Engineering Commons^™

The Development Of A Phase Locked Wind Turbine Blade Finite Element Model To Predict Loads And Deflections During Fatigue Testing, Kyle Freeman

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Full scale blade testing provides blade manufacturers with quantitative data in order to assess blade design, manufacturing and durability. Structural testing is a requirement in order to design reliable blades, and to develop a further understanding of the dynamics involved in a modern turbine blade. Blade tests can be conducted in either a single axis or dual axis configurations. Historically, fatigue testing has been performed by utilizing forced displacement systems. These systems do not allow for the load phase angle to be controlled, and the maximum load application in the edge and flap directions are allowed to vary. The PhLEX …

The Development Of An Adaptive Control System For A Phase-Locked Excitation (Phlex) Method For Advanced Wind Turbine Blade Fatigue Testing, William Michael Haupfear

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) provides the means necessary for advanced wind turbine blade testing. To improve on the current testing methods, a new testing method is being developed using the existing dual-axis fatigue testing capabilities in conjunction with another actuator to provide a phase-locked excitation method with adaptive algorithms and advanced control system strategies. This testing method will provide a more representative loading of the blade for fatigue testing as compared to loading seen in the field. The control system will integrate the MTS software and controller with a supervisory controller, programmed in …

Nanoindentation And Plasticity In Nanocrystalline Ni Nanowires: A Case Study In Size Effect Mitigation, F. Sansoz, Virginie Rollin

Publications

We examine the processes of spherical indentation and tension in Ni nanowires and thin films containing random distributions of nanoscale grains by molecular dynamics simulations. It is shown that the resistance to nanoindentation of nanocrystalline Ni nanowires with diameters of 12 and 30 nm tends not to depend on the wire diameter and free surfaces, contrary to nanoindentation in single-crystalline nanowires. Accommodation of plastic deformation by grain boundary sliding suggests a mitigation strategy for sample boundary effects in nanoscale plasticity.

The U2 Spy Plane Crisis: Turning Point In The Cold War, William Weiss

ERAU Prescott Aviation History Program

When the Soviets shot down Francis Gary Powers’ U2 spy plane in 1960, it caused an international crisis. Thanks to recently declassified US and former Soviet archives, we can now hear the inside story of what really happened as told by an American History writer & lecturer.

The Yemen Narrative: Cargo Cults And Cargo Security, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author gives a psychological perspective on the security of aviation cargo shipments.

Developing Proactive Methods For General Aviation Data Collection, Scott Shappell, Carla Hackworth, Kali Holcomb, John Lanicci, Massoud Bazargan, Jaclyn Baron, Rebecca Iden, Daniel Halperin

Publications

Introduction. Over the last 20 years, nearly 40,000 general aviation (GA) aircraft were involved in accidents, roughly 20% of which were fatal. To address this safety concern, scientists have often relied on accident data. Because of the rare nature of accidents, commercial aviation incident and near miss data may prove to be useful sources of safety information. In one such study, the National Transportation Safety Board interviewed GA pilots that were flying near a weather-related accident in pursuit of a different perspective than that of the accident pilot. Interviewing GA pilots about their own weather-related event may provide similar …

Cybersecurity: Growing Like Topsy!, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses cybersecurity in an intelligence context – what it is, what it does to us, and the sudden (and somewhat unplanned) increase in financial support for the area.

Investigation Of Scaling Effects For A Synthetic Jet Actuator Using High And Low Fidelity Analyses, Amandine Bourlier

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

This research presents an investigation on the scaling effects for synthetic jet actuators using Ansys-CFX and a Lumped Element Model (LEM). Synthetic jets or zero net mass-flux devices use a vibrating diaphragm to generate an oscillatory flow through a small orifice. A synthetic jet actuator can be used on MAVs as thrust generator or fixed on an airfoil for flow separation control. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was created, using Ansys-CFX, to be validated against referred publications. The use of mesh adaption is discussed. This baseline model was then used to complete a scaling analysis using a set of …

Neural Network Burst Pressure Prediction In Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels Using Mathematically Modeled Acoustic Emission Data, Junya Iizuka

