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Air Force Institute of Technology

Theses and Dissertations

1995

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Electrical Characterization Of 4h-Silicon Carbide P-N Junction Diodes, Michael E. Dunn Dec 1995

Electrical Characterization Of 4h-Silicon Carbide P-N Junction Diodes, Michael E. Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

The current conduction mechanisms of 4H-SiC p+n mesa diodes were studied using current-voltage-temperature (I-V-T), capacitance-voltage-temperature (C-V-T), deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS), optical observations, and reverse breakdown measurements. Temperature and voltage dependencies of diffusion, recombination, and tunneling current processes are shown to be consistent with Sah-Noyce-Shockley theory. Recombination currents having an ideality factor of A=1.85-2.1 yielded an activation energy of EA=1.56 eV, whereas for ideal recombination, A=2 and EA=1.6 eV. Forward I-V curves of poor diodes dominated by tunneling and recombination processes, showing low reverse breakdown voltages of approx. 100 V, can be correlated to DLTS results …


The Effects Of Vegetative Canopies On Atmospheric Dispersion, John R. Lindell Dec 1995

The Effects Of Vegetative Canopies On Atmospheric Dispersion, John R. Lindell

Theses and Dissertations

This research was conducted to improve our understanding of the effects of vegetative canopy-induced turbulence on the dispersion of air pollution. The computer model most often used to calculate atmospheric dispersion is the Gaussian plume model, which requires some method to compute the downwind dispersions coefficients. These coefficients are a parameterization of the atmospheric stability or the level of turbulence in the atmosphere. The Environmental Protection Agency's recommended parameterization scheme is the Pasquill-Gifford method. By comparing the Pasquill-Gifford method to the Modified Mitchell method using sigma theta, the standard deviation of the horizontal wind fluctuations, the relative precision of each …


Modified Model For Transient Response Of Mrna Synthesis To Magnetic Field Exposure, Timothy W. Crosnoe Dec 1995

Modified Model For Transient Response Of Mrna Synthesis To Magnetic Field Exposure, Timothy W. Crosnoe

Theses and Dissertations

It is a well-known fact that high frequency, or radio frequency, radiation can be directly harmful to biological tissue. The radiation frequencies to which humans are most exposed, however, are the extremely low frequencies, or ELFs. To date there has been no definitive measure for predicting the ability of low frequency electromagnetic radiation to cause adverse biological effects. Two specific measures, average magnetic field and kinetic index, have been used in studies to determine if they are useful predictors of adverse effects, specifically leukemia. Unfortunately, both have shown only marginal results. This thesis analyzed and improved the kinetic index measure …


Wing Flexure Compensation For Aircraft Attitude And Position Determination In An Inverted Carrier-Phase Positioning System, Bradley W. Mahlum Dec 1995

Wing Flexure Compensation For Aircraft Attitude And Position Determination In An Inverted Carrier-Phase Positioning System, Bradley W. Mahlum

Theses and Dissertations

In response to the ever increasing accuracies in inertial navigation systems, the U. S. Air Force must develop higher accuracy reference systems. These reference systems must also be small enough to be utilized in the testing of navigation systems onboard fighter aircraft. One such proposed system utilizes carrier-phase Global Positioning System (CPGPS) transmitters mounted on MM-9 pods with receivers on the ground. This research examines one possible method of utilizing this system to determine the attitude and position of the aircraft, given position estimates for the transmitter's locations. The transmitter positioning algorithm showed that the geometry will be problematic for …


Validation Of The Articulated Total Body Model Data Set Describing The Large Advanced Dynamic Anthropomorphic Manikin, Joel J. Hagan Dec 1995

Validation Of The Articulated Total Body Model Data Set Describing The Large Advanced Dynamic Anthropomorphic Manikin, Joel J. Hagan

