Digital Commons Network^™

Missile Modeling And Simulation Of Nominal And Abnormal Scenarios Resulting From External Damage, James Manuel Floyd Iii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis presents the development of a six-degree-of-freedom flight simulation environment for missiles and the application thereof to investigate the flight performance of missiles when exposed to external damage. The simulation environment was designed to provide a realistic representation of missile flight dynamics including aerodynamic effects, flight control systems, and self-guidance. The simulation environment was designed to be modular, expandable, and include realistic models of external damage to the missile body obtained by adversarial counteraction.

The primary objective of this research was to examine missile flight performance when subjected to unspecified external damage, including changes in trajectory, stability, and controllability, …

Evaluation Of Low-Grade Red Oak (Quercus Rubra) And Red Maple (Acer Rubrum) As A Raw-Material For Cross-Laminated Timber Panel Production, Matthew Allen Young

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hardwoods in the Appalachian region are traditionally destined for use in furniture, cabinetry, pallets, and railroad ties. The expanding market for Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is an opportunity for increased utilization of low-quality hardwoods typically used in pallets or equipment mats. Large quantities of low-grade red oak (Quercus rubra) and red maple (Acer rubrum) to be used in CLTs would provide sufficient lumber sources that could foster the growth of CLT manufacturing facilities in the state of West Virginia or Appalachia all together. The objective of this study was to determine the yield distribution of visual structural grade quality lumber …

Finite Matroidal Spaces And Matrological Spaces, Ziyad M. Hamad

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this thesis is to present new different spaces as attempts to generalize the concept of topological vector spaces. A topological vector space, a well-known concept in mathematics, is a vector space over a field \mathbb{F} with a topology that makes the addition and scalar multiplication operations of the vector space continuous functions. The field \mathbb{F} is usually \mathbb{R} or \mathbb{C} with their standard topologies. Since every vector space is a finitary matroid, we define two spaces called finite matroidal spaces and matrological spaces by replacing the linear structure of the topological vector space with a finitary matroidal …

Discovering And Understanding High Performance Materials Using Density Functional Theory: Quantum Mechanical Simulations And The Consequences Of Symmetry, Olivia M. Pavlic

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There are two primary ways that atomic level modeling data is used: materials prediction and understanding materials properties. This dissertation work encom- passes two studies, each of which explore one application. Both studies rely on the highly successful density functional theory (DFT) formalism but differ in that two different implementations of DFT are used on two different high performance materials. The first study on bulk magnesium (Mg) metal alloys explores materials prediction and relies on VASP, a commercially maintained plane-wave DFT code which has been used extensively to successfully study a wide range of materials. [1] The approach used in …

Morphological, Physiological, And Transcriptional Responses Of Populus Trichocarpa To Water Deficit Stress, Kristin Justine Ratliff

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Under the threat of climate change with continued fossil fuel use, investment in developing renewable energies is increasingly important. One category of renewable energy sources, biofuels, is well suited to industries that require a liquid fuel source. However, producing biofuel feedstocks is challenging from a sustainability perspective, as they require extensive land area and resource input to grow on marginal lands. The identification of strategies that feedstock species use to maintain productivity with limited to no resource inputs could aid in the selection of optimal genotypes or targets of breeding or engineering efforts to maximize productivity in feedstock plantations. Some …

Deep Face Morph Detection Based On Wavelet Decomposition, Poorya Aghdaie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Morphed face images are maliciously used by criminals to circumvent the official process for receiving a passport where a look-alike accomplice embarks on requesting a passport. Morphed images are either synthesized by alpha-blending or generative networks such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN). Detecting morphed images is one of the fundamental problems associated with border control scenarios. Deep Neural Networks (DNN) have emerged as a promising solution for a myriad of applications such as face recognition, face verification, fake image detection, and so forth. The Biometrics communities have leveraged DNN to tackle fundamental problems such as morphed face detection. In this …

