Engineering Commons^™

Dirigible Anemometer Mount, Matthew Stanko

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Airships, like any other aircraft, require sensor inputs in order to fly. One type of sensor is the anemometer. This project outlines the development of a mounting system which would attach 2 ultrasonic anemometers to the bottom of an aircraft. The study follows the entire engineering process from requirement derivation through conceptual designs, testing, analysis, and verification. The details of this report are confidential and therefore cannot be disclosed.

Aerodynamics Wind Tunnel Lab, James Soroczak, Brett Preslar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this project is to create a lab for an aerodynamics class with the purpose of exploring the effects of various physical features and aerodynamic conditions on a wing. The main area of study will be the effects on lift, drag, and moment. To best display these effects, an airfoil/wing to wind tunnel interface with variable physical characteristics will be designed. The various physical alterations will be implemented to show the effect each one has on lift, drag, and moment. These alterations will include different aspect ratios, removable winglets, and various lengths. The airspeed and angle of attack …

Concept Evaluation And Development Of A Novel Approach For Integration Of Turbogeneration, Electrification And Supercharging On Heavy Duty Engines, Satyum Joshi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

While many technologies such as electrically assisted turbocharging, exhaust energy recovery and mild hybridization have already proven to significantly increase heavy-duty engine efficiency, the key challenge to their widespread adoption has been their cost effectiveness and packaging. This research specifically addresses these challenges through evaluation and development of a novel technology concept termed as the Integrated Turbogeneration, Electrification and Supercharging (ITES) system. The concept integrates a secondary compressor, a turbocompound/expander turbine and an electric motor through a planetary gearset into the engine cranktrain. The approach enables a reduced system cost and space-claim, while maximizing the efficiency benefits of independent technologies. …

Passive Intermodulation Under Different Spring Contact Conditions, Shengxuan Xia, Emmanuel Olugbade, Yuchu He, Yansheng Wang, Hanfeng Wang, Krishna Rao, Marco Poort, Haicheng Zhou, Warren Lee, Nicholas Mcdonnell, Jonghyun Park, Chulsoon Hwang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modularized designs have been widely used in today's consumer electronic devices and flexible RF springs are used for electrical connections between the modules. In the meantime, aluminum alloy material becomes a common chassis option. It is well known that the oxidized chassis surface introduces a certain level of nonlinearity when contacted by the springs, as known as passive intermodulation (PIM). PIM is one of the well-known root causes of the RF desensitization (desense). This paper is focused on investigating the relationship between PIM and contact conditions of the springs, especially contact area. The PIM level behavior is explained mathematically by …

Fuel-Rich Hetero-/Homogeneous Combustion Of C3h8/O2/N2 Mixtures Over Rhodium, John Mantzaras, Ran Sui, Rolf Bombach

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The catalytic (heterogeneous) and gas-phase (homogeneous) combustion of C3H8/O2/N2 mixtures over rhodium was investigated experimentally and numerically at 5 bar and at fuel-rich equivalence ratios π = 2.0-3.5 relevant to propane Catalytic Partial Oxidation (CPO). In situ spatially-resolved Raman measurements of major gas-phase species concentrations and Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) of formaldehyde were applied in an optically accessible channel-flow reactor to monitor the catalytic and gas-phase processes, respectively, while accompanying 2D simulations were carried out with detailed hetero-/homogeneous chemical reaction mechanisms. Due to the high gas-phase reactivity of propane, homogeneous chemistry could not be ignored over most of the …

Regulation Of Dendrite-Free Li Plating Via Lithiophilic Sites On Lithium-Alloy Surface, Yufang He, Mengyun Zhang, Aiping Wang, Bo Zhang, Hiep Pham, Qiao Hu, Li Sheng, Hong Xu, Li Wang, Jonghyun Park, Xiangming He

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Lithium (Li) deposition behavior plays an important role in dendrite formation and the subsequent performance of lithium metal batteries. This work reveals the impact of the lithiophilic sites of lithium-alloy on the Li plating process via the first-principles calculations. We find that the Li deposition mechanisms on the Li metal and Li22Sn5 surface are different due to the lithiophilic sites. We first propose that Li plating on the Li metal surface goes through the "adsorption-reduction-desorption-heterogeneous nucleation-cluster drop "process, while it undergoes the "adsorption-reduction-growth "process on the Li22Sn5 surface. The lower adsorption energy contributes to the easy adsorption of Li on …

