Engineering Commons^™

Method And Apparatus For Removal Of Minute Particles From A Surface Using Thermophoresis To Prevent Particle Redeposition, Susan Davis Allen

Mechanical Engineering - Daytona Beach

A method and apparatus for removing minute particles from a surface of a sample are provided that prevent redeposition of the particles onto the surface. By combining thermophoresis with laser assisted particle removal (LAPR), the methods and apparatus remove minute particles (for example, micrometer and nanometer sizes) and assure that they will not redeposit.

The Effects Of Gender And Regional Dialect On Performance In Aviation Communication, Erin E. Mccollum

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to analyze the performance effects of gender and regional dialect on air traffic control statement recall. Sixty-one student volunteers participated in the experiment. Thirty-one participants held a pilot’s license and 30 participants had no flight experience. Each participant listened to one CD with 60 ATC statements each representing a male and female voice and New England, Southern, and General American dialect. Participants were asked to recall exactly what they heard. If the participant could not understand what they heard, they requested a repeat. The participant’s performance was recorded to CD and analyzed. Demographic questionnaires …

Adaptive Synchronization Of Chaos For Secure Communication, Manish Pantha

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this thesis is to study the use of adaptive synchronization of chaos for secure communication. Several non-linear models were studied, the one-dimensional logistic map, two-dimensional coupled logistic map, three dimensional Lorenz systems with and without time delay. Numerical simulation using MATLAB was conducted. The Lorenz system with time delay was studied numerically as well as by testing an analog circuit and comparisons was made between them. It has been pointed out in many research papers that for low-dimensional chaotic processes, once intercepted, the information can be readily extracted, so the interest has been directed to higher dimensional …

The Effect Of Crosswind And Turbulence In Mental Workload And Pilot Tracking Performance, Bruno E. Vivaldi

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of crosswind and turbulence on mental workload and pilot tracking performance. Based on previous research, it was believed that as the amount of crosswind and turbulence is increased, mental workload would increase and tracking performance would decrease. The objective was to estimate the impact that crosswind and turbulence, of varying degrees, had on performance and workload. Fifteen full time college student volunteers served as experimental participants in a simulated horizontal and vertical tracking task. Each participant flew twelve instrument approaches, experiencing a different crosswind and turbulence combination during each approach. …

Final Report: Review Of The Fits Program: Program Tasks, Goals And Pilot Training Initiatives, Alex Chaparro, Bonnie Lida Rogers, Christopher J. Hamblin

Publications

In 2002 the FAA, academic and industry partners established the FAA/Industry Training Standards (FITS) program whose purpose is to modernize General Aviation (GA) pilot training. The FAA recognized the need to modernize training standards for pilots who would use new avionics technology that integrate the GPS (Global Positioning Systems) with the autopilot along with multifunction displays capable of depicting flight path, weather, terrain and traffic information. These avionics and displays are touted as improving safety by enhancing pilot Situational Awareness and reducing pilot workload. The new technology has highlighted the need for programs to train and certify pilots to use …

Lorentz-Violating Electrostatics And Magnetostatics, Quentin G. Bailey, V. Alan Kostelecký

Publications

Electromagnetostatics experiments show promise for improving existing sensitivities to parity-odd coefficients for Lorentz violation in the photon sector.

Modeling Launch Vehicle Success Using Artificial Neural Networks, Jennifer A. Schuck

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Expendable launch vehicles in the United States currently have a reliability of 92%. The failures that do occur cost millions of dollars in spacecraft replacement, lost revenue, and other expenses. These costs are passed on in higher insurance rates and launch vehicle price. If the launch outcome of the launch vehicles could be better predicted, the overall cost of launching payloads into space would decrease. This study used artificial neural networks to model the overall launch outcome of a launch vehicle so that the results of a launch could be predicted. Two neural network architectures--MLP and fuzzy ARTMAP--were trained on …

Aeroelastic Analysis Of A Flexible Membrane Wing, Isaac Nguri Wanjohi

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The focus of this research proposal is the investigation of the aeroelastic effects of a flexible lift augmentation system (LAS) wing. This research involves characterization of the forced vibration response of a wing appendage used to augment short field take off and landing (STOL) operations.

Although flutter theory is now well understood, the LAS presents the complications of a highly deformable airfoil shape as well as larger structural damping values compared to metal wings.

The proposed research will involve derivation of the equations of motion aided by experimental data from nodal excitation of the wing; stiffness and rigidity modeling from …

Laser-Assisted Fabrication Of Nmr Resonators, William W. Brey, Susan D. Allen

Mechanical Engineering - Daytona Beach

A detection coil for use in nuclear resonance magnetic (NMR) spectroscopy and a method of manufacture thereof. At least two film layers of material are deposited on an outer surface of a cylindrical tube of dielectric material. The layers are patterned to form a solenoid on the tube. At least one of the deposited materials is a conductor.

