January 21, 2021
Led by Jinwen Zhang, professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, researchers developed a recyclable material that is as strong as commonly used carbon-fiber composites and can also be broken down in very hot water within a pressure vessel.
By Tina Hilding, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
A WSU research team has created a recyclable carbon-fiber reinforced composite that could eventually replace the non-recyclable version used in everything from modern airplane wings and wind turbines to sporting goods.
Led by Jinwen Zhang, professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, researchers developed a recyclable material that is as strong as commonly used carbon-fiber composites and can also be broken down in very hot water within a pressure vessel. The new material could be easily substituted into current manufacturing processes. The research team, including scientists from the Department of Energy’s Pacific North
December 17, 2020
A switchable bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment system was tested at the pilot scale at a wastewater treatment facility in Moscow, Idaho.
By Tina Hilding, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
WSU researchers have developed a sustainable wastewater treatment system that relies on electron-producing microbial communities to clean the water.
The work could someday lead to reduced reliance on the energy-intensive processes that are used to move and treat wastewater, which accounts for as much as two percent of the total electrical energy consumption in the United States.
Led by Abdelrhman Mohamed, postdoctoral research associate, and Haluk Beyenal, Paul Hohenschuh Distinguished Professor in the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, the researchers report on their work in the journal,
December 15, 2020
The researchers have developed an origami-inspired, folded plastic fuel bladder that doesn’t crack at super cold temperatures and could someday be used to store and pump fuel.
By Tina Hilding, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
PULLMAN, Wash. WSU researchers have used the ancient Japanese art of paper folding to possibly solve a key challenge for outer space travel – how to store and move fuel to rocket engines.
The researchers have developed an origami-inspired, folded plastic fuel bladder that doesn’t crack at super cold temperatures and could someday be used to store and pump fuel. Led by graduate student Kjell Westra and Jake Leachman, associate professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, the researchers have published their work in the journal, Cryogenics.
December 15, 2020
Washington State University students can apply online now through March 5 for a variety of awards to support their mentored research, scholarship, and creative activities in academic year 2021–22, said Mary Sanchez Lanier, assistant vice provost.
“Thanks to the vision of generous donors and other funding, recipients of these awards students from all majors and campuses can afford to spend more time concentrating on their research efforts rather than having to work at a job,” she said.
Five types of awards are available this year. Two are presented by the Office of Undergraduate Research in the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement, one is from the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, another is awarded by the WSU LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) program, and the fifth from the Team Mentoring Program (TMP).
WSU engineering students Grace Harris and Alyssa Hovenkotter received the scholarships.
SEL created its scholarship program this year to support students in their engineering education and careers, said Stephanie Schweitzer, SEL senior vice president of marketing and communications. SEL hopes to award yearly scholarships.
“Engineers are needed around the world,” she said. “We’re interested, as an organization and as an industry, in increasing the pipeline [to have] more young people studying engineering and coming into the workforce.”
The program also provides mentorship, professional development and SEL seminar opportunities to the scholarship recipients, Schweitzer said.
Harris, senior electrical engineering major, said the scholarship helped her pay her student loans. She said the money will help her financially when she graduates this semester.