Multimaterial, Core-Shell Direct Ink Writing Of Flexible Strain Sensors For Pneumatically-Actuated Soft Robotic Hinge Joints, John Michael Burke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Direct ink writing (DIW) provides for an expansive material library and the ability to print multiple materials with tailored functionalities in a controllable and single-step process. Particularly beneficial is the net shape printing under ambient conditions of a wide range of materials normally incompatible with one another. Coaxial DIW is a 3D printing technique that allows for two dissimilar inks to be extruded simultaneously in a co-flow manner. In this work, custom-designed coaxial nozzles were 3D-printed using a stereolithography printer. Composite inks comprised of thermoplastic polyurethane and silver were developed and studied. The coaxial nozzles were then used to co-extrude …

Levantine Immigration And Community Building In Charleston, West Virginia, 1900-1930, George P. Jacobs Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Immigrants from the Levant, a region of the middle east made up of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, settled in the United States in large numbers between 1890 and 1920. Many eventually decided to make Charleston, West Virginia their permanent home. When they arrived in Charleston, most Levantine immigrants worked as peddlers, selling modern wares and household goods to families that needed them. This research explains the context for this immigration wave, the important economic niche Levantine immigrants satisfied in the developing economy of southern West Virginia, and how over time Charleston’s Levantine community contributed significantly to the city’s culture.

Mitigation And Preparedness In Disaster Communication: Examining The Need For Closing The Loop In The Discourse Of Renewal Theory, Abigail Renee Riggs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Flooding across rural Appalachia has historically negatively impacted communities, and flood frequency is only expected to increase in the region as global temperatures rise. This indicates a need for effective disaster and crisis communication in flood-prone communities within the region. The discourse of renewal and readiness for renewal theories provide potential avenues for improving crisis and disaster communication. Readiness for renewal in particular focuses on closing the gap between the pre and post-crisis phases. However, readiness for renewal has yet to be applied to disaster communication and has not been studied qualitatively. Additionally, ethical guidelines for communication within renewal have …

Reservoir Simulation Of The Volve Oil Field Using Ai-Based Top-Down Modeling Approach, Amir Ansari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With the rise of high-performance computers, numerical reservoir simulators became popular among engineers to evaluate reservoirs and develop the fields. However, this technology is still unable to fully model the reservoirs with commingled production and highly complex geology, especially when it comes to uncertainty qualification and sensitivity analysis where hundreds of runs are required. This dissertation aims to provide a successful case study of the history matching of a complex reservoir in the North Sea (Volve field).

The proposed model relies only on the measured field variables such as well, formation, completion characteristics, production rates, and operational conditions while it …

Advancing Carbon Sequestration Through Smart Proxy Modeling: Leveraging Domain Expertise And Machine Learning For Efficient Reservoir Simulation, Iman Oraki Kohshour

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Geological carbon sequestration (GCS) offers a promising solution to effectively manage extra carbon, mitigating the impact of climate change. This doctoral research introduces a cutting-edge Smart Proxy Modeling-based framework, integrating artificial neural networks (ANNs) and domain expertise, to re-engineer and empower numerical reservoir simulation for efficient modeling of CO₂ sequestration and demonstrate predictive conformance and replicative capabilities of smart proxy modeling.

Creating well-performing proxy models requires extensive human intervention and trial-and-error processes. Additionally, a large training database is essential to ANN model for complex tasks such as deep saline aquifer CO₂ sequestration since it is used as the …

Love, Life, And Controversial Topics: A Content Analysis Of The Top Liked Abortion Tiktok Videos Before And After The Overturning Of Roe V. Wade, Jill E. Sturges

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

TikTok is a trendy social media platform that has attracted billions of monthly users. Anyone can post a short video about their interests, beauty, relationships, travel, and controversial topics if they are 13 or older. Many young adults turn to social media platforms, such as TikTok, to help them make decisions regarding their everyday lives and to discuss controversial topics, such as abortion. The concern with social media content is the misinformation and disinformation that can spread rapidly across the globe with a click of a button. Numerous studies have begun to examine social media platforms for the accuracy of …

