The Magazine of the College of Engineering at Lawrence Technological University

INNOVATIONsummer 2018

Bridges to Tomorrow: Putting theory into practice to solve real-world problems Summer 2018 INNOVATION Volume 10

Published by the Office of Marketing and Public Affairs and the CONTENTS College of Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, 21000 W. 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI, 48075-1058; 248.204.2200 or 800.225.5588, ext. 4; fax 248.204.2318; [email protected]; www.ltu.edu. 1 From the Dean Virinder K. Moudgil President of the University 2 Groundbreaking research – for undergraduates From bridges that last a century to better batteries, from road runoff Nabil F. Grace mysteries to better-built steel structures, LTU undergrads get a Dean, College of Engineering University Distinguished Professor unique opportunity to conduct meaningful, thought-leading research Selin Arslan 16 In brief Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs

Corporate partners help provide new laboratories for robotics and Elin Jensen industrial engineering, stormwater management conference draws Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research a big crowd, and much more Innovation Magazine Coordinator

Executive Editor: Bruce J. Annett, Jr. ([email protected]) 24 Faculty and Student achievements New faculty and academic leadership, improved dental drills from Managing Editor: Matthew N. Roush ([email protected])

an LTU lab, ‘King of the Hill’ at a concrete toboggan race, national Writers: Keith Kowalkowski, Matthew N. Roush, awards in architectural engineering, and much more Nikolina Samardzic

35 Student awards Design: NetWorks Design, Inc. Production Team: Sofia Lulgjuraj, Kristine L. Persinger, 36 By the numbers Renee Tambeau

In Blue Devil Country, engineer-athletes are thriving Photography: Nic Lehoux, Justin Munter, Matthew N. Roush, Glenn Triest, and others Back cover © 2018, Lawrence Technological University. All rights reserved. A record MPG and a strong finish for the Blue Devil Motorsports Comments about the magazine, articles, or letters may be sent Supermileage team to the Dean of Engineering. Send address changes to [email protected] or (fax) 248.204.2318.

On the cover: LTU’s A. Alfred Taubman Engineering, Architecture, and Life Sciences Complex, opened in 2016, provides much needed laboratory space for new engineering programs – and also symbolically links the University’s Engineering Building and its Science Building, making it possible to take an “inside passage” indoors through all of the Univer- sity’s major academic buildings. Photo by Nic Lehoux. From the Dean

Welcome to another edition of Innovation, the annual magazine of Lawrence Technological University’s College of Engineering. The current environment in both education and engineering presents challenges and opportunities, and overall the prospects for engineering as a profession have never been brighter. Engineers provide analysis and practi- cal solutions for some of the most vexing problems of the human race, lead- ing to advances in sustainability, healthcare, a wide variety of manufactured products, and the built environment. This year, we continued the buildout of LTU’s A. Alfred Taubman Engi- neering, Life Sciences, and Architecture Complex, which opened in 2016. The new laboratories in this building gave us much-improved and larger spaces for our biomedical engineering, robotics, and entrepreneurial educa- tion programs, and freed up space in our legacy Engineering Building for new laboratories in industrial automation and engineering technology. That new industrial automation lab will be equipped by Siemens Corp., thanks to its substantial donation of cash, hardware, and software. Raj Batra, president of Siemens Digital Factory U.S., is one of our alumni. In addi- Nabil F. Grace, PhD, PE, tion to the lab, the donations will help LTU establish a semi-automated mini assembly line using Siemens FESD, Dean of the College Digital Factory tools. of Engineering, makes LTU also received donations of industrial grade robots, equipment and services from Kuka Robotics and a point during last fall’s Dürr Systems to equip a robotics lab. induction of new members to the LTU Engineering Hall LTU continued its high rankings in various lists of universities and engineering programs, including a of Fame. No. 5 ranking among Michigan colleges and universities for the average annual earnings of its graduates, No. 4 among Michigan’s schools for mechanical engineering majors, and No. 4 among Michigan’s schools for the salaries of both its recent graduates and those with 10 years’ experience. And our students fared well in a variety of intercollegiate competitions. Lawrence Tech’s stature was reinforced by ABET accreditation of eight of our programs. We were most pleased to see accreditation of our newest programs -- Bachelor of Science in Robotics Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and Master of Science in Architectural Engineering. Also accredited were biomedical, civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering. We also inducted five new members into our Engineering Hall of Fame, as you will see on page 11. These accomplished individuals have given of their time to both the engineering profession and their alma mater, and we are grateful for their continuing support. We would like to welcome our new department chairs, Yawen Li in biomedical engineering, and Nabih Jaber in electrical and computer engineering. And we have added impressively educated and experienced faculty members in several of our programs, as you will see in the pages ahead. Overall, it was a wonderful year for the College of Engineering at Lawrence Tech and the support of our mission – to provide a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students for continuing education or the engineering profession, applying scientific knowledge for the benefit of the world.

Sincerely,

Nabil F. Grace, PhD, PE, FESD Dean, College of Engineering University Distinguished Professor

Lawrence Tech Innovation 1 Groundbreaking research – for undergraduates

Lawrence Technological University was founded in 1932 – and by 1934, the university had already adopted a motto, “Theory and Practice.” What that means is taking abstract ideas into the real world to solve tomorrow’s problems. One of the ways LTU does that is through research – including consider- able participation by the University’s undergraduates. LTU’s undergrads get hands-on experience in a wide variety of sponsored research projects to a degree that’s rare in engineering education. Just what are they working on? Many projects and programs, as the pages ahead will tell.

Faculty members and industry observers look on as ever-increasing load is B r i d g e s placed on a bridge beam. LTU’s laboratory equipment can put a million pounds of to tomorrow force on objects.

2 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 3 This bridge beam broke under 264,000 pounds of force.

At left, students prepare re- inforcing bars for placement in concrete. Below, Assistant Professor Mena Bebawy checks their work.

Ongoing research projects have Lawrence Technological University undergraduate stu- dents, graduate students, and faculty working with the Federal Mena Bebawy, assistant professor of civil Highway Administration and four and architectural engineering, is co-prin- cipal investigator. The research contracts state departments of transporta- are funded by the federal government and state departments of transportation tion to demonstrate new highway in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio. bridges that use advanced LTU has pioneered the use of carbon fiber prestressing strands in place of steel materials to stretch their lifespan strands and rebars for the reinforcement of the concrete beams used in most high- to a century. way bridges. The carbon fiber material is far lighter than steel and far more durable, LTU’s Center for Innovative Materials because it doesn’t rust. Research (CIMR) is the center of excel- Bebawy said the research project is lence used for testing under the project, “mainly testing the durability of the next which includes two research contracts generation of carbon fiber prestress- for about $500,000. Nabil Grace, dean ing strands, because it’s a new material. of LTU’s College of Engineering, is the We’re looking at the long term perfor- principal investigator on the grant, and mance of it and for carrying much higher Continued

2 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 3 BRIDGES CONTINUED

The carbon fiber reinforcement strands are visible emerging from the bottom of this bridge beam. prestressing forces that are needed with longer span bridges.” CIMR’s unique array of environmen- tal and loading testing chambers – a fire and loading chamber than can be heated up to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit, and a foul-weather and loading chamber that can simulate everything from blinding ice storms to desert heat at temperatures ranging from -40 to 180 degrees Fahr- enheit – is being used to test the carbon fiber-reinforced bridge sections with the Bebawy said the project includes moni- One of the carbon-fiber-reinforced highway bridge sections is new generation of carbon fiber prestress- toring the performance of carbon-fiber fabricated at a plant in Indiana. ing strands. reinforced concrete bridge beams that are “We’re conducting performance test- being subjected to accelerated exposure research assistants. It helps them build ing under freeze and thaw cycles, severe for three years, data he said can be extrap- their career and strengthens their re- weather conditions, and under fire, as an olated out to predict performance under sume, showing that they have completed example. If for some reason the structure the entire planned 100-year lifespan of hands-on experiments with the design and is exposed to fire, we want to see how the bridge. construction of components actually used long it would last before the bridge would Four LTU undergraduate students are in infrastructure.” collapse,” Bebawy said. currently working on the project, partici- LTU has already supervised the con- The project also studies the strength pating in the construction of laboratory struction of four highway bridges using of the carbon fiber reinforced strands, or test equipment and specimens and collect- the carbon fiber strands – eastbound and how much load it will bear before fail- ing data. westbound M-102 (Eight Mile Road) over ing. CIMR’s equipment includes cranes “We are collecting data every day Plum Creek on the Southfield-Detroit capable of lifting structures up to 25,000 from this experiment,” Grace said. “We border, M-86 over the Prairie River in pounds that are up to 100 feet long, and encourage more undergraduate students southwest Michigan’s St. Joseph County, subjecting them to loads up to a million to apply for the opportunity to participate and I-75 over Sexton and Kilfoil Drain in pounds. in this unique and important project as Allen Park. At 150 feet, the latter is the

4 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 5 “We encourage more undergraduate students to apply for the opportunity to participate in this unique and important project as research assistants.”

After construction of this carbon-fiber-reinforced bridge section on I-75, engineers tested its performance with two heavy trucks side by side.

longest carbon-fiber reinforced bridge ever built in the Western Hemisphere. This year, LTU is participating in the construction of an even larger one, a bridge carrying M-3, Gratiot Avenue, over I-94 in Detroit. Grace said the bridge will be the widest carbon-fiber reinforced bridge ever built in the United States, with 44 carbon fiber reinforced pre- stressed bulb-T sections. “Under MDOT supervision, the fab- rication with carbon fiber prestressing strands started in March, and we are hop- ing to have the bridge open to the public by the end of the year,” Grace said. All the carbon-fiber prestressed con-

Continued The I-75 carbon-fiber-reinforced bridge under construction.

4 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 5 BRIDGES CONTINUED

crete bridges have used 0.6-inch diameter carbon fiber strands. LTU’s latest research project will study the properties of 0.7- inch diameter strands, which will allow the use of fewer strands in bridge design and construction. Like all of LTU’s carbon fiber pre- stressed concrete bridges, the I-75 bridges were outfitted with sensors to monitor stresses and how much the bridge deforms under load. Grace said the data is available to researchers anytime via internet-connected computer or smart- phone. Bebawy said the carbon-fiber reinforce- ment makes the bridges more expensive initially, but studies have shown that their

reduced mainte- Material tests in LTU’s Center nance requirements for Innovative Materials make that initial Research (CIMR) can include investment pay off studies of load, tempera- ture, flames, and more. within 25 years. “This is another example of the excellent partnership be- tween MDOT and Lawrence Tech,” said Matt Chynoweth, chief bridge engineer and director of the Bureau of Bridges and Structures at the Michigan Department of Transportation. “We’ve used Dr. Grace’s designs, his modeling and guidance.” Chynoweth said the beams cost about twice as much as steel-reinforced beams that have been used for highway bridges for decades. “But that’s initial cost,” he said. “From a lifecycle cost perspective, we’re anticipating it’s going to have huge benefits. Years down the road, we’re not going to have to close lanes and effect mobility to make repairs. As far as I’m concerned that initial investment upfront is worth it. We’re expecting it to last 100 years.” Chynoweth said another similar bridge is planned for construction in 2019, carry- ing Brush Street over I-94. MR

Another testbed for LTU’s research into the use of carbon fiber strands to replace steel in reinforced concrete is this bridge carrying Eight Mile Road (M-102) over the Rouge River on the Detroit-Southfield border.

