Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

Static I-V Based Pim Evaluation For Spring And Fabric-Over-Foam Contacts, Kalkidan W. Anjajo, Yang Xu, Shengxuan Xia, Yuchu He, Haicheng Zhou, Hanfeng Wang, Jonghyun Park, Chulsoon Hwang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Spring Clips and Fabric-Over-Foams (FOFs) Are Widely Used in Mobile Devices for Electrical Connection Purposes. However, the Imperfect Metallic Connections Tend to Induce Passive Intermodulation (PIM), Resulting in a Receiver Sensitivity Degradation, Known as RP Desensitization. Due to the Complexity of the PIM Characterization, there is Not Yet a Way to Evaluate PIM Performance using a Simple Setup for Environments Like Factories. in This Paper, a Current-Voltage (I-V) Behavior-Based PIM Evaluation Method is Proposed and Validated with Various Metallic Contacts and Contact Forces. the Test Results Demonstrated the Feasibility of the PIM Performance Evaluation based on the Measured Static I-V …

Application Of A Variable Path Length Repetitive Process Control For Direct Energy Deposition Of Thin-Walled Structures, Elias B. Snider, Douglas A. Bristow

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Direct Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing is Well Suited to Fabricating Large Thin-Walled Metal Structures Such as Rocket Nozzles but Suffers from Layer-To-Layer Defect Propagation. Propagating Defects May Exhibit as Slumping or a Ripple in Bead Geometry. Recent Works Have Used Repetitive Process Control (RPC) Methods for Additive Manufacturing to Stabilize the Layer-Wise Defect Propagation, But These Methods Require Repetition of the Same Path. However, Typical Thin-Wall DED Applications, Sometimes Referred to as Vase Structures, Have Changing Paths with Each Layer Such as Expanding or Contracting Diameters and Changing Profiles. This Paper Presents an Extension to Optimal RPC that Uses …

Reinforcement Learning-Guided Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programming For Enhanced Convergence And Optimality, Chaoying Pei, Zhi Xu, Sixiong You, Jeffrey Sun, Ran Dai

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the context of Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programming (QCQP) with dynamic parameters, the effectiveness of various optimization approaches is heavily influenced by the quality of the initial guess. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a novel approach that leverages reinforcement learning (RL) to generate high-performing initial guesses for iterative algorithms, with the dynamic parameters serving as inputs. Our approach aims to accelerate convergence and improve the objective value, thereby enabling efficient and effective solutions to the QCQP problem under variability. In this study, we evaluate the proposed approach by applying it to an iterative algorithm, specifically the Iterative Rank …

Mixed-Input Learning For Multi-Point Landing Guidance With Hazard Avoidance Part Ii: Learning-Based Guidance Algorithm, Sixiong You, Chaoying Pei, Vinay Kenny, Ran Dai, Jeremy R. Rea

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper investigates the three-dimensional (3D) multi-point landing guidance (MLG) problem with hazard avoidance by developing a mixed-input learning-based method to achieve precise and fuel-efficient planetary landing in future Mars missions. Specifically, we aim to find a safe, fuel-efficient landing point and generate a fuel-optimal trajectory simultaneously in real-time. First, by introducing binary variables, the MLG problem is formulated as an optimal control problem with quadratic constraints. Then, by formulating the Hamiltonian function, the necessary conditions of optimality for the MLG problem are obtained, where the critical parameters are identified to represent the complete optimal solution. After that, to find …

Feature-Based Learning For Optimal Abort Guidance, Vinay Kenny, Sixiong You, Godfrey Hendrix, Chaoying Pei, Roha Gul, Ran Dai, Jeremy R. Rea

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The abort mission refers to the mission where the landing vehicle needs to terminate the landing mission when an anomaly happens and be safely guided to the desired orbit. This paper focuses on solving the time-optimal abort guidance (TOAG) problem in real-time via the feature-based learning method. First, according to the optimal control theory, the features are identified to represent the optimal solutions of TOAG using a few parameters. After that, a sufficiently large dataset of time-optimal abort trajectories is generated offline by solving the TOAG problems with different initial conditions. Then the features are extracted for all generated cases. …

Distributed Optimization For Rank-Constrained Semidefinite Programs, Chaoying Pei, Sixiong You, Chuangchuang Sun, Ran Dai

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This letter develops a distributed optimization framework for solving the rank-constrained semidefinite programs (RCSPs). Since the rank constraint is non-convex and discontinuous, solving an optimization problem with rank constraints is NP-hard and notoriously time-consuming, especially for large-scale RCSPs. In the proposed approach, by decomposing an unknown matrix into a set of submatrices with much smaller sizes, the rank constraint on the original matrix is equivalently transformed into a set of constraints on the decomposed submatrices. The distributed framework allows parallel computation of subproblems while requiring coordination among them to satisfy the coupled constraints. As the scale of every subproblem solved …

