9th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Presenter(s): Aaron Rhodes, Sebastian Simencic
Title: Process and Material Analysis of a Boat Propeller
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Ana Rynearson , School of Engineering

Boat propellers convert the torque applied into thrust, to propel the boat in the desired direction. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the material make up and process used to create a boat propeller. Methods used during the determination process include, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hardness testing (HRB). The hardness data and images from the SEM are indicative of an aluminum oxide alloy. The material that was used is believed to be the best option due to its ability to fail before the gears break, making it cheaper to replace.