Creep Of Hafnium Diboride -20 Vol% Silicon Carbide At 1500°C In Air,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Creep Of Hafnium Diboride -20 Vol% Silicon Carbide At 1500°C In Air, Glen E. Pry
Theses and Dissertations
Refractory metal borides, commonly referred to as Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTCs), exhibit a number of unique properties, such as extremely high melting temperature and hardness, chemical stability, high electrical and thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. It has been demonstrated that the addition of SiC improves the oxidation resistance of ZrB2- and HfB2-based UHTCs above 1200°C by modifying the composition of the oxide scale. Addition of SiC retards the oxidation rate of ZrB2 and HfB2 by forming a protective layer of borosilicate glass. Creep deformation is one of the critical criterion for structural application of ceramics at elevated temperatures. Compression …
Parameter Study Of An Orbital Debris Defender Using Two Team, Three Player Differential Game Theory,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Parameter Study Of An Orbital Debris Defender Using Two Team, Three Player Differential Game Theory, David F. Spendel
Theses and Dissertations
The United States Air Force and other national agencies rely on numerous space assets to project their doctrine. However, space is becoming an increasingly congested, contested, and competitive environment. A common risk mitigation strategy for the orbit debris problem is either performing evasive maneuvers, or placing additional shielding on the satellite before launch. Current risk mitigation strategies have significant consequences to satellite operators and may not produce sufficient risk mitigation. This research poses that an orbital debris defender, which would defend the primary satellite from orbital debris, may be a more effective risk mitigation strategy. By assuming the worst case …
Design And Testing Of An Additively Manufactured Cubesat Structural Bus,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Design And Testing Of An Additively Manufactured Cubesat Structural Bus, Karson A. Roberts
Theses and Dissertations
Recent innovations in additive manufacturing and design capabilities have opened the door for more opportunities to integrate multiple functions into a structural de- sign. Specifically, 3D printing through advanced laser powder bed fusion of metal powder allows for the development and integration of advanced structures that were previously unachievable. The demonstration of these techniques on a small satellite results in a structural bus consisting of various external and internal features, increasing its functionality and capabilities beyond simply providing structural support. 3D printing a multi-functional CubeSat bus with these integrated features such as internal lattices and wiring tabs demonstrates a new …
Tensile Properties And Fatigue Behavior Of Geopolymer Matrix Composites With Carbon Fiber Reinforcement At Elevated Temperature,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Tensile Properties And Fatigue Behavior Of Geopolymer Matrix Composites With Carbon Fiber Reinforcement At Elevated Temperature, Steffan M. L. Wilcox
Theses and Dissertations
The tensile stress-strain and tension-tension fatigue of geopolymer matrix composites reinforced with 0/90 carbon fibers was investigated at 23 and 300°C in laboratory air. Geopolymers are inorganic polymeric materials composed of alumina, silica, and alkali metal oxides. Because geopolymers are synthesized as a fluid mixture or particles and liquid, they can be cast into a desired shape, and cured at only slightly elevated temperatures. The relative ease of synthesis and low processing temperatures make geopolymers an attractive choice as a matrix material for composite materials. Geopolymers also offer resistance to heat and oxidizing environments. Currently, geopolymer matrix composites are being …
Characterization And Analysis Of Plasma Instabilities In A 600 W Permanent Magnet Hall Thruster,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Characterization And Analysis Of Plasma Instabilities In A 600 W Permanent Magnet Hall Thruster, Samuel D. Wright
Theses and Dissertations
Electric propulsion is an important technology for the future of space operations and exploration. Within the range of electric propulsion devices, Hall Effect Thrusters provide a balance of thrust and specific impulse well-suited for many Earth-centric missions. Hall Effect Thrusters have been studied since their development in the 1960s and have been flown on hundreds of spacecraft, but the intimate details of the plasma behavior within the thruster exhaust plume are still not well understood. Furthering this knowledge may be key to improving thruster design to yield better performance and longer lifetimes. To this end, experiments were conducted to measure …
Control, Characterization, And Cooling Of An Ultra-Compact Combustor,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Control, Characterization, And Cooling Of An Ultra-Compact Combustor, Kevin J. Demarco
Theses and Dissertations
An Ultra-Compact Combustor (UCC) is novel alternative to axial flow combustors commonly used in gas turbine engines. The UCC offers multiple benefits to engine design. First, the UCC aims to increase the thrust-to-weight ratio of an aircraft gas turbine engine by decreasing the size, and thus weight, of the engine's combustor. This is done by utilizing a Circumferential Cavity (CC) wrapped around the main core flow which hosts the combustion event, allowing a shortened combustor length. Second, within the CC, the combusting mixture is subjected to a high centrifugal loading which aids combustion by improving both flame propagation and residence …
Analytical Determination Of A Helicopter Height Velocity Diagram,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Analytical Determination Of A Helicopter Height Velocity Diagram, Michael J. Harris
