Stealing Steel

Dem sent me an article from the Ann Arbor News about 2 men being arrested for stealing 3 tons of stainless steel...sounds boring, but it happened to have been stolen from our research group. Specifically it was from our HIPLATE model, which I have discussed with you before. Furthermore I was the student that got to "identify" the steel and hangout with the detective for a day. I was going to write something last week, but I didn't want to post anything before it was public information. What's was really cool (though boring for like the first hour) was going through security camera footage with the salvage yard to find these guys dropping off the steel. I'm still not sure how much I should say so I won't say much besides it was fun playing detective for a day.

HIPLATE Experience - Phase 2

My second HIPLATE experiment took place between November 2005 and February 2006. It wasn't suppose to be that long of a test, but there was an accident that put a big delay in testing. For this test I don't have any pictures of us preparing the model so I'll start with a picture of the model mounted in the tunnel.

HIPLATE mounted in the tunnel (it makes up the top surface in the picture) for my second test in Memphis.

I've pointed out the "very hot lights" because there is a good story about those. I think it actually occurred during my first time in Memphis, but will tell it now anyway. Basically I was working on installing some stuff in the HIPLATE while it was mounted in the tunnel. I kept smelling smoke so I stuck my head out of the test section and asked if anything was burning. However when it didn't smell like smoke outside I realized it had to be in the tunnel...I looked down at my leg to find out it was on fire! I attempted to put it out for awhile until Eric said "Brian we are in a water tunnel...go down to where there is water and put your leg in it." Good advice...after that I also burned my shoe.

In the picture above I also labeled the two "stupid struts" because they were the bane of my existence during this test. Basically we spent a lot of time designing and building these things (Eric did most of the work), only to have then screw up the flow and thus screw up our measurements. Below is a nice picture of one of them...they are pretty, but useless. the picture below that I believe is from me working on these struts...Bondoing, grinding, sanding, etc in a 80+ degree, 99% humidity dark tunnel.

The strut we mounted on the model and some laser light coming out of the model for a different measurement.

A good picture (not sure who took this one) of me working in the tunnel...amazing how dark it can look in there.

So after about a month of work getting everything setup we were finally ready to start collecting data. Then one day Eric and I were up by the test section and the entire facility lost power...pitch dark. Eric and I waited for a few minutes, but no one came to find us. So I decided I would go find where everyone was and see what happened. I went outside to find that one of the technician's, Tony, had been electrocuted. I've heard various stories since then about what exactly happened, but either way Tony survived though in pretty bad shape. He says he remembers it and that he wasn't electrocuted but the thing just exploded in his face...whatever Tony says is what I'm going to believe. He was even back to work within like a month, though he had to wear gloves since his hands were kind of blown to pieces in the accident.

After a month delay because of the investigation into what happened, Eric and I were ready to run our experiment. That allowed me to get to work on my electrical impedance measurements, which were the first instrumentation I ever designed, built, and used. Picture below is me at my little work station I built for my measurement. While the results turned out really well, I actually got half way through the experiment and figured out I screwed something up and had to redo everything...oops. I thought I was going to be fired or Eric was going to kill me, but actually everyone was really understanding.

Me (right) with my custom made instrumentation (left).

We then got to work going through our test matrix (plus doing a little extra that we weren't suppose to do, which turned out to be the most interesting find from all the HIPLATE experiments). Below are pictures from the two sides of the tunnel. I was always on the electrical impedance measurements (and communication with the tunnel control room), Eric was on the bubble cameras (and project manager), random person (in the picture its Keary) on the shear stress sensors, and quite often Marc was down there advising.

Typical team during testing; (left to right) Marc (advising/helping), Keary (shear stress), me (electrodes), and Eric (bubble camera/project manager).

Once the test was over we came back to Ann Arbor and began processing data and preparing for the next HIPLATE experiment, which I would be the project manager for...yikes!

Me back at my office in Ann Arbor processing my electrode data and preparing for the next experiment.