Theses and Dissertations

Recent cut-backs in Department of Defense spending have presented a need to augment full-scale ejection seat testing with computer simulation. To this end, the U.S. Air Force's Armstrong Laboratory has developed a data set describing the Advanced Dynamic Anthropomorphic Manikin (ADAM) for use in conjunction with the Articulated Total Body (ATB) model for the purpose of simulating the dynamics of the ADAM during sled track ejections. The purpose of this thesis is to validate the ADAM data set by graphically comparing ADAM joint angular displacements calculated by the ATB model with those measured during ejection seat sled track tests. The …


Photoluminescence And Electroluminescence Of Erbium And Neodymium Implanted Semiconductors, James R. Hunter Dec 1995

Photoluminescence And Electroluminescence Of Erbium And Neodymium Implanted Semiconductors, James R. Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

Low temperature photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) measurements were used to study the excitation of erbium- and neodymium-implanted GaAs and AlxGa1-xAs (x=0. 1, 0.3) pn-junctions. The rare-earth (RE) emissions were investigated as a function of ion dose, aluminum mole fraction, laser excitation power, and applied forward bias voltage for the implanted samples. Low temperature PL was also measured from Er doped silicon grown by the metalorganic chemical vapor-phase deposition (MOCVD) method using various growth parameters.. The MOCVD-grown Si samples were studied as a function of metalorganic source temperature, silane (SiH4) flow, growth time, and …


Evaluation Of The Air Force Installation Restoration Advisory System, Dale M. Fox Dec 1995

Evaluation Of The Air Force Installation Restoration Advisory System, Dale M. Fox

Theses and Dissertations

This research is intended to evaluate the Air Force's Installation Restoration Advisory System Workstation software and documentation. Groundwater modeling is the biggest aid to Air Force Installation Restoration decision makers in making their conclusions about what to do with their hazardous waste sites where the groundwater is contaminated. The Advisory System aids the user in determining if a site poses a potential problem, and if so assists the user in selecting an appropriate groundwater transport model. The decision of what type of model is most suitable is based upon the user's conceptual site model and the decision is made by …


A Differential Gps Aided Ins For Aircraft Landings, Ryan L. Britton Dec 1995

A Differential Gps Aided Ins For Aircraft Landings, Ryan L. Britton

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DOD) and the commercial airline industry are in the process of replacing the instrument landing system (ILS) for aircraft precision approach landings. The use of differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) is thought to be a viable replacement for ILS precision approaches. This thesis explores the integration of an INS, DGPS, Barometric Altimeter, Pseudolite, and Radar Altimeter for a tanker type and a single engine aircraft precision approach. These devices are integrated using an extended Kalman filter (EKF). For the tanker type aircraft federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for a Category I and a Category II precision …


Effects Of Jamming And Excision Filtering Upon Error Rates And Detectability Of A Spread Spectrum Communication System, Christopher B. Madden Dec 1995

Effects Of Jamming And Excision Filtering Upon Error Rates And Detectability Of A Spread Spectrum Communication System, Christopher B. Madden

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the effects of a digital excision filter (DEF) upon the error rates and detectability of a Direct Sequence Binary Phase Shift Keyed communication signal in the presence of both continuous wave (CW) and pulsed jammers. Simulations were performed using the Comdisco Signal Processing Worksystem. Detector models used were the wideband radiometer and two forms of the chip-rate detector. Twelve jamming scenarios were used to test the performance of the DEF in the presence of the CW and pulsed jammers. In addition, the effects of the CW jammer frequency, the pulsed jammer duty cycle, and the pulsed jammer …


A Neural Network Approach To The Prediction And Confidence Assignation Of Nonlinear Time Series Classifications, Erin S. Heim Dec 1995

A Neural Network Approach To The Prediction And Confidence Assignation Of Nonlinear Time Series Classifications, Erin S. Heim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses multiple layer perceptrons (MLP) neural networks and Kohonen clustering networks to predict and assign confidence to nonlinear time series classifications. The nonlinear time series used for analysis is the Standard and Poor's 100 (S&P 100) index. The target prediction is classification of the daily index change. Financial indicators were evaluated to determine the most useful combination of features for input into the networks. After evaluation it was determined that net changes in the index over time and three short-term indicators result in better accuracy. A back-propagation trained MLP neural network was then trained with these features to …