Theses and Dissertations
A helicopter height velocity (HV) diagram was analytically constructed using optimal control techniques. A three degree of freedom, point-mass, dynamic model was developed and validated with flight test data. An induced velocity calculation was incorporated which addressed the effects of vortex ring state. The problem was posed as an open final time, constrained initial state, constrained final state problem, with the objective function as a weighted sum of the initial altitude and quadratic controls. This formulation was solved using direct pseudo-spectral collocation and adaptive mesh refinement as implemented by the GPOPS-II® software suite. Proper adjustment of path constraints was crucial …
Algorithms For Small Satellite Formation Flying,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Algorithms For Small Satellite Formation Flying, Robert B. Larue
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis presents algorithms for spacecraft formation flying using impulsive thrust and low-thrust methods. The general circular orbit formation initial conditions are derived in terms of equinoctial elements. Physical significance of the bounded relative motion parameters is presented for the case of general circular orbits. The developed algorithms are posed in terms of equinoctial elements for a singularity-free approach. The algorithms are assessed by numerical propagation of the inertial equations of motion with J2 and drag perturbations. Methods are presented for minimizing the ΔV required for formation initialization. An examination of the performance of open-loop and closed-loop control is provided …
Creep Of Hi-Nicalon™ S Ceramic Fiber Tows At 1000°C In Air And In Silicic Acid-Saturated Steam,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Creep Of Hi-Nicalon™ S Ceramic Fiber Tows At 1000°C In Air And In Silicic Acid-Saturated Steam, Brian G. Kroeger
Theses and Dissertations
Advanced SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are being considered for a variety of applications. Of interest is their ability to withstand exposure to high temperature in an aggressive oxidizing environment. The presence of steam creates such an environment. As steam traverses across a SiC/SiC composite and through cracks in the SiC matrix, it becomes saturated with silicic acid, Si(OH)4. It is essential to understand the long-term impacts and durability of SiC/SiC CMCs that have been exposed to such a demanding environment. The present research investigated creep of Hi-Nicalon™ S SiC fibers at 1000°C in air and in silicic …
The Study And Application Of Carbon Nanotube Film Heaters For Space Applications,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
The Study And Application Of Carbon Nanotube Film Heaters For Space Applications, Christopher C. Rocker
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to examine the feasibility of using Carbon Nanotube (CNT) sheets as thin film heaters for space applications. The ability to maintain the temperature of space components has a direct impact on a space vehicle's operation and longevity. Currently etched foil heaters are used to heat satellite batteries. Battery heaters are the focus of this research. However, as this study will show, they have limitations and are susceptible to failure. CNT sheets have many beneficial properties and show potential in replacing the etched foil design. In this study test specimens were created by forming laminate …
Scheduling Tool For The Nevada Test And Training Range,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Scheduling Tool For The Nevada Test And Training Range, Miguel J. Macias
Theses and Dissertations
Presently, the 57th Wing Scheduler at Nellis AFB schedules daily mission requests to the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) airspace manually. The process is time consuming and may lead to suboptimal range resource allocations. The goal of this study is to provide the scheduler with an automated scheduling approach that will improve range scheduling efficiency. The tool developed uses range request data from units at Nellis AFB to produce daily mission schedules for a month long scheduling horizon with Microsoft VBA code and a commercial Integer Program (IP) solver. Under our current understanding of scheduler priorities, we formulate the …
Comparison Of Traditional Versus Cubesat Remote Sensing: A Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Comparison Of Traditional Versus Cubesat Remote Sensing: A Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach, Daniel L. Cipera
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis compares the ability of both traditional and CubeSat remote sensing architectures to fulfill a set of mission requirements for a remote sensing scenario. Mission requirements originating from a hurricane disaster response scenario are developed to derive a set of system requirements. Using a Model-based Systems Engineering approach, these system requirements are used to develop notional traditional and CubeSat architecture models. The technical performance of these architectures is analyzed using Systems Toolkit (STK); the results are compared against Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) derived from the disaster response scenario. Additionally, systems engineering cost estimates are obtained for each satellite architecture …
Influence Of Coolant Flow Rate Parameters In Scaling Gas Turbine Cooling Effectiveness On A Flat Plate,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Influence Of Coolant Flow Rate Parameters In Scaling Gas Turbine Cooling Effectiveness On A Flat Plate, Jacob P. Fischer
Theses and Dissertations
