Digital Commons Network^™

Physics-Data-Hybrid Modeling And Control For Vtol Aircraft, Samantha Dawn Burton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are hybrid aircraft having both a helicopter flight mode and a fixed-wing plane flight mode. The objective of this dissertation is to examine and evaluate a new approach, physics-data-hybrid (PDH), for VTOL aircraft modeling and control. The PDH approach combines traditional, physics-based methods (Newtonian mechanics) with data driven methods (a machine learning technique called a Koopman operator model) to create an efficient and accurate modeling and control framework—mitigating the disadvantages of the purely physics-based and purely data-driven methods. The PDH approach is used to model scenarios when the VTOL aircraft transitions between helicopter mode …

Characterization Of Droplet Size And Their Distribution Using Low Operating Conditions In A Rotary Bell Cup Spray-Field Via Shadowgraph, Murad Ali Channa, Mehdi Khiadani, Yasir M. Al-Abdeli

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study characterises droplet size and distribution across axial (x/D) and radial (r/D) locations in the spray field of a rotary bell-cup atomizer under low operating conditions. Shadowgraph was used to measure droplet size and distribution at 16 dimensionless locations in both directions. Two low rotational-speed ranges, 3–3.5 krpm (case I) and 8–8.5 krpm (case II), were achieved using shaping-air of 30–100 L/min under turning-air of 50 and 60 L/min, respectively, at a constant flow rate of 0.5 L/min. The Sauter mean droplet diameter ranged from ∼ 45–98 µm in case I and narrowed to ∼ 45–85 µm in case …

Dataset For Integrity Attacks On Time Synchronized Synchrophasor Data, Taylah Griffiths, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Chadni Islam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Phasor measurement units, also known as synchrophasors, are a vital component within smart grids to determine the stability of the grid. These devices send synchrophasor data to phasor data concentrators that collate and analyse the data. Recently, synchrophasor communication data has become beneficial for the research community. However, datasets covering cyberattacks on synchrophasor data are not public. Having access to this data would aid in investigating mitigations against cyberattacks. This paper describes a public specialized dataset, known as ECU-PMU-FDI/TSA. The dataset contains synchrophasor communication data for cybersecurity mitigation testing. Three hours of communication data was captured, from a simulated testbed. …

Nanofluid-Assisted Enhanced Sealing Containment Of Caprocks For Efficient Geological Co2 Storage, Muhammad Ali, Nurudeen Yekeen, Mujahid Ali, Nilanjan Pal, Mohammed Al Kobaisi, Alireza Keshavarz, Hussein Hoteit

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Millions of tons of CO2 are stored annually in geological formations in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, relying on caprock as a seal to prevent CO2 leakage. The wettability of caprock is crucial for its effectiveness, and can be altered by organic acids present in the storage media. The present study investigates the impact of stearic acid on the CO2 wettability of shale, along with the potential of alumina nanofluids to reverse this effect. Using contact angle measurements, X-ray diffraction, and other analytical methods, the study reveals that stearic acid increases the CO2 wettability of shale, making it more …

Efficient Charging Scheduling Through Coordination Of Electric Vehicle Platoons And Charging Stations, Liwan Qi, Bochun Wu, Shoubo Li, Yi Gong, Wei Ni

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper focuses on charging allocation in a vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications-enabled electric vehicle (EV) network with heterogeneous traffic flows, where manned EVs and EV platoons coexist, and each EV platoon may have a different size and travel speed. In such a network, hybrid traffic flows pose significant challenges since platoons with multiple EVs can easily cause severe station overloading and increase the total time cost for charging service, particularly when large platoons occur. To tackle this issue, a centralized approach is proposed to plan charging allocation and optimize the velocities of manned EVs and EV platoons with the assistance of …

Natural Gas Hydrate Production And Co2 Storage Via Clathrate Hydrates: Challenges And Opportunities, Abdirahman Hassan Mohamed, Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon, Haylay Tsegab, Bhajan Lal, Stefan Iglauer, Muhammad Ali

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

One of the most demanding environmental and economic challenges of this era is that of supplying the increasing global energy demand while reducing and neutralizing the CO2 footprint. In this regard, the provision of a secure and diversified energy supply and the sequestration of CO2 into geological formations are currently of great significance. However, the buoyant nature of CO2 under the temperature and pressure conditions of typical geological sites leads to the risk of CO2 leakage, and thus necessitates long-term monitoring. Therefore, the hydrate-based sequestration of CO2 beneath oceanic sediments has become a desirable alternative to conventional geologic sequestration in …