Neural Network Fatigue Life Prediction In 7075-T6 Aluminum From Acoustic Emission Data, Emeka Chigozie Ibekwe

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The objective of this research was to classify acoustic emission (AE) -data associated with fatigue cracks in aluminum fatigue specimens and to use early cycle life AE data to predict failure in such members. An AE data acquisition system coupled with a Kohonen self organizing map and a back propagation neural network were used to perform the analysis. AE waveforms were recorded during fatigue cycling of twenty-four notched 7075-T6 aluminum specimens using broad-band piezoelectric transducers. A Kohonen self organizing map was used to classify the AE flaw growth signals. The signals were classified into three categories based on their AE …

A New Guidance System For Aircraft Based On Gps, Mukul Mishra

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The navigation displays commonly used in aircraft (Course Deviation Indicators), provide only the offset from desired track, leaving the pilot to figure out steering correction necessary to get back on track. This correction, determined by trial and error, adds to the workload, especially in windy conditions. The feasibility of using a new algorithm for providing guidance to the pilots for improved interception and tracking is examined in this thesis. The proposed system employs GPS to calculate the offset from the track as well as the instantaneous ground speed vector, to provide steering information. Thus, precise tracking is possible in real …

Ultimate Strength Prediction In Fiberglass/Epoxy Beams Subjected To Three-Point Bending Using Acoustic Emission And Neural Networks, Michele D. Dorfinan

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The research presented herein demonstrates the feasibility of predicting ultimate strengths in composite beams subjected to 3-point bending using a neural network analysis of acoustic emission (AE) amplitude distribution data. Fifteen unidirectional fiberglass/epoxy beams were loaded to failure in a 3-point bend test fixture in an MTS load frame. Acoustic emission data were recorded from the onset of loading until failure. After acquisition, the acoustic emission data were filtered to include only data acquired up to 80 percent of the average ultimate load.

A backpropagation neural network was constructed to predict the ultimate failure load using these AE amplitude distribution …

Improving The Capability Of Preliminary Aircraft Design Methodology By Incorporating Numerical Methods Into Segments Of A Proven Statistical Method, Igor Lebovic

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to identify any potential limitations of Roskam’s statistical aircraft flight performance estimation method, and to provide processes capable of improving those limitations. This project was conducted in collaboration with Diamond Aircraft Industries, and as any other general aviation manufacturer with limited time, manpower, and financial resources, Diamond wants the new process to be time and cost-effective. Presented in this study is a computational alternative that combines the speed and accuracy of low-order panel methods with the fully-coupled viscous/inviscid interaction method from the ISES code that was developed by Drela and Giles. Its benefit is …

An Analysis Of Intention Formation As A Function Of Prospective Memory In Air Traffic Controllers, Jennifer Nagle

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Prospective memory, or memory for future intents, is an important part of everyone's daily life. Air traffic controllers whose jobs are based in an environment that taxes their memory resources for extended periods of time rely on this type of memory. Controllers objectives often change based on incoming information and the amount of traffic they are controlling. It is important to investigate how controllers form intentions for future events, what processes facilitate retrieval of this information, and establish what influence experience may have. This study proposes to assess controllers in an air traffic scenario by employing a cognitive task analysis …

Final Report: A Comparison Of Three Evaluative Techniques For Validating Maintenance Documentation, Alex Chaparro, Bonnie Rogers, Chris Hambllin, Barbara Chaparro

Publications

Surveys and interviews reveal that general aviation manufacturers rely on user[s] to identify problems in maintenance documentation with corrections typically initiated in response to users-reported problems found in the manual;. This investigation compares techniques that manufacturers can use to improve the quality of the maintenance documentation developed by technical writing groups. The techniques, User Performance and Cognitive Walkthrough, were used to identify problems in aircraft maintenance documentation.

Development & Validation Of The Acoustic Analogy Code For Jet Noise Predictions, Leonardo A. Bueno

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

In this thesis, the numerical code for predicting the far-field sound radiated from a localized sound source is developed based on Lighthill's acoustic analogy theory. The acoustic analogy equation allows calculating the sound intensity in terms of the integral over the volume with distributed Lighthill tensor of unsteady flow fluctuations. A FORTRAN code is written to perform the integration using Simpson's numeric technique. The procedure for validating the code against the test case for the sound source in the form of a Gaussian pulse is examined. Future application of the code to predict acoustic radiation from turbulent jets is briefly …

A Study Of Fidelity Level And Task/Non-Task Based Testing Scenarios On The Effectiveness Of Usability Testing, Joshua R. Dolecal

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Advances in usability are directing developers towards creating a better and all around friendlier environment for users. Unlike when buying a physical product where you purchase it first and then experience its usability, web site usability is immediately present. So, if a site doesn't meet our needs, we as users, are quick to look elsewhere. Some research has suggested that fidelity makes no significant impact on users' ability to locate errors or problems in a web site. This paper is intends to investigate the interaction between fidelity and task vs. non-task user testing with regards to the types of problems …

An Analysis Of The Effects That Several Design Variables Have On The Accuracy And Precision Of Glass’ Delta And Hedges’ G, Joshua N. Dryer

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Effect size is the standardized effect that some treatment has on a sample of a population. In particular, Hedges' g and Glass delta are mean difference effect size estimators that are used to compute the effect sizes found in an experimental situation. A confidence interval is an interval placed around a point estimate that indicates the precision with which the point estimate can be made. This paper provides an explanation of the concept of effect size estimation and confidence interval calculation, the different methods that can be used to calculate effect sizes and confidence intervals, and applies these methods in …

Are Four-Year Universities Better Than Two-Year Colleges At Preparing Students To Pass The Faa Aircraft Mechanic Certification Written Examinations?, Jeffrey Bruce Summey, Marian C. Schultz, James T. Schultz

Publications

This study evaluates differences between two-year and four-year schools offering a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 147 aviation maintenance technician program. The actual average test scores were analyzed to determine whether students from four-year university programs were better prepared for the test than students from two-year college or technical school programs. Test scores can be viewed as a direct indication of the quality of the aviation maintenance programs at these schools. The study found that there was no statistically significant difference in the test scores between two-year college and four-year university students taking the FAA examinations. These results support previous …