DCU Expo 2024 - Final Year Projects

92 186. Non-Centrifugal Event-Triggered Valves Lab-on-a-chip is a device that integrates one or more laboratory operations into a single chip. The lab-on-a-chip devices can carry out standard laboratory unit operations includingmixing, valving and metering without human input. The lab-on-a-chip device is based on microfluidics, which is defined as the manipulation of small amounts of fluids usingmicrostructures. These microfluidic-based lab-on-chip devices have a wide range of applications in various areas such as drug discovery, ecology, life sciences and clinical diagnostics. This project aims to create a non-centrifugal lab-on-a-chip device that contains event-triggered dissolvable valves that allow the release of reagents fromdifferent chambers without the use of centrifugal force. Student Programme Biomedical Engineering (Year 5) Project Area Biomedical Engineering, FluidMechanics, Mechanical Design andManufacture Project Technology Solidworks, Microfluidics Student Name(s) Angela Kent Email angela.kent5@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Dr David Kinahan 187. Jamwise Jamstack is amodern web development architecture widely embraced for its performance benefits, security advantages, and simplified Gitops workflow. The Jamstack approach describes building and hosting static sites, but is commonly augmented to support dynamic features using server-side rendering, client-side hydration, and third-party APIs - motivating the shift to a “composable” web, coined by Netlify, which aims to enable engineers to build Jamstack sites leveraging serverless and edge computing. Our project, Jamwise (JAMstackWith Integrated Serverless Enhancement), aims to provide a flexible toolchain designed to scaffold Jamstack apps and serverless functions, optimised for the browser and ready for multi-cloud deployment. Student Programme Computer Applications Project Area Automation, Cloud Computing, Content Management System, Databases, Distributed Systems, Model ViewController, Software Development, Web Application Project Technology Docker, Go, HTML5, JavaScript, REST Student Name(s) Jed Hazaymeh  |  Eoin Reynolds Email jed.hazaymeh2@mail.dcu.ie   |   eoin.reynolds5@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Dr Paul Clarke 188. Investigating Stress-InducedDegradation of EPDMand PTFE Valve Diaphragms in Clean SteamEnvironments This project investigates the degradation patterns of EPDMand PTFE valve diaphragms within clean steam environments, prevalent in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. It addresses a significant gap in the literature concerning the actual longevity of these materials versus laboratory predictions. Rigorous testing applies mechanical stresses by over-compression, followed by exposure to sterilisation-in-place (SIP) cycles, establishing a correlation between operational practices andmaterial degradation. The outcomes offer insights into optimisingmaintenance protocols and enhancing the reliability of biopharmaceutical production processes. Student Programme Biomedical Engineering (Year 5) Project Area Biomedical Engineering, Materials Testing, Bioprocessing Project Technology Excel/VB, Bioprocessing Student Name(s) Ronan Larkin Email ronan.larkin4@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Prof Brian Corcoran