Extending Geometric Acoustic Ray Tracing To Multi-Room Environments: A Case Study On Gunshot Sound Transmission Between Adjacent Rooms, Tyler Ton

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate localization of gunshots in multi-room building environments remains a challenging problem in acoustic forensics and public safety applications. Existing approaches model sound propagation within a single room, neglecting the transmission of acoustic energy through walls and other building materials. This thesis presents a study on modeling multi-room gunshot acoustic transmission, combining geometric ray tracing with structural acoustic transmission-loss modeling to generate impulse responses for two horizontally adjacent rooms separated by a shared wall, providing a foundation for future inter-room gunshot localization work. The proposed system uses GSound-SIR, a geometric acoustics engine, to simulate sound propagation in both of the …

A Data-Driven Koopman Framework For Station-Keeping On Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit, Anusha Sharma Malladi

Theses and Dissertations

Cislunar missions have gained significant attention in recent decades, motivating the need for efficient modeling and reliable control. In this work a Koopman operator based framework is developed for approximating the error dynamics around a reference Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) in the Earth-Moon Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP). A decoder free neural network is used to learn a lifted linear representation of the nonlinear CR3BP dynamics and a residual based approach is used to identify the corresponding control input matrix. The model is then implemented in a receding-horizon target point controller and compared with uncontrolled propagation and a State …

Comparative Performance Of Physiological Vital-Sign Forecasting Under Random And Patient-Wise Splitting Using Deep Learning, Lavanya Vasavi Chittem Reddy

Theses and Dissertations

Physiological vital-sign forecasting estimates future measurements based on recent temporal patterns and can support analysis of continuously recorded monitoring data. This study comparatively evaluated deep feedforward, recurrent, bidirectional recurrent, long short-term memory, and bidirectional long short-term memory architectures for one-step-ahead forecasting of peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate, and pulse rate. Each model received consecutive observations of peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and age, while separate single-output models predicted the next value of the selected target.

Random and patient-wise data splitting were compared using identical input definitions, preprocessing procedures, model architectures, and training hyperparameters. The strongest architecture …

Developing Imitation Learning Policies By Exploring Diffusion Framework For Quadcopters, Likith Swamireddy

Theses and Dissertations

Imitation learning offers a promising approach in developing near-optimal onboard policies for nonlinear systems, by learning from computationally expensive trajectory planners during offline training. Existing State-of-the-art methods commonly learn deterministic mappings from observations to actions by training fast neural networks to mimic the expert demonstrations, which can limit their ability to capture the action distribution, when the policy is trained on multiple possible expert commands to reach the same target, and this may lead to unsafe scenarios in the obstacle environments. To address these challenges, this study explores Diffusion Models (DMs) as a feedback controller for quadcopters that learns the …

Switching Configurations For Reconfigurable Battery Packs: A Review, Kenneth Tetteh Akiti, Quoc Viet Phung, Iftekhar Ahmad, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Conventional Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are designed with fixed cell topologies, where the electrical connection between cells remains unchanged throughout their life. Although Battery Management Systems (BMS) and conventional cell-balancing techniques are employed to monitor and maintain performance, they often fail to address key challenges such as uneven cell aging, capacity mismatch, and fault isolation that arise especially during the second life of a battery pack. These limitations can result in reduced efficiency, reduced reliability, and shortened battery life. As large-scale battery packs become increasingly common in Electric Vehicles (EVs), smart grids, robotics, and renewable energy systems, the limitations …

Ncf Sensor Coated With Cofe1.96la0.04o4/Lafeo3 Heterostructures For Room-Temperature Detection Of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Concentration, Ziqiang Liu, Fujian Tang, Yufang He, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a highly flammable fuel widely used for cooking, heating and transportation, making real-time leak detection essential for preventing fire, explosion, and suffocation hazards. In this study, a room-temperature no-core fiber (NCF) sensor coated with CoFe_1.96La_0.04O₄/LaFeO₃ heterostructures was developed for LPG detection. The heterostructures were characterized using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, XPS, PL spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. Experimental results showed that La incorporation and heterostructure formation refined the particles size, improved surface accessibility, and modulated the electronic structure and band gap, thereby enhancing LPG adsorption, carrier redistribution, and …

Lithium Titanate-Functionalized Mixed Matrix Polymer Membrane For High-Performance Osmotic Energy Conversion, Rockson Kwesi Tonnah, Yasaman Boroumand, Milad Razbin, Mostafa Vahdani, Amir Razmjou, Mohsen Asadnia

