Engineering Commons^™

How Students Learn: Examining The Differences In Learning Strategies Between Flight And Nonflight Students, Jennifer A. Torres

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any differences in learning strategies between undergraduate flight and nonflight students attending a 4-year university that offered a Part 141 flight training program. Learning strategies were measured using Panadero et al.’s (2021) 30-item Deep Learning Strategies Questionnaire and its four subscales—Basic Learning Self-Regulation Strategies, Visual Elaboration and Summarizing Strategies, Deep Information Processing Strategies, and Social Learning Self-Regulation Strategies—all of which were the dependent variables. The primary independent variable was group membership, but the study also incorporated two covariates—self-efficacy and intrinsic value—which were measured using the respective subscales of Pintrich …

Accelerating Machine Learning Inference For Satellite Component Feature Extraction Using Fpgas., Andrew Ekblad

Theses and Dissertations

Running computer vision algorithms requires complex devices with lots of computing power, these types of devices are not well suited for space deployment. The harsh radiation environment and limited power budgets have hindered the ability of running advanced computer vision algorithms in space. This problem makes running an on-orbit servicing detection algorithm very difficult. This work proposes using a low powered FPGA to accelerate the computer vision algorithms that enable satellite component feature extraction. This work uses AMD/Xilinx’s Zynq SoC and DPU IP to run model inference. Experiments in this work centered around improving model post processing by creating implementations …

Characterization Of Human Mobility From Cellular Data, Zaid Matloub

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates human mobility patterns using crowd-sourced cellular network data from different Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the United States, spanning the Houston, New York-Newark, NJ City, and 13 other significant MSAs. By focusing on prominent spatial mobility parameters highlighted in existing literature, the study unveils consistent findings regarding the predictability of human mobility across diverse time scales and geographic regions. The research underscores the significance of selecting appropriate sampling thresholds based on the mobility parameters being examined, the size of the dataset, and available computational resources. Through a meticulous analysis, it emerges that while values such as mean …

Deep Learning And Generative Ai Approaches For Automated Diagnosis And Personalized Treatment: Bridging Machine Learning, Medicine, And Biomechanics In Predicting Tissue Mechanics And Biomaterial Properties., Yasin Shokrollahi

Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning, particularly deep neural networks, has demonstrated significant potential in predicting high-dimensional tasks across various domains. This work encompasses a detailed review of Generative AI in healthcare and three studies integrating machine learning with finite element analysis for predicting biomechanical behaviors and properties. Initially, we provide a comprehensive overview of Generative AI applications in healthcare, focusing on Transformers and Denoising Diffusion models and suggesting potential research avenues to address existing challenges.

Subsequently, we addressed soccer-related ocular injuries by combining finite element analysis and machine learning to predict retinal mechanics following a soccer ball hit rapidly. The prediction errors are …

Analyzing The Effects Of Ultrafast Laser Processing On Mechanical Properties Of 3d-Printed Pla Parts, Darshan Pramodbhai Yadav

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in additive manufacturing technologies have already led to wide-scale adoption of 3D-printed parts in various industries. The expansion in choice of materials that can be processed, particularly using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and the steady advancements in dimensional accuracy control have extended the range of applications far beyond rapid prototyping. However, additive manufacturing still has considerable limitations compared to traditional and subtractive manufacturing processes. This work addresses limitations associated with the as-deposited surface roughness of 3D-printed parts. The effects of roughness-induced stress concentrations were studied on ultimate tensile strength and fatigue life. The samples were manufactured using a …

Application Of An Adaptive Controller On An Air-Bearing Vehicle-Manipulator System, Samuel Thomas Lovelace

Theses and Dissertations

The growing demand for on-orbit servicing and assembly as well as orbital debris capture and removal poses many engineering challenges. One primary challenge is that of position and attitude control of a spacecraft-manipulator system while performing these operations. Standard control approaches may be used for cases where the dynamics of the objects that the spacecraft-manipulator system interacts with are known are still plausible. However, there will likely be some uncertainty and lack of knowledge of the dynamic properties of orbital debris and parts required for servicing. Therefore, many have proposed the use of adaptive control schemes which can recalculate the …

