Analyzing Micrometeoroid And Orbital Debris Shield Performance For Sample Return Spacecraft,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Analyzing Micrometeoroid And Orbital Debris Shield Performance For Sample Return Spacecraft, William P. Schonberg, Michael Squire
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Sample-return missions typically seek to collect and return samples from extraterrestrial locations to Earth for analysis. The return of samples from certain locations in the solar system represents a potential hazard to Earth's biosphere from foreign microorganisms. One way this could occur would be a break-up of the returning capsule during entry (which would disperse the samples through the air) due to undetected damage to the capsule thermal protection system (TPS). As a result, missions that plan to return payloads from some destinations are likely to have certain design requirements for the TPS surrounding their returning capsules, which may include …
Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System Uncertainty Analysis,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System Uncertainty Analysis, Michael D. Squire, Victor Cabrera, Eric Christiansen, Alan Jenkin, Kevin Hoffman, Quincy Mckown, Peter Parker, Glenn Peterson, Bruno Victorino Sarli, William P. Schonberg, Katie Steward, Brian Tulaba, Joel Williamsen
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Spacecraft designers and operators use micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) risk assessments to predict the probability that an MMOD particle impact will cause a critical failure to their systems. An important aspect of MMOD risk and associated requirements is the treatment of uncertainty, often difficult to quantify, or even estimate, for many elements of MMOD risk. This paper describes recent efforts to estimate uncertainties in inputs to the MMOD risk assessment process for a portion of the planned Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. The uncertainty bounds developed were used to examine their effect on overall mission MMOD risk.
Autonomous Landscape Exploration Rover Using Imaging Surface Navigation (Alexis),
2025
The University of Akron
Autonomous Landscape Exploration Rover Using Imaging Surface Navigation (Alexis), Noah Jones, Dominic Salupo
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
The objective is to develop a small-form-factor rover prototype that can be used to prove out a novel traversal method for use on extraterrestrial surfaces. The novel traversal method being proposed is LIDAR/CV-enhanced navigation, provided by a detachable flight vehicle that can communicate with the rover. On planets with thin atmospheres, cold gas thrusters or similar may be needed, but for the scope of this project more traditional flight/propulsion methods will be used.
Potential Of Lidar And Hyperspectral Sensing For Overcoming Challenges In Current Maritime Ballast Tank Corrosion Inspection,
2025
Old Dominion University
Potential Of Lidar And Hyperspectral Sensing For Overcoming Challenges In Current Maritime Ballast Tank Corrosion Inspection, Sergio Pallas Enguita, Jiajun Jiang, Chung-Hao Chen, Samuel Kovacic, Richard Lebel
Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications
Corrosion in maritime ballast tanks is a major driver of maintenance costs and operational risks for maritime assets. Inspections are hampered by complex geometries, hazardous conditions, and the limitations of conventional methods, particularly visual assessment, which struggles with subjectivity, accessibility, and early detection, especially under coatings. This paper critically examines these challenges and explores the potential of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) to form the basis of improved inspection approaches. We discuss LiDAR’s utility for accurate 3D mapping and providing a spatial framework and HSI’s potential for objective material identification and surface characterization based on spectral …
Anisotropic And Temperature-Tunable Second-Harmonic Vortex Generation In Ferroelectric Nbocl2 Holograms,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Anisotropic And Temperature-Tunable Second-Harmonic Vortex Generation In Ferroelectric Nbocl2 Holograms, Jayanta Deka, Xiaodong Yang, Jie Gao
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Optical vortex beams with helical phase fronts have immense potential to enhance data capacity due to the unbounded values of orbital angular momentum. Chip-scale platforms for producing vortex beams are of paramount importance for a variety of applications. On the other hand, 2D materials with unique optical properties are essential for developing multifunctional ultrathin photonic devices. Here, anisotropic and temperature-tunable second-harmonic vortex beam generation is demonstrated with ultrathin ferroelectric niobium oxide dichloride (NbOCl2) fork holograms. The polarization-resolved Raman measurements are performed on the NbOCl2 crystal to understand the anisotropic behavior of the Raman modes. It is demonstrated …