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) offers a promising route to harvest osmotic energy from salinity gradients, yet practical implementation is hindered by the lack of scalable, high-performance ion-selective membranes that combine efficient ion transport with mechanical robustness and environmental sustainability. Here, we report a mixed matrix membrane composed of polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and lithium titanium oxide (Li₂TiO₃, LTO) that addresses these challenges through biomimetic ion transport channels. The strategic integration of LTO nanoparticles introduces ion-exchange sites and oxygen-rich PES ether linkages to create preferential cation transport pathways that mimic biological ion channels. This mixed matrix design delivers over three-fold cation conduction, …

Prototyping Pinhole Collimators For Imaging Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Narrie Loftus, Ashish Avachat, Joseph T. Graham, Ryan Fronk, Jordan Fox, Rachel Shaffer, Seth Kilby

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Collimator design and fabrication is a costly and time-consuming process that does not lend itself to simplified testing. This manuscript presents an approach for the rapid prototyping of sub-millimeter pinhole collimators for nuclear fuel applications using low-melting-point, high-mass-density materials. Multiple collimators were fabricated to test collimator parameters and properties, including acceptance angle, aperture diameter, and magnification. The fabricated collimators were paired with a position-sensitive CdZnTe detector to determine the detector response convolved with the collimator. Preliminary analysis using these collimators showed that they were effective in collimating multi-energy gamma laboratory sources. Radiography was performed to confirm magnification and determine coarse …

A Review Of Gallium And Germanium Recovery From Industrial Solid Residues, Ernest V. Oteng, Marthias Silwamba, Lana Alagha, Alex Luyima

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The global demand for critical elements such as gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge), and the shift toward circular mining has accelerated the development of new extraction and recovery processing these metals from industrial solid residues. This transition is driven by a substantial surge in demand for advanced technologies and the depletion of primary ore. Consequently, industrial solid residues, particularly zinc processing residues, smelter slags, flue dusts, and coal fly ash, are emerging as viable alternative sources. These residues incorporate Ga and Ge through isomorphic substitution in phases such as ferrites, silicates, and glassy aluminosilicates, and are enriched by industrial processes, …

Electrochemical Behavior Of Passive Film On Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion Fabricated Ti-6al-4v Alloy Under Uniaxial Tensile Stress, Hongyu Zheng, Mengdi Yan, Yun Bai, Qian Wang, Lai-Chang Zhang, Jin Xu, Hao Wang, Yingjie Ma, Shujun Li, Rui Yang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As medical titanium alloys inevitably undergo synergistic actions of stress and corrosion in human body, a comprehensive investigation of their relevant properties is deemed essential for ensuring their safe application. This work investigates the uniaxial tensile stress electrochemical behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V alloy fabricated by electron beam powder bed fusion under simulated implantation conditions. The results indicate that tensile stress facilitates rapid formation of a dense passive film, which contains a high proportion of high-valent oxides. As the passivation process proceeds, applied stress promotes more defects accumulation in the passive film, compromising its barrier function and reducing corrosion resistance. Under sustained …

Lrq-Solver: A Transformer-Based Neural Operator For Fast And Accurate Solving Of Large-Scale 3d Pdes, Peijian Zeng, Guan Wang, Haohao Gu, Xiaoguang Hu, Tiezhu Gao, Zhuowei Wang, Aimin Yang, Xiaoyu Song

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Solving large-scale PDEs on complex three-dimensional geometries remains a central challenge in scientific and engineering computing, often due to expensive pre-processing stages and high computational overhead. We present Low-Rank Query-based PDE Solver (LRQ-Solver), a physics-integrated deep learning framework for efficient CAE simulations of complex three-dimensional geometries in CAD-driven design analysis. Built upon the Parameter-Conditioned Lagrangian Modeling (PCLM) that embeds physical consistency into the learning process and the Low-Rank Query Attention (LR-QA) module that reduces attention complexity from O(N2) to O(NC2+C3) via covariance decomposition, LRQ-Solver supports multi-configuration analysis within iterative design workflows. On two benchmark datasets, it achieves a 28.6% error …

Mind The Hazard: Modeling And Interpreting Comfort With Personalized Sensing, Yufei Zhang, Matteo Favero, Patrick Chwalek, Sailin Zhong, Denis Lalanne, A. Joseph Paradiso, Clayton Miller, Andrew Sonta

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Recent advances in personalized sensing and comfort feedback have spurred the development of data-driven comfort models tailored to individual needs. However, because current models treat sequential comfort feedback independently, they are subject to unstable predictions and limited interpretability, hindering their deployment in building management. This study introduces a dynamic modeling framework that utilizes a Neural Ordinary Differential Equations-based Continuous-time Markov Chain to model the transitions in comfort states over time. Our modeling approach, developed through a field study utilizing smart glasses and mobile app feedback, tracks occupants' comfort transitions across daily activities and contexts. The results demonstrate that this model …