Dechlorination Of Waste Pvc (Polyvinyl Chloride) Using Hydrothermal Liquefaction Method, Vahab Ghalandari

Theses and Dissertations

In 2019, waste plastic production in the United States (U.S.) amounted to approximately 73 million metric tons. Projections indicate that by 2030, the generation of waste plastic in the U.S. will increase to nearly 90 million metric tons, and by 2060, it is expected to surpass 140 million metric tons. One prominent type of waste plastic is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), characterized by its high chlorine content, making it a halogenated plastic. This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation of the dechlorination of waste PVC (WPVC) through various hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) methods to produce environmentally friendly solid and liquid products. In this …

Analysis Of The Performance, Recertification, And Sustainability Of A Cessna 172n Modified With An O-360-A4m Powerplant, Variable Timing Electronic Ignition, And Tuned Exhaust, Kelsey Lee Kaht

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the performance, modification, and recertification of the test aircraft, a Cessna 172N that has been equipped with an O-360-A4M power plant, tuned exhaust, and variable timing electronic ignition, and to compare the aircraft to a stock aircraft and other high-performance aircraft to determine the feasibility of the modifications. 65 knot, 80 knot, and 95 knot steady state climb and 2000 ft and 5000 ft level acceleration tests were performed with the test aircraft at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The weather was clear with calm wind, and there was only one issue …

Construction Of A Real-Time Forecast Model With Deep Learning Techniques For Coastal Engineering & Processes: Nested In Basin Scale Suite Of Models, Md Ahsan Habib

Theses and Dissertations

The study aims to develop a robust and adaptable real-time forecasting system for coastal and estuarine regions, considering the challenges of limited or unavailable forecast data. To address the challenge of data unavailability, this study proposes the application of a deep learning model (DLM). This research involves the development of a high-resolution numerical model nested within global models. Calibration and validation are performed by comparing the model with observed data. The study explores the effects of various parameters, such as vertical resolution, wind variability, and bottom roughness, on model performance. It finds that the 10-layer model improves vertical stratification and …

An Empirical Investigation Of The Behavior And Cognition Of Engineering Designers While Describing Domains Of Design Problems, John Kochenberger

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a protocol study that examines the behavioral and cognitive patterns in human designers when they describe a problem domain of engineering interest through constructing concept maps. Understanding various design problem domains usually comes in design projects before the start of the formal design process and is crucial for discovering the pain points of given scenarios and identifying opportunities for creating value to improve them. Thus, this activity relies on the entrepreneurial aspects of engineering design that leads to identifying the right design problem to solve. While concept maps have been used to examine various research questions in …

High-Level Requirements For Conceptual Design Of Bridge Deflection Measurement System Using Model-Based Systems Engineering, Mariana Villalabeitia Arenas

Theses and Dissertations

Bridges are essential in the infrastructure transportation system. Repairs and maintenance are the key activities to keep them safe for use. Over the years, the evolution of technology has been applied to improve the way bridges are designed, built, monitored, inspected, and repaired. Nevertheless, there is still a gap between the research efforts and the application of this knowledge in the practical field of bridge inspections. Model-based Systems Engineering is a formalized methodology in the system design that is centered around the model throughout all the life cycle stages of a system, supporting the requirements, design, analysis, verification, and validation …

Modeling The Impact Of Scheduling Risks On Multi-Team Agile Projects, Bria Marie Booth

Theses and Dissertations

Agile project management allows for a quick response to a changing project environment. This opens possible avenues for new opportunities, but also may expose ongoing projects to previously unknown or unexpected threats. Risks must be continuously monitored as a product is worked on to avoid lost potential. This paper will propose a discrete event simulation model that multi-team projects may use to predict the impact to the project’s schedule. Using discrete event simulation early in the project’s planning cycle offers a greater understanding of the possible or probable impact of risks on the schedule. This would help to prepare project …