6 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 7 facturing and vali- Better lithium-ion dation processes. “The undergrads battery manufacturing are involved in research that makes awrence Tech faculty and students James Mynderse, assistant professor of a real difference to have joined forces with Johnson Con- mechanical engineering, principal investi- the bottom line of Ltrols Inc. to research new methods for gator on the grant, said three undergradu- one of our collabo- manufacturing lithium-ion batteries. ate mechanical engineering students have rating companies,” James Mynderse The project aims to make lithium-ion been involved in the project, guided by a Mynderse said. batteries – a key component of hybrid graduate student, who coordinates their Co-principal investigators on the grant and electric vehicles – more efficient and activities and acts as a mentor. are Liping Liu, associate professor of me- cost-effective. Included have been evalu- “Undergraduate students are develop- chanical engineering, and Robert Fletch- ations of manufacturing and validation ing test procedures and test stands for er, professor of mechanical engineering. processes of current lithium-ion battery this project,” Mynderse said. “They’ve The latest grant comes on the heels production methods, and identification of been involved in weekly teleconferences. of a $150,000 grant LTU received from processes that will improve overall They’ve been active participants at every Johnson Controls in 2015 for research battery quality. level. And they’re producing quality on battery systems for start-stop hybrid The research is funded by a grant of work.” vehicles. MR nearly $200,000 that runs through The ultimate goal, Mynderse said, is a September 2018. low-volume demonstration of new manu-

nesium, other metals – to wash out,” What’s causing caustic runoff from roads? Henson said. Under the project, LTU will also rec- LTU team aims to find out ommend possible solutions, which could include washing the recycled concrete or awrence Technological University num, calcium, silicon, iron, and magne- slag before use, more use of asphalt or has received a three-year $169,000 sium. And crushed recycled concrete can concrete to stabilize the base, or not us- grant from the Michigan Depart- release quicklime and metal particles. ing recycled materials as a base in some Lment of Transportation to research what’s Over two summers, 2018 and 2019, areas. causing caustic water and metal particles LTU will collect a minimum of 540 The project will also review available to contaminate the runoff from some samples a year in urban and rural areas scientific literature to determine national Michigan roads. of different road types and road ages and best practices for runoff management, The principal investigator is Nishantha analyze them for pH, dissolved solids and including a survey of state departments Bandara, assistant professor of civil and metals. Bandara said around half a dozen of transportation, and conduct interviews architectural engineering, with co-princi- with state and European transportation pal investigators Susan Henson, adjunct officials. faculty in civil engineering, and Nicole Bandara is an expert in pavement and Villenueve, college professor of chem- material engineering with more than 20 istry. LTU won the work competing in a years of industry experience. He was public request for proposals. an engineer for MDOT and Dynatest “Roads used to be built with bases of Consulting Inc. before joining the LTU natural limestone,” Bandara said. “Now faculty. they use recycled materials like crushed Nishantha Bandara Nicole Villenueve Villenueve worked at BASF Corp. in concrete and slag aggregate. They’ve industrial hygiene and safety management noticed high pH levels in the waterways LTU undergraduate and graduate stu- before joining the LTU faculty in 1991. nearest these highways, and they want us dents will participate in the sampling and She has a PhD in analytical chemistry to investigate whether that is related to research. Villenueve’s chemistry expertise with a minor in hazardous waste manage- the recycled material.” will aid in the analysis, while Henson’s ment from Wayne State University. State officials had good reason to use background in geographic information Henson teaches GIS at LTU and is the the recycled materials – they can have systems (GIS) will result in clearer pre- technical writer for the Department of better mechanical properties, including sentation of the data in map form. Civil and Architectural Engineering. She better stiffness and freeze-thaw prop- “We don’t know the chemistry that was previously a chemist and engineer at erties. But slag, a byproduct of steel could be causing these materials – Masco Corp. MR production, also contains oxides of alumi- carbonates, phosphates, calcium, mag-

6 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 7 Better battery CONTINUED

Better steel reinforcement – on the eccentric side

ssociate professor Keith J. tion – defined as a connection that limits for the design of eccentric stiffeners. KowalkowskiA has received a $120,000 relative rotation between the beam and Thus, the organization has high interest in grant from the American Institute of Steel the column. Stiffeners are required when expanding those guidelines. Construction to study the influence of ec- the column alone fails one of the various Kowalkowski’s project consists of centricity on stiffeners designed to resist failure mechanisms associated with con- experimental and analytical research. concentrated forces applied to structural centrated forces. Ideally, the stiffeners are LTU undergraduate and graduate stu- steel columns. placed in-line, or “concentric,” with beam dents will perform various tasks associ- The co-primary investigator on the flanges or flange plates, welded adjacent ated with both sides of the research. The grant is Xin Xie, assistant professor of to the column flanges. project will consist of a full-time gradu- mechanical engineering at LTU. Xie is an However, sometimes it is not feasible ate research assistant and undergraduate expert in optical stress and strain analysis to have concentric stiffeners, due to vari- research assistants as well. They will be and will assist in interpreting experimen- ous forms of interference associated with conducting experiments on steel wide- tal results. Another key contributor to the the design. These might include beams flange members in LTU’s Structural project is Javier Rodilla, an undergradu- having different depths and both requiring Testing Center, using a hydraulic actuator ate student in civil engineering working stiffeners, or if additional steel beams are with a capacity up to 220,000 pounds and on the project, who is slated to transition connected in perpendicular at the same using digital image correlation to capture in the summer of 2018 to a graduate location. and display results. research assistant. Some possible options are to use partial Under the study, three different experi- Steel structures are made of vertical depth stiffeners, sloped stiffeners, or “ec- mental test methods will capture various columns and horizontal beams. Col- centric” stiffeners, in which the stiffener column failure modes. Ten tests will be umn stiffeners are used to reinforce the is placed in the column at an eccentricity, performed on columns without stiffeners, columns, which are subjected to concen- or angle, with respect to the beam flange 10 equivalent tests will be performed on trated forces from beam flanges or flange or flange plate location. Currently, AISC columns with concentric stiffeners, and plates, often as part of a moment connec- provides very limited design guidelines 20 tests will be performed on columns with eccentric stiff- eners, in which the eccentricity will be up to 6 inches. The end result of the study will be final recommendations for steel construction practice, and sug- gested revisions to the AISC design guides and specifications. The results will also be published in the AISC A Engineering Journal. MR

LTU faculty members Xin Xie (foreground, left) and Keith Kowalkowski (foreground, right) set up the experiment to test methods of stiffening steel moment connections as student assistants look on.

8 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 9 LTU engineering programs accredited by ABET

The Engineering Building, LTU’s original Southfield structure, during its 1955 construction…

And today, part of a larger campus.

• • • Included in the accreditation were three recently added programs • • •

BET, the Baltimore, Md.-based manufacturing engineering technology “The faculty should be praised for the organizationA that accredits post-secondary programs received a six-year accredita- tremendous amount of time and effort education programs in engineering, has tion, the maximum given by ABET in they invested to meet all the requirements re-accredited Lawrence Technological their first application. This does not hap- for accreditation,” Grace said. “We are University engineering programs. pen very often.” very grateful for their diligent work.” Included were three programs granted All three programs are relatively recent Besides meetings with faculty and a accreditation for the first time – the Bach- additions to the LTU College of Engineer- review of curriculum, the process also elor of Science in Robotics Engineering, ing, architectural engineering having been involves a review of students’ work, and the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical added in 2009, engineering technology in meetings with members of each depart- and Manufacturing Engineering Technol- 2012, and robotics engineering in 2011. ment’s industrial advisory board. ogy, and the direct-entry Master of Nabil Grace, dean of LTU’s College of The visit by ABET’s 11-member Science in Architectural Engineering. Engineering, called the accreditation pro- accreditation team took place in the fall LTU Provost Maria Vaz noted that cess “more than extensive,” and lauded of 2016, and LTU received word of its “We are particularly pleased that both the the efforts of faculty and students toward accreditation in the summer of 2017. robotics engineering and mechanical and earning accreditation. MR

8 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 9

hanks to $75,000 in university including glass and silicon wafers. “We can create objects with small discretionary funds, Lawrence “It’s a process very similar to analog microfluidic channels to pass reagents Technological University’s bioen- photography,” Nasir said. “The spin through, making lab-on-a-chip proto- T gineering program has two new coater allows you to put down a photo- types,” Nasir said. pieces of laboratory equipment that will active layer on a substrate that could be Previously, LTU students’ designs had train students how to build microscopic glass or silicon. The mask aligner allows to be shipped off to other laboratories for medical devices and save the University a you to expose only certain parts of that creation with these technologies. bunch of travel time and expense, too. layer to certain wavelengths of light.” Funding for the new equipment was Last year, Mansoor Nasir, assistant After a bath in a compound designed to split equally, $25,000 each from the uni- professor of biomedical engineering, strip away some of the photo-active layer, versity president’s general fund, the pro- spearheaded the effort to acquire a mask you wind up with fine-featured structures vost’s discretionary fund, and the Dean of aligner and spin coater, key pieces of that can be used as a mold. This part of Engineering’s discretionary fund. equipment that allow students to create the process, Nasir said, is the microscopic The new equivalent will be used in a sophisticated tiny shapes on surfaces equivalent of a machine tool. “clean room” at LTU’s Taubman Com- plex laboratory center, which opened in the fall of 2016. Bioengineering clean room “It needs to be a clean room because the features you are trying to make are so gets new gear small that dust particles ruin the surface,” Nasir said. Efforts to bring more high-tech equip- ment to the clean room are continuing, Nasir added. MR

The tiny etchings in a silicon wafer created by LTU students using the University’s new clean room laboratory equipment are clearly visible. The almost microscopic channels can be used to create advanced “lab on a chip” equipment that can test for the presence of materials or organisms with a much smaller sample than earlier technologies.

An LTU student uses Lawrence Tech’s scanning electron microscope to check out the tiny etchings in a silicon wafer made by the University’s new clean room equipment.

LTU Assistant Professor Mansoor Nasir (center) adjusts some of the new equipment in LTU’s new A silicon wafer gets an acid bath, revealing the patterns that clean room, the product of a can later be used to create advanced laboratory devices. $75,000 gift.

10 Lawrence Tech Innovation L lawrence Tech Innovation 11 Engineering Hall of Fame inductees (L to R) Judith Curran, Elizabeth Howell, Mitchell Clauw, and Cheryl Gregory, President Virinder Moudgil, Hall of Fame in- ductee James A. Danahy, College of Engineering Dean Nabil Grace, and Associate Dean Selin Arslan.

