VTechWorks

VTechWorks provides global access to Virginia Tech scholarship, including journal articles, books, theses, dissertations, conference papers, slide presentations, technical reports, working papers, administrative documents, videos, images, and more by faculty, students, and staff. Faculty can deposit items to VTechWorks from Elements, including journal articles covered by the University open access policy. Email vtechworks@vt.edu for help.

Recent Submissions

A New Multifunctional MEMS-Based Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor for Monitoring Static, Acoustic, and Turbulent Events in Underwater Applications

Taylor, Jack Giles (Virginia Tech, 2025-07-11)

Actively monitoring pressure in fluids is essential in a variety of engineering applications. As industry trends point toward increased exploration and use of deep-sea and ocean environments, it is crucial to design and evaluate supporting pressure instrumentation. Of particular importance are micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) that combine reduced size and cost when compared to other relevant techniques. This work showcases the performance of Nanosonic Inc.'s MEMs-based piezoresistive pressure sensors; specifically, their multifunctional capabilities in monitoring static, acoustic, and turbulent events. Nanosonic sensors were evaluated though extensive water tunnel testing. Two sensors were surface mounted into a NACA 0018 hydrofoil and evaluated under a range of angles of attack (AoAs) and flow speeds. The results highlight the sensors' proficiency in monitoring static flow perturbations, acoustic events, and small-scale pressure fluctuations associated with turbulence. Static flow results were validated against flow visualization to analyze flow separation states. Acoustic events (produced from tonal noise) reveal key behaviors in the frequency domain and possess strong alignment with published literature. The acoustic response addresses the underexplored research area of tonal noise in underwater settings. Lastly, behavior consistient with turbulent decay was reported in high AoA flows, further emphasizing the sensors' multifunctional capabilities. The combined functionality of the Nanosonic sensor within a single sensing element invites the opportunity for use in real-world applications to streamline the performance of various engineering systems.

Proceedings for the 17th Annual Conference On Higher Education Pedagogy

(Virginia Tech, 2025-02)

The conference showcases the best pedagogical practice and research in higher education today. Sessions address disciplinary and interdisciplinary instructional strategies, outcomes, and research. Each year we welcome over 350 faculty and instructors in Higher Education dedicated to teaching excellence.