Crushing Behavior Of Crash Boxes With Hybrid Honeycomb–Auxetic Fillers: Effects Of Architecture, Geometry, And Material Behaviors, A. Yudhanto, A. Jusuf, L. D. Lumanauw, M. Falyanzhuri, A. Afdhal

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Additively manufactured (AM) fillers provide new opportunities to tailor the crushing response and energy absorption of thin-walled metallic crash boxes. This study presents a combined experimental–numerical investigation of hexagonal AA6063-T4 crash boxes filled with architected structures, i.e., honeycomb, auxetic-reentrant, and hybrid honeycomb–auxetic topology. The hybrid configuration, which integrates cells with positive and negative Poisson's ratios, triggers coordinated mechanisms (that enhance folding behavior and collapse control) unattainable via single topology. Quasi-static axial compression tests were conducted to characterize force–displacement curves, deformation mechanisms, energy absorption (EA), and specific energy absorption (SEA). Finite element models developed in the explicit solver LS-DYNA were employed …

Adaptive Improved Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Maximum Power Point Tracking And Energy Smoothing For Photovoltaic Hybrid Battery–Supercapacitor Storage Systems, Mohammad Aminul Islam, Guo Shaokai, Jakaria Mahdi Imam, Mohammad Khairul Basher, Nowshad Amin, Tarek Abedin, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The rapid development of photovoltaic (PV) systems has made them an important component of the global clean energy strategy. However, the intermittency and non-linear characteristics of photovoltaic (PV) output remain major challenges for stable renewable energy utilization. This study proposes an adaptive improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO)-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) strategy integrated with hybrid energy storage coordination for photovoltaic systems. The IPSO introduces adaptive inertia adjustment, velocity clamping, and stagnation reinitialization, which improve the convergence robustness under dynamic irradiance and temperature conditions. The algorithm was benchmarked against Perturb & Observe (P&O), Incremental Conductance (INC), and standard PSO using …

50 Years Of Irrigation District Modernization In The Usa -- Then And Now, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Irrigation district modernization in the USA has seen changes in management attitudes, hardware, software, and the shouldering of responsibilities for environmental issues that were never envisioned fifty years ago. The pace of modernization is quite variable depending upon the state and location within the state. This paper provides some insights into the evolution of several aspects of modernization over that fifty year time span.

Green Lithium Extraction From Alkaline Brines Using A Dibenzoylmethane Octanol System, Maryam Gonbadi, Shayan Abrishami, Ozra Gholipour, Ana Vafadar, Amir Razmjou

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The escalating global demand for lithium necessitates the development of efficient, selective, and environmentally sustainable extraction technologies from brine resources. This study presents a novel solvent extraction system employing dibenzoylmethane (DBM) as a lithium-selective β-diketone chelating extractant and 1-octanol as a biodegradable diluent for lithium recovery from alkaline salt lake brines. The effects of critical process parameters, including aqueous phase pH, extractant concentration, and total dissolved solids (TDS), on lithium extraction efficiency and selectivity were systematically investigated. Under optimized conditions (pH 12, 0.3 M DBM in 1-octanol), the system achieved a single-stage lithium extraction efficiency of 80.8% with exceptional separation …

Towards A Mechanism For Artificial Intelligence Into University Education For Environmental Architecture A Comparative Analytical Study To Evaluate The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Self- Learning In Environmental Design., Heba Mahrous Ali Abd El-Aal

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Architectural education is a field that uniquely targets the creativity and continuous development of architecture students. This is especially true within environmental architecture, which relies on diverse spatial and temporal variables that create unique interactions for students, based on the specific concept of environmental design.

Building Services Engineering September/October 2026

Building Services Engineering

This issue of Building Services Engineering explores Ireland's net-zero transition, highlighting AI data centre liquid-cooling innovations, critical energy infrastructure updates, ASHRAE and CIBSE safety insights, commercial heat pump selections, decarbonising elevators, and examples of engineering innovation and leadership across the building services sector.