Geometric Inference In Machine Learning: Applications Of Fisher Information For Model Selection And Other Statistical Applications, Trevor Herntier

Theses and Dissertations

We consider the problem of model selection using the Minimum Description Length (MDL) criterion for distributions with parameters on the hypersphere. Model selection algorithms aim to find a compromise between goodness of fit and model complexity. Variables often considered for complexity penalties involve number of parameters, sample size and shape of the parameter space, with the penalty term often referred to as stochastic complexity. Because Laplace approximation techniques yield inaccurate results for curved spaces, existing criteria incorrectly penalize complexity. We demonstrate how the use of a constrained Laplace approximation on the hypersphere yields a novel complexity measure that more accurately …

Causal Modeling Framework For Nuclear Power Plant Licensing Process, Lauren Kimberly Kiser

Theses and Dissertations

Interests in clean energy revived the nuclear power industry. For the first time in decades, innovative technologies and plant designs are being considered by regulatory agencies. This dissertation explores a Bayesian Network and AHP approach to causal modeling of the Combined License review process for new nuclear power plants (NPP). Historically lengthy and expensive, NPP licensing is critical to ensuring safe operation of the plants. With this comes a high standard for applicants to reach that can result in multiple revision cycles and long review times. New plant designs and fluctuating public support lead to a complex and dynamic series …

Waste Biomass-Derived Ultraporous Functionalized Superactivated Hydrochars For Hydrogen Storage And Carbon Capture, Al Ibtida Sultana

Theses and Dissertations

Accelerating world population and simultaneous growth in economic race has resulted in parallel rise of waste generation where the necessity of mitigating the climate change, via transitioning towards a clean energy economy and minimization of greenhouse gas from atmosphere, is in urgent need of attention. Hence, the objectives of this dissertation comprised of firstly upcycling waste biomass into low-cost and effective adsorbent material such that, secondly, its surface could be tailored by modulating its synthesis conditions (hydrothermal carbonization and chemical activation) to be developed into ultraporous and functionalized adsorption medium in order to, thirdly, assess its application as adsorbents for …

Preferences Toward Augmented Reality Technologies For Pedestrian Navigation, Victoria Alejandra Diaz Mejia

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the demand for pedestrian navigation supported by augmented reality (AR) via headset and mobile technologies by evaluating factors specific to each technology and the decision makers. Recent advances in digital engineering systems, e.g., digital twins and smart cities, are enabling new services like AR-supported wayfinding for pedestrians. Still, it is unknown whether American pedestrians would use AR, the type devices and feature that add value to their navigation, the demographic profiles more inclined to AR wayfinding, and the sensitivity of such demand to software and hardware cost. As the first investigation addressing the demand for AR pedestrian …

Cfis’ Safety Behaviors At Flight Training Schools: Understanding The Effects Of Personality Traits, Self-Efficacy, Risk Perception, And Safety Climate, Vivek Sharma

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits, affective domain variables, safety climate, and safety behaviors of certified flight instructors (CFIs). Personality traits consisted of the five dimensions of the Big Five personality model, including Extraversion, Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Openness, and Conscientiousness. Affective domain variables included self-efficacy and risk perception. The study used an explanatory correlational design to determine the relationship between the targeted factors and safety behaviors. The dependent variable was CFIs’ safety behaviors. The sample consisted of 134 CFIs who completed all of the study’s protocols. Participants were obtained from a professional flight …

Determining Performance Characteristics From The Mississippi Cowling - Piper Warrior Vs. Piper Archer, Soufiane Ait Yahia

Theses and Dissertations

Today, Piper is one of the most used aircraft in the general aviation sector. The history of Piper Aircraft has been the subject of numerous books and research projects with over 80 years of aviation industry leadership. For aviation fanatics, the Cherokee is synonymous with Piper Aircraft Corporation. The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of two-seat or four-seat light aircraft built for air taxi, flight training, and personal use. The original Piper Cherokees PA-28- 150 and PA-28-160 received their type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration back in 1960 and the series remains in production to this day. Multiple …