Augmented Reality And Mobile Systems For Heavy Equipment Operators In Surface Mining, Juan David Valencia Quiceno

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

U.S. federal laws mandate that mining companies ensure a safe workplace, implement approved training programs, and promptly report work-related injuries. The mining industry's commitment to innovation reflects a history of adopting advancements to enhance environmental sustainability, workplace safety, and overall productivity, while simultaneously reducing operational costs. This thesis proposes the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) technology and digital applications to enhance the surface mining industry, presenting two innovative solutions: an AR Training System and an Operational Digital System. These business solutions have been developed and applied at a surface mine in the southwest of the US, having the potential to …

The Effect Of Silver Carp On Large River Community Size Spectra, Bradley R. Novak

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The introduction of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) has had dramatic effects on native fish communities. Silver carp are large bodied planktivores and compete with native planktivores which can cause cascading effects throughout the food web. Our study strives to determine the threshold of abundance beyond which silver carp alter fish community structure. We used a community size spectra approach to evaluate fish community structure and compare size spectra across spatial and temporal gradients of silver carp abundances. Community size spectra (CSS) is an ataxic approach quantifying the predictable decrease in fish abundance with increasing body size that reacts …

Longitudinal Oxygen Imaging In 3d (Bio)Printed Models, Ryan Curtis O'Connell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and its molecular imaging modality, is a powerful tool to noninvasively map various biological and chemical markers within objects of interest. Reliable data acquisition is a major impeding factor for longitudinal hands-off measurements. Measurements are especially challenging in biomedical applications, as live objects are not static. Frequent changes occur that require constant fine recalibration of the EPR detection system, called the resonator. To enable longitudinal imaging, a technology permitting automatic digital control of resonator coupling, tuning, and EPR data acquisition was developed. Automation was achieved through the utilization of a microcontroller and digital peripheral components such …

Advancing Prosthetic Design Using Neural And Mechanical Dynamics, Kacie E. Hanna

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Limb loss poses a significant challenge to mobility and the performance of daily activities. Currently, nearly half of the amputees using powered prosthetics abandon their device due to inadequate limb coordination and movement control abilities. In the healthy system, passive and neural dynamics facilitate the synchronized activation of muscles necessary for coordinated movement. However, in the amputee, the system is disrupted. The goal of this research is to use neural and mechanical dynamics to inform the design of prosthetic devices in order to restore intuitive control and coordinated limb movement.

The first aim of this research is to investigate neural …

Attachment Issues: Microbes, Minerals, And The Persistence Of Soil Organic Matter, Md Shafiul Islam Rion

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The remnants of microorganisms are now understood to account for the majority of organic matter in many mineral soils. Despite the significance of this microbial necromass for soil carbon storage, we know relatively little about how the traits of microorganisms interact with soil minerals to determine the stability of microbe derived carbon in soil. Soil minerals differ in their surface area and chemistry potentially influencing microbial attachment, biofilm formation, and the persistence of microbial necromass. To address this knowledge gap, we grew twelve bacterial species from four broad groups of varying cell wall morphology (Gram positive, Gram negative, filamentous actinobacteria, …

Ai-Based Smart Proxy Modelling Of Ibdp Field Reservoir Pressure Of Carbon Sequestration, Idongesit Bassey Ansa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in engineering holds great promise for addressing the challenge of climate change. One key focus in the fight against climate change is the geological storage of CO2, which has gained significant attention as a crucial strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The primary objective is to ensure the safe and controlled containment of injected CO2 over an extended period, which has proven to be a major challenge in the journey toward carbon capture, and geologic storage (CCS). To achieve this goal, several critical tasks must be accomplished. These include ensuring …

Object Detection And Classification In The Visible And Infrared Spectrums, Domenick D. Poster

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The over-arching theme of this dissertation is the development of automated detection and/or classification systems for challenging infrared scenarios. The six works presented herein can be categorized into four problem scenarios. In the first scenario, long-distance detection and classification of vehicles in thermal imagery, a custom convolutional network architecture is proposed for small thermal target detection. For the second scenario, thermal face landmark detection and thermal cross-spectral face verification, a publicly-available visible and thermal face dataset is introduced, along with benchmark results for several landmark detection and face verification algorithms. Furthermore, a novel visible-to-thermal transfer learning algorithm for face landmark …

Development Of A Hydrometallurgical Process For The Extraction Of Cobalt, Manganese, And Nickel From Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Byproduct, Alejandro Agudelo Mira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Critical minerals (CMs) are defined as crucial elements for the country's economy due to the development of new cutting-edge applications and the risk of an eventual disruption in their supply chain. The unique chemical and physical properties of the CMs have made these elements decisive in the growth of industries such as telecommunications, army, medicine, Aerospace, etc. In 2022, the US Geological Survey established a list of 50 CMs, including manganese, cobalt, nickel, aluminum, magnesium, and others. Of the total of CMs, 26 are 100% imported from outside the United States (Venditti, 2022).

Driven by the ever-increasing demand for critical …

Analysis Of The Brittle Failure Mechanism Of Underground Stone Mine Pillars By Implementing Numerical Modeling In Flac3d, Rosbel Jimenez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The room and pillar mining method is the most commonly utilized method for extracting minerals found in flat-lying stratiform, and it has been used in the majority of underground stone mines in the United States (Esterhuizen et al., 2011), as a consequence, it is a primary topic of study in the mining field. If a set or layout of pillars is unstable, it can cause a major collapse, resulting in not only the destruction of the underground mine, but also air blast, subsidence, and convergence of the mine opening, especially if they occur in a short period of time (Esterhuizen …

Spatial Analysis Of Bike-Sharing Station Usage And Placement: Redefining Bike-Share Planning For Equity, Sydney E. French

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Historically, bike share system (BSS) station locations have been guided by potential economic and environmental benefits associated with increased bike share usage per station. For example, a typical location identification approach may attempt to maximize demand per station based on population size or activity and area characteristics. Such identification methods often result in an unequal representation of specific population groups among the systems’ users, thus hindering the potential sustainability-related benefits. To address these disparities, some bike share organizations have started developing and implementing equity-oriented programs focusing on expanding their reach to underserved communities. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of such programs has …

Synthetic Well Log Generation Software, Daniel E. Keller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study, we developed a novel approach to generate synthetic well logs using backpropagation neural networks through the use of an open source software development tool. Our method predicts essential well logs such as neutron porosity, sonic, photoelectric, and resistivity, which are crucial in various stages of oil and gas exploration and development, as they help determine reservoir characteristics. Our approach involves sequentially predicting well logs, using the outputs of one prediction model as inputs for subsequent models to generate comprehensive and coherent sets of well logs. We trained and tested our models using 16 wells from a single …

Detection And Observed Correlations Of Statin And Beta-Blocking Pharmaceuticals In West Virginia Surface Waters And Ichthyofauna, Joseph W. Kingsbury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Within this thesis the source, presence, and the estimated ecotoxicological effects of cardiovascular medicines, specifically statins and beta-blockers are described within the Buckhannon, Tygart Valley, and West Fork Rivers of West Virginia. Included within this thesis is a general introduction providing key background information and relevant research related to the source, presence, and known toxicity of statins and beta-blockers. Following the general introduction there are 3 distinct chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on the estimated demographic based source loadings and the surface water concentration characteristics of statins and beta-blockers within the three rivers. Chapter 2 investigates the effects of statins and …

Evaluating Innovative Methods Of Quantitatively Linking Microbial Community Structure To Ecosystem Function, Jeth Gv Walkup

