Engineering Commons^™

Long-Term Aircraft Structural Integrity Prediction Under The Influence Of Feedback Control, Si-Bok Yu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates the influence of feedback control, and other factors associated with loading characteristics, on fatigue damage reduction and long-term integrity of aircraft structural components. An actively controlled flexible aircraft model and a new state space modeling procedure for crack growth are utilized to uncover important factors which influence airframe crack growth. A matrix of simulation test cases is constructed to cover such variables as open-loop operation, nominal closed-loop operation, perturbed closed-loop operation (i.e., feedback gain variation), nominal maneuver profile, perturbed maneuver profile (including overload strength and frequency), atmospheric gust, and mean stress level. Simulation output data including crack …

Microsatellite And Formation Flying Technologies On University Nanosatellites, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A published article that included Professor Bob Twiggs as an author titled "Microsatellite and Formation Flying Technologies on University Nanosatellites" from September 28, 1999.

Arliss: Student Payload Rocket Launch, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A report believed to have been written by Professor Bob Twiggs on the "Student Payload Rocket Launch" from September 10-11, 1999.

The Conference Proceedings Of The 1999 Air Transport Research Group (Atrg) Of The Wctr Society, Volume 3, Anming Zhang, Brent D. Bowen, Uno Aviation Institute

Faculty Books and Monographs

UNOAI Report 99-7

The Conference Proceedings Of The 1999 Air Transport Research Group (Atrg) Of The Wctr Society, Volume 4 , Anming Zhang, Brent D. Bowen, Uno Aviation Institute

Faculty Books and Monographs

UNOAI Report 99-8

Space-Available Transportation: An Analysis Of The Cost Of Providing 'Free' Travel, Frank J. Long

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to estimate the costs borne by the government for providing space-available travel to eligible uniformed services personnel and their dependents. As the primary provider of the space-available privilege, it is important that the Air Force have an estimate of the burden that the administration of that privilege places on the budget. In January 1993, the Air Force discontinued its 15-year-old practice of charging a fee for space-available travel aboard AMC-owned or controlled aircraft. The fee had been set at $10 in 1978 and was collected to recover a portion of the costs associated with …

The Conference Proceedings Of The 1999 Air Transport Research Group (Atrg) Of The Wctr Society, Volume 2 , Anming Zhang, Brent D. Bowen, Uno Aviation Institute

Faculty Books and Monographs

UNOAI Report 99-6

University Nanosatellite Distributed Satellite Capabilities To Support Techsat 21, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A published article that included Professor Bob Twiggs titled "University Nanosatellite Distributed Satellite Capabilities to Support TechSat 21" from August 23, 1999.

Active Local Volume Displacement Cancellation Of A Vibrating Baffled Beam, Marcellin Zahui

Dissertations

An active noise control apparatus is developed. The device reduces the sound radiated from a vibrating clamped beam. The attenuation of the sound field is obtained through minimization of local volume displacements of the vibrating beam. Two single-input/single-output cancellation devices are used. Each device employs a motion sensor and an acoustic actuator. The actuator is a loudspeaker equipped with a pressure sensor to detect its volume displacement. The motion sensor signal is related to the local volume displacement of the structure which is then reduced by a loudspeaker driven with an equal but opposing volume displacement. The volume displacement sensors …

The Emerald Nanosatellite Mission, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "The Emerald Nanosatellite Mission" from July 22, 1999.

Designed Reduction Of Radiated Noise Characteristics From Two-Bladed General Aviation Propellers, Chandra K. Stich

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

In recent years increased public awareness has made the reduction of environmental noise pollution a top priority for the aviation industry. Utilizing current technology, this study examines the reduction of noise generated by two bladed general aviation propellers, through design. The Aircraft Noise Prediction Program - Propeller Analysis System (ANOPP-PAS) is used to predict the noise and performance characteristics for an industry typical reference propeller as well as for the final quiet and efficient design.

This investigation is based on the use of a 200 hp engine rotating a 76 inch propeller. Typically, such a propeller would be rotated at …

Ls-Dyna3d Modeling And Simulation For Uncontained Engine Debris Impact On Fuselage Skins, Robin Eileen Lawson

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Impact and penetration events for uncontained engine debris on fuselage skins are simulated using the LS-DYNA3D finite element analysis code. The LS-DYNA3D code is a nonlinear transient dynamic simulation tool with contact algorithms for impact. A finite element analysis is used to simulate the penetration of aluminum plates impacted by titanium impactors on aircraft-like skin panels. By gaining a more comprehensive understanding of this dynamic impact event, this work is meant to contribute to improving designs for damage tolerance and residual strength by providing modeling and analysis guidelines for the analyst.

