Abstract
Modern electronic devices continue to push the limits of performance, efficiency, and miniaturization, but this progress has introduced a critical and increasingly visible challenge: overheating. As power densities rise with continued adherence to Moore’s Law, the ability to effectively manage heat at micro- and nanoscale levels has become a central engineering constraint. At the same time, overheating is not purely a technical issue, rather it has significant social implications, including safety concerns, consumer trust, and corporate accountability. Incidents such as smartphone recalls and performance throttling controversies demonstrate that thermal failures can quickly escalate into public crises. This thesis portfolio addresses the broader problem of how engineers can design more effective thermal management systems while also navigating the social and ethical challenges that arise when technologies fail or behave unpredictably. While other contributing factors such as manufacturing quality, regulatory oversight, and user behavior, also influence device safety and performance, this work focuses specifically on measurement and interpretation of thermal behavior and how these technical realities are understood by different social groups.
The technical component of this thesis focuses on the design and development of a system to measure thermal conductivity across a wide range of materials and temperatures, including cryogenic conditions. Accurate measurement of thermal properties is essential for improving heat dissipation in advanced electronics, yet existing methods often face limitations in sensitivity, cost, or operational range. This project utilizes the 3-omega method, a well-established technique for measuring thermal conductivity using an alternating current and lock-in amplification to detect temperature-dependent resistance changes. The system integrates key instrumentation, including a lock-in amplifier, current source, and temperature controller, within a controlled cryogenic environment capable of reaching approximately 1 K. Design considerations included minimizing thermal noise, ensuring proper electrical isolation, and maintaining vacuum conditions to reduce convective heat transfer. Experimental results demonstrate that the system can reliably capture frequency-dependent thermal responses, enabling extraction of material thermal properties with reasonable accuracy. These results suggest that the proposed setup provides a flexible and cost-effective platform for characterizing thermal behavior in materials relevant to next-generation electronic devices. However, limitations remain in calibration precision and environmental stability, indicating areas for further refinement.
The STS research component examines how overheating in consumer electronics is understood, interpreted, and responded to by different social groups. Framed by the research question of how engineers can address the social and ethical challenges of thermal management while balancing performance and safety, this analysis draws on 2 key theoretical frameworks: the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) and Risk Society. Case studies including the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 battery failures, iPhone 15 overheating reports, and Samsung Galaxy S22 performance throttling controversy illustrate how technical issues are not interpreted uniformly. Normal Accident Theory explains how tightly coupled, complex systems make failures such as thermal runaway difficult to predict and prevent. SCOT highlights how engineers, corporations, regulators, and users assign different meanings to overheating, whether as a design flaw or a public safety risk. Risk Society further emphasizes how visible failures amplify public concern and erode trust, even when technical fixes are implemented. The analysis ultimately argues that effective thermal management must extend beyond technical optimization to include transparency, ethical decision-making, and clear communication with users. Without these considerations, even well-engineered solutions may fail to maintain public confidence.
Together, these projects contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of thermal management as both a technical and sociotechnical challenge. The technical work advances methods for accurately measuring thermal properties, providing a foundation for improving heat dissipation in modern electronic systems. By developing a system capable of operating across a wide temperature range, including cryogenic conditions, this work supports more precise material characterization, which is essential for designing devices that can handle increasing power densities. At the same time, the STS analysis demonstrates that technical solutions alone are not sufficient to fully address the challenges associated with overheating. Even when engineers design systems that function as intended, the way these systems are perceived by users, corporations, and regulators plays a major role in determining their success. As seen in real-world case studies, a lack of trust or understanding can turn manageable technical issues into widespread public concern. While the technical system developed in this work shows promising results, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in calibration accuracy, environmental stability, and long-term reliability. Future researchers should continue refining experimental methods while also incorporating user-centered design principles and ethical considerations into the engineering process. Ultimately, addressing overheating requires a balanced approach that considers both the physical limitations of materials and the social expectations placed on technology. By integrating these perspectives, this thesis portfolio emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in solving complex, real-world engineering problems.
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Technical Advisor: Ethan Scott
STS Advisor: Kent Wayland
Technical Team Members: Brandon Flores Castaneda, Mary Cotter, Andrea Rojas Ramirez, Philip Li, Matthew Alexander Orellana-Aquino, Raymond Ni, Jimmy Chen, Jonathan Martinez, Mohammad Ahmadzai, Jimmy Bastos Infantas, Hannah Heafner, Mia Petersen
