4.401 Final Project

Fall 2017

• designed a building to given specifications and climate, using energy-efficient environmental features,
• created a simple 3D CAD massing model and used daylighting and energy simulations to study expected performance.

Sustainable Cement Mixes (UROP)

Fall 2015-Spring 2017

Starting Fall 2015, this UROP aimed to study the performance of cement with volcanic ash -- a naturally-available, less energy intensive, and thus more sustainable -- cement additive. This opportunity not only taught me lab techniques - including novel nano-scale techniques - but also allowed me to present my work in many contexts:

• made cement samples;
• tested samples using compression testing, SEM/BSE at the MIT Center for Material Science and Engineering, XRD (SAXS/USAXS/WAXS) at Argonne National Lab;
• performed data analysis and make graphs/figures, including in Igor Pro and SigmaPlot; and
• presented work in a poster session for the Infrastructure Innovation in a Changing Environment (Nov 2015) at MIT, in a presentation for research partners at Kuwait University in, in a presentation at the American Chemical Society's 253rd National Conference, and as the co-author of two papers (currently under review).

Window Design for Daylighting and Energy Performance (REU Research)

Summer 2017-Present

In this summer research project, I had the opportunity to take charge of a research project from problem statement to presentation in just 3 months:

• conducted literature review,
• designed experiment and analysis,
• collected and analyzed data to determine solar heat gain and useful daylight illuminance (UDI),
• considered weather by calculating sol-air temperature and clearness index,
• presented preliminary and final results during the program,
• submitted a 40-page report to the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of the REU program, and
• submitted abstract and conference paper to ASHRAE Annual Conference (June 2018).

Longfellow Bridge Delivery (1.472 Final Project)

Spring 2017

This final project required teams to research the delivery method and to evaluate the delivery of a real infrastructure project. We chose to study the Longfellow Bridge because of its relevance/proximity to MIT and the unique challenges associated with its current renovations.

Column Challenge (1.102 Project)

Spring 2017

In this assignment, we designed and 3D-printed columns. We then designed an experiment in which we:

• measured water flow through the structures,
• determined the permeability constant for structures of different porosities (defined as negative-space), and
• checked if Darcy's Law applies.

Dam Project (1.101 Final Project)

Fall 2016

In this project, we designed and 3D-printed porous structures that were inspired by beaver dams. We then designed an experiment to:

• measured water flow through the structures,
• determined the permeability constant for structures of different porosities (defined as negative-space), and
• checked if Darcy's Law applies.

Hoover Dam Development (1.011 Final Project)

Spring 2017

This final project required pairs to research the planning, management, and financing and to evaluate the success of a real infrastructure project using techniques such as net present value (NPV) calculations, benefit-cost analysis (BCA), sensitivity analysis, stakeholder analysis, and decision matrices. We chose to study the Hoover Dam because of its legacy and importance and our interest in water infrastructure.

RBE-1001 Final Project

Spring 2015

For the final project in RBE-1001 at WPI, we applied what we learned about mechanical design and electronic controls to built a robot that could

• mass-collected pingpong balls from the floor using a conveyor belt mechanism,
• stored the pingpong balls, and then
• raised the main body with a four-bar mechanism so that the balls could be outputted onto a steep ramp structure,