Parametric studies are performed to determine the influence of …

Jet Stability And Noise Computations Using Direct Numerical Simulation, Farouk Owis

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The computations of axisymmetric jet noise with symmetric disturbances are investigated using the direct numerical simulation of the unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes equations. High order accurate numerical schemes are employed for the solution of the governing equations. The investigation shows that MacCormack schemes with operator splitting and minimum dispersion error can be used to predict noise radiated from subsonic and supersonic jets with low and high Reynolds numbers. In addition, different kinds of nonreflecting boundary conditions are used at the inflow and outflow boundaries. These boundary conditions include characteristic boundary conditions, buffer domain technique and perfectly matching layer method. The results …

Development And Application Of Adaptive Dynamic Grids For Wake Vortex/Ground Interaction, Ilker Emin Türkgeldi

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An adaptive and dynamic grid approach is developed for the numerical computations of wake vortex flow problems with ground interaction. The unnecessary grid points at the far field of the original, large, single zone grid are removed for computational efficiency. Next, the grid is modified into an adaptive one, where the fine core region keeps track of the vortices and can be split into two regions when the vortex separation distance exceeds a specified limit length. In the final step a multi zonal feature is added to this grid by means of two embedded grids placed at the vortex centers …

Large Amplitude Pitching Of Supermaneuver Delta Wings Including Flow Control, Yahia A. Abdelhamid

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The unsteady, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are solved to simulate and study the aerodynamic response of a delta wing undergoing large amplitude pitching motion up to 90° angle of attack. The primary model under consideration consists of a 76° swept, sharp-edged delta wing of zero thickness, initially at zero angle of attack. The freestream Mach number and Reynolds number are 0.3 and 0.45 × 106, respectively. The governing equations are solved time-accurately using the implicit, upwind, Roe flux-difference splitting, finite-volume scheme. Both laminar and turbulent flow solutions are investigated. In the laminar flow solutions, validation of the computational results is carried …

A Five-Year Development Plan For The California Aviation Database, H.-S. Jacob Tsao

Faculty Publications

The California Aviation Database (CAvD) project was suggested by Caltrans Aeronautics Program to fulfill a need of the planners involved in aviation system planning and programming activities to locate and access aviation data and information in an efficient and comprehensive way. CAvD is being implemented in the form of an Internet website and is currently intended as a five-year project. However, the development can be accelerated, and the duration will depend on the available resources. CAvD is a joint project between the National Center of Excellence for Aviation Operations Research (NEXTOR) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Its primary …

Closely Supervised Reactive Control Of An Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle, Roy G. Glassco

Theses and Dissertations

Closely Supervised Reactive Control is an alternative control method for uninhabited aerial vehicles that incorporates some of the benefits of both manual and autonomous operations. Utilizing an onboard camera, an operator can control a UAV by manually choosing desired targets. The flight path of the uninhabited vehicle is determined autonomously from the camera gimbal angles. The operator of the payload (i.e. camera), has close supervision of the aircraft. The aircraft, using an onboard computer, is given autonomous control to alter flight path to fly towards a target and at a specified range, loiter over the target. In the basic mode …

Flow Separation Prevention On A Turbine Blade In Cascade At Low Reynolds Number, James P. Lake

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of flow separation from a low pressure turbine blade was investigated. The operating conditions under which the separation occurred were documented through measurement of surface pressure coefficients, boundary layer velocity and turbulence profiles, total pressure loss coefficient and wake velocity momentum deficit. Three different means for reducing the losses associated with the flow separation were also investigated. A boundary layer trip, dimples, and V-grooves were studied as passive means requiring no additional energy to reduce the separation losses. The boundary layer trip was only successful for an inlet and axial chord Reynolds number of 50k with a reduction …

Wind Tunnel Investigation Of Joined Wing Configurations, Jennifer Corneille

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate is looking to extend the range of its small smart bomb. One proposed idea is to retrofit the bombs with a wing kit, particularly a joined wing configuration. A typical joined wing configuration is one where the wings are positioned in such a way that they form a diamond in both plan and front views. The purpose of this study is to conduct low speed wind tunnel testing of the joined wing configuration to help determine if the joined wing is more beneficial than a single wing configuration. Configurations with differing sweep angles …

Sensors Location Effect On The Dynamic Behaviour Of The Composite Structure With Flaw Detection, Eltahry Elghandour, Faysal Kolkailah, Abdel- Hamid I. Mourad

Aerospace Engineering

In this paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation ofthe natural frequency of composite material cantilever plates. The stacking sequence of tbe composite plate is Quasi-isotropic laminated plate is [2(0j/±45°/2(90°)]" The plate was subjected to incremental cuts and tests to determine changes in new modal properties. The study included white noise and sinusoidal dynamic testing techniques and a virtual instrument dynamic analyzer. In this study also, determining the resonant frequencies of the undamaged and damaged plate, and evaluating the capabilities of piezoelectric ceramics (PZT's) for fault detection based on their sensitivity and accuracy changes in modal parameters. Numerical results are …