A Study To Determine Performance Characteristics Of The Mississippi Cowling - Piper Archer Vs. Piper Warrior, Zilvinas Visockas

Theses and Dissertations

Today, aviation is one of the most technologically advanced and innovative sectors in the world. With fast-depleting natural resources, increasing environmental pollution, and continuous growth in fuel cost, efficiency has become industry’s top priority. Engineers are making gradual improvements that offer overall increase in aircraft’s performance. Drag is critical factor in aviation as it directly impacts aircraft’s fuel efficiency, range, and speed. During the design phase, engineers invest significant effort and expense in attempting to minimize the drag profile by implementing aerodynamic shapes and constantly reducing component weights. One of the real-life examples of such engineering attempts is Piper Archer, …

The Examination Of Factors That Influence Trust In A Multi-Agent Team Context, Cherrise Ficke

Theses and Dissertations

Current dyadic teams in the human-agent teams literature demonstrates that Propensity to Trust in Technology (PTT), previous experience with an agent, levels of autonomy (LOA), workload, and mission performance affect trust and mission performance to some capacity. However, the purpose of this study was to expand this line of research by examining how these factors influence trust and mission performance in a multi unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) context. To investigate the relationship between these factors and trust, an archival study was conducted using data from a previously-conducted, multi-UAV study. The previous study utilized a within-subjects repeated measures design in which …

Disaster Resilience In Air Traffic Control: Recovery Of Airspace Activity At U.S. Primary Airports That Experience A Catastrophic Hurricane, Victoria Thorpe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between U.S. airport characteristics, hurricane strength, and hurricane proximity and the time it takes airspace activity to recover to normal after experiencing a catastrophic hurricane. It determined the relative influence of five airport characteristics and two hurricane characteristics as predictors of time for airspace activity to recover to normal. The result is a predictive airport disaster resilience equation to estimate the expected airport recovery rate for a forecasted catastrophic hurricane. This supports expectation management for aviation practitioners. This is significant for air traffic controllers because post-hurricane airspace is unpredictable, demanding, …

The Effect Of Biodiesel Blend Composition On Jet Aircraft Airframe Fuel System Components & Materials, Elise Aurora Medhus

Theses and Dissertations

In the aviation industry, biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel and has been shown to reduce particle emissions from aircraft engines. This thesis studies the impact of biodiesel on aircraft airframe fuel system components & materials with corrosion-resistant surface treatments. The goal is to identify areas for optimization to increase the use of higher blends in jet aircraft engines to further reduce emissions. The work performed involved testing the corrosion resistance of several aluminum samples, steel samples, and non-metallic materials in numerous biodiesel blends ranging from B05 to B100. The testing method used was the Assessment of …

Predicting Near-Bed Sediment Transport Through Particle Image Velocimetry, Caroline Hoch

Theses and Dissertations

Erosion and accretion are coastal processes that directly affect the safety of coastal communities. Dimensionless parameters, such as the Shields and Ursell number, have historically been used to predict sediment motion in the nearshore region based on shear stress and wave linearity. This study uses particle image velocimetry to measure the velocity field of sediment within a wave flume and calculate these parameters for various wave profiles. Five regular wave trials and five irregular wave trials were run within the wave flume at varying depths to model how net transport changes as waves approach the shoreline. An instantaneous Shields number …

Trajectory Energy Management For Ectol: Examination Of Battery Discharge Under Two Flight Profiles, Denner Campos Cunha

Theses and Dissertations

The expanding industry of electric airplanes presents a significant regulatory challenge for aviation authorities worldwide. The first step towards achieving a precise Trajectory Energy Management (TEM) is to understand how the powertrain behaves during the operation. Therefore, this work examined the battery performance of an eCTOL, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, under two different prescribed flight profiles and take-off weights. Flight 1, a destination trip profile, was conducted with a gross weight of 1146 lbs and a constant power setting of 22 kW during the cruise segment, while Flight 2, a local training flight profile, was conducted with a gross weight …