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this research was to predict burst pressures in composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV) using mathematically modeled acoustic emission (AE) data. The AE data were collected during hydrostatic burst (hydroburst) testing often 15-inch (380 mm) diameter COP Vs. The data gathered during these tests were filtered in order to remove long duration hits, multiple hit data, and obvious outliers. Based on the duration, energy, and amplitude of the AE hits, the filtered data were classified into the various failure mechanisms of composites using a MATLAB based self-organizing map (SOM) neural network. Previous research has demonstrated that the parameters …

Estimation Of Air Flow Angles Derived From An Inertial Navigation System, Brett Douglas Mather

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of an Inertial Navigation System as a primary method for measuring aircraft air flow angles in flight testing. The traditional methods used to measure air flow angles consist of sensors external to the aircraft, such as an air data boom or an angle of attack probe. The advantage of using INS to measure air flow angles would be in the simplicity of the instrumentation. All components could be fixed internally, leaving minimal external modifications to the aircraft necessary for instrumentation. This would reduce costs and instrumentation time and enable air …

Defining An Abrasion Index For Lunar Surface Systems As A Function Of Dust Interaction Modes And Variable Concentration Zones, Ryan L. Kobrick, David M. Klaus, Kenneth W. Street Jr.

Publications

Unexpected issues were encountered during the Apollo era of lunar exploration due to detrimental abrasion of materials upon exposure to the fine-grained, irregular shaped dust on the surface of the Moon. For critical design features involving contact with the lunar surface and for astronaut safety concerns, operational concepts and dust tolerance must be considered in the early phases of mission planning. To systematically define material selection criteria, dust interaction can be characterized by two-body or three-body abrasion testing, and sub-categorically by physical interactions of compression, rolling, sliding and bending representing specific applications within the system. Two-body abrasion occurs when a …

Numerical Simulation Of Marina Storage Fires Using Measured Composite Fire And Thermal Properties, Lulu Sun, Aixi Zhou, Andrew Valente

Publications

Fire test data of boats in rack storage are needed to establish more specific requirements for fire control and protection for this type of vessel in high piled rack storage configurations. Since there is no current large or full scale fire test data available, we have embarked upon testing fire and thermal properties of boat material, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite, by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and Cone Calorimeter in order to determine the most effective method to provide sprinkler protection to an indoor boat storage facility. Fire and thermal properties of FRP were obtained from experiments and incorporated into …

Challenges To Informed Peer Review Matching Algorithms, Matthew Verleger, Heidi Diefes-Dux, Matthew W. Ohland, Mary Besterfield-Sacre, Sean Brophy

Publications

Background Peer review is a beneficial pedagogical tool. Despite the abundance of data instructors often have about their students, most peer review matching is by simple random assignment. In fall 2008, a study was conducted to investigate the impact of an informed algorithmic assignment method, called Un‐weighted Overall Need (UON), in a course involving Model‐Eliciting Activities (MEAs). The algorithm showed no statistically significant impact on the MEA Final Response scores. A study was then conducted to examine the assumptions underlying the algorithm.

Purpose (Hypothesis) This research addressed the question: To what extent do the assumptions used in making informed peer …

Pilot Perception Of Light Emitting Diodes Versus Incandescent Elevated Runway Guard Lights, Hilary Stevens

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Pilots must understand and be aware of the purpose of each airport sign, light and marking, for there are numerous. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is planning on replacing the current incandescent lighting with far more economical LED airport lighting. In preparation for this change, two experiments were conducted for this thesis. Experiment 1 attempted to determine what pilots know about the meaning of the signs, markings and lights on the taxiways and runways through a questionnaire that was developed with the FAA. Experiment 2 evaluated pilot perception of LED lighting compared to current incandescent elevated runway guard lights.

The …

System Identification And State Estimation For Intake Manifold Charge Flow Temperature Of A Compression Ignition Diesel Engine, Ryle D. Maxson

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Intake manifold charge temperature is a factor used in mean value engine models (MVEMs) for the calculation of intake mass air charge and oxygen flow. More stringent emission requirements have led to increased deployment of more advanced engine combustion models onto production engine controllers. Measurement of the temperature via physical thermocouple sensors mounted to the engine intake manifold is both slow, in comparison to the changing conditions of an engine, and undesirable due to the cost and increased complexity of extra sensors. A state estimation model has been evaluated that imitates the function of the intake manifold temperature sensor reading, …

Deformation Waves In Microstructured Materials: Theory And Numerics, Juri Engelbrecht, Arkadi Berezovski, Mihhail Berezovski