Nanobubble Capillary Force Between Parallel Plates, Eric Bird, Zhi Liang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Aggregation of Fine or Ultrafine Particles in Liquid Due to the Nanobubble (NB) Bridging Capillary Force is a Key Process for Many Industrial Applications. the Magnitude and Direction of the NB Capillary Force (NBCF) Are Directly Affected by the Geometry of the NB Gas Bridge between Two Adjoining Particles. Although the NBCF Can Be Accurately Measured using Experimental Techniques, It is Very Challenging to Monitor the Images of a NB Capillary Bridge in Nanoscale Spatial Resolution in NBCF Measuring Experiments. as a Result, the Capillary Force Model that Predicts the Dependence of the NBCF on the Geometry of the …

A Two-Layer Constellation Scheduling Approach For Imaging And Communication, Skylar Cox, Justin Whitaker, John Humble, Greg Droge

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Spacecraft constellations continue to grow in numbers, capability, and sophistication, requiring in creased levels of automation to properly cooperate in achieving their objectives. This paper develops a constellation scheduling capability for collecting images of points of interest (POI) and communicating the imagery data through the constellation to established ground station terminals. Various levels of coordination are considered. First, satellites coordinate to avoid duplicate efforts for imaging POIs; second, ground stations only service a single satellite at a time for downlinking; and third, satellites may crosslink data within the constellation to enable a more timely delivery of high-valued information as well …

Experiences During The Implementation Of Two Different Project-Based Learning Assignments In A Fluid Mechanics Course., Orlando Ayala, Kristie Gutierrez, Francisco Cima, Julia Noginova, Min Jung Lee, Stacie Ringleb, Pilar Pazos, Krishnanand Kaipa, Jennifer Kidd

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

There is growing evidence of the effectiveness of project-based learning (PBL) in preparing students to solve complex problems. In PBL implementations in engineering, students are treated as professional engineers facing projects centered around real-world problems, including the complexity and uncertainty that influence such problems. Not only does this help students to analyze and solve an authentic real-world task, promoting critical thinking, but also students learn from each other, learning valuable communication and teamwork skills. Faculty play an important part by assuming non-conventional roles (e.g., client, senior professional engineer, consultant) to help students throughout this instructional and learning approach. Typically in …

Integrating Experimental Parameter Space For Granular Flow Within Polygon Tumblers, Michaela Mcmahon

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Granular flows are complex phenomena bridging both fluid and solid mechanics and observed frequently in the natural world. The transitional dynamics of acceleration from solid body motion to rapid flow can affect many aspects including volume flow rates and mixing behaviors. In order to study the combination of both variables together within polygon-shaped tumblers, control systems are necessary with a corresponding user interface. This thesis reports an interface for changing variable inputs to the system. Predictions of rotation rates with corresponding interfaces with hardware connections are described. Results of image analysis verify output performance that incorporates the following variable changes: …

Experimental Analysis Of Flowing Layer Characteristics In Equilateral Triangular Tumblers For Quasi-2d Macro-Particle Flow, Jason Quinn Ostenburg

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Rotating tumblers are used in a wide variety of industrial applications from mixing anddeburring to flow regulation and storage. Almost all model tumblers previously analyzed, both theoretically and experimentally, had circular cross sections that produced consistent flowing layer dimensions and steady state flow. In contrast, tumblers with triangular cross sections produced unsteady flow as a direct result of the dynamic dimensions of the flowing surface. Although unsteady, the flow produced in triangular tumblers is periodic every 120◦ of rotation after an initial mixing period. The mechanisms by which the flow characteristics vary as a triangular tumbler rotates and the number …

Effect Of Freestream Noise On Hypersonic Crossflow-Induced Boundary-Layer Transition, Andrew Bustard, Thomas J. Juliano, Harrison B. Yates, Mark Noftz, Joseph Jewell

Publications

Between the windward and leeward rays, boundary-layer transition on cones at angle of attack in hypersonic flow is dominated by the crossflow instability [1, 2], wherein stationary and/or traveling crossflow vortices develop and can breakdown into turbulence [3]. Stationary crossflow modes are caused by surface roughness or any other steady forcing and produce disturbances that are fixed in place on the surface [3–6]. Stationary vortices create a generalized inflection point in the velocity profile that is inviscidly unstable [7]. This distorted mean flow develops secondary instabilities, whose growth and breakdown is one path to turbulence [8–10]. Traveling crossflow modes are …