Binary Gas Mixture Analysis With An Interdigitated Gate Electrode Field Effect Transistor (Igefet) Microsensor, John M. Wiseman Dec 1995

Binary Gas Mixture Analysis With An Interdigitated Gate Electrode Field Effect Transistor (Igefet) Microsensor, John M. Wiseman

Theses and Dissertations

Single component and binary gas mixtures of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ammonia (NH3) were analyzed with a microsensor composed of an array of interdigitated Gate Electrode Field Effect Transistor (IGEFET) sensor elements coated with copper-, nickel-, and cobalt-phthalocyanine thin films. Improvements in the IGEFET microsensor design and operation facilitated simultaneous measurement of ihe direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) electrical response of the metal-substituted phthalocyanine (MPc) films to challenge gas exposure. A finite-difference model of the interdigitated gate electrode (IGE) structure confirmed the fundamental operation of the IGEFET microsensor. Principal component analysis (PCA) and multilinear regression were applied to …


Analysis And Interpretation Of Ion Data Associated With Neutral Gas Releases In The Earth's Ionosphere, Timothy M. Shadid Dec 1995

Analysis And Interpretation Of Ion Data Associated With Neutral Gas Releases In The Earth's Ionosphere, Timothy M. Shadid

Theses and Dissertations

Barium and strontium release experiments were conducted throughout 1991 from the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) to study both natural and man-made disturbances in the earth's ionosphere. A mass spectrometer on the spacecraft counted the Ba and Sr ions as the cloud expanded. In this study, data from the G-1 (in sunlight) and G-11b (in darkness) releases were modeled to understand the source of the ion signals. The model reproduced the Ba+ sun data well assuming photoionization (τ = 28 s) was the primary ionization mechanism. However, it was not able to account for the remaining ion …


Micromirror Array Control Of A Phase-Locked Laser Diode Array, Carl J. Christensen Dec 1995

Micromirror Array Control Of A Phase-Locked Laser Diode Array, Carl J. Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

A ten element micromirror array has been designed, fabricated, and employed to control the far field irradiance pattern of a phase locked laser diode array. The laser array used in this experiment was a ten element, gain guided array lasing at a nominal wavelength of 828 nm and operating in the it out of phase supermode. The laser's near field irradiance was imaged onto a micromirror array, where the it phase differences between adjacent laser elements were corrected. This was accomplished by moving the micromirrors with individually applied voltages. The result was the desirable single lobed far field pattern, placing …


Effects Of Base Cavity Depth On A Free Spinning Wrap-Around Fin Missile Configuration, Jon A. Struck Dec 1995

Effects Of Base Cavity Depth On A Free Spinning Wrap-Around Fin Missile Configuration, Jon A. Struck

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the role base cavity depth plays in altering the overall subsonic aerodynamic forces on a free spinning axisymmetric body with wrap around fins. Wind tunnel usage allowed the forces to be monitored for varying base cavity depths and angles of attack. A base cavity depth analysis was also performed on a non-spinning axisymmetric body for comparison. Oil visualizations were conducted on the non-spinning configuration to further describe airflow patterns around the body and within the cavity. Results revealed that the aerodynamic forces, mostly drag, changed with increasing cavity depth but not to the extent previously believed. The …


Experimental Investigation Of Non-Adiabatic Supersonic Slot Injection Into A Supersonic Cross-Flow, Kelly C. Tucker Dec 1995

Experimental Investigation Of Non-Adiabatic Supersonic Slot Injection Into A Supersonic Cross-Flow, Kelly C. Tucker

Theses and Dissertations

Turbulence and mean flow measurements were acquired downstream of a normal, supersonic (M=1.6), two-dimensional, slot injection into Mach 3.0 flow (Re/m = 15x106). Two non-adiabatic cases Ti/T = 1.11 and Ti/T = 0.93) were studied. Multiple overheat anemometry and conventional mean flow analysis, as well as shadowgraph and schlieren photography, were utilized to study the turbulent mixing layer. The mean flow data included the Pitot, cone-static, and Mach number profiles. The measured turbulence data included shear stresses, mass flux, total temperature turbulence intensities, and turbulent heat fluxes. The temperature and density variation …