Orbital Stabilization Of Underactuated Systems Using Time Period Regulation, Nilay Kant, Ranjan Mukherjee

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A new approach to orbital stabilization of under-actuated systems with one passive degree-of-freedom (DOF) is presented. Virtual holonomic constraints are enforced using partial feedback linearization; this results in a dense set of periodic orbits on a constraint manifold. Every orbit on the constraint manifold is associated with a unique time-period. A desired orbit is selected, and the impulse controlled Poincaré map (ICPM) approach is utilized to stabilize the orbit by regulating the time-period. By treating the time period as the output, it is possible to design a dead-beat controller that achieves orbital stabilization in a single time-step. The effectiveness of …

Exploring Additive Manufacturing In A Space Environment - A Capstone Design Project Experience, Zain Zafar Khan, Zachary Alan Sobelman, Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The employment of additive manufacturing in the non-standard environments like space, ships, or submarines has the potential to be an advanced utility not only in the pre-flight production of aerospace components and structures, but also for the onboard manufacturing of components and tools necessary for future space missions. For example, the ability to produce tools and structural components on the International Space Station can provide the space community the opportunity to make repairs and upgrades to the space station without wasting time and resources transporting such materials through additional missions. Additive manufacturing would allow for space missions to use on …

Numerical Study Of The Time-Periodic Electroosmotic Flow Of Viscoelastic Fluid Through A Short Constriction Microchannel, Jianyu Ji, Shizhi Qian, Armani Marie Parker, Xiaoyu Zhang

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Electroosmotic flow (EOF) is of utmost significance due to its numerous practical uses in controlling flow at micro/nanoscales. In the present study, the time-periodic EOF of a viscoelastic fluid is statistically analyzed using a short 10:1 constriction microfluidic channel joining two reservoirs on either side. The flow is modeled using the Oldroyd-B (OB) model and the Poisson-Boltzmann model. The EOF of a highly concentrated polyacrylamide (PAA) aqueous solution is investigated under the combined effects of an alternating current (AC) electric field and a direct current (DC) electric field. Power-law degradation is visible in the energy spectra of the velocity fluctuations …

Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Exploratory Cyber-Physical Safety Analyzer Framework For Civilian Urban Air Mobility, Md. Shirajum Munir, Sumit Howlader Dipro, Kamrul Hasan, Tariqul Islam, Sachin Shetty

VMASC Publications

Urban air mobility (UAM) has become a potential candidate for civilization for serving smart citizens, such as through delivery, surveillance, and air taxis. However, safety concerns have grown since commercial UAM uses a publicly available communication infrastructure that enhances the risk of jamming and spoofing attacks to steal or crash crafts in UAM. To protect commercial UAM from cyberattacks and theft, this work proposes an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled exploratory cyber-physical safety analyzer framework. The proposed framework devises supervised learning-based AI schemes such as decision tree, random forests, logistic regression, K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM) for predicting and …

Jet Noise Reduction: A Fresh Start, Christopher K. Tam, Fang Q. Hu

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Attempts to reduce jet noise began some 70 years ago. In the literature, there have been many publications written on this topic. By now, it is common knowledge that jet noise consists of a number of components. They possess different spectral and radiation characteristics and are generated by different mechanisms. It appears then that one may aim at the suppression of the noise of a single component instead of trying to reduce jet noise overall. The objective of the present project is to reduce large turbulence structures noise. It is the most dominant noise component radiating in the downstream direction. …

A Numerical Analysis Of Shock Angles From Inward Turning Axisymmetric Flows, William L. Hilal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Detonation-based propulsion systems are known for their high efficiency and energy release when compared to deflagrative systems, making them an ideal candidate in hypersonic propulsion applications. One such engine is the Oblique Detonation Wave (ODW) engine, which has a similar architecture to traditional scramjets but shortens the combustor and isolator to an anchored ODW after fuel injection.