HIPLATE Experience - Phase 1

So recently I came into possession of a lot of pictures taken during my time in Memphis for my research experiments. I thus got inspired to write a post (actually its going to be a series of posts) recapping my experiences at the LCC (US Navy's Large Cavitation Channel) in Memphis working with the HIPLATE (the term we use for our test model). This phase of testing took place in the fall of 2004. Phase 1 of my experience with HIPLATE was actually the third time the model was tested (I obviously wasn't involved in the first two tests). I was actually only hired for this test as an hourly worker and was only down there for the installation of HIPLATE...who would have guessed that I would return for another 3 tests (and possibly 4 now). While I was just hired to turn a wrench, it was that ability that got me my funding for my PhD. As my advisor said "there is value in a student that is able to do something besides hurt themselves, hurt others, or break something with a tool." I think he had some doubts as to whether I could do the intellectual stuff, but I think I've handled it pretty well (actually better than I even expected and I'm pretty self confident).

First I must introduce everyone to the HIPLATE. The picture below shows the model in its three sections. When installed in the LCC tunnel it makes one very large flat plate...really nothing too fancy about it besides how big it is (total weight is 21 tons). Also in the picture is what I did the majority of my time in Memphis during this test...grinding away. To date these two weeks were the two worst weeks in Memphis, and as Sherry can testify to I have had plenty of dark days down there since these two weeks. I would say the highlight for me was when we came in at 6am like normal only to work have the day, get sent back to the hotel for a few hours, and then return in the evening to work through the night...on what was suppose to be my last day in Memphis.

HIPLATE model in pieces and me grinding on one of the 3 pieces.

Now I have to introduce everyone to the important people for this phase of testing. The Michigan crew had four primary people (pictured below) that actually created a rather interesting personal dynamic in Memphis. I personally get along quite well with all of them, but there happened to be some communications issues between two of them that made for some interesting stories.

The key Michigan contributors to this phase of HIPLATE testing.

And I must give credit the LCC crew...these guys are always good for some stories in Memphis. I've been fortunate enough to get along really well with these guys, but Michigan didn't exactly have a great track record (from what I hear) with them prior to Eric and I beginning to work on down there. The picture below shows probably about half the crew, I'm missing Jerry, Bob, Mike, Ken, Marty, Tony (this guy is famous now amongst Michigan people...you'll find out why in the next HIPLATE post) and a few others.

Part of the LCC crew.

In the lot of pictures there were quite a few that captured exactly what I spent the vast majority of my time doing...grinding, bondoing, sanding, and polishing.

Me grinding...I did this for over 10 hours in one day.

Me sanding down my Bondo job.

With all that bondoing, sanding, and polishing the HIPLATE was looking rather nice by the time we installed it in the tunnel for testing.

Check out the mirror finish we had on the HIPLATE before testing...pretty nice.

Procrastination

When I started this blog I said that I wanted to be more proactive in my procrastination. Well it is about 5pm and I should be working but lack motivation...therefore I should write a post. In just over 4 weeks I will be heading down to Memphis to conduct this research experiment that will hopefully produce the bulk of the the data I'll need to get my PhD. Unfortunately the preparation for this test hasn't been all that great, and since I'm the manager I feel quite stressed and a little guilty. It has become all too apparent to myself that I won't be able to get the work done in time for the start of the test. This has an even worse affect on me because when I don't think I can do everything the right way I really don't want to do anything...hence the reason I'm writing a blog instead of mastering particle image velocimetry.

Me working hard...I don't know why but my desk is actually clean (photo by Sherry)

Every once in awhile I have thoughts about the possibility of having this experiment completely bomb, and the result would be basically me starting over my PhD. So instead of being done in a year or two I would have like another 4 years or so. Even though these panic thoughts hit me from time to time, I know that we will pull this off. While I think I'm not that good with preparation (at least for a large scale project like this), I am quite confident that when I'm running the experiment we will get good data (I don't have a great answer why I feel this...I just do). Even though this is going to be 13 weeks of 16 hour days, I'm really actually looking forward to getting it started because once it begins we actually start accomplishing real goals. I suppose this is the result of my competitive nature and my love of being the underdog.

Well since I'm not getting any work done I suppose I should go running. I hate running, but I love the results of running. (1) When I stop running I feel great, (2) it helps me work on self discipline since every single step I want to stop, (3) gives me time to think, and (4) this is my God time (I run in the woods, and I don't see how anyone can be out in nature and not know that God is there with you). So I'm out...I would have to say this is the least organized post I've written to date.

Side Note: I've found it quite interesting that my conversation on the shape of blue to be more controversial than evolution. However the evolution post has certainly increased my readership. Normally I have about 10 visitors per day, but since I posted that one I’ve had over 70 new readers.