A Comparison Of Response Surface Methodology And A One-Factor-At-A-Time Approach As Calibration Techniques For The Bioplume-Ii Simulation Model Of Contaminant Biodegradation, Benjamin Shuman Dec 1995

A Comparison Of Response Surface Methodology And A One-Factor-At-A-Time Approach As Calibration Techniques For The Bioplume-Ii Simulation Model Of Contaminant Biodegradation, Benjamin Shuman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis compared Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to the one-factor-at-a-time approach for calibrating the Bioplume-II simulation model of contaminant biodegradation. The MADE-2 data set from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi was used. The one-factor-at-a-time approach reduced the root-mean-squared (RMS) error for the flow to 0.921225 feet in a total of 36 runs of Bioplume-II. The RSM approach reduced the error criterion to 0.918875 in a total of 47 runs. The one-factor-at-a-time approach was unable to reduce the error below 67.1831 parts per billion (ppb) after 21 runs. The RSM approach reduced the RMS error to 67.0327 ppb after 47 runs. …


Fatigue Response Of Cracked Aluminum Panel With Partially Bonded Composite Patch, Jason J. Denney Dec 1995

Fatigue Response Of Cracked Aluminum Panel With Partially Bonded Composite Patch, Jason J. Denney

Theses and Dissertations

More and more aircraft, both commercial and military, are being called upon to fly well beyond their economic and structural service lives. Budget cuts and dwindling new aircraft development has forced the United States Air Force (USAF) to look toward more reliable structural repairs. One of these repair techniques, which was the subject of this study, is the repair of metallic aircraft structures using high strength composite materials. This study investigated the fatigue response of a precracked, 508x1 52x1 mm, 2024-T3 aluminum panel repaired with a partially bonded, unidirectional, three-ply boron/epoxy composite reinforcement with ply lengths of 68, 56 and …


Full Lyapunov Exponent Placement In Reentry Trajectories, Michael H. Platt Dec 1995

Full Lyapunov Exponent Placement In Reentry Trajectories, Michael H. Platt

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the ability to control the chaotic reentry of a Delta-Clipper like vehicle by setting the values of initial arid final principal dynamical directions as well as the Lyapunov exponents. A model of the original controlled reentry vehicle was created through the use of the equations of motion in conjunction with an atmospheric model. A modified linear quadratic regulator allowed the set up of a boundary value problem which specified the Lyapunov exponents and determined the gain matrix as a function of time. The gain matrix can eventually be used in the control system of the vehicle.


The Role Of Frame Selection And Bispectrum Phase Reconstruction For Speckle Imaging Through Atmospheric Turbulence, Elizabeth A. Harpold Dec 1995

The Role Of Frame Selection And Bispectrum Phase Reconstruction For Speckle Imaging Through Atmospheric Turbulence, Elizabeth A. Harpold

Theses and Dissertations

Frame selection using quality sharpness metrics have been shown in previous AFIT theses, to be effective in improving the final product of images obtained using adaptive optics. This thesis extends this idea to noncompensated speckle image data. Speckle image reconstruction is simulated with and without frame selection. Speckle images require the processing of hundreds of data frames. Frame selection is a method of reducing the amount of data required to reconstruct the image. A collection of short exposure image data frames of a single object are sorted based on sharpness metrics. Only the highest quality frames are retained and processed …


A Comparison Of Methods For Estimating Rms Error: A `Brute Force" Approach Versus A Mathematically-Elegant Approach, As Applied To The Calculation Of A Specific Retrieval Error For A Limb-Scanning Microwave Radiometer-Spectrometer, Larry L. Johnson Dec 1995

A Comparison Of Methods For Estimating Rms Error: A `Brute Force" Approach Versus A Mathematically-Elegant Approach, As Applied To The Calculation Of A Specific Retrieval Error For A Limb-Scanning Microwave Radiometer-Spectrometer, Larry L. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The Millimeter-wave Atmospheric Sounder (MAS) is a high resolution limb- scanning microwave radiometer-spectrometer which has been flown aboard the Space Shuttle. The instrument was designed to sense the microwave emission from several upper atmospheric constituents, including water vapor and ozone. The resonant frequencies of water vapor and ozone are extremely close (183 and 184 GHz, respectively), so that the high-frequency wing of the water vapor spectrum overlaps the low frequency wing of the ozone spectrum. Consequently, the measured ozone spectrum incorporates a slight water vapor contribution; therefore, the retrieved ozone profile is dependent on the true water vapor profile. The …


An Object-Oriented, Formal Methods Approach To Organizational Process Modeling, Vincent S. Hibdon Dec 1995

An Object-Oriented, Formal Methods Approach To Organizational Process Modeling, Vincent S. Hibdon

Theses and Dissertations

This document presents a methodology for developing an organizational process model which is based on the principles of object oriented design and formal software engineering methods. The methodology begins with the development of an object oriented Rumbaugh model (27). The Rumbaugh model is then formally specified in Z (Zed) schemas. Finally, the Z specifications are translated into an executable model in the Software Refinery Environment(TM). This model is described based on the AF wing domain and developed in this domain. The proposed methodology is then shown to produce a very general model which is extendable across almost any domain. The …


A Decision Tool To Optimally Select Pollution Prevention Projects Within A Constrained Budget, Charlotte Hudson Dec 1995

A Decision Tool To Optimally Select Pollution Prevention Projects Within A Constrained Budget, Charlotte Hudson

Theses and Dissertations

Pollution prevention managers need to select the best environmental projects for an installation within a constrained budget but have no standard way of selecting the optimal mix of projects. This thesis proposes a decision tool to aid decision makers in choosing this optimal mix. The model was built using decision analysis theory which provides a framework to aid the decision maker. Criteria sed in the model for selection was determined using a questionnaire sent to base-level pollution prevention managers. The model ses DPL, a software package designed to build, analyze, and conduct sensitivity analysis of decision problems to perform the …


Design Of Flight Control Laws For Aircraft With Flexible Wings Using Quantitative Feedback Theory, Christina L. Osmon Dec 1995

Design Of Flight Control Laws For Aircraft With Flexible Wings Using Quantitative Feedback Theory, Christina L. Osmon

Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft composed of lightweight composite materials are extremely enticing since their structural weight is greatly reduced. However, the control of these aircraft is complicated by the resultant flexibility of the wings. Two avenues of approach are possible; stiffen the wings thus losing some of the weight reduction benefits, or design the lateral/directional flight control system cognizant of the wing's flexibility. In this thesis the second approach is taken. The design of three lateral/directional flight control systems for the sub-sonic flight envelope of the F-18 is presented. The Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) robust control design technique is used. These designs incorporate …


Mach 2.9 Investigation Into The Flow Structure In The Vicinity Of A Wrap-Around Fin, Richard E. Huffman Jr. Dec 1995

Mach 2.9 Investigation Into The Flow Structure In The Vicinity Of A Wrap-Around Fin, Richard E. Huffman Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

A ceiling-mounted semi-cylindrical model containing a single wrap-around fin (WAF) was tested in the AFIT Mach 2.9 test facility. Flow visualization using oil- low streaklines, schlieren images and shadowgraph photography revealed a A-shock at the fin-body juncture and the development of an asymmetric bow-shock about the fin. Quantitative measurements were taken with a 100 cone-static pressure probe, a Pitot pressure probe and two cross-wire hot-film probes (u-v and u-w components, respectively). Measurements were made at cutting-planes from the inlet of the test section to aft of the model, with emphasis placed in the vicinity of the WAF. Results include cutting-plane …


Thermal Stresses In End-Heated Layered Media, Jerry R. Couick Dec 1995

Thermal Stresses In End-Heated Layered Media, Jerry R. Couick

Theses and Dissertations

Thermal stresses in semi-infinite layered beams heated on the end are calculated using an extension to simple bimetallic thermostat theory. Recently, researchers have used the concept of interfacial compliance to determine interlaminar stresses in a simple thermostat of finite length subjected to a uniform temperature increase. In the present work, the thermostat theory is extended to apply to the beams of interest. A closed-form solution to the problem is obtained. It is not applicable within about one beam thickness (St Venant boundary region) of the end. Various classes of layered materials are analyzed to determine if significant stresses exist outside …


Application Of Mixed-Norm Optimal Control To A Multi-Objective Active Suspension Problem, John B. Allison Dec 1995

Application Of Mixed-Norm Optimal Control To A Multi-Objective Active Suspension Problem, John B. Allison

Theses and Dissertations

Mixed norm optimal control synthesis is used to solve a multiobjective suspension problem. The objective is to develop a controller for an active suspension system onboard a tractor semitrailer vehicle. The problem is first approached by using H2 and H∞ optimization. It is shown that by combining both techniques into one mixed norm optimization method, it is possible to exploit the strengths of each norm to provide superior performance. Two H2/H∞ designs were completed. One design concentrated on optimal performance at one design condition. The second design concentrated on providing the best performance possible at a medium …


An Experimental Investigation Of A Sting-Mounted Finite Circulation Control Wing, Lorenzo C. Bradley Iii Dec 1995

An Experimental Investigation Of A Sting-Mounted Finite Circulation Control Wing, Lorenzo C. Bradley Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the lift, drag and pitching moment performance of a circulation control wing in the AFIT 5-ft wind tunnel. The experimental wing model was a 20 percent thick, 8.5 percent camber, partial elliptical cross-section, single blowing slot, rectangular planform wing. The aspect ratios tested were 3.99, 3.77 and 3.75. The variables in the investigation included the slot blowing rate and model configuration. The model was modified by adding a leading edge nose droop, a trailing edge splitter plate and wing tip fences to improve flow at the leading edge, reduce separation effects, and encourage attached flow on the …


Vehicle Thermal Control With A Variable Area Inlet, Thomas R. Layne Dec 1995

Vehicle Thermal Control With A Variable Area Inlet, Thomas R. Layne

Theses and Dissertations

This study developed a variable area inlet and controller that regulated the temperature of an electrical component with ram air. The intent of the variable area inlet was to reduce vehicle drag by eliminating inefficiencies associated with component cooling and fixed area inlets. These inefficiencies arise from vehicles moving at varying speeds through varying air temperatures. The hardware model consisted of an electrical component mounted inside a right-circular cylindrical duct. The variable area inlet, mounted in the front of the duct, consisted of a butterfly valve that was actuated by a stepper controller acted on the feedback signal of a …


Neutron Damage In Distributed Bragg Reflectors And Microcavity Lasers, Mark A. Suriano Dec 1995

Neutron Damage In Distributed Bragg Reflectors And Microcavity Lasers, Mark A. Suriano

Theses and Dissertations

Distributed Bragg Reflectors (DBRs) grown on a gallium-arsenide substrate for a solid state mirror and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) were subjected to a neutron fluence to determine the sensitivity of the DBRs. The samples were irradiated at Ohio State University's 500 kW research reactor. Relative and absolute reflectance measurements were taken before and after each irradiation over a spectral band of 530 880 µm. Relative reflectance measurements showed that the irradiation did not cause any spectral shift over seven decades of neutron fluences. The reflectivity of the DBRs decreased from their initial measurements after being irradiated. The …


Identification Of Molecular Laser Transitions Using The Finite Element Method, Matthew C. Smitham Dec 1995

Identification Of Molecular Laser Transitions Using The Finite Element Method, Matthew C. Smitham

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a continuation of a previous effort which developed a finite element solution of Schrodinger's Equation. The purpose of this research is to extend this previous work, and develop a chemical laser engineering tool for the identification of transition lines. Identification of laser transitions for a new chemical gain medium requires knowledge of Einstein's Coefficients. These transitions rates can be obtained by solving Schrodinger's Equation for diatomic molecules using the method of finite elements. Experimental vibrational eigenvalues for a given electronic state are used to determine the molecular potential surface which yields the closest numerical result. A non-linear …