Previous research has focused on using a two-dimensional wedge to induce an ODW while limiting total losses through the combustor. In this configuration, a two-dimensional wedge-based architecture entails a rectangular duct, limiting potential inlet design and increasing overall skin friction. However, an inward-turning …

An Optimization Study Of Small-Scale Propeller Blade, Fahad M. Nabid

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This research paper aims to investigate the optimization of smaller propeller blades to achieve maximum efficiency by studying the effect of the twist angle on reducing drag, increasing thrust, and preventing rapid wear on the blade. Inefficient propellers consume a significant amount of energy, particularly during low-speed flights. The low Reynolds number regime challenges aviation engineers to design propellers with the highest possible efficiency to minimize energy losses. The primary objective of this thesis is to optimize smaller propeller blade shapes to enable them to produce maximum efficiency. The advanced ratio of a propeller blade heavily influences the blade's performance …

Hypersonic Scramjet Inlet Development For Variable Mach Number Flows, Zachary P. White

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hypersonic propulsion has become an increasingly important research field over the past fifty years, and subsequent interest in propulsion systems utilizing supersonic combustion has emerged. Air-breathing engines are desirable for such applications as hypersonic flight vehicles would not need to carry an oxidizer. Therefore, hypersonic air-breathing propulsion systems require an inlet with high mass capture and compressive efficiency. The present work seeks to outline the development and validation of a novel design tool for producing air inlet designs for hypersonic vehicles at variable flight conditions. A Busemann inlet was chosen for its high compressive efficiency, geometric flexibility, and existing experimental …

The Development Of Computational Models For Melting-Solidification Applications Using The Volume-Of-Fluid Method, Brendon Cavainolo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Fluids-related issues in the Aerospace industry are often multiphase in scope. Numerical modeling, such as computational fluid dynamics, is used to describe these problems, as they are difficult or impossible to describe analytically. This research uses computational fluid dynamics to describe multiphase problems related to melting-solidification and particle impingement. Firstly, a numerical model was established that uses the Volume-of-Fluid method to resolve a melting/solidifying particle. This model was verified against experiments and simplified analytical models, and a mesh independence study was done to ensure the results were independent of the mesh sizing. Next, the model was applied to two separate …

A Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis Of Oxyacetylene Combustion Flow For Use In Material Response Boundary Conditions, Craig Meade

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Oxyacetylene torches are used in the aerospace industry and research to test thermal protection system materials (TPS) due to their high flame temperatures and high heat flux capabilities. The purpose of this work is to determine a combustion model to accurately simulate the high temperature flow of an oxyacetylene torch. The flow conditions around a sample material can then be used as boundary conditions when modeling TPS material response. Two separate combustion models with equilibrium chemistry were investigated using ANSYS Fluent™; the Eddy-Dissipation Model, and the Partially Premixed model.The results of this study are compared to existing experiments for validation.

Stratospheric Glider Measurements Of Atmospheric Parameters, Anisa Haghighi

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

In June 2021 a series of high altitude flights were conducted in Spaceport America, NM, using a balloon launched Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) to assess its capability to conduct measurements of various atmospheric properties and study turbulence in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. This UAS descends using an automated flight trajectory. The instruments aboard included a NASA-developed infrasonic microphone to evaluate its remote turbulence detection capabilities and a five-hole probe capable of measuring the in situ wind vector. Also on board were temperature, humidity and wind profile sensors. This document focuses on the atmospheric properties measured at high altitudes, the …

Impact Of Spallation And Internal Radiation On Fibrous Ablative Materials, Raghava Sai Chaitanya Davuluri

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Space vehicles are equipped with Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) that encounter high heat rates and protect the payload while entering a planetary atmosphere. For most missions that interest NASA, ablative materials are used as TPS. These materials undergo several mass and energy transfer mechanisms to absorb intense heat. The size and construction of the TPS are based on the composition of the planetary atmosphere and the impact of various ablative mechanisms on the flow field and the material. Therefore, it is essential to quantify the rates of different ablative phenomena to model TPS accurately. In this work, the impact of …

Precision Meteorological Prediction Employing A Data-Driven, Adaptive, Real-Time (Dart) Approach, Sujit Sinha

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The objective of this research is to improve precision meteorological prediction, benefiting both uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) operations by avoiding hazardous flight conditions and tracking contaminant or toxic clouds caused by incidents, accidents, or fires. The operational concept is to collect meteorological observations from instruments mounted on a swarm of UAVs, telemeter the data to a weather simulation model, revise the predicted solution by adapting the flow field to the observations, and then transmit the updated forecast to appropriate personnel as well as to the guidance system of UAVs for repositioning to the next set of most beneficial measurements. While …

Detonability Of A Rotating Detonation Combustor Seeded With Carbon/Hydrocarbon Particles At Fringe Operating Conditions, Matthew Hopwood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The Rotating Detonation Combustor (RDC) has, in recent years, been a subject of great interest in the pressure-gain combustion research community. Researchers have been investigating the RDC as a potential improvement over current combustors in today's turbomachinery-based power generation systems. With the theoretical efficiency boost that detonations provide over deflagrating combustors, RDCs have the promise to be a next step in fuel/cost savings in the power generation industry. One mode of research to push an RDCs capabilities is the potential use of combustible carbon/hydrocarbon solid particles in addition to liquid or gaseous fuels. These particles are a source of high …