Thermal conductivity and density of LiF-ThF4 as a function of ThF4 mole fraction at 1000 K.
  • Graphene is a single layer of graphite and is expected to be the strongest material found in history. We investigate the fracture toughness of graphene using molecular dynamics simulations.
    A silver nanoparticle is breaking a single layer graphene sheet.
    A silver nanoparticle is breaking a single layer graphene sheet.
     
  • Water acts as a transport mechanism for many microorganisms, including Escherichia coli (E. coli). E. coli when present in a water source poses health risk to consumers. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a technology widely used in disinfection of microorganisms and shows promising potentially to be applied to water and surface disinfection. However, studies and specific details regarding the UV radiation technology has thus far mainly been kept proprietary. This study will attempt to numerically study the potential use of UV source in disinfecting E. Coli in moving liquid. In the numerical study, a 0.9 m long, 65 Watts UV light source was used at the top, midpoint length of a 2.7m long and 0.2m wide channel. The E. coli source was placed at the bottom midpoint of the channel. With water entering and exiting the channel, preliminary simulation result show that the spread and trajectory of E. Coli in moving water on a flat surface, with the present of ultraviolet light directly above the source, can be altered and areas with critical mass of pathogens can be identified. The outcome of this study may aid in design of more efficient water disinfection system in the future. 

     

    a) Normalized pathogen concentration without UV influence and figure. b) Normalized pathogen concentration with UV influence.
    a) Normalized pathogen concentration without UV influence and figure. b) Normalized pathogen concentration with UV influence.
  • Most behavior studies in small insects such as a fruit fly (Drosophila Melanogaster) and an ant have been performed in a limited spatial chamber or by tethering its body on a fixture, which restricts its natural behavior. We are developing the tracking system for these small insects, which enables its navigation without any motion restrictions. For a fruit fly, the transparent sphere is being used to compensate motion of a freely walking fly without physical tethering. These instruments minimize potential injury or damages during the longitudinal experiment. These will greatly expand the repertoire of natural behaviors that can be studied with cellular resolution calcium imaging, including spatial navigation, social behavior, feeding, and reward. In addition, we are investigating the effects of radiation on these animals鈥 locomotion in real-time.
    Transparent Omnidirectional Locomotion Compensator (TOLC) for small insects
    Transparent Omnidirectional Locomotion Compensator (TOLC) for small insects
  • Understanding behaviors in animals is challenging because it is governed by complex interaction with other animals and the environment.  Recently, the Ethorobotics, an interdisciplinary research area at the interface of robotics and ethology, has been highlighted, which enables us to investigate interactive behavior extensively using a robotic system.  The integration of the biological creature and robotic systems, both physically and cognitively, becomes a new promising paradigm of conventional biological research. However, limited ethorobotic approaches have been utilized for measuring behaviors in small-scale animals such as a larval zebrafish due to the difficulty in developing limited size robots. We are studying fabrication and control of a magnetic-controllable miniaturized swimming robot that interacts with a small larval fish using the magnetic particle embedded soft polymer.
    A miniaturized swimming robot
    A miniaturized swimming robot. (a) Fabrication of a swimming robot, which consists of magnetic particles and soft polymer (b) Interaction between a larval zebrafish and a miniatured swimming robot.
  • Cell migration, a critical process for morphogenesis, immune response, wound healing, tissue regeneration, and cancer metastasis, is a highly coordinated process involving intracellular and extracellular biophysical properties. Depending on the physical environment in which cells reside, cells can utilize different mechanisms to migrate, such as actin polymerization or water flux. A mathematical model has been developed to determine various mechanisms of force generation behind cell migration. The model contains two fluid phases, cytosol and actin network, and solute diffusion. The model predictions will provide insights into how cells in vivo develop their migratory strategies

     

    A diagram of a two-phase cell migration model where the cytosol and the actin network are equally treated.
    A diagram of a two-phase cell migration model where the cytosol and the actin network are equally treated. Both water flux and actin polymerization can affect cell migration.
  • Cells actively control their volume and ionic content to maintain proper functions. Cell volume is regulated by water permeation across the cell membrane, and the ionic content is regulated by ion channels and pumps. The chemical-potential difference of water across the membrane is determined by the osmotic and hydrostatic pressure across the cell. The hydrostatic pressure difference is also related to the cortical tension of the cell. These create strong coupling among osmosis, cell volume, ion channel activities, hydrostatic pressure, and cortical tension. I develop mathematical models to identify the physical processes that control the couplings.

     

    A diagram of a suspension cell with various ion species and the associated channels and pumps.
    A diagram of a suspension cell with various ion species and the associated channels and pumps. The channels and pumps can regulate cell volume.
  • This research endeavors to illuminate the learning process itself along with development of learning skills in engineering students. This work builds understanding of the various components a framework for engineering learner development that leverages processes allowing learners to learn more effectively, i.e., learning to learn engineering.
  • This theoretical research revolves around the development methodologies that can be used to enhance learning and to spur growth of learning capabilities. Key methodologies include the learning process methodology (especially as adapted to engineering, the methodology for generalizing knowledge, and the performance development methodology).
  • This work consists of designing and experimentally testing learning activities (based on appropriate learning theory) to maximize the benefits of incorporating 3D-PLE systems into lecture and lab courses. Three learning theories are central to these learning activity designs: expectancy-value theory to enhance motivation, growth mindset theory to improve student performance, and social constructivist theory to leverage collaborative learning.

    SDOF Torsional System

  • This work relates to studying faculty adoption of new pedagogical techniques into their teaching repertoire. This involves understanding what motivates their approach to teaching, the impact of the learning culture in engineering on what is viewed as relevant, and what types of changes faculty are willing to spend time pursuing in their teaching either on their own or with colleagues.