Five alumni named to Engineering Hall of Fame

ive alumni were inducted into the transmissions. She is now director of global joined DeDecker in 2003 and served as LTU College of Engineering Hall of vehicle components systems and engineer- the transportation department manager Fame during the University’s Home- ing planning and strategy, where she has and director of engineering, tripling the coming festivities. global responsibility for strategy, tactics, company’s revenue in the transportation F and cycle plan timing for significant cross- market. Gregory began her career as a “These alumni perfectly embody the vehicle components and systems related to civil engineer with the Michigan Department University’s longtime motto, ‘Theory connectivity, electronics/infotainment, and of Transportation (MDOT) after graduat- and Practice,’” LTU President Virinder interior/exterior and chassis functions. She ing from Lawrence Tech. In 1998, MDOT Moudgil said. “They have achieved great holds eight U.S. patents. Curran serves as made her the first transportation service success in their respective fields through Ford’s partnership champion for Lawrence center manager in the MDOT Metro Region. innovation and leadership, using technol- Tech and is a member of LTU’s College of She has served on LTU’s Civil Engineering ogy to make the world a better place.” Engineering Advisory Board. She received Advisory Board since 2010 and volunteers The honorees are: the LTU Alumni Achievement Award in 2014 regularly with local STEM initiatives at and was named one of the 100 Leading K-12 schools, helping students learn about Mitchell J. Clauw, BSME’86 Women in the North American Auto Indus- careers in engineering. Mitchell Clauw’s rise in engineering be- try by Automotive News in 2010. gan as an LTU co-op student at General Elizabeth Howell, BSEE’92 Dynamics and General Motors. He joined James A. Danahy, BSME’89 Howell grew up in a small town in north- Chrysler Corp. after graduation, rising to As executive director and global functional ern Michigan and attended LTU on a Buell senior manager of Dodge Truck Quality and leader of chassis engineering at General Honor Scholarship. She began her career Reliability by 1998. He now heads global Motors since 2016, Danahy oversees eight as an engineer at DTE Energy and joined pre-programs, program management, directors and nearly 1,200 employees in the start-up ITC Transmission, which later and planning at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Mexico, Korea, China, and the United became the publicly traded ITC Holdings (FCA), where he is responsible for ensuring States. He is responsible for the global de- Corp., the nation’s largest independent the worldwide application of standard and sign, development, and performance for fuel electric transmission company. At ITC, robust engineering, research, and devel- system, suspension/steering, brake system, Howell led the successful operational opment estimation, product development, tire/wheel, driveline system, fastening, and integration of two acquired companies timing, governance, and financial processes. powertrain interface components. A third and oversaw the startup of a new state-of- He holds two U.S. patents and is a long- generation GM employee, Danahy brings the-art control center. Since retiring from standing member of the industrial advisory a performance mentality to the company’s ITC, Howell practices as an independent board at LTU’s A. Leon Linton Department of chassis team with his extensive experience consultant. She has returned the favor of her Mechanical Engineering. working on the Chevrolet Corvette and the scholarship, establishing the Elizabeth A. Cadillac XLR. Howell Endowed Scholarship in Engineer- Judith Curran, BSEE’83 ing and championing the creation of the ITC Curran began her career as an engineer for Cheryl L. Gregory, BSCE’88, PE Power Engineering Endowed Scholarship. United Technologies and joined Ford Motor Gregory is vice president and senior trans- Howell received the LTU Alumni Achieve- Co. in 1986. She worked on the first elec- portation project manager at the private ment Award in 2014 and is a member of tronic controls for fuel injection in engines consulting firm of Spalding DeDecker, Inc., the University’s Board of Trustees. MR at Ford, and on the first electronic control an employee-owned, Michigan-based civil to manage the shift strategy of automatic engineering and surveying firm. Gregory

10 Lawrence Tech Innovation L lawrence Tech Innovation 11 LTU wins its own Grand Prix for scaled-down Indy cars

awrence Tech turned competition organized by SAE Interna- acceleration, han- LTU’s racer and other L universities’ teams pose tional (formerly known as the Society of dling, fuel economy Automotive Engineers). The competition and endurance. at the end of a wet day of in the fastest lap time racing. started in 1978. In Formula SAE, student Formula SAE teams design and build a roughly half- has since launched spinoffs into other at the ninth annual LTU scale Formula-style race car. In competi- types of vehicles – Baja SAE for off-road tions each spring, the cars are judged vehicles, Formula Electric for hybrid Grand Prix, held last on design, cost, manufacturability, gasoline-electric vehicles, Aero Design for large model airplanes, and fall at the University’s Supermileage for ultra-high-mileage Southfield campus. cars. MR

Eight teams competed in scaled- down Indy cars on a course laid out on a parking lot adjacent to LTU’s Science Building. Weather conditions – rain ranging from Lawrence Tech’s SAE Baja a drizzle to a downpour which never car also ran the course in a stopped – forced the teams to use treaded downpour. rain tires instead of racing slicks. LTU’s No. 41 car adapted best to the challenging conditions, turning in the fastest lap time of 34.56 seconds. Wayne State University posted the second fastest time, 35 seconds flat, while the University of Toledo fin- Lawrence Tech’s Formula ished third at 36.41 seconds. SAE car was the fastest on a wet track at the University’s Also participating in the event were Hope Grand Prix, held every fall College, Oakland University, Kettering in an LTU parking lot and University, the University of Windsor, featuring several regional and Western Michigan University. universities in friendly LTU’s Formula Electric gasoline-elec- competition. tric racer and its Baja off-road racer also ran the course during the day. Formula SAE is a student design

12 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 13 L awrence Technological University had another year of close collaboration with the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineer- ing Network, the organization of universi- ties incorporating entrepreneurial-minded learning into the classroom. The univer- sity continued The Kern Family Founda- its longstanding tion’s Kern Entrepreneurial policy of integrat- Engineering Network logo ing entrepreneurial is a frequent sight on LTU’s thinking into the campus. engineering cur- riculum in other ways as well. LTU’s Cristi Bell-Huff, director of the LTU’s collaboration with Kern Foundation Studio for Entrepreneurial Engineering Design (SEED) and Heidi Morano, SEED project engineer, conducted a 45-minute workshop at the KEEN national confer- looking KEEN ence in early 2017 in Jacksonville, Fla. The workshop covered the creation of Source America Design Challenge, a na- the sophomore design studio course are LTU’s sophomore engineering design tional engineering competition in which working with Detroit-area ski resorts to class, in which student teams create and participants create workplace technolo- develop technologies to help the disabled pitch products to real-world clients. gies for people with disabilities. The LTU enjoy winter sports like snow skiing. A year later, Bell-Huff presented at the team finished third in the nation in the About 110 engineering students are 2018 KEEN conference in Dallas, giving competition. taking the design studio in both semes- a TED-type talk on igniting the entrepre- LTU participated in the event again ters. It’s required for most engineering neurial mindset in engineering students. in April 2018 – this time, its teams were majors at LTU. The pair also wrote an article for KEEN’s named to two of three national finalist What’s the advantage of this kind of 2018 national annual magazine on their spots. LTU wound up bringing home first experience for students? product development relationship with and third place national awards (see story, “From my perspective, it’s all about Services to Enhance Potential (STEP), page 33). that real customer interaction,” Bell-Huff a Detroit-based nonprofit that works to In June, Bell-Huff and Morano present- said. “That’s what makes the difference. provide meaningful employment to the ed an article at a meeting of the American The students are initially anxious about disabled. Society of Engineering Educators on working with their customers, because Bell-Huff, Morano, and LTU’s Andrew the design and results of the sophomore many of them haven’t had experience Gerhart, professor of mechanical engi- engineering design studio. with talking to a real customer of any neering, were also asked by KEEN to In October, LTU hosted its eighth nature, or they haven’t had experience contribute chapters to a book, “Teaching annual Innovation Encounter, in which talking with people with disabilities. But the Entrepreneurial Mindset to Engi- student teams are challenged to solve a eventually they see that what they do can neers,” by Purdue University researcher real-world engineering problem submitted really have an impact on someone’s life Lisa Bosman and Stephanie Fernhaber, by an LTU industry partner. Working over and someone’s livelihood. They can de- associate professor of entrepreneurship a weekend, the teams use their technical sign something that can help people find at Butler University, published by the aca- skills to develop solutions and an accom- meaningful employment, or help them demic publisher Springer. panying business plan, which are evalu- make more money. They get it. They see In April 2017, Bell-Huff and Morano ated by industry experts. the impact that they can have.” MR journeyed with students to compete in the In the spring semester, students in

12 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 13 Prolific inventor shares early struggles with new genera tions at LTU

avid Wright is a gifted inven- as a draftsman. I got very lucky. I got hired by Stellar Engineering.” tor with more than 60 issued Wright�right also says he got lucky in his choice of friends, “who were all very well and pending patents, a leading educated science-type people – don’t ask D me how that happened.” At his bachelor party, they gave him what was then a engineer, a pioneer in the medical device state-of-the-art calculator, an HP-41. Using that calculator as a draftsman, field, and a generous benefactor of Wright said, “taught me algebra. I had tried to learn algebra at Delta College and Washtenaw Community College and Lawrence Technological University. failed.” Around this same time, Wright said, he Not bad for a guy who says of himself, started reading, first with the novels of “Practically speaking, I flunked out of Ayn Rand. “I got confident when I started David Wright high school. That’s not a joke. When I reading. I still couldn’t spell words, and got out of high school I couldn’t read or I would mispronounce words,” but he Care in 1989, where he stayed until 1995. write proficiently at all, and I couldn’t kept at it. Then came a six-year stint with Terumo calculate the most basic of mathematical ••• Cardiovascular, which was sold to functions.” Wright’s story serves as Medtronic during his stay. Eventually the Wright’s story serves as an example entrepreneurial bug bit, and he founded for struggling students everywhere that an example for struggling students Wi Inc., a medical device development they should never give up, and that ev- firm in Centennial, Colo., near Denver, eryone has talents – it’s just that they’re everywhere that they should in 2001. sometimes hard to spot or take longer to never give up, and that “I was always interested in medical de- develop than the young people for whom vices,” Wright said. “Biology is nothing everything seems to come easily. everyone has talents but soft mechanics and physics.” Wright’s father’s connections got ••• Of his time at LTU, Wright said, “I him from Douglas MacArthur High in thoroughly enjoyed it – if it was not for Saginaw into what was then Northwood Finally, Wright said, he sat down with Lawrence Tech I can guarantee I would Institute in Midland in 1976, where he an admissions counselor at Oakland not be an engineer.” took advertising courses, despite plenty Community College, “who had my high Not that every experience was great. of early signs that his true interests were school transcripts, which were full of F’s, Wright recalls personality clashes with elsewhere. and my records from Northwood. And some professors. But he said of educa- “My heart was always in science and what I had done drafting. He gave me a tion: “First, it has nothing to do with engineering. My dad was my mentor. I syllabus for Oakland Community Col- grades, it has everything to do with un- was always taking apart cars and building lege, and he said, you take these courses – derstanding concepts. Second, you need go-karts, but all by rote, all by hands-on.” Algebra 1 and 2, chemistry, physics – the to learn how to learn, because there will His father, Dale Wright, was the founder basics. At OCC, things started clicking, come a day when there isn’t an answer in of an engineering firm today known as and I got the prerequisites out of the way, the back of the book, there isn’t a test to Wright-K Technology Inc. and that’s how I wound up at Lawrence take, and there isn’t a professor to design Northwood didn’t work out, so he got Tech in 1982.” a quiz – you have to teach yourself.” a factory job at General Motors’ Central He would graduate four years later Wright said he reconnected with LTU’s Steel plant in Saginaw, where he poured from LTU with a BSME and a minor in current engineering leadership at a meet- molten steel and iron. His father gave him manufacturing engineering. Already an ing in Florida and returned to campus to a chance to become a draftsman, but after inventor, he was granted two patents dur- give a talk at LTU in 2010. “I’ve been about a year, “I decided I needed some ing his studies. speaking at Lawrence Tech ever since, self-esteem and that comes from making After a short stint in the auto industry, trying to get my message across to your own way. I left Saginaw, and moved Wright would find his true calling in to Ann Arbor, played guitar and worked medical devices, starting with 3M Health Continued