Publications

A linear model of the microstructured continuum based on Mindlin theory is adopted which can be represented in the framework of the internal variable theory. Fully coupled systems of equations for macro-motion and microstructure evolution are represented in the form of conservation laws. A modification of wave propagation algorithm is used for numerical calculations. Results of direct numerical simulations of wave propagation in periodic medium are compared with similar results for the continuous media with the modelled microstructure. It is shown that the proper choice of material constants should be made to match the results obtained by both approaches

A Day In The Life Of A Float Plane Charter Pilot, Bryan Cox

ERAU Prescott Aviation History Program

Ever taken a float plane trip or wanted to? Learn what it’s like to be a float plane pilot doing charter work in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. Hear this light-heated, informal, presentation by someone who has done all this for “fun and profit”!

Body Limb Movement Limiter, Susan Davis Allen

Mechanical Engineering - Daytona Beach

A body limb movement limiter restrains the movement of a person's arm so as to protect the person's shoulder or restrains the movement of a person's lower leg with respect to the upper leg so as to protect the person's knee. The device uses a housing having a reel disposed therein with a tether attached thereto and a shear thickening non-Newtonian fluid disposed within the housing so that the fluid acts on the reel during a payout procedure of the tether. The housing is attached to a strap secured about the torso of the person while the free end of …

Dynamic Solidification In Nanoconfined Water Films, Peter M. Hoffmann, Shah H. Khan, George Matei, Shivprasad Patil

Publications

Mechanical properties of nanoconfined water layers are still poorly understood and continue to create controversy, despite their importance for biology and nanotechnology. We report on dynamic nanomechanical measurements of water films compressed to a few single molecular layers. We show that the mechanical properties of nanoconfined water layers change significantly with their dynamic state. In particular, we observed a sharp transition from viscous to elastic response even at extremely slow compression rates, indicating that mechanical relaxation times increase dramatically once water is compressed to less than 3–4 molecular layers.

Multi-Color Cavity Ringdown Based Detection Method And Apparatus, Scott Reeve, Susan Allen

Mechanical Engineering - Daytona Beach

A multi-color cavity ringdown based spectrometer is housed in a light tight enclosure to detect the presence of trace quantities of gas phase molecules emanating from explosives, drugs, or hazardous materials being transported through the enclosure or compounds contained in a patient's breath. A method is also disclosed for detecting gas phase molecules emanating from explosives, drugs, hazardous materials, or a patient's breath.

Birdstrike Mitigation - Beyond The Airport, Paul Eschenfelder, Russ Defusco

Paul F. Eschenfelder

No abstract provided.

Three-Body Abrasion Testing Using Lunar Dust Simulants To Evaluate Surface System Materials, Ryan L. Kobrick, Kenneth G. Budinski, Kenneth W. Street Jr., David M. Klaus

Publications

Numerous unexpected operational issues relating to the abrasive nature of lunar dust, such as scratched visors and spacesuit pressure seal leaks, were encountered during the Apollo missions. To avoid reoccurrence of these unexpected detrimental equipment problems on future missions to the Moon, a series of two- and three-body abrasion tests were developed and conducted in order to begin rigorously characterizing the effect of lunar dust abrasiveness on candidate surface system materials. Two-body scratch tests were initially performed to examine fundamental interactions of a single particle on a flat surface. These simple and robust tests were used to establish standardized measurement …

Elements Of Study On Dynamic Materials, Marine Rousseau, Gerard A. Maugin, Mihhail Berezovski

Publications

As a preliminary study to more complex situations of interest in small-scale technology, this paper envisages the elementary propagation properties of elastic waves in one-spatial dimension when some of the properties (mass density, elasticity) may vary suddenly in space or in time, the second case being of course more original. Combination of the two may be of even greater interest. Toward this goal, a critical examination of what happens to solutions at the crossing of pure space-like and time-like material discontinuities is given together with simple solutions for smooth transitions and numerical simulations in the discontinuous case. The effects on …

The Taiwan Civil Aviation Safety Reporting (Tacare) System In Aircraft Maintenance: An Evaluation Of The Acceptance Of Voluntary Incident Reporting Programs For Maintenance Personnel In Taiwan, Yi-Fan (Tom) Chen