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microbial functional diversity is the product of community structure and intraspecific trait variation. Due to microbial diversity and limited availability of microbial trait measurements, it has been challenging to quantitatively link community structure to microbial function. Although community-level activity rates vary with community composition, issues in the scale of their measurement inhibit our understanding of their relationship. Quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP) is a method for quantitatively measuring taxon-specific microbial traits, providing new opportunities to apply trait-based approaches for studying microbial ecology. Quantitative microbial trait data from these experiments enables the functional characterization of microbial communities, potentially enabling the extrapolation …

Integrated Immunity-Based Methodology For Uav Monitoring And Control, Ryan G. Mclaughlin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A general integrated and comprehensive health management framework based on the artificial immune system (AIS) paradigm is formulated and an automated system is developed and tested through simulation for the detection, identification, evaluation, and accommodation (DIEA) of abnormal conditions (ACs) on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The proposed methodology involves the establishment of a body of data to represent the function of the vehicle under nominal conditions, called the self, and differentiating this operation from that of the vehicle under an abnormal condition, referred to as the non-self. Data collected from simulations of the selected UAV autonomously flying a set …

Design And Manufacture Of An Aerodynamic Body That Meets Scaling Law Requirements And Survives Severe G-Load Environment For Free-Flight Testing, Anthony R. Gonzalez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Design and Manufacture of an Aerodynamic Body that Meets Scaling Law Requirements and Survives Severe G-load Environment for Free-Flight Testing

Anthony Gonzalez

Developing scale models to test functionality and ascertain aerodynamic properties is critical before manufacturing full-size products. Through dimensional analysis and similitude, engineers create scale models to test any parameter of interest. This research aims to design a scale model of an aerodynamic body for repeated free-flight testing. The Froude number is the dominant scale model law used to determine the geometric, mass, and inertia scaling laws. A critical requirement for this research is that the model should be …

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence And Geomechanical Data For Accurate Shear Stress Prediction In Co2 Sequestration Within Saline Aquifers (Smart Proxy Modeling), Munirah Alawadh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research builds upon the success of a previous project that used a Smart Proxy Model (SPM) to predict pressure and saturation in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) operations into saline aquifers. The Smart Proxy Model is a data-driven machine learning model that can replicate the output of a sophisticated numerical simulation model for each time step in a short amount of time, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large volumes of subsurface data. This study aims to develop the Smart Proxy Model further by incorporating geomechanical datadriven techniques to predict shear stress by using a neural network, specifically through supervised …

A Numerical Investigation Of A Spark Ignition Opposed Piston Linear Engine Fueled By Hydrogen, Mustapha Alao Animashaun

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The traditional Slider-Crank Engine, also known as the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), has been criticized for its complex structure, friction loss, low efficiency and high maintenance cost. In contrast, the Free-Piston Linear Engine (FPLE) reduces this friction due to its simpler design. With rising concerns about air quality and stricter regulations, there's a renewed interest in hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel for ICEs.

The Opposed Piston Linear Generator (OPLG) system is an integrated arrangement of parts operating harmoniously to generate power efficiently. By leveraging synchronized pistons, accurate fuel distribution, and seamless thermodynamic cycles, it transforms kinetic energy into electrical energy. …

Enhancing Vehicular Perception: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Sensor Fusion Performance Through Weighted Averages And Fuzzy C-Means For Optimal Data Association, Zachary Brian Flanigan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This work explores the implementation of sensor fusion and data association for autonomous vehicle design. Advancements in Adaptive Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology have driven the development of perception algorithms required for higher levels of autonomy in vehicles. Perception algorithms process data collected from radar, camera, and LiDAR sensors to generate a complete model of the ego vehicle’s surrounding environment. Fusion of data from these sensors is important for accurate measurement of longitudinal and lateral distances to surrounding objects. Sensor fusion associates sensor detections to each other through different data association techniques. Data association techniques can consist of independent assignment …