14 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 15 Prolific inventor Prolific inventor And Wright’s most sought-after quality support. Even then it was apparent to me in his company’s associates? “I surround and our engineering colleagues that Dave students. My message is really, really myself with people who know how to was a talented and exceptional engineer. shares early struggles with new generations at LTU simple. You can do anything you want start,” he said. “Probably the most impor- It is no surprise to me that he has gone if you put your mind to it, and if anyone tant thing to teach in any curriculum is to on to the success he has achieved in the tells you you can’t, you treat that input be a self-starter, and that’s psychology.” medical field, and it just goes to show as a piece of coal, and coal is used to fire Robert Fletcher, professor of mechani- what a Lawrence Tech engineer can ac- boilers, and boilers produce steam, and cal engineering at LTU and a former col- complish.” steam is energy.” league of Wright’s had this to say: “Dave Added Nabil Grace, dean of LTU’s LTU is also a family affair for Wright, and I crossed paths when we were both College of Engineering: “Mr. Wright is since his cousin is an alumnus – Douglas employed at Gelman Sciences in Ann the best example of a typical LTU suc- A. Wright, BSAr’81, BAr’82, now an Arbor. He was an engineer in the product cessful and innovative graduate. He’s architect in the Petoskey area. development group and I was an engineer able to improve people’s lives through his The name of Wright’s company also in manufacturing. We worked together for biomedical and mechanical engineering tells a story. “My son is a grad student over a year to bring an epidural filter into inventions, and the significant number of in physics at MSU, and he told me Wi is production. There were lots of long hours patents that he has been awarded. We are work going into a system,” Wright said. required to help make that product a suc- truly proud of Mr. Wright’s accomplish- “We are but lowly workers putting work cess, and every day on that project I was ments.” MR into a system, trying to make the system very glad to have a guy like Dave Wright continue.” there to provide the needed engineering

Donated sound analysis equipment, software to aid research effort

ary Newton, director of the auto- The donated Pulse Reflex software and vibration signals, to be able to assess motive business in the Americas will include spectral processing, modal and enhance sound quality. These are Gat the Danish engineering and analysis, sound quality metrics, and other highly sought-after skills in many sectors electronics company Brüel & Kjær, an- sound and vibration measurements and of industry.” nounced a donation of a 48-channel data analysis. The software can be used to Samardzic has previously used Brüel & acquisition system acquire, process and Kjær hardware and software in her doc- and 25 software Brüel & Kjær is a world leader analyze sound and toral and post-doctoral research, as well licenses for research vibration data. The as during her career as a noise, vibration and education in the in the sound and vibration industry, hardware allows and harshness (NVH) engineer in the field of sound and and was founded in 1942 data collection from auto industry. Currently, she is working vibration at LTU. a variety of inputs, on several research project proposals, in Brüel & Kjær is a world leader in the including microphones, accelerometers, collaboration with the auto industry, that sound and vibration industry, and was and other sensors. It also can be used as a would use the donated equipment and founded in 1942. signal generator for mechanical shakers to software. The software may also be used test structural components, or loudspeak- for undergraduate and graduate student ers for acoustic testing. work at LTU, for senior projects, course “The Brüel & Kjær hardware and and laboratory work in the audio engi- software donation will significantly neering technology program, and other enhance our research potential in the programs and courses at LTU that address areas of sound and vibration and educa- acoustics and vibration of products and tional opportunities for our students,” said structures, and sound quality in general. Nikolina Samardzic, assistant professor Donated Brüel & Kjær equipment of engineering technology at LTU. “Our is also being used by LTU urban design audio engineering technology students students in the College of Architecture will have a hands-on learning opportunity and Design to study urban noise to accurately measure and analyze sound pollution. NS

14 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 15 In Brief

Kuka, Dürr help create Kfoury said. “The lab was the one missing piece for our pro- gram. It’s unusual for an undergraduate program. In most pro- industrial robot lab grams, people get the engineering components, but they don’t get the hands-on experience of a robotics integration engineer. Lawrence Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Robotics Engineer- Here, they will.” ing program is a great embodiment of the University’s long- The robots were donated by Kuka Robotics Corp. of Shelby time motto, “Theory and Practice.” Township, the U.S. division of the German robotics firm Kuka The robotics engineering program, introduced in 2011, Roboter GmbH, itself a division of the industrial automation added the Robotics Engineering Automation Laboratory firm Kuka AG. The robots were installed and set up through the (REAL) with two Kuka KR5 R1400 industrial robot arms, generosity of Southfield-based Dürr Systems Inc., a subsidiary advanced controllers, Architect Basic robotic control software, of Germany’s Dürr Group. “We had to find space, put up cages, and industrial safety cages. bring in electricity, reinforce the floor, and make sure nobody “The idea was to create a modular automation lab,” said can get hurt by the robots,” Kfoury said. Giscard Kfoury, program director for the robotics engineering Frank Helmstetter, manager of services and solutions at Dürr, program at LTU. “Our students got a lot of experience with who volunteered to help install the equipment, said “As part of designing robotic systems, building objects with 3D printers the Dürr initiative to provide maximum support for our custom- and CNC machines. But those aren’t industrial grade robots. ers and partners, we were pleased at the opportunity to assist So we wanted our students to have hands-on experience with LTU in the setup of their first industrial robot installation. We industrial automation systems.” worked with them to ensure a safe and efficient layout The Kuka robots at LTU will be outfitted with end effectors that would be easy to expand upon as future assets become that simulate painting and welding functions, and arms that available.” allow them to grab objects to simulate robots that “pick and The University is still seeking support for more robotics lab place” items out of inventories for transport. equipment. “We’re not actually welding, but we could put end effec- The new robotics lab will be used by several LTU classes, tors on the robots to simulate welding and have them make including one, Unified Robotics 3, which will spend an entire the motions and follow the paths,” Kfoury said. “Having two semester in the lab. MR robots side by side allows us to teach students how to pro- gram complicated, multi-robot operations. Other robots can simulate painting a car door. And our students can now design a vision system for pick-and-place and palletizing.” The students also use process control software from Sie- mens, Kfoury said. “All this stuff, the whole design experience, has our stu- dents building their own robotic systems and vision systems,”

Giscard Kfoury programs the university’s new robots with a tablet controller as robotics instructor James Kerns (left) and students Giscard Kfoury, associate pro- look on. fessor of mechanical engineer- ing (with group of students on left) and James Kerns, robotics laboratory instructor (with group of students on right), demonstrating the capabilities of two new Kuka robots.

16 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 17 Siemens donates cash, ment. We are honored that our contribution will allow the school equipment, and software to open its first Industrial Engineering Lab to prepare students for the technology they will encounter in real manufacturing for industrial engineering lab environments.” Batra received the university’s Alumni Achievement Award in Siemens Corp., the United States subsidiary of the German 2017. industrial automation giant Siemens AG, has given $75,000 Batra said the donation is part of an ongoing effort by Sie- in cash, hardware and software to Lawrence Technological mens to address the growing workforce skills gap, as well as University. The donation will be used to equip a new labora- provide new pathways to the middle class in manufacturing tory for industrial engineering programs. employment. The donation was recognized in a March 13 noon event on Since 2013, LTU has received two in-kind software grants the LTU campus, and a presentation at the Manufacturing in from Siemens PLM software commercially valued at more America conference and exhibition at Ford Field in Detroit. than $200 million. The University now uses NX software for Industrial engineering deals with the optimization of complex computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering; Team- processes and systems. Industrial engineers work to eliminate center, the world’s most widely used digital lifecycle manage- wasted time, money, energy and materials. LTU offers fully ment software; Technomatix digital manufacturing software; accredited bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in indus- and Solid Edge software, a hybrid two-and three-dimensional trial engineering. CAD system. “Like Lawrence Technological University, we see the great “This generous gift from Siemens is yet another example of potential for growth in high-tech manufacturing jobs in the Lawrence Tech’s longtime motto in action, ‘Theory and Prac- United States,” said Raj Batra, BSEE’90, president, Siemens tice,’” said LTU President Virinder Moudgil. “Our students Digital Factory, U.S. “And we also see the need to close the will use the equipment and software from Siemens in the tasks skills gaps and make a positive impact on workforce develop- industrial engineers undertake every day in the workplace, com- bining classroom theory with real-world practice.” Ahad Ali, associate professor and director of LTU’s Bachelor and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering programs, said: “Siemens’ donations will help establish an industrial engineering and manufacturing lab at LTU’s campus, and help establish a semi-automated mini assembly line using Siemens Digital Fac- tory tools. It will be a great learning expe- rience for our students, and help prepare a skilled workforce in the industrial and manufacturing sectors.” Manufacturing in America was a two- day forum designed to show students the L-R, holding Siemens’ donation, are Badih high-tech future of manufacturing. It included a Student Zone, Jawad, Professor and Chair, A. Leon Linton where ninth through 12th graders from Oakland, Macomb, and Department of Mechanical Engineering; Wayne counties participated in hands-on workshops with state- Ahad Ali, Director of the Bachelor and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering of-the-art equipment. Manufacturing in America is presented by program at LTU; Provost Maria Vaz; Dean Siemens and Electro-Matic Products Inc. of Engineering Nabil Grace; Raj Batra, Siemens Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global BSEE’90, president, Siemens Digital powerhouse focusing on the areas of electrification, automation Factory, U.S.; and Don Riemer, College and digitization. With approximately 372,000 employees in 190 Professor of Industrial Engineering. countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $92 billion Raj Batra, BSEE’90, president, Siemens in fiscal 2017. Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $23.3 Digital Factory, U.S., makes a point at the billion, including $5 billion in exports, and employs approxi- ceremony recognizing Siemens Corp.’s mately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and $75,000 gift to set up an industrial Puerto Rico. MR engineering laboratory at the university.

16 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 17 In Brief

Biomedical engineering design The course recognizes the increasing popularity of wearable devices that include many sensors – from accelerometers to course looks at wearable tech measure motion to heart rate, EKG, and EEG sensors to monitor body functions. The students are encouraged to learn design and Wearable technology is an exciting area of the consumer human-computer interaction concepts more frequently found in electronics industry that has led to the creation of new prod- industrial design and interaction design courses. ucts for fashion, sports, lifestyle, computing, and health, all of The course’s studio format includes a combination of interac- which include electronic or computer capabilities. tive demonstration sessions, simple hands-on activities, and two With products spanning the gamut from health trackers to guided four-week design projects. The students’ midterm project virtual reality and augmented reality headsets, the industry is to 3D print and assemble a smart watch. During the second attracted nearly $1 billion of venture capital funding in 2015 half of the course, students formed groups and completed self- alone. determined wearable technology product development projects. These devices are coming not only from big electronics Their projects must address user interaction, mobile app devel- companies but also from the maker movement, which has opment, materials and manufacturability, funding, marketing, opened the door for hobbyists, inventors, and hackers to turn and differentiation from competing products. concepts into products by focusing on technology gaps and “In the first week of the class the students used and then in- customer needs through rapid prototyping. vestigated the capabilities and marketing strategies for different A new course in LTU’s Department of Biomedical Engi- types of AR/VR products, including Microsoft Hololens, Google neering, Wearable Technology Studio, aims to unite maker- Cardboard, Occulus Rift, and HTC Vive,” said Eric G. Meyer, style skills and cross-disciplinary design project teams to assistant professor of biomedical engineering. MR develop wearable technology products.