Optimizing Uav Swarm Deployment For Efficient Communication Signal Strength Alignment In Disaster Scenarios,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Optimizing Uav Swarm Deployment For Efficient Communication Signal Strength Alignment In Disaster Scenarios, Mina Khalilzadeh Fathi, Chaoying Pei
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
In disaster scenarios, establishing reliable communication infrastructure is critical, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms offer a promising solution as temporary base stations. This study models communication demand in disaster-affected areas by applying Gaussian kernels to building data, forming a spatial demand distribution. Signal strength is estimated using the normalized inverse Free Space Path Loss (FSPL) to account for realistic attenuation. To guide UAV placement, we extract high-demand regions from the demand distribution using a gradient-based thresholding method. Based on this information, we develop a greedy algorithm to iteratively position UAVs for optimal coverage in areas with the greatest communication …
An Adaptive Sampling Strategy On Optimal Takeoff Trajectory Prediction Of Electric Drones,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
An Adaptive Sampling Strategy On Optimal Takeoff Trajectory Prediction Of Electric Drones, Dheeraj Paramkusham, Samuel Sisk, Jiachen Wang, Shuan Tai Yeh, Xiaosong Du, Nathan Roberts
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft transforms future transportation systems by alleviating transportation congestion on the ground. This eVTOL technique possesses unique features, including reduced noise, low pollutant emissions, efficient operating costs, and flexible maneuverability. Meanwhile, battery consumption poses critical challenges to flight task duration. Thus, optimal takeoff trajectory design is essential due to immense power demands during eVTOL takeoffs. Conventional design optimization, however, iteratively evaluates high fidelity simulation models, making the design process computationally intensive. In this work, we implement a machine learning-enabled inverse mapping optimization concept, i .e., directly predicting optimal design based on design requirements (including …
Lunar Payload Logistics: Advancing Autonomous Control For Lunar Surface Transporter Vehicles,
2025
South Dakota State University
Lunar Payload Logistics: Advancing Autonomous Control For Lunar Surface Transporter Vehicles, Liam Murray
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Investigation Of A Busemann Intake At Negative Angle Of Attack,
2025
Purdue University
Investigation Of A Busemann Intake At Negative Angle Of Attack, Mark E. Noftz, Andrew N. Bustard, Nicholas J. Bisek, Thomas J. Juliano, Joseph S. Jewell
Publications
A high-speed, shape-transitioned, inward-turning intake was tested in Purdue’s Boeing/AFOSR Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel. The inlet model, called the Indiana Inlet (INlet), had a total contraction ratio of 4.68:1 and a design point of Mach 6 at 0° angle of attack. The model was outfitted with a suite of high-frequency pressure transducers, and the external flowfield was imaged with high-speed schlieren photography. The INlet was tested under low freestream disturbance levels for a variety of freestream unit Reynolds numbers and at-4° angle of attack. An unsteady shockwave near the leading edge of the inlet forebody, indicative of boundary layer separation, …
Additive Manufacturing Of Multifunctional Materials And Composites,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Additive Manufacturing Of Multifunctional Materials And Composites, John Michael Pappas
Doctoral Dissertations
"This research focused on developing fundamental knowledge of process-material interactions for additive manufacturing of multifunctional materials that are highly desirable in high-tech industries for potential weight and space savings. Multifunctional materials are very sensitive to defects, which severely hinder performance. Thus, defect formation was systematically studied to develop strategies and methodologies to efficiently fabricate high-performance materials and composites. Blown-powder-based laser additive manufacturing of transparent spinel ceramics was investigated to reduce porosity and cracking, defects that hindered transparency and mechanical properties. A systematic study of processing parameters revealed that laser power and powder flow rate had the largest effects on defect …
Proactive Distributed Emergency Response With Heterogeneous Tasks Allocation,
2025
Rockwell Automation
Proactive Distributed Emergency Response With Heterogeneous Tasks Allocation, Justice Darko, Hyoshin Park
Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications
Traditionally, traffic incident management (TIM) programs coordinate the deployment of emergency resources to immediate incident requests without accommodating the interdependencies on incident evolutions in the environment. However, ignoring these inherent interdependencies while making current deployment decisions is shortsighted, and the resulting naive deployment strategy can significantly worsen the overall incident delay impact on the network. The interdependencies on incident evolution in the environment, including those between incident occurrences and those between resource availability in near-future requests and the anticipated duration of the immediate incident request, should be considered through a look-ahead model when making current-stage deployment decisions. This study develops …
Gas-Generating Reactive Materials: Design, Evaluation And Effect Of Morphology On Their Ignition And Combustion,
2024
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Gas-Generating Reactive Materials: Design, Evaluation And Effect Of Morphology On Their Ignition And Combustion, Purvam Mehulkumar Gandhi
Dissertations
This work investigates optimizing gas-generating reactive materials, focusing on particle morphology's effect on ignition and combustion behavior. Metal-based gas-generating energetic materials (EMs) are promising alternatives to replace traditional CHNO compounds. Design of advanced metal-based EMs requires consistent ways of evaluating how their characteristics affect their ignition and combustion. Many relevant evaluation approaches exist; however, the results may be difficult to compare directly across different studies. Commonly, experimentalists ignite metal-based EMs in enclosed chambers and report pressures, P. However, direct comparison of these pressures is hindered by variations in the chamber volume, V, and the EM mass, m. To standardize the …
Qualitative Analysis Of The Circuits Of Autonomous Inverters With Shut-Off Valves,
2024
Tashkent State Technical University, Tashkent city, Republic of Uzbekistan, DSc, Professor, [email protected]; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9262-4683.
Qualitative Analysis Of The Circuits Of Autonomous Inverters With Shut-Off Valves, Shukhrat Badreddinovich Umarov
Technical science and innovation
The article presents the results of a qualitative analysis of circuits of autonomous current and voltage inverters with cut-off valves; the influence of the charge value of the switching capacitor in parallel and series equivalent circuits on the restoration of the switching properties of the thyristors of the inverter power circuit is studied. It is shown that due to the energy periodically accumulated in the inductive elements of the load, the voltage on the switching capacitor in the cut-off state is greater than in a conventional parallel autonomous current inverter. This circumstance ensures an increase in the switching stability of …
Evaluation Of Impact Energy In Composites Using Acoustic Emission Sensing Technique,
2024
University of South Carolina
Evaluation Of Impact Energy In Composites Using Acoustic Emission Sensing Technique, Li Ai, Tanner Mesaric, Sydney Flowers, Sydney Houck, Joshua Widawsky, Paul Ziehl
Faculty Publications
A major challenge faced by composite materials is impact, which can result in unexpected damage and degradation. Impact events can cause significant structural damage that may not be immediately visible, leading to a reduction in the material’s mechanical properties and overall performance. This paper presents an impact assessment method using acoustic emission (AE) sensing technology. The primary goal of this approach is to determine the extent of impact damage on composite components by analyzing AE signals produced under operating stress conditions. An advanced algorithm is proposed to predict the probability that the damage falls into various damage categories, providing a …
Dynamic Analysis Of Additively Manufactured Tensegrity Structures,
2024
University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa
Dynamic Analysis Of Additively Manufactured Tensegrity Structures, Keivan Davami, Russell A. Rowe, Ben Gulledge, Jesse Park, Ali Beheshti, Anthony N. Palazotto, Fariborz Tavangarian, Sadie Beck
Faculty Publications
Herein, we present an analysis, design, and experimental testing of modular prestressed pin-jointed structures constructed from bistable units and inspired by the classical triangular tensegrity prism. Tensegrity structures, characterized by a combination of tension members (cables) and compression members (bars) in a self-equilibrated state, have gained significant attention in engineering over the past two decades due to their unique nonlinear mechanical behavior. The discontinuity of the compression members in tensegrity structures leads to a slightly different failure behavior compared to their lattice structure counterparts, with unprecedented applications. However, traditional fabrication and assembly methods have posed challenges for their widespread adoption. …
