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MECE 301 · Spring 2026
Pneumatic Tube Terminal Velocity
Transient modeling and experimental validation of carrier motion in a sealed vertical pneumatic tube.
Objective
Predict and measure terminal velocity for carriers moving through a sealed vertical pneumatic tube.
Modeling
Developed a transient MATLAB model using viscous annular flow and isothermal ideal-gas behavior.
Measurement
Calibrated an IR sensor using a 10-point polynomial regression and checked the measurements with slow-motion video.
Result
Results met the project’s ±10% uncertainty target across 5 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm carriers.