Audio engineering technology pened by chance on a 2008 airline flight from Detroit to Los Angeles, where Breest – headed to LA to help run sound for an program facilities expanding X Games competition – met Suzanne Levine, former director of LTU’s media communications degree program. Since then, Work was recently completed on an expansion to Plym- Breest, a veteran musician and music producer, has been inti- outh Rock Recording Co., a former church near downtown mately involved in the audio engineering technology program. Plymouth that serves as the laboratory for LTU’s Bachelor of Breest says LTU’s program is unique among audio engineering Science in Audio Engineering Technology Program. programs in that it’s heavier on the scientific basis of sound – The long-planned expansion will add a second set of stu- acoustics and electronics – rather than the music performance dios in the building’s basement, essentially doubling its studio end of the business. Class sizes are also capped at 10 students. space from roughly 5,000 square feet to 10,000. The work is MR partially financed by the studio, owned by Chris Breest, and partly by the University. The initial contact between Breest and the university hap-

An LTU audio engineering technology class works on the main mixing console at Plymouth Rock Chris Breest, owner of Plymouth Rock studios, the location for the hands-on portion of LTU’s Bachelor studios. of Science in Audio Engineering Technology program, goes over blueprints for the studio’s expansion with Avram Kluger of LTU’s development team.

18 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 19 LTU shines at biomedical search on developing a microfabricated device for studying the toxicity of various agents to endothelial cells – the cells that line engineering conference blood vessels. She also presented a poster about a microfluidic device to detect MRSA bacteria. Lyzen presented his master’s Lawrence Technological University was well-represented at research project on designing a bioreactor to promote the the 2017 annual conference of the Biomedical Engineering differentiation of a certain type of stem cell, called mesenchy- Society (BMES), held in October in Phoenix. mal stem cells, to regenerate cartilage. Guardia and Alismail On the research end, two graduate students, Nicole Raven- presented their undergraduate research on developing a scaffold scroft and Andrew Lyzen, and two undergraduates, Angelica made of collagen, the body’s most abundant protein, for liga- Guardia and Kathm Alismail, presented research posters. ment tissue engineering. MR Ravenscroft presented four posters. She reported her re-

Research paper contest at LTU the number from last year, which was the event’s first, according to Ahad Ali, associate professor and director of LTU’s Bachelor hits all education levels of Science in Industrial Operations Engineering and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering programs. S cientific research projects from kindergarten to graduate Members of IEOM, along with members of the Society of school were displayed at Lawrence Technological University Manufacturing Engineers and the American Society for as the Michigan Chapter of the Industrial Engineering and Quality, judged the presentations and handed out certificates Operations Management Society hosted a research poster and gift cards to the top finishers. competition in the LTU Architecture Building Gallery. The research topics were as varied as the age range – some More than 25 younger students tested the rolling distance of cars built with From kindergarten to graduate school, awards were presented for research at every educational level by the IEOM Society at research teams Lego blocks on different surfaces, while the grad students tack- an event over the winter at the LTU campus. Ahad Ali, director and individuals led real-world problems of manufacturing efficiency in every- of the Bachelor and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering participated. That’s thing from cars to construction equipment. MR program at LTU, organizer of the event, is at left. more than double

18 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 19 In Brief

LTU in stormwater initiative with effective way to address this crisis, but only if Great Lakes com- munities know about and can access the appropriate technology. Great Lakes Commission This collaborative will be a powerful resource for communities struggling to implement sustainable solutions to address storm- L awrence Technological University and the Great Lakes water management needs.” Commission have joined forces to create the Great Lakes Donald Carpenter, professor of practice in civil engineering Stormwater Technology Transfer Collaborative. at LTU and director of the University’s Great Lakes Stormwa- The new group aims to spread the use of advanced storm- ter Management Institute, is working with the collaborative to water technology throughout the Great Lakes and St. Law- Continued rence River region in the United States and Canada – over- coming barriers to getting the right stormwater technology to the right people and places. Innovations in stormwater management, such as green infrastructure design, data-driven water management systems, and proprietary structural systems, are vital in protecting com- munities from polluted stormwater and flooding. But smaller or financially struggling communities can face challenges in implementing them. The collaborative is focused on overcoming those ob- stacles. Victoria Pebbles, program director at the Great Lakes Com- mission, noted the importance of the new group. “In 2014, 22 billion gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater were released into the Great Lakes,” she said. “Innovative storm- water management like green infrastructure can be a cost-

Professor Don Carpenter, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, keynote speaker Helen C. Noehammer, and LTU President Virinder Moudgil greeted guests after the fifth annual Regional Stormwater Summit, held on campus in October.

LTU’s Architecture Building Au- ditorium was nearly full for the October Stormwater Summit.

20 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 21 spread sustainable stormwater management practices and and implement the appropriate technologies for their communi- technologies. Carpenter said implementing green infrastruc- ties’ stormwater management needs.” ture in communities can greatly reduce pressure on existing The collaborative is supported by the Fred A. and Barbara “gray” infrastructure – the pipes and pumps that move storm- M. Erb Family Foundation. A sister project, the Green Infra- water to treatment plants or directly to rivers – especially in structure Champions Pilot Program, also supported by the Erb locales where these systems are outdated or degraded. Family Foundation, will create a mentoring network of “green “We have an opportunity to share some really innovative infrastructure champions” and emerging communities across solutions with communities throughout the region and have the Great Lakes. The two efforts will work in tandem to reduce an impact on how infrastructure is developed and sustained physical and institutional barriers to a greener approach to into the future,” Carpenter said. “This group will connect a lot stormwater management. MR of the dots to make it easier for local governments to access • • •

Civil engineering from Helen C. Noehammer, director of ter systems can turn those rain events into transportation and infrastructure plan- flooded basements and streets. hosts big crowd for ning for the city of Mississauga, Ontario’s “We can’t build our way out of the Stormwater Summit Transportation and Works Department. problem underground, because there isn’t She described how the city implemented room, and the cost would be staggering,” Urban growth and climate change are a “stormwater charge” to municipal water Jim Nash, Oakland County Water Re- making stormwater runoff management and sewer bills to raise $41 million a year sources Commissioner, said at the event’s an increasing challenge for the nation’s to maintain the city’s 1,200 miles of storm conclusion. “Green infrastructure is the civil engineers and urban planners. sewers, 51,000 catchbasins, and 150 miles way to keep that water from ever hitting More than 250 of them gathered at of stormwater ditches and swales along the system.” Lawrence Technological University in roadways and developed areas. That includes green building technolo- October for the fifth annual Regional Organizers of the conference say storm- gies such as water-permeable pavement, Stormwater Summit to continue working water management is a growing problem, and plant-based systems like green roofs on the answers. given the increasing frequency of extreme and bioswales, using the earth’s natural The event included a keynote speech rain events. Overwhelmed, aging stormwa- processes to minimize runoff. MR

ESD honors faculty, other professional and nonprofit groups. Receiving the ESD Outstanding Leadership Award was staff, students Michael Cloud, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, who has co-authored 11 books on engineering Two faculty members, a vice president, three alumni and mathematics and is a senior member of the IEEE. three students of Lawrence Technological University were Named to the ESD College of Fellows were Alex Ivanikiw, honored by the Engineering Society of Detroit at its annual BSAr’76, BAr’79, AIA, LEED AP, senior vice president of dinner, held to honor Michigan’s best engineers and technical Southfield-based Barton Malow Co., and John S. Boulananis, professionals. BSEE’92, PE, managing member and owner, AJA Quality Bruce J. Annett, Jr., vice president of marketing and public Services LLC. The rank of ESD Fellow is reserved for ESD affairs, received the TechCentury Image Award, recognizing members of outstanding and extraordinary technical achieve- achievement in promoting engineering and technical profes- ment, professional achievement, and service to ESD and their sions among the public. It is granted by the editorial board of professional society. ESD’s quarterly magazine and website, TechCentury. An- Winning the ESD Outstanding Young Engineer of the Year nett has worked at LTU for more than four decades and has award was Lauren Bukowski, BSCE’09, GcertPM’12, MBA’12 been in charge of its communications efforts, showcasing the project manager, Barton Malow Co. Bukowski was also the achievements of LTU alumni who are engineers and technical 2009 receipient of LTU’s Ed Donley Distinguished Graduate professionals. Award. Receiving the ESD Distinguished Service Award was Jan- Three LTU students were named winners of the ESD Out- ice Means, PE, LEED AP, associate professor of architecture standing College Student of the Year award – Mateusz Gibiec, and design. Means has a long record of accomplishment in BSCE’18, Nada Saghir, BSME’18, and Joseph D. Yudasz, green and sustainable construction, while serving ESD and BSRE’17. MR

20 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 21 In Brief

The Lawrence Tech family much donated equipment, can be used by students in audio engineering technology, construction management, and mechan- gather for new lab dedication ical and manufacturing engineering. The lab will be used for engineering mechanics experiments, thermodynamics experi- The Lawrence Tech family gathered in April to dedicate ments, microprocessor classes, sensors and instrumentation Room E6 in the Engineering Building as the K. J. Cook classes, circuit analysis classes, and senior projects. Engineering Technology Laboratory. The flexible space, with

President Virinder Moudgil addresses the crowd attending the dedication ceremony for the K. J. Cook Engineering Technology Laboratory.

Ken Cook, BSEE’64, chair of the Department of Engineering Technology, and his wife Elaine, at the unveiling of the renamed K. J. Cook Engineering Technol- ogy Laboratory in the LTU Engineering Building.

Ken Cook has a sideline as a professional magician, so when he opened what he said was his hottest engineering textbook, few people were surprised when this happened.

22 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 23 Former Dean Taraman and Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. “When you work hard through education, remembered you contribute to the well being of this coun- try to help make this nation more prosperous,” Khalil S. Taraman, the first professor Dr. Taraman said in 1988. “And as educators, named to LTU’s first endowed faculty chair, I think we are morally obliged.” the Detroit Institute of Technology Chair of Dr. Taraman assembled a team of Lawrence Manufacturing Engineering, died June 5, Tech faculty and advisors that successfully 2018 in Irvine, Cal. He was 78. Dr. Taraman attracted a $1.1 million grant from SME to also served from 1986-89 as associate dean help LTU improve engineering education, one and 1989-91 as dean of Lawrence Tech’s of the largest awards to the University at that College of Engineering. time. For many years, he advised masters and “Dr. Taraman was a dedicated member doctoral students who went on to careers at of our faculty and staff. Students benefit- GM, Ford, Bendix, FCA, Westinghouse, GE, ted greatly from his broad experience and Taraman and elsewhere. associations with industry,” said Nabil Grace, the current dean. Before joining LTU, from 1977-86 he was a professor and “Our first doctoral program was launched with his leadership.” chair of mechanical engineering at the University of Detroit. Dean Taraman joined the LIT faculty in 1986. He was In 2013, he received LTU’s Mary E. and Richard E. Marburger very active in SME, formerly the Society of Manufacturing Distinguished Achievement Award and was named professor Engineers, where he was a national director and served two emeritus. terms as president of the SME Foundation. He received SME’s Dr. Taraman held undergraduate and master’s degrees from outstanding leadership award in 1999 and 2000, was elected Ain Shams University in Egypt, an MS from the University of an SME Fellow, and chaired several of SME’s major Pacific Wisconsin, and a PhD from Texas Tech University. Conferences, bringing thousands of SME members together Survivors include his wife, Sanaa, and three children. The from throughout the world to events in Australia, South Korea, family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to Japan, and Indonesia. The 2000 conference hosted by LTU in the Taraman Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Manufacturing Southfield attracted delegates from 22 nations. at Lawrence Technological University, c/o Office of Advance- In 1989 Dr. Taraman was appointed to the National ment, 21000 W. Ten Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48075-1058. Research Council, part of the National Academies of Science BJA Dr. Khalil Taraman (L) and other conference leaders watch as Muhammad Suharto, then–president of Indonesia, officially opens the 1994 Pacific Conference on Manufacturing.

