Publications by Colleges and Departments (MSU - Bozeman)
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/3
Browse
4 results
Search Results
Item Reactive Condensation of Cr Vapor on Aluminosilicates Containing Alkaline Oxides(The Electrochemical Society, 2024-08) Van Leeuwen, Travis; Guerrero, Amberly; Dowdy, Ryan; Satritama, Bima; Rhamdhani, Akbar; Will, Geoffrey; Gannon, PaulThis study is part of a series with the objective of improving fundamental understanding of reactive condensation of Chromium (Cr) vapors, which are generated from Cr containing alloys used in many high-temperature (>500 °C) process environments and can form potentially problematic condensed hexavalent (Cr(VI)) species downstream. This study specifically focuses on the effects of alkaline oxide additives in aluminosilicate fibers on Cr condensation and speciation. Cr vapors were generated by flowing high-temperature (800 °C) air containing 3% water vapor over chromia (Cr2O3) powder, with aluminosilicate fiber samples positioned downstream where the temperature decreases (<500 °C). Total condensed Cr and ratios of oxidation states were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and diphenyl carbazide (DPC) colorimetric/direct UV–vis spectrophotometric analyses. Results indicate presence of hexavalent Cr (Cr(VI)) species condensed on all samples investigated. The ratio of Cr(VI) to total Cr detected was consistently higher on aluminosilicate fiber samples containing alkaline oxide (CaO and MgO) additions. Computational thermodynamic equilibrium modelling corroborated experimental results showing stabilities of Ca and Mg chromate (Cr(VI)) compounds. Comparative results and analyses are presented and discussed to help inform mechanistic understanding and future related research and engineering efforts.Item Is Nuclear Energy the Most Promising Energy Source for a Sustainable Future?(Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2024-04) Kahle, Grant; Gannon, Paul; Catlett, DuaneThe use of nuclear power to produce electricity is a promising source for safe, clean, and reliable energy. Though in the past public opinion has inhibited the growth and success of this electricity source; today, with the pressure of climate change forcing the world to make a lasting change in the way our society generates electricity, nuclear power is the most prominent source for a clean energy future. The first main goal of our research is to gain knowledge to further understand Montana’s public opinion and knowledge of nuclear power, more importantly, the foundation and reasoning for their views. We have conducted a survey that asks whether the respondent is favorable or unfavorable and why they hold that opinion, then whether they feel knowledgeable or unknowledgeable about nuclear power to produce electricity. We have surveyed students at the end of two Montana State University energy and sustainability courses, and in the next semester will conduct the survey in the beginning and end of courses from the science and business backgrounds. The second main goal of our research is to gain an understanding of why nuclear power has such a high price tag associated with it. We are researching the costs through summaries of techno-economic analyses of the construction and operation of previous nuclear power plants. To achieve this goal, we have been in contact with Northwestern Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, NuScale Power, and other sources from the internet. These sources have been gracious enough to share abundant information and data regarding their economic and financial knowledge and research into the field. With this information, a further goal is to identify where nuclear power can decrease costs to make it more economically viable and competitive.Item Building Primary Preservice Teachers’ Identity as Engineering Educators(MDPI AG, 2022-09) Lux, Nicholas; Hammack, Rebekah; Wiehe, Blake; Gannon, PaulThe purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate how two primary preservice teachers built their engineering education identities during a clinical field experience that emphasized engineering education. More specifically, we explored the development of their engineering education identities while facing unforeseen circumstances and unfamiliar engineering content. We used a nested qualitative case study approach that was bounded by a university practicum field experience that took place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data sources included preservice teacher interviews and reflective field notes. We found that the preservice teachers faced a series of contextual factors in the clinical experience that both afforded and constrained professional learning opportunities that influenced their identity development. The affordances made professional learning opportunities possible, while the constraints limited professional growth. We also found that it was the negotiation of the factors, where the preservice teachers worked to mitigate the effect of the constraints while maximizing the advantages of the affordances, that had the greatest influence on their engineering pedagogical knowledge and engineering teaching self-efficacy. Findings from this study could provide teacher educators with insight into preparing primary teachers for unexpected challenges when teaching engineering, as well as how to best prepare engineering-efficacious teachers.Item Quantifying National Biomechanics Day’s Impact on Student Perceptions toward Biomechanics: A Multisite Pilot Study(Elsevier BV, 2021-12) Monfort, Scott M.; Bigelow, Kimberly E.; Vallabhajosula, Srikant; Evertz, Loribeth Q.; Becker, James N.; Wittstein, Matthew W.; Gannon, Paul; DeVita, PaulNational Biomechanics Day (NBD) is an international celebration of biomechanics that seeks to increase the awareness and appreciation of biomechanics among the high school community. Initial research supports the positive effects of NBD on students’ attitudes toward the field of biomechanics; however, quantitative evidence remains scarce. The purpose of this study was to quantify changes in high school students’ perceptions toward biomechanics after participating in NBD events to better understand the impact of NBD. Data were collected at two locations during the 2019 NBD season. Surveys were collected before and after NBD events for 112 high school students from Montana and North Carolina. Paired pre- versus post-NBD surveys for the aggregate sample population suggest that students perceived biomechanics as more appealing (p = 0.050), exciting (p = 0.007), and important (p = 0.018) following the NBD events. Students did not report a change in whether they could see themselves in a biomechanics-related career (p = 0.49). These findings further support the ability for NBD events to positively impact students’ perceptions toward biomechanics, although opportunities persist to increase student career interest in biomechanics. This paper presents and discusses the study’s results, interpretations, limitations, and implications for future research on biomechanics outreach activities.