Mixed Mode Stable Crack Extensions Through Stiffened Specimens, Abdel-Hamid I. Mourad, Eltahry Elghandour, Faysal A. Kolkailah

Aerospace Engineering

This study presents an experimental investigation of fracture mechanics for isotropic material, aluminum alloy D16AT. The problem of stable crack growth (SCG) has been addressed in this paper. Experimental results are presented for symmetrically stiffened and unstiffened three point bend specimens subjected to different modes, mode I and mixed mode. The stiffeners are doubly bonded to the fatigue pre-cracked specimens parallel to the length at a certain distance behind the crack tip using an adhesive Redux 410 NA. Results concerning load displacement variation, growth of plastic zones, instantaneous crack edge profiles, and tunneling are presented. There is evidence that the …

Emerald & Orion Formation Flying Experiment, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Emerald & Orion Formation Flying Experiment" from May 5, 1999.

Close Formation Flight Control, Andrew W. Proud

Theses and Dissertations

In this research the close formation flight control problem is addressed. The formation consists of a lead and wing aircraft, where the wing flies in close formation with the lead, such that the lead's vortices produce aerodynamic coupling effects, and a reduction in the formation's drag is achieved. A controller, i.e., a formation-hold autopilot for the wing aircraft, is designed such that the formation's geometry is maintained in the face of lead aircraft maneuvers. In the formation flight control system, the wing and lead aircraft dynamics are coupled due to kinematic effects, and, in the case of close formations, additional …

Solving An Inverse Control Problem Using Predictive Methods, Chad J. Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Model Predictive Control is the class of control methods that optimizes a specified performance index in order to minimize the weighted future output deviations from a setpoint trajectory. This thesis applies MPC in the inverse sense -- known aircraft outputs are applied in the performance index as setpoints in an attempt to determine what control histories caused those outputs. Using this method, aircraft mishap investigators could then have a means of determining what the control surface deflections were throughout an incident since Flight Data Recorder data does not include control surface deflections. The actual Flight Data Recorder data from aircraft …

Variable Area Inlet For Vehicle Thermal Control, Thomas R. Layne, Milton E. Franke, Darrell B. Ridgedly

AFIT Patents

A variable area inlet structure for a vehicle utilizing ram air for coolant is described which comprises a variable area inlet device in the ram air inlet in the form of a butterfly valve, damper, shutter, or similar structure, a temperature sensor in thermal contact with a component within the vehicle to be cooled by ram air flow, a controller and actuator, responsive to the temperature sensor and operatively connected to the variable area device, for controlling the inlet area in response to the component temperature.

Student Micro/Nano Space Applications, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Student Micro/Nano Space Applications" from April 15, 1999.

Orion Pdr: Ssdl Program Overview, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Orion PDR SSDL Program Overview" from April 9, 1999.

Portfolio Assessment In Aerodynamics, Nikos J. Mourtos

Faculty Publications

A new way of assessing student learning in an aerodynamics course through the use of portfolios is presented. The approach is portable to any engineering course, with a few modifications depending on content. The main idea is to allow students more responsibility for their own learning. Instead of having everyone in the class perform identical activities (homework, experiments, projects, tests, etc.), a cadre of assignments is made available to them. Students choose and perform (within reason) the ones that suit them better in terms of their own strengths and learning styles. The ultimate goal is for each student to demonstrate …

The Airline Quality Rating 1999, Brent D. Bowen, Dean Headley, Uno Aviation Institute

Faculty Books and Monographs

UNOAI Report 99-3

he Airline Quality Rating (AQR) was developed and first announced in early 1991 as an objective method of comparing airline performance on combined multiple criteria. This current report, Airline Quality Rating 1999, contains monthly Airline Quality Rating scores for 1998. Additional copies are available by contacting Wichita State University or the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The Airline Quality Rating 1999 is a summary of month-by-month quality ratings for the ten major domestic U.S. airlines operating during 1998. Using the Airline Quality Rating system of weighted averages and montly performance data in the areas of on-time arrivals, …

Optimization Of A Vortex Generator Configuration For A 1/4-Scale Piper Cherokee Wing, Kerri A. Raykowski

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Several sets of wind tunnel tests were performed to determine an optimum vortex generator configuration for a 1/4-scale model of the Piper Cherokee wing. Several variables were incorporated into this experiment in an effort to determine their influence on vortex generator performance enhancement (or degradation). Vane type vortex generators were used with 3 different leading edge sweeps: zero (rectangular planform), 20, and 45 degrees. Three different vortex generator heights were tested (0.05”, 0.1”, and 0.2”) to find the optimal vortex generator height relative to the local boundary layer thickness. The vortex generator angle of incidence relative to the freestream was …