22 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 23 Faculty & Student Achievements

Arslan named associate dean boost enrollment. She said she also wants to make sure both students and her fellow faculty continue to see College of for undergraduate programs Engineering administration as approachable. Besides her administrative responsibilities, Arslan is teaching Selin Arslan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, undergraduate and graduate classes in thermodynamics, heat has been named associate dean for undergraduate programs in transfer, thermal systems, and engineering analysis. She is also the College of Engineering. the co-advisor to LTU’s student chapter of the American Society Her appointment was effective in July 2017. of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) as well as advisor of the LTU Arslan came to LTU in August 2010 after completing her Formula SAE team. She is the PhD in mechanical engineering at Columbia University. author of numerous publications Earlier, she earned a Master of Philosophy in mechanical in peer-reviewed journals. At engineering from Columbia, a Master of Science in mechani- LTU, her honors include Faculty cal and aerospace engineering from Rutgers University, and a Member of the Year in 2014 and Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Middle ASME’s Outstanding Student East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. Section Advisor in 2015. MR The daughter of a civil engineer father and an architect mother, Arslan said she grew up in a household where “math and science were always impor- tant, and I was good at it, so I thought, ‘Why not become an engineer?’” Arslan’s areas of research interest include micro-electro-mechanical sys- tems, or MEMS, and the thermodynam- ics of fluids. Since coming to Michigan, Selin Arslan she said she has begun applying that expertise to challenges in the automo- tive industry. She said she sought the associate Selin Arslan works with a dean for undergraduate studies posi- student in the University’s tion because she wants to improve the Applied Research Center undergraduate experience at LTU and dynamometer lab.

Improved dental drills them, and I just hit it off really well with Dr. Huwais,” Meyer said. “We both had similar interests, I understood immediately for implants what he was trying to do, and I thought I could help them.” The outcome of the collaboration is a set of dental drill bits in Better dental implant surgery outcomes is the aim of a Continued project completed by Eric G. Meyer, LTU associate professor of biomedical engineering with Salah Huwais, a periodontist based in Jackson, Mich. Versah, a company founded by Huwais in 2014, created a novel design for a bone instrumentation drilling bit that not only drills into bone, but can also compact the material inside of the hole, providing a stronger base for the dental implant placed inside. Meyer said the project goes back to 2013, when a Jackson patent attorney and LTU alumnus, John Shackelford, BSME’86, contact- This is how the improved ed the University for bioengineering dental implant drill bits, expertise. called burs, are shipped to “I went out to Jackson and met with dentists.

24 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 25 Nabih Jaber

Faculty & Student Achievements

which the metal burs not only cut and extract material as they other research publications and is getting widespread attention. rotate clockwise, but when rotated counter-clockwise, they LTU biomechanical engineering students Daniel Green- push bone material into the hole and compact it. That pro- shields, Akram Alsamarae, and John Schoenbeck served as vides a more solid bone base to which the dental implant will research assistants to develop and run the experiments, and as- adhere, as well as faster healing. The bits, called Densah Burs, sisted in data analysis. were developed and patented by Huwais. The Densah Burs are now being marketed by Versah LLC. Meyer said the project involved testing the new drill bits The company organized a conference about the new procedure on pig bones – 72 experimental implants in all. A materials last year at which Meyer spoke, a presentation that has now testing machine from LTU’s Center for Innovative Materials been viewed online more than 1,300 times. Research measured the penetration force and torques that a More recently, Meyer and Huwais have been collaborating on surgeon would apply during the implant process. This provid- developing other medical devices with orthopedic application. ed the optimal RPM speed for the procedure. A thermocouple “This kind of bone compaction can be beneficial in any bone also measured temperatures around the procedure site, since surgery, not just dental implants,” Meyer said. MR high temperatures can permanently damage bone. That provided informa- tion on how much cool water irrigation was needed to keep the bone at the implant site from overheating. The results of this experimental work became an academic paper published in 2017 in the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants. The conclu- sion of the paper states that the new procedure, called “Osseodensification,” “would increase implant primary stabil- ity, bone mineral density, and the per- centage of bone at the implant surface compared with standard drilling tech- nique.” Despite These illustrations from a being published Versah LLC presentation shows only last year, the how the dental drill burs create paper already has a better “floor” for dental been cited by 11 implants.

The Versah LLC improved dental drill burs were tested on pig bones in Lawrence Tech’s Center for Innovative Materials Research (CIMR). Here’s a look at the testing in progress.

24 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 25 Summer camp 1 carpenterPREZprovost”:

Faculty & Student Achievements

New faculty added work published more than a dozen times in scholarly journals in for growing programs noise, vibration, and audio engineering. She is also an alumna of the Interlochen Arts Academy and trained at the National Ballet School of Canada. Lawrence Technological University has added four new as- sistant professors and three senior lecturers to its faculty over Hamid Vejdani, assistant the past year. professor of mechanical engineering

Ali Fallahi, assistant professor, Vejdani received a Bachelor of Science in civil and architectural engineering civil engineering and a Master of Science in structural engineering from Fallahi received his PhD in building Ferdowsi University in Iran. In the United engineering from Concordia University States, he earned a Master of Science in in Quebec and a combined Bachelor’s mechanical engineering, robotics and control, and a PhD in ro- and Master’s degree in architecture from botics and mechanical engineering from Oregon State Universi- Yazd University in Iran. He has exten- ty. His research interests include bio-inspired robotics, dynamic sive academic and industry experience in the areas of building systems analysis and control, and the mechanics of locomotion. mechanical and electrical systems, building envelope, and building energy storage technologies. Jinjun Xia, assistant professor of Previously, he was an assistant professor at Worcester electrical and computer engineering Polytechnic Institute and prior to that he was a member of a research group at Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Xia received a Bachelor of Science degree Systems, where he worked on a variety of building systems in optoelectronics from Shandong Uni- research and development projects for five years. His research versity in China and a Master of Science interests include: building mechanical and electrical systems degree in Optics from Shanghai Insti- for performance optimization and energy efficiency; smart tute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, The building envelope materials for energy conservation and dura- Chinese Academy of Sciences. Then he obtained another Master bility; latent and thermochemical thermal storage systems for of Science degree in physics and a PhD in bioengineering, both building applications; experimental techniques to measure a from the University of Missouri - Columbia. He did postdoctoral building’s mechanical and electrical performance and numeri- training at several universities including the University of Geor- cal modeling of building environmental performance such as gia, the University of Washington, and Wayne State University. thermal, energy, hygrothermal, acoustics, lighting and fire per- His research strengths and interests are in optical instrumenta- formance. Prior to starting research work, Fallahi also worked tion, optical science, laser ultrasonics, and ultrasound guided for construction consulting firms for almost three years. Dur- photoacoustic imaging for molecular detection in turbid media. ing that time, he was engaged in the design and analysis of His research has wide applications in the biomedical area and in building mechanical and electrical systems for new construc- non-destructive evaluation industries. tion projects as well as design review and forensic analysis of building envelope. Michael Lancina III, senior lecturer and project engineer in Nikolina Samardzic, assistant biomedical engineering professor of engineering technology Lancina received his PhD in biomedical Samardzic obtained her Bachelor of engineering from Virginia Commonwealth Science, Master of Science, and PhD University in 2017 and his Bachelor of degrees in mechanical engineering Science in biomedical engineering from from the University of Windsor. She Michigan Technological University in 2013. While at Vir- was previously employed at Autoneum ginia Commonwealth, he was a researcher in the university’s Automotive North America, 2005-08, and at Ford Motor Co., Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Laboratory, studying the use 2002-05, where she completed numerous projects in the field of advanced particles called dendrimers for drug delivery. At of sound and vibration measurement, analysis, and simula- Michigan Tech, he was also involved in research of engineered tion. Her research interests are in the field of acoustics, sound quality, and hearing science and technology. She has had her Continued

26 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 27 Summer camp 1

biomaterials. He has been published in peer-reviewed jour- George Pappas, senior lecturer in nals seven times and is named on two provisional patents in electrical and computer biotechnology. engineering

Gary Lowe, senior lecturer in Pappas received a Bachelor of Science electrical and computer engineering in electrical engineering and a Master of Science and PhD in systems engineering, Lowe earned a Bachelor of Science in all from Oakland University. The primary electrical engineering from Wayne State topic of his research was estimation techniques in cellular wire- University and a Master of Science in less communications systems. During his research in power electrical engineering and an MBA in fi- estimations in cellular communication networks, he extended his nance from Oakland University. He also investigation in applications in health care environments. Focus received a PhD in systems and electrical engineering from is on systems that transmit and receive biopotential or nonelec- Oakland University. Lowe has more than 30 years of experi- tric values over wireless cellular networks. He investigates dif- ence in control systems development, and electronics design ferent statistical methods for parameter estimation of linear and and development at FCA US LLC. He is a registered profes- nonlinear model in dynamic mobile communications biomedical sional engineer in Michigan. He is also a senior member with systems. Also he investigates encryption and optimization algo- the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) rithms of the transfer of electronic medical data using wireless and a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) member. His cellular communication systems for evaluation, diagnosis, and research interests include robust and optimal control and esti- treatment of patients in remote locations. He is a member of the mation, nonlinear control and embedded controls. Society of Manufacturing Engineers and IEEE, and has been published in sensing and IT journals. MR

Prof speaks on ‘Innovation in Biomedical Engineering Industry Advisory Board. A2 Health Hacks is a nonprofit with the aim of bringing Biomedical Engineering’ together academics and professionals in health care, technology, and business to Eric Meyer (center), assistant professor of biomedical engi- Eric G. Meyer, assistant professor of biomedical engineer- work on improving health and health care. neering, with two students in ing, co-led a workshop on “Innovation in Biomedical Engi- It conducts hackathons to develop new his biomechanics laboratory in neering: Incorporating Entrepreneurship and Maker Mind- health care technologies. MR the Taubman Complex. sets” to the organization A2 Health Hacks. About 30 people participated in the two-hour workshop, which included hands-on activities in opportunity recognition and concept generation using “Fourth Industrial Revolution” technologies like cloud computing, big data analytics, wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, virtual and aug- mented reality technologies, and more. The professors were invited by Diane Bouis, director of innovation programs at Inovo Group LLC, an Ann Arbor consulting firm, who is a co-founder of A2 Health Hacks. Also in attendance was Stephen Rapundalo, president and CEO of MichBio, the state of Michigan’s life sciences indus- try group, who is a member of the LTU

26 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 27 Faculty & Student Achievements

LTU ‘King of the Hill’ at Canadian spy movies and novels of Ian Fleming. concrete toboggan race LTU’s sled was clocked at 29 mph coming down the hill at Chicopee Tube Park in Kitchener, Ontario. Besides race day performance, teams were also judged on Concrete isn’t something you usually associate with speed. concrete mix design, reinforcement design, superstructure de- Canada’s Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race aims to sign, braking design, steering design, originality and innovation, change that. as well as a variety of reports and presentations. The student-managed event has been held in Canada since LTU team members said they built the sled in just two weeks 1975 as the Canadian version of the American Society of at the beginning of the spring semester. Their inspiration was a Civil Engineers’ annual student concrete canoe race. For the Bentley car they saw in a James Bond movie, Casino Royale. past five years, it has admitted precisely one American team – Members of the LTU student team were Abhijit Bothe of Lawrence Technological University. India, Britteny Bult of Brampton, Ontario, Logan Dewan of Re- At this year’s event, held in January in Kitchener, Ontario, inbeck, N.Y., Kyle Huisman of Monroe, Adwait Raut of India, LTU dominated race day performance. Lawrence Tech won Tyler Patterson of Grand Rapids, Jordan Reinhard of Savoy, the overall “King of the Hill” first place trophy, as well as Mass., Kyle Schmidt of Grayling, Bradley Woods of Flushing, first-place awards for steering performance and braking and Austin Workman of Monroe. performance. LTU took second place among sleds in the event Bult, Huisman, Schmidt, and Workman are undergraduate stu- for the fastest run down the hill, and second place for “most dents in civil engineering. Reinhardt and Patterson are graduate spectacular run.” students in architectural engineering. Dewan is an undergradu- LTU also won a second place award for most improved ate double major in mechanical engineering and manufacturing team. engineering technology. Bothe is a graduate student in mechani- The race asks competitors to design and build a toboggan cal engineering. Woods is pursuing a master’s degree in archi- which can safely carry five passengers. All toboggans must tecture. Raut is a graduate student in construction engineering consist of an entirely concrete running surface, a structural management. frame, a braking system, and a functional steering system, all The students said Schmidt came up with the design of the while weighing less than 300 pounds. All told, 500 competi- concrete mix for the runners, a special version of the material tors from 19 universities participated. The race also has an annual theme – this year, LTU’s choice was “00 Sleddin’,” a takeoff on the James Bond Agent 007 Continued

Lawrence Tech’s concrete toboggan team won “The King of the Hill” overall performance award as well as three other trophies at Canada’s Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race, held over the winter in Ontario.