Assessment Of Scientific Payload Carrying Spirulina Onboard Blue Origin’S New Shepard Vehicle, Pedro J. Llanos, Morgan Shilling, Kristina Andrijauskaite, Kody Kidder, Vijay V. Duraisamy

Publications

The research team at ERAU and UTHSCSA analyzed the effects of suborbital flight stressors and various light conditions (red, white, no light) on the Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), onboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle. Commercially available cyanobacterium species were cultivated and closely monitored in mother colonies several months before the suborbital flight mission. The aim of this study was to estimate the biomass production and growth as a potential dietary alternative for prospective human spaceflight's life support system. Spirulina samples were flown in a NanoLab with adjacent avionics supporting the light conditions and sensors to monitor the temperature, relative humidity, and …

Experimental Study Of Wall Bounded Harbor Seal Whisker Inspired Pin Geometries, Anish Prasad, Mark Ricklick

Publications

Conventional cylindrical/elliptical pins are one of the most widely used geometries in convection cooling systems and are used in the internal cooling of gas turbine blades and other applications, as they promote better heat transfer at the expense of large pressure losses and unsteadiness in the flow. The need to reduce pressure drop and maintain the heat transfer rates are a pressing requirement for a variety of industries to improve their cooling efficiency. One such prominent field of research is conducted in optimizing the design of pin geometries. In this study, a harbor seal whisker inspired geometry is being studied …

Attainable Moment Set And Actuation Time Of A Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage, Christian R. Bolander, Douglas F. Hunsaker, David Myszka, James J. Joo

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Future tactical aircraft will likely demonstrate improvements in efficiency, weight, and control by implementing bio-inspired control systems. This work analyzes a novel control system for a fighter aircraft inspired by the function of – and the degrees of freedom available in – a bird’s tail. The control system is introduced to an existing fighter aircraft design by removing the vertical tail and allowing the horizontal tail surfaces to rotate about the roll axis. Using a low-fidelity aerodynamic model, an analysis on the available controlling moments and actuation speeds of the baseline aircraft is compared to that of the bio-inspired rotating …

Mu2e Pion Degrader For Detector Calibration, Jessie Bouche Miles

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Particle tracking within the Mu2e experiment can be accomplished through regulating the rate of capture at the stopping target with the addition of a thin, low atomic weight material, the “degrader.” Investigation of Mu2e studies and simulations provide initial data for degrader design. The overall thickness of the degrader plus structural components must fit between the last two solenoids during operation and resist displacement. The degrader area, perpendicular to the beamline, must exceed that of the stopping target during alignment and be able to clear outer diameters of the beamline components. Structural analysis will ensure all dimensional constraints are met …

Strategies To Reduce Nonconformance Of Parts In Aerospace Manufacturing, John Louis Lloyd Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The cost of nonconformance of parts can impact the aerospace industry globally, resulting in revenue loss and consumer confidence degradation. Grounded in the eight disciplines of problem solving, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies aerospace manufacturing quality managers in the United States used to implement successful change initiatives to address the nonconformance of parts. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with four aerospace quality executives and supporting company documents. Data were analyzed using methodological triangulation, coding, and thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (a) identify and implement a specific problem-solving strategy, (b) identify and mitigate employee …

Self-Acquisition Of Liquid Propellant Versatile Arsenal Of Resources Endeavour (S.A.L.V.A.R.E.), Vittorio Baraldi, Nikki Smith-Cielo, Sotirios Zormpas

Student Works

Unlocking the mysteries of Mars’s past and future habitability is just within humanity’s grasp. With a multitude of inherent similarities to Earth, Mars is one of the most promising locations to extend humankind’s reach in manned space exploration. As humanity is at the summit of taking the next leap for mankind by preparing the first crewed missions to Mars, a need that must be met is to significantly reduce the mass necessary to deliver to the surface.

The Self-Acquisition of Liquid propellant Versatile Arsenal of Resources Endeavour (SALVARE) project details a mission for creating the first Mars water-based In-Situ Resources …

Plasma Spheroidization Of Gas-Atomized 304l Stainless Steel Powder For Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process, M. Hossein Sehhat, Austin T. Sutton, Chia-Hung Hung, Ben Brown, Ronald J. O'Malley, Jