Engineering Commons^™

Personality As It Relates To Performance Among Primary Flight Students At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Caroline F. Farmer

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of primary flight students' performance as it relates to personality. Previous research has provided the basis for the relationship between what an individual accomplishes and personality traits. The individual performance of 30 students were evaluated by two different techniques during an observer flight. One was an evaluation form developed by the researcher and the other, the flight instructor's (P.I.C.) evaluation. The performance data gathered by the researcher was collected in order to provide a secondary set of performance data in case there was no discriminability amongst the flight instructor's evaluation. …

Compressible Flow Analysis Of Thrust Augmenting Ejectors, Mohamed Moujahid

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The present work was initiated due to the need for a method to understand and predict the thrust augmenting characteristics of jet ejectors. The mixing process in ejectors can be analyzed using either the control volume approach, or detailed models based on the Navier -Stokes Equations and the theory of turbulent jets. The control volume approach uses integrated forms of the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy. It is chosen in the first part of the study since it affords the best vehicle for the parametric studies required to understand the potential of ejectors for a given application. Compressibility …

A Feasibility Study On The Automation Of Domestic Airline Passenger Customer Service Check-In Procedures For Far Part 121 Carriers, Don Michael Trevor Bennett

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This study was conducted in an attempt to determine whether airlines can benefit from a fully automated customer service system which will be used by major, Part 121, operators for domestic travel purposes only. The proposed system will be designed to alleviate airport terminals check-in counter congestion and improve customer service personnel effectiveness and efficiency.

Domestic traffic is expected to increase by 50 percent by the year 2004. An Automatic Ticketing and Baggage (ATB) system will allow passengers to process all flight related transactions only once. A self checking-in system allows a passenger to obtain boarding passes and destination bag …

A Computer-Aided Software Engineering (Case) Approach To Business Process Reengineering (Bpr), Faiza I. Khan

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This thesis addresses the problem of lack of procedures by which managers can identify business processes that would benefit from reengineering and which could be used to guide the BPR activity to its successful conclusion. The purpose of this study is to analyze various Software Engineering (SE) principles to determine whether they could be used to support Business Process Reengineering (BPR) activities either directly or with some modification, and if so, whether available Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools might be applied to BPR in support of managers who wish to implement it. The principles of SE and BPR are discussed …

The Evolution And Testing Of An Aerovalve Pulsejet Engine, Gregory V. Meholic

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The goal of this project was to develop and test a self-aspirating aerovalve pulsejet and measure its operating characteristics. An investigation of pulsejets developed by previous experimenters revealed design trends associated with the engine geometry. These trends were followed in the development of an aerovalve pulsejet engine entitled the Astra. The engine employed variable fuel injection methods, ignition location and exhaust pipe length to show that certain combinations of geometry relations and fuel injection methods were more conducive to pulse combustion. Even though the engine pulsed with forced inlet air, the Astra did not self-aspirate as did the engines …

Job Satisfaction And Dissatisfaction Factors Of Airport Security Screeners: National Survey Results, Francis X. Goeddeke Jr.

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study is to accurately and reliably determine what factors are most important to airport security screeners that effect job satisfaction and excessive employee turnover. Using survey items generating in a previous study, job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction survey scales for this population were developed and validated. A modified version of the Rensis Likert Scale of Organizational Climate was also developed. These surveys, including a demographic questionnaire, were administered to a large nationwide sample of airport security screeners. The results were analyzed using chi-square contingency tables, one-way analysis of variance tests, and the Fisher post-hoc procedure. Post-hoc …

A Direct Synthesis Method For The Conceptual Design Of Transport Aircraft, Pierre Andre Fruytier

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The problem of synthesizing a transport aircraft at the conceptual design level is considered. A direct sizing algorithm that does not require iteration is developed. Such direct synthesis methods can be used as important building blocks in an aircraft optimization process. New statistical equations based on current aircraft are derived for approximating the widths and lengths of the cabin and fuselage. A more accurate static thrust over gross weight, which is based on the equations of motion specified by the FAR part 25 climb requirements, is presented. A cruise at constant altitude with optional step-climb is taken into account. The …

The Effects Of A Pathway-In-The-Sky Display On Performance Of A Two Axis Tracking Task By Instrument Rated Pilots, Leonard W. Hennessy, Iii

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This study was founded on the premise that airplane cockpit operations, while generally safe and relatively efficient, can be made even more so by employing instrument displays which are potentially more intuitive than existing displays. A low fidelity flight simulator was used to conduct an experiment comparing the performance of twenty-four instrument rated pilot subjects on a two axis tracking task (an Instrument Landing System Approach) under three instrument display conditions: (1) conventional instruments (INST); (2) a Pathway-in-the-Sky (PITS) display; and (3) a combination of the two (BOTH). The primary hypothesis, that pilot performance using the PITS and BOTH display …

A Summative Evaluation Of Flightsafety International's Computer Assisted Instruction Known As "Principles Of Troubleshooting", Willie Don Middlebrooks

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The objective of this experimental research was to ascertain if cognitive skills developed by the "Principles of Troubleshooting" (POT) educational course improved aircraft fault diagnostic ability in aircraft maintenance trainees. Sixty randomly chosen Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) students served as control and experimental subjects with the POT course as the independent variable. Because random assignment was possible, a posttest-only control group design was used. Thirty ERAU maintenance trainees who had received basic and advanced ERAU fault diagnostic training were administered the POT course. A practical test administered to both groups using two tailed t tests for independent means indicated improvement …

Dynamic Simulation Of General Aviation Cabin Environments And Occupant Restraint Systems, Mark A. Shilladay

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

After a five year study of General Aviation (GA) accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that aircraft cabin environments place the occupant at high risk of suffering severe injuries in an emergency crash situation. Studies of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seat tests were used to form the basis of a computer analysis to address dynamic cabin environments. In this effort a simplified system of masses, springs, and dampers are used to simulate the more complex configuration of cabin structure, seat, pilot, and restraints on a personal computer. The primary objective of this study is to accurately simulate …

Improving Operational Readiness Of Airport Emergency Response Crews: Utilization Of Gaming Theory In Decision Making Simulations, William E. Vines Jr.

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of simulation gaming technique on the decision-making skills of airport emergency response technicians. Through the use of descriptive research methods this study has examined the benefits of using simulation training to enhance operational readiness. A specialized questionnaire was developed using a Likert scale format to attain the opinion of 20 airport directors--or their representatives. Findings did support the research hypothesis that the introduction of simulation training (Table Top) exercises would increase the operational readiness of airport emergency response crews. Statistical analysis of survey responses found that no significant difference …

Low Level Alcohol And Its Residual Effect On A Pilot's Threshold For Detecting Angular Motion, Regina G. Bolinger

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to examine a pilot's sensitivity to a change in angular motion after alcohol ingestion and determine the duration of effect after the time the blood alcohol content (BAC) reached zero. An earlier study determined that a pilot's threshold for detecting angular motion was affected by 30% with low doses of alcohol ingestion. An important question remaining is whether the pilot's sensitivity to angular motion will continue to be significantly affected after the time BAC reaches zero. Twelve instrument-rated pilots flew a partial panel rotating simulator under an in-flight scenario, and thresholds were measured before …

Standardized Checklists Versus Variable Checklist: An Evaluation In A Light Twin Simulator, Veronica Terese Cote

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to determine if a checklist that varied by sequence would enable the pilot to detect potential errors more easily than those who used an unchanging checklist. A flight hour based stratified sample of pilots were randomly divided into two groups and flew a series of eight flights in a light twin aircraft simulator. The control group used the same checklist for each trial; the experimental group used a checklist that covered the same items but varied in sequence for each trial. Faults were introduced in the last two trials. The number of faults discovered …

An Experimental Study Of Transient Flows In Pulse Combustors, Michael P. Femandes

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this investigation was to experimentally characterize a pulse combustor with respect to ambient conditions, pressure amplitudes, wall temperature, combustor geometry and type of centerbody used. The wall temperatures were recorded and the pressure variation was obtained using a sampling rate of 10,000 readings per second. These parameters were recorded for two different tailpipe lengths and centerbodies, and for different ambient conditions. Power spectrums were then obtained from the pressure variations. These spectrums displayed the peak amplitudes and the frequencies at which they occurred. The experiment showed distinct repeatability. It was concluded that combustor displayed the steady, pulsing …

The Development Of A Computerized Airline Strategy Simulation: A Decision Support System To Assist Airline Management Training, Chulkyu Lee

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This thesis involves the development of a computerized airline strategy simulation, decision support system to assist airline management training. The simulation program is designed to be run under the Microsoft Windows™ environment on any IBM - compatible computer. The primary objective of this thesis is to develop a useful program to be helpful in practicing decision making skills in a group setting, understanding the significance of strategic management, forecasting demand in today's turbulent airline industry, learning stockholders' roles in a business, and practicing skills required in airline operations management.

Numerical Investigation Of Second-Order Effects In A Supersonic Boundary-Layer, Timothy R. Membrino

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Historically, the study of boundary-layer flows has centered on the analysis of the first-order boundary-layer equations and their application to physical flow problems. However, selected “real-world” boundary-layer flows exhibit significant second-order effects which are neglected by the first-order equations. Full Navier-Stokes solutions are often not merited or desired for these flows. Therefore, the second-order boundary-layer equations provide a compromise.

Few validating comparisons have been attempted between second-order boundary-layer theory and experimental or numerical solutions of compressible viscous flows. Experimental simulations to capture second-order effects are difficult since the desired effects are small and can exist simultaneously, resulting in a neutralizing …

Classification Of Acoustic Emission Signals From An Aluminum Pressure Vessel Using A Self-Organizing Map, Weldon Paul Thornton

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Acoustic emission nondestructive testing has been used for real-time monitoring of complex structures. All of the structures were made of materials at least 0.070 inch thick. The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the feasibility of using neural networks to classify acoustic emission signals gathered from a pressure vessel made of 2024-T3 aluminum 0.040 inches thick, i.e. thin aluminum sheet. AE waveforms were recorded during fatigue cycling of one pressure vessel using a wide band transducer and a digital oscilloscope connected to a computer. The source for each signal was determined using two narrow band transducers and a LOCAN-AT …

An Experimental Study Of Transient Flows In Pulse Combustors, Michael P. Fernandes

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to experimentally characterize a pulse combustor with respect to ambient conditions, pressure amplitudes, wall temperature, combustor geometry and type of centerbody used. The wall temperatures were recorded and the pressure variation was obtained using a sampling rate of 10,000 readings per second. These parameters were recorded for two different tailpipe lengths and centerbodies, and for different ambient conditions. Power spectrums were then obtained from the pressure variations. These spectrums displayed the peak amplitudes and the frequencies at which they occurred. The experiment showed distinct repeatability. It was concluded that combustor displayed the steady, pulsing …

Flight-Deck Automation: The Attitudes And Perceptions Of Selected Boeing 757/767 Air Carrier Pilots, William Woodrow Clark

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Development in electronic displays and computers have enabled avionics designers to present the pilot with ever increasing amounts of information in greater detail and with more accuracy- However, technological developments have not always brought about enhancement of the pilot's role. Investigating the interaction of cockpit crew members and the vast array of automated systems they control and monitor will contribute to the determination the effect this interface has on the performance of the cockpit team. This study utilized a questionnaire to determine if the opinions of the flight crew suggested performance is impacted negatively by automation. There was no significant …

Nonlinear Analysis Of Composite Beams Under Random Excitations, Snorri Gudmundsson

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The vibration responses of three unsymmetrically laminated beams, that are excited with a Gaussian random forcing function, are studied in this thesis. The beams are analyzed nonlinearly and compared to linear results, indicating some important corrections. The solution procedure begins with the derivation of the general equation of motion using Galerkin's method. Then, two approaches are taken in the solution. First, the equation of motion is attacked directly employing a real time Runge-Kutta numerical analysis. Second, the method of equivalent linearization is used. The thesis finds the results from the two approaches to be in a close agreement, although some …