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this research was to examine the effectiveness of the Taiwan Civil Aviation safety reporting (TACARE) system for maintenance personnel to improve aircraft safety. The research evaluated what are the issues that affect the participation of the TACARE system. The understandings of the safety culture for maintenance personnel in Taiwan were also analyzed. The research was conducted with a mixed method. The survey and interview were developed to sample the acceptance and opinions regarding the TACARE system for the maintenance personnel in Taiwan. Statistical analysis of the data from 605 survey respondents and 9 interviewees concluded the maintenance …

Extension To Multiple Species Of A Two-Equation Turbulence Model For High Speed Flows, Martin Horvath

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The Wilcox (2006) k-co turbulence model has been extended to multiple species and implemented in a CFD code for high speed flows using the Steger-Warming flux-vector splitting scheme. The model was chosen because compressibility corrections are not required, nor are viscous damping factors or wall functions to produce the law of the wall, and it has previously been validated for approximately one hundred test cases ranging from incompressible to hypersonic flow regimes. Initial validation cases using first-order accuracy have been performed, including a Mach 2.5 flow past a backward-facing step and a Mach 2.85 flow into a 24° compression corner. …

Nonlinear Observers For Human-In-The-Loop Control Systems, Samuel Kitchen Mckinley

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The development of models for a human-in-the-loop with hardware is an area of ongoing research. The ability to simulate a human-in-the-loop with hardware provides a platform for better understanding the dynamics of human and machine cognition. A human-in-the-loop model provides information that can be used to design more efficient human interfaces and smarter autonomous assistant controllers. This can make a complex task such as flying an aircraft safer and more accessible. This thesis explores different possibilities for human operator models to be modeled in the loop with a vehicle. A human is modeled as a linear state feedback controller in …

Redesigning Airport Diagrams With Principles Of Cognitive Psychology, Jacob Miller

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The aviation community strives for air travel to be the safest form of transportation. The National Transportation Safety Board published a “Most Wanted” list to acknowledge the most threatening safety issues, and runway safety and runway incursions were at the top of their list. Furthermore, runway incursion statistics by the Federal Aviation Administration show that pilot deviations were the most common cause for runways incursions. Misunderstandings of airport diagrams may be one reason for pilot deviations. While navigating through airport taxiways, pilots refer to their airport diagrams as a map of the airport. Unfortunately, airport diagrams are not designed with …

Will Very Light Jets Replace King Air Turboprops For Business Travel?, Vince Jean-Paul Pujalte

Applied Aviation Sciences - Prescott

The purpose of this research was to determine if Very Light Jets (VLJs) such as the Eclipse 500 might replace the Beechcraft King Air Turboprop as the preferred aircraft for short regional flights. There are often significant distances from the location of a given company to the nearest customer. Traveling these distances requires travel time, significant funding, and inconvenience. The research method utilized developed and distributed a survey to present owners of Beechcraft King Air Turboprops used for regional business travel. After careful analysis of the data, the researcher concluded that the present owners of King Air Turboprops were very …

Scan Loss Pattern Synthesis For Adaptive Array Ground Stations, William C. Barott, Mary Ann Ingram, Paul G. Steffes

Publications

We present several techniques for maximizing the contact time between low Earth orbiting satellites (LEOs) and a ground station (GS). The GS comprises an adaptive array of electronically steered space-fed lenses (SFLs). Each SFL is manufactured as a low-cost printed circuit with the result that it exhibits scanning loss. By differently orienting the boresights of the SFLs in the adaptive array, the SFL's scanning losses can be made to optimally complement the path loss of the LEO, thereby reducing the cost of the GS while maximizing the download capacity of the satellite link. The optimization, implemented with a genetic algorithm …

Effect Of Simulated Visual Impairment On Nighttime Driving Performance, Joanne Wood, Alex Chaparro, Trent Carberry, Byoung Sun Chu

Publications

Purpose. This study investigated the effects of simulated visual impairment on nighttime driving performance and pedestrian recognition under real-road conditions.

Methods. Closed road nighttime driving performance was measured for 20 young visually normal participants (M = 27.5 +- 6.1 years) under three visual conditions: normal vision, simulated cataracts, and refractive blur that were incorporated in modified goggles. The visual acuity levels for the cataract and blur conditions were matched for each participant. Driving measures included sign recognition, avoidance of low contrast road hazards, time to complete the course, and lane keeping. Pedestrian recognition was measured for pedestrians wearing either black …