Harnessing Extrinsic Dissipation To Enhance The Toughness Of Composites And Composite Joints: A State-Of-The-Art Review Of Recent Advances,
2024
Missouri University of Science and Technlogy
Harnessing Extrinsic Dissipation To Enhance The Toughness Of Composites And Composite Joints: A State-Of-The-Art Review Of Recent Advances, Gilles Lubineau, Marco Alfano, Ran Tao, Ahmed Wagih, Arief Yudhanto, Xiaole Li, Khaled Almuhammadi, Mjed Hashem, Ping Hu, Hassan A. Mahmoud, Fatih Oz
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Interfaces play a critical role in modern structures, where integrating multiple materials and components is essential to achieve specific functions. Enhancing the mechanical performance of these interfaces, particularly their resistance to delamination, is essential to enable extremely lightweight designs and improve energy efficiency. Improving toughness (or increasing energy dissipation during delamination) has traditionally involved modifying materials to navigate the well-known strength-toughness trade-off. However, a more effective strategy involves promoting non-local or extrinsic energy dissipation. This approach encompasses complex degradation phenomena that extend beyond the crack tip, such as long-range bridging, crack fragmentation, and ligament formation. This work explores this innovative …
Development Of A Model For Fire Spread In Low-Gravity Conditions,
2024
Purdue University
Development Of A Model For Fire Spread In Low-Gravity Conditions, Kathleen Martinus
The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research
No abstract provided.
Predictive Maintenance Analysis Of Turbofan Engine Sensor Data,
2024
Purdue University
Predictive Maintenance Analysis Of Turbofan Engine Sensor Data, Stanley A. Melkumian
The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research
Predictive maintenance in aviation and aerospace applications is among the most explored problems in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), and datasets such as NASA’s C-MAPPS turbofan engine degradation simulation data have proven invaluable, helping researchers explore numerous questions on engine performance, maintenance, and failure. The purpose of this study was to extend the current research on predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of engines and their risk classification. Starting with simple yet under-investigated nonlinear survival and random forest models, the analysis implemented eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and long short-term memory (LSTM) from TensorFlow’s Keras library. For both regression …
Theory And Algorithms To Learn, Propagate, And Exploit Uncertainty For Stochastic Optimal Control Of Dynamical Systems,
2024
University of New Mexico
Theory And Algorithms To Learn, Propagate, And Exploit Uncertainty For Stochastic Optimal Control Of Dynamical Systems, Vignesh Sivaramakrishnan
Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs
Non-Gaussian uncertainty frequently arises in learning and control problems involving stochastic dynamical systems, particularly in autonomous vehicles, UAVs, satellites, and robotics. In this dissertation, we propose a new framework that leverages characteristic functions that provides a frequency-domain representation of random variables. The dissertation is structured into three key areas. First, we address model-based stochastic optimal control for linear systems with non-Gaussian noise, demonstrating that characteristic functions can be used to enforce chance constraints and control systems toward desired distributions. Second, we explore data-driven stochastic control, utilizing empirical characteristic functions to handle systems with unknown disturbances. In addition, we derive several …
Discrete Particle Dynamics Models: Computational Aspects And Applications,
2024
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Discrete Particle Dynamics Models: Computational Aspects And Applications, Yuxuan Wu
Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses
Particle dynamics considers discrete particles as Newtonian point masses in diverse domains such as, pedestrian particles in pedestrian movement modeling and molecules in material science modeling. These dynamic modeling approaches share a commonality in computational approach where a series of ordinary differential equations are solved for the particle’s motion and equilibrium under active interactions and boundary conditions. In general, particle dynamics approaches are computationally intensive and address problems that require a vast parameter design space. In this dissertation, a computational paradigm is developed for large-scale particle dynamics modeling and demonstrated by three process design applications, (a) infection risk modeling for …