28 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 29 The concrete toboggan team looks happy on Race Day in Ontario.

This year’s LTU toboggan had a James Bond theme, as you can tell from the team’s attire and attitude at the awards dinner.

that combined strength with greater flexibility than standard concrete. The faculty advisor for the team is Edmund Yuen, depart- ment chair of Civil and Architectural Engineering. Yuen said he placed LTU in the Canadian event after seeing a video about it on YouTube. The 2019 version of the event will be held in Edmonton, Alberta. MR

The LTU sled is far ahead of its competition at the bottom of the hill.

28 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 29 Faculty & Student Achievements

LTU hosts student engineering Lake State Recreation Area in Oakland County’s White Lake Township about 20 miles west of campus. Students were also conference, places third in judged by engineering experts on a design paper and an oral pre- concrete canoe racing sentation. Presentation, design and racing points were combined to produce the overall winner. LTU placed third in the canoe Lawrence Technological University finished third overall racing event. There was also a steel bridge construction contest among nine schools in the concrete canoe race competition of held in LTU’s Don Ridler Field House. the American Society of Civil Engineers 2017 North Central Other teams competing at the event included Michigan State Student Conference. Around 300 students participated. University, Michigan Technological University, Ohio Northern Engineering students designed and built canoes made of University, the University of Detroit Mercy, the University of concrete for the event hosted by LTU. The canoes were judged Michigan, the University of Toledo, and Wayne State University. on their appearance on LTU’s campus and raced at Pontiac MR The full team gathers for a group photo as the day’s competition draws to a close.

The co-ed concrete canoe racing team is all smiles after a run.

The Lawrence Tech women’s concrete canoe race team looks happy – if a little chilled – after their paddle on Pontiac Lake in Oakland County, Michigan.

30 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 31 LTU mechanical engineering students; and encouraging the creation of spaces for inventors and tinkerers on campus. student a leader among leaders As a student event leader, Saghir made a six-minute presenta- tion in front of 300 student and faculty attendees from 70 higher Nada Saghir, who graduated in mechanical engineering in education institutions around the world, modeling for the new 2018 and was one of LTU’s second class of University Innova- Fellows the kind of impact they can have at their own schools. tion Fellows, was selected one of 24 student event leaders for Her talk focused mostly on her struggles as a Muslim woman, the UIF program’s annual Silicon Valley Meetup, which took a topic she said conference organizers asked her to address at the place March 15-19. last minute. Saghir, of Dearborn, was selected out of an international “I’ll be forever grateful for this opportunity,” Saghir said. “I community of 1,500 Fellows for the honor. learned a lot about myself and about innovation and entrepre- UIF is a global program run by Stanford University’s Hasso neurship through this process, and I’m glad I was able to speak Plattner Institute of Design that encourages campus engage- my truth in front of a group of 300-plus people at an innovation ment with entrepreneurship, design thinking, innovation, and conference at Stanford University. This was a big deal, and I creativity. took it seriously.” The program was created as part of the National Center for Saghir has impressed the faculty running LTU’s Studio for Engineering Pathways to Innovation (Epicenter), a five-year Entrepreneurial Engineering Design (SEED). National Science Foundation grant. “Nada is a wonderful leader,” said Cristi L. Bell-Huff, SEED Fellows are sponsored by faculty and administrators at director. “I have been continually impressed by her enthusi- their schools as individuals or teams, and selected through asm, graciousness, and willingness to take initiative and effect an application process twice annually. Following acceptance, change. She is highly esteemed by students and faculty alike at students go through six weeks of online training and travel to LTU and beyond. As she moves on after graduation, I am con- the annual UIF Silicon Valley Meetup. Throughout the year, fident that she will not only succeed but have a lasting impact they take part in events and conferences and have opportuni- wherever she goes.” ties to learn from one another, Stanford mentors, and leaders in Added Heidi Morano, SEED project engineer: “One word academia and industry. sums up the essence of Nada Saghir – passion. Whether it is the LTU’s Innovation Fellows have led several strategies to passion that she exudes when working with under-represented boost interdisciplinary project-based and leadership learning at middle-schoolers as a part of her STEM outreach initiative, or the university. Included are getting students from fields other the passion she brings leading than engineering involved in an engineering design course her team to do its very best work. that aims to improve employment prospects for the disabled; What will that passion lead to as broadening LTU’s existing leadership curriculum to include she leaves LTU? Anything she larger and more interdisciplinary community service projects; sets her mind to – so, look out expanding LTU’s existing mentorship program for first-year world!” MR

Nada Saghir makes her presen- tation in front of 300 student and faculty attendees at the University Innovation Fellows program’s annual Silicon Valley Meetup, which took place in March. Saghir graduated in May with a degree in mechani- cal engineering.

30 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 31 Faculty & Student Achievements

LTU students win awards in ally prepared me for my career after college.” Added Shai Bishop, a student in the program from Muskegon: national architectural “It was a lot of stress but it was definitely worth it.” engineering competition Mistie Vaughan, a student in the program from Lansing, noted that “It was interesting to see the level of integration and For the fifth consecutive year, a team from Lawrence Techno- communication between the different disciplines that’s neces- logical University was a finalist in the Architectural Engineer- sary in industry.” ing Institute (AEI) Student Design Competition – and brought Other team members were Mike O’Donohue, a double major home awards. in architectural engineering and architecture from Livonia, Kyle The LTU team earned a second-place national award in Dunneback of Shelby Township, Jeff Dombrowski of Livonia, building integration, a second place national award for elec- Rachel Gendich of Rochester, all graduate students in architec- trical systems design, and a special award for Outstanding tural engineering, and Sydney Kieler of Warren, who served as Achievement in Innovation for the building enclosure. team captain. Also on the team were architecture majors Sam The students competed against four other finalist colleges DeJonge of Petoskey, and Corbin Patten of Rosseau, Ontario. and universities at the AEI Forum in Omaha, Neb. A total of The team practiced for Omaha by making their formal presen- 18 teams started the competition. tation to the LTU Architectural Engineering Industry Advisory All LTU team members are enrolled in LTU’s five-year Board at its March meeting. direct-entry combined Bachelor’s and Master’s in Architec- Ralph Nelson, associate professor of architecture, noted tural Engineering program. that the finalist status continues an LTU tradition: “Every gradu- The competition gives students a chance to design a real- ate from the MSArE degree program has been a finalist for the world project that is actually under construction – in this AEI competition.” case, a 500,000-square-foot, 10-story addition to a children’s The program’s director, Filza Walters, noted that LTU’s hospital in Omaha, Neb. architectural engineering students are participating in two The students are given the dimensions of the shell of the industry competitions this year – the AEI event, and another building, then asked to design its mechanical, electrical, and sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, structural systems. They also provide construction planning and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Walters said of and integration between building trades for the project. Teams the team: “We are very proud of everything they have learned, considered how engineered systems integrate with building the challenges they have overcome, and the recognition these architecture while emphasizing smart building technology students and their predecessors have brought to the program. integration, as well as disaster and emergency response plan- Their efforts, and those of their faculty, have placed LTU on the ning. Each team had university professors with strong profes- international map sional and academic backgrounds to provide mentorship. among the best Students in Lawrence Tech’s combined five-year bachelor’s and master’s degree program in architectural engineering presented “It was a lot of work but a lot of fun to do what I actually architectural engi- their projects to the LTU Architectural Engineering Industry Advisory want to do when I graduate,” said Megan Dixon, an LTU neering programs.” Board at its March meeting. An LTU team was a national finalist in a student in the program from Andover, Minn. “We don’t learn MR competition sponsored by the Architectural Engineering Institute for everything we need to know in the classroom. I think this re- the fifth straight year.

32 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 33 LTU wins first, third place in selected for the finals competition, held in early April in Wash- national competition for ington, D.C. A member of the first place team, Bram Ligon, called the assistive design competition “a pretty eye-opening experience.” The sophomore mechanical engineering major from Rochester Hills said it was Two teams from Lawrence Technological University took “really awesome, getting to work with the various subject mat- first and third place in the SourceAmerica Design Challenge, ter experts and hear their stories about how other teams have a national competition to design workplace products that developed assistive technologies for people with disabilities.” improve the employability of people with disabilities. Ligon said the teams made their presentations in a conference An LTU team won first place for its Cube XL Assembly, setting with about 150 people present, before a panel of judges which nearly doubled the assembly output of employees that included current and former staffers with IBM, the Defense assembling equipment to fasten pipes to interior surfaces on Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National buildings. The device allows people who have the use of only Academy of Engineering. one hand to perform the task. A member of the third place team, Victoria Pellerito, a junior Finishing in third place was another LTU team’s Clip mechanical engineering major from Macomb Township, added: Assembly Device, which allows people with limited hand “Beginning to end, it was amazing. The moments leading up to function to assemble a clip used in automotive headrests. the presentation were nerve-wracking, but once we got up there Lawrence Tech’s sophomore-year engineering design and started presenting, it was great. You knew everyone there studio class has been working for two years to develop genuinely cared.” products like these for Services to Enhance Potential (STEP), John Bowen, a member of the first-place team and a sopho- a Dearborn-based charity that works to boost employment more double major in biomedical engineering and molecular and prospects for people with disabilities. cell biology from Williamston, said the event featured a packed “It’s incredibly valuable to us,” Steve Slayton, STEP’s schedule of workshops and discussions daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9 director of business development, said of LTU’s assistance. p.m., “and then we’d practice our presentations until midnight.” “Both of the designs this year made big impacts for our The teams also met with staffers of U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and clients. The tools that the students create allow our clients to Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. do jobs that they were not able to do before, and allow our The faculty teaching the sophomore engineering design class clients to really increase their productivity.” said the SourceAmerica and STEP relationships have truly More than 120 teams of high school and college students brought home design thinking concepts for the engineering in STEM programs across the country competed in the students. challenge. Three collegiate and five high school teams were Continued

LTU students Austin Ber- tuca, George Arango, Bram Livon, and John Bowen, faculty Heidi Morano and Cristi Bell-Huff, and students Victoria Pellerito and Larance Haji, in the engineering design studio.