Cross-Platform Development Of Wake-Up-Word, Christopher Ryan Woodle

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this project will be to explore cross-platform implementation of Wake-Up- Word (WUW). To enable the development of future speech-based artificial intelligence applications, it is important to have robust and accessible implementations of WUW. Adoption of Unix based operating systems continues to expand for server, backend, and embedded applications, therefore a WUW implementation in Unix will become essential. As web technologies continue to grow, WUW will also need to be implemented in web, using technologies such as JavaScript and Web Assembly (WASM). This project encompasses porting the previous implementation of WUW from Microsoft Windows to Unix, building a …

Evaluation Of Human Mobility From Crowd-Sourced Cellular Data, Sasa Knezevic

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding patterns of human mobility plays a vital role in urban planning, traffic management, disease control, environmental impact evaluation, provisioning of services by both public and private enterprise and other areas of human activity. In this thesis, the human mobility patterns are studied using crowd sourced cellular data. The study characterizes human mobility through a meaningful set of mobility parameters. Each parameter is clearly defined, extracted from the available data, and described using statistical modeling tools. The parameters are evaluated at different time scales. It has been determined that despite its apparent randomness on the individual level, human mobility on …

A Step-By-Step Guide To Identify The Most Reliable Inventory Management System For Small Businesses Using Discrete Event Simulation And Pros And Cons Analysis: A Case Study At Camid-Florida Tech, Djalma Batista Oliveira Filho

Theses and Dissertations

According to the Department of Labor Statistics (2022), 20.6% of small businesses fail in their first year of operation, 42.6% fail after five years, and over 62.6% fail by their tenth year. One factor that can affect continued viability is the lack of knowledge and experience among small and medium-sized firms in inventory management. Despite the fact that inventory control is one of these businesses' most ignored management responsibilities, the expense of procuring inventory often accounts for a considerable portion of their budget. Due to poor inventory management or an inability to appropriately supervise their inventory, small firms may have …

Effects Of Process Parameters On The Dimensional Accuracy Of Fused Deposition Modeled Parts, Ethan Eugene Bair

Theses and Dissertations

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is one of the most common additive manufacturing techniques used with applications ranging from rapid prototyping at a professional scale to simple part creation at a hobbyist scale. FDM printing has very little in terms of information based on how accurate printed parts can be. This issue, which is common amongst many different types of additive manufacturing techniques, is something that has not been studied in FDM printed parts in high volumes. Research based on the effects of process parameters on mechanical properties has been conducted in high proportions. This study focused on FDM machines using …

Development Of A Customizable Framework For Data Driven Hemodynamic Analysis With Applications In Neurovascular And Cardiovascular Scenarios, Rachel Mae Hillner

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease, including but not limited to heart failure and aneurysms, remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Persons over the age of 40 experience upwards of a 20% chance of developing heart failure in their lifetime. With a decrease in viable donor hearts, the reliance on mechanical heart assist devices is on the rise. However, such devices are not without their complications. Specifically, for left heart failure, a common treat, the left ventricular assist device, is characterized by clotting, stroke, and low survival rates as a result. Many studies suggest that such unfavorable results are correlated to adverse hemodynamic …

A Reduced Order Model For Estimation Of Fractional Flow Reserve (Ffr) In Coronary Artery Disease: Assessing The Impact Of Side Branches, Arber Vila

Theses and Dissertations

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) affects millions of people worldwide and remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. To effectively plan treatment and risk stratification, assessing CAD severity is of paramount importance. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a critical clinical parameter used to evaluate CAD severity, measured by the ratio of mean distal coronary pressure to mean aortic pressure during hyperemic conditions. Although non-invasive FFR estimation methods have gained popularity, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is impractical for routine clinical use due to the time and resources required. To address this issue, a reduced order model is proposed that accurately captures …