Integrated Multigeneration System Utilizing Industrial Gas Engine Waste Heat For Power, Oxygen, Hydrogen Generation, And Process Heat Supply: A Thermodynamic, Exergo-Economic, And Environmental Analysis, Md Musfiqur Rahman, Md Shahriar Mohtasim, Barun K. Das

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Integrating waste heat recovery units into industrial energy infrastructure provides a sustainable solution by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and improving substantial plant efficiency. Recent studies have addressed this issue using Brayton, Rankine, organic Rankine, thermoelectric, and electrolysis-assisted waste heat recovery systems for power, heat, hydrogen, or other useful outputs. However, many configurations recover exhaust gas and jacket water heat separately, focus mainly on electricity, and provide limited source-to-sink matching for industrial steam, process heat, oxygen demand, cost, and environmental performance. This study proposes a source-to-sink matched multigeneration system for a 10 MW Wärtsilä 20V34SG gas engine, where each waste …

The Army Spreads Its Wings: Army Aviation And Its Influence On War, Christopher J. Braund

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Today’s United States Army operates some of the world's most advanced helicopters, conducting some of the most dangerous aerial insertions and close air support missions. Every Army infantry division has a helicopter brigade, with capabilities ranging from command-and-control to attack, scout, and lift assets. Yet, that is a relatively new concept. Developed in the 1960s, the air mobility doctrine emerged from the Eisenhower Administration’s New Look defense policy, giving the Army direction on how to use helicopters within its overall land warfare capability. This dissertation looks at how that occurred. It fills a major gap in the historiography of Army …

An Integrated Review Of Maritime Emission Reduction Through Regulatory Operational Fuel And Technological Approaches, Ehab S. Elabd, Ahmed M. Shama

Blue Economy

The research endeavor at hand is basically meant to trace the most prominent regulatory, operational, fuel-related, and technological approaches employed for maritime emission reduction. From a quantitative perspective, the conducted review comprises four major categories and 80 research contributions. Operational optimization and efficiency strategies and alternative-fuel solutions take the largest shares of the investigations reviewed. Operational optimization and efficiency strategies comprise 29 studies (36.3%), while alternative-fuel solutions comprise 28 studies (35.0%). Comparably, port-related emissions and mitigation strategies include 15 studies (18.8%), whereas design optimization and technological innovations incorporate 8 studies (10.0%). Considering the fact that maritime transport is responsible for …

Glutaraldehyde-Crosslinked Chitosan And Zinc Oxide Coating Reinforced With Polysulfone On Copper As A Platform For Electrochemical Formaldehyde Sensing, Anceu Murniati Anm, Rahmat Saputra Rs, Arie Hardian Ah, Manty Aldilani Ikaningsih Mai, Moh Haifan Haifan

Chimica et Natura Acta

Formaldehyde monitoring requires electrochemical platforms with stable structures and reliable interfacial responses. This study aimed to prepare and characterize a Cu|CS–GLA/ZnO–PSf composite film on a copper substrate as a platform for further formaldehyde-sensing development. The film was characterized using FTIR, SEM–EDX, XRD, and cyclic voltammetry. FTIR supported the presence of features associated with chitosan, imine, polysulfone, and Zn–O, while SEM–EDX revealed a heterogeneous polymer-rich coating with Zn- and O-containing domains distributed non-uniformly. XRD indicated a predominantly amorphous or poorly crystalline structure. Cyclic voltammetry showed scan-rate-dependent peak separations, with ΔEp increasing from 0.632 to 0.777 V in citrate buffer and from …

Securing The Frontier: Environmental Adaptation Versus Urban Fortification In Strategic Border Gateways: The Case Of East Qantara, Ahmed M. Selim, Mohamed A. Shebl, Doha M. Saeed, Heba M. Gaber

HBRC Journal

Security-oriented urban design at strategic national gateways often restricts spatial openness, cultural identity, and social inclusion, all essential to functional public spaces. This study develops a multi-criteria framework for security-inclusive urban design at East Qantara, the primary vehicular gateway between continental Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. This study employed a sequential quantitative–interpretive design approach. In the quantitative phase, 51 criteria were identified from Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) guidance, publicness theory, and context-specific desert and socio-cultural literature, and subsequently revised to 37 criteria through expert panel validation. A structured expert questionnaire with a five-point …

Estimation Of Unmeasurable External Disturbances Of A Dynamic Object Based On A Robust Adaptive Kalman Filter, Bunyod Mamurjon Ugli Buronov

Technical science and innovation

This article considers the problem of directly estimating unmeasurable external disturbances acting on a dynamic object under the condition that the state vector of the object is available for measurement. In the considered case, the problem is reduced to the estimation of an unknown input of a dynamic system. It is shown that when the system state is measurable, both a direct inversion scheme based on the object’s dynamic equation and filtering methods that eliminate the need for coarse numerical differentiation can be applied. For slowly varying disturbances, a random walk model with a small process noise covariance is proposed, …