32 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 33 Faculty & Student Achievements

Lawrence Tech’s SourceAmerica presenters seem happy with their performances.

A Lawrence Tech team makes its pitch to the event’s attendees.

“The relationship with STEP has made all the difference in the level of student engagement and ownership within the design studio,” said Cristi Bell-Huff, director of LTU’s Studio for Entrepreneurial Engineering Design (SEED). “Having real customers to empathize with and really create value for has made a lasting impact on our stu- dents’ professional and personal devel- opment as engineers. Serving customers with disabilities in particular helps our students get outside the classroom and outside of their own hosts the Design Challenge annually. The contest is designed to perspectives in order to solve a real world problem that will bring greater awareness of the need and the impact of assistive make a big difference in someone’s life.” technology in the workplace and encourage upcoming genera- Added Heidi Morano, SEED project engineer: “The value tions to develop an inclusive mindset. of customer engagement is two-fold; first, the ability to ‘put Pellerito said her hope is that more can be done to help mil- yourself in someone else’s shoes’ is a critical skill for engi- lions of disabled Americans find jobs. Only 17.9 percent of neers in this day and age. Secondly, that the student teams are Americans with disabilities were employed in 2016, according able to see directly the impact that their design can have on to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared to 65.3 per- someone’s life really seems to resonate and leaves a lasting cent of Americans without disabilities. She also said she hopes impression.” more colleges and universities can be convinced to compete in SourceAmerica, a national nonprofit with a mission to the SourceAmerica Design Challenge. MR create employment opportunities for people with disabilities,

34 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 35 Student Awards

Outstanding Member Senior Civil Engineering: Lorenzo Peve of a Student Organization Senior Computer Engineering: Mateusz Gibiec Senior Electrical Engineering: Kristina Torres Alpha Eta Mu Beta Honor Society: Hayley Walkowski Senior Mechanical Engineering: Vince Toher American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics: Cody Hoeffel Senior Engineering Technology: Garrett Yesue American Society of Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Senior Robotics: Kurtis Rickelmann Engineers (ASHRAE): Marissa Mizwa Junior Engineering Student: American Society of Civil Engineers: Rebecca Janke Electrical: James Spicer and Kira Haag; American Concrete Institute: Christian Meara Mechanical: Victoria Pellerito American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Cody Hoeffel Senior Industrial Engineering: Marcela Benavides Architectural Engineering Institute Award: Alexandra Shorkey Dual Civil Engineering/Architecture Degree: Ryan Geisler Biomedical Engineering Society: Alejandra Farias Elizondo Blue Devil Motorsports: Steven Rehak Outstanding Student Award Chi Epsilon Honor Society: Michelle St. Onge Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society: Mateusz Gibiec Architectural Engineering: Sydney Kieler Institute of Electrical/Electronic Engineers: Aradhya Lakshmi Biomedical Engineering: Dori Watts Tankasala Civil Engineering: Alisha Stidam Paul Michel Award: Danielle Squires Electrical & Computer Engineering: Ahmed Alkhuzaee Phi Alpha Epsilon: Amanda Nunnold Mechanical Engineering: Steven Timm Pi Tau Sigma Honorary: Pablo Ripodas Engineering Technology: Brittany Walker SAE Collegiate Chapter at LTU: Bryan Sharp Society of Women Engineers: Marissa Bradley Tau Beta Pi Honor Society: Emily Foster Society of Manufacturing Engineers: Santosh Gudagunti

Outstanding Service Award

Architectural Engineering: Jordan Reinhardt Biomedical Engineering: Angelica Guardia Civil Engineering: Matthew Finley Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering: Hashim Alsadah Mechanical Engineering: Benjamin Ervin Engineering Technology: Kienan Kowalski

Academic Excellence Award

Senior Architectural Engineering: Josie Queary Senior Biomedical Engineering: Samantha Wheeler

Flanked by Ken Cook, chair of the Department of Engineering Technology, and President Virinder Moudgil is Danielle Squires, a construction engineering technology and management student, and win- ner of the Paul Michel Award.

Electrical and computer engi- neering students were among those recognized for their achievements at the annual Honors Banquet of the College of Engineering.

34 Lawrence Tech Innovation Lawrence Tech Innovation 35 By the Numbers A statistical snapshot of athletes in LTU’s College of Engineering

Athletes in engineering

Lawrence Technological University resumed competition COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING ATHLETES BY MAJOR in intercollegiate athletics in the 2011-2012 academic year. 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 For this year’s edition of Innovation magazine, we thought it Architectural Engineering 0 1 2 4 5 would be interesting to take a look at how those athletes have Audio Eng Technology 0 0 3 2 4 Biomedical Engineering 8 14 20 24 41 affected programs in LTU’s College of Engineering. As you Civil Engineering 11 14 18 22 25 can see, participating in athletics and getting a high-quality Computer Engineering 4 7 5 6 8 engineering education turns out to be quite compatible. Const Engr Tech & Mgmt 0 1 3 3 5 Construction Management 1 4 0 0 0 Electrical Engineering 7 9 12 9 9 Embedded Software Eng 0 0 0 0 1 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING ATHLETES Engineering Technology 1 2 0 0 0 Engineering Undeclared 6 5 1 5 6 ACADEMIC YEAR FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE JUNIOR SENIOR GRADUATE Ind Operations Engineering 1 1 3 2 2 2012-2013 0 3 1 58 0 Industrial Engineering 0 0 0 3 5 2013-2014 5 8 2 86 0 Mech & Manuf Engr Technology 0 3 3 3 4 2014-2015 5 5 1 110 0 Mechanical Engineering 23 46 49 68 81 2015-2016 11 10 33 100 1 Robotics Engineering 3 3 3 4 4 2016-2017 13 69 40 73 5 2017-2018 93 63 38 45 3 TOTAL 65 110 122 155 200

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING % of Student Athletes in Engineering ATHLETE AVERAGE GPA DePARTMENTs in 2017-18 ACADEMIC YEAR SENIOR GRADUATE 2012-2013 3.07 35 2013-2014 3.17 30 2014-2015 3.03 2015-2016 3.24 25 2016-2017 3.22 3.74 2017-2018 3.12 3.77 20 15 10 Athletes Distribution across Departments by Percentage of 5 total Athlete Student Population 0 19% Civil and Architectural Engineeirng Civil and Architectural Biomedical Engineering Electrical and Computer Mechanical Engineering Engineering Technology Engineeirng Engineering 8% Engineering Technology 14% Biomedical Engineering

% of All Athletes in College of Engineering

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 47% Mechanical Engineering 0 12% Electrical and Computer Engineering 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018

36 Lawrence Tech Innovation Opportunities in Engineering at Lawrence Tech College of Engineering Leadership A statistical snapshot of athletes in LTU’s College of Engineering Lawrence Technological University offers a wide range of engineering Master’s Nabil F. Grace, PhD, PE, FESD programs at its campus in Southfield, Architectural Engineering (combined Dean MI. For more information, contact bachelor’s and master’s program) University Distinguished Professor the Office of Admissions at Automotive Engineering Director, Center for Innovative Materials 800.225.5588 or [email protected], Biomedical Engineering Research or visit www.ltu.edu/futurestudents. Civil Engineering 248.204.2500 Construction Engineering Management* [email protected] Bachelor’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Audio Engineering Technology Engineering Management* Selin Arslan, PhD Biomedical Engineering Engineering Technology Associate Dean for Undergraduate Civil Engineering Fire Engineering Programs Computer Engineering Industrial Engineering* 248.204.2500 Construction Engineering Technology Mechanical Engineering [email protected] and Management Mechatronic Systems Engineering Electrical Engineering Elin Jensen, PhD Computer Engineering Doctoral Associate Dean for Graduate Studies electronics Engineering Civil Engineering and Research Power Engineering Mechanical Engineering 248.204.2500 Embedded Software Engineering [email protected] Industrial Engineering Minors Mechanical and Manufacturing Aeronautical Engineering Badih Jawad, PhD Engineering Technology Energy Engineering Chair, A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical Engineering Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Mechanical Engineering alternative Energy 248.204.2553 Automotive Undergraduate Certificates [email protected] Manufacturing Electrical Power Systems Mechatronics Embedded Systems Edmund Yuen, PhD, PE nanoscience and Entrepreneurial Skills Chair, Department of Civil and Nanotechnology Architectural Engineering solid Mechanics Graduate Certificates 248.204.2523 Thermal Fluids Aeronautical Engineering [email protected] Robotics Engineering Electrical Power Systems Energy Engineering Nabih Jaber, PhD Fire Engineering Chair, Department of Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering Computer Engineering 248.204.2532 *Also offered online [email protected] Civil and Architectural Biomedical Engineering Electrical and Computer Mechanical Engineering Engineering Technology Engineeirng Engineering Yawen Li, PhD Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering 248.204.2600 [email protected]

Kenneth J. Cook Chair, Department of Engineering Technology 248.204.2507 Lawrence Technological University [email protected] College of Engineering

21000 West Ten Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075-1058 800.225.5588 www.ltu.edu/engineering www.ltu.edu

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Lawrence Technological University 21000 West Ten Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075-1058 www.ltu.edu

LTU sets team record for MPG in Supermileage

The LTU team in SAE’s Supermileage competition achieved a them to use a huge CNC machine to create the body mold with school-record 370 miles per gallon in competition in early June only two parts, a top and a bottom. Previous years’ teams as- at Eaton Corp.’s Marshall Proving Ground. sembled body molds made of many pieces of foam, “glued them The team, which began working on the car in the summer together, and had to do a lot of sanding and smoothing,” Liu said. of 2017, passed all static tests as well as roll bar, tilt, visibility, “This year’s car just looked a lot more professional-grade.” maneuverability, and braking tests, and successfully completed This year’s Supermileage car also was the first from LTU one run of 10 miles on the track. to enclose its wheels within the body, cutting drag. And it used The LTU team finished 11th overall out of 33 collegiate teams a dual rubber belt system for its drive train versus earlier years’ registered, second among Michigan schools at the event. chain drives, which both reduced weight and increased reliability. Liping Liu, associate professor of mechanical engineering All Supermileage teams use identical 3.3-hp one-cylinder and the team’s faculty advisor, said the team could probably Briggs & Stratton engines for the competition. Penn State Univer- have achieved even greater MPG levels if it had been able to sity took first place. make more runs on the track – but it couldn’t, because of delays Besides the overall finish, LTU finished in fourth place in in receiving critical parts. design, scoring 405 points out However, this bodes well for of a possible 450, the team’s future LTU teams, she said. best result in that category This year’s Supermile- since 2015. age vehicle featured many Team members were firsts for a team that was Bryan Sharp, captain, and reorganized in 2014 after a Steven A. Timm, Armin 14-year hiatus. It was the Memic, and James J. Cutting. first LTU Supermileage Assisting were volunteers vehicle to have a body made Jeet Chitalia, Shivamdeep, of advanced carbon fiber Harshit Desai, Jaydeep composite. The team also Shelke, and Austin Peak. received sponsorship from MR Ford Motor Co. that allowed The LTU Supermileage crew poses for a team shot at the Marshall Proving Ground of Eaton Corp.

In this screen grab from a team video, the 2018 LTU Supermileage car zips by Is that two peace symbols or crossed Blue Devil Team members carefully assemble the two-piece carbon-fiber body during its 10-mile run at Eaton Corp.’s Marshall Proving Ground. pitchforks? Maybe both. prior to competition.