Effective film cooling relies on the performance of the selected cooling hole shape and placement of the holes on the surface of the blade. To test each holes effectiveness, large scale, low-temperature testing has been used to reduce cost and complexity. The resulting quantity from this testing is called the adiabatic effectiveness (n). The adiabatic effectiveness can then scaled up to engine operating conditions to predict how the selected film cooling hole will perform. This process is complicated by the nonlinear variation of gas properties between coolant and freestream conditions as well as between the experimental and engine conditions. In …
Optimal Trajectory Generation In A Dynamic Multi-Body Environment Using A Pseudospectral Method,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
Optimal Trajectory Generation In A Dynamic Multi-Body Environment Using A Pseudospectral Method, Jacob A. Dahlke
Theses and Dissertations
High-altitude parking orbits could provide resiliency to the military space infrastructure by providing redundancy in key assets, allowing for rapid reconstitution of underperforming satellites. When analyzing trajectories in a high-altitude regime, two-body models of Keplerian motion become less accurate since the gravitational effects of other bodies are no longer negligible. To provide a higher fidelity model of the dynamics in a high-altitude regime, a multiple-body model can be used. In the Earth-Moon system, a spacecraft operating in the high-altitude regime can be modeled with three-body dynamics. With certain simplifying assumptions, the model is called the circular-restricted three-body problem (CR3BP). The …
An Efficient Euler Method To Predict Shock Migration On A Straked Delta Wing Design,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
An Efficient Euler Method To Predict Shock Migration On A Straked Delta Wing Design, Dylan N. Hope
Theses and Dissertations
In support of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, this project sought to identify the significance of nonlinear aerodynamic phenomena in regards to LCO of a straked delta wing design. Previous works include unsteady Navier-Stokes aeroelastic analysis of various wing designs and flight test of F-16 transonic LCO with interest focused on oscillatory SITES behavior. The research presented within this investigation further expanded the understanding of unsteady aerodynamics by performing aeroelastic analysis of a wing oscillated in pitch with an Euler-based, boundary layer coupled numerical method (ZEUS). The wing was tested for a multitude of LCO parameters such as …
The Subject Librarian Newsletter, Engineering And Computer Science, Spring 2018,
2018
University of Central Florida
The Subject Librarian Newsletter, Engineering And Computer Science, Spring 2018, Buenaventura "Ven" Basco
Libraries' Newsletters
No abstract provided.
Nonlinear Control Of Underactuated And Constrained Systems,
2018
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Nonlinear Control Of Underactuated And Constrained Systems, Derek Hoffman
Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses
It is the purpose of this document to elaborate on the control of systems that are underactuated or otherwise constrained. To do so, local- and global-coordinate formulations are implemented to generate well-defined system dynamics for a multitude of scenarios. These dynamics are shown to lie on manifolds defined by mathematical restrictions, allowing for singularity-free modeling for global considerations. Feed-back controllers by extension share these benefits, facilitating singularity-free control algorithms as a result. Further, unactuated degrees of freedom can be treated as additional constraints, resulting in an embedded manifold upon the original dynamics. A transformation between a provided set of dynamical …
Estimation Of 3d Orientation From Inertial Sensors With Different/Nonuniform Sampling,
2018
[email protected]
Estimation Of 3d Orientation From Inertial Sensors With Different/Nonuniform Sampling, Soulaimane Berkane
Western Research Forum
No abstract provided.
A Study Of The Hexakis Icosahedron Vacuum Lighter Than Air Vehicle And The Effects Of Air Evacuation On The Structural Integrity,
2018
Air Force Institute of Technology
A Study Of The Hexakis Icosahedron Vacuum Lighter Than Air Vehicle And The Effects Of Air Evacuation On The Structural Integrity, Anthony A. Castello
Theses and Dissertations
The research this paper focuses on is comparing the structural differences between the icosahedron and hexakis icosahedron frame and skin for use as a vacuum lighter than air vehicle (VLTAV), analyzing the stress concentrations in the hexakis icosahedron both with and without the skin, and finding the optimal location and size of the air evacuation method for creating the internal vacuum. Previous research to date has identified dynamic loading on the structure and optimization of the structure, but this will be the first research to analyze the manufacturing of the structure through the development of the air evacuation design. Findings …
Developing Motion Platform Dynamics For Studying Biomechanical Responses During Exercise For Human Spaceflight Applications,
2018
University of South Florida
Developing Motion Platform Dynamics For Studying Biomechanical Responses During Exercise For Human Spaceflight Applications, Kaitlin Lostroscio
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
In future human spaceflight missions, with prolonged exposure to microgravity, resistive and aerobic exercises will be countermeasures for bone loss, muscle loss, and decreased aerobic capacity. Two of the exercises of interest are squats and rowing. The cyclic forces produced during these exercises are at relatively low frequencies which are likely to excite structural resonances of space vehicles. Vibration Isolation Systems (VIS) are being designed to be paired with future exploration exercise devices in order to prevent these cyclic exercise forces from impacting the space vehicle. The VIS may be configured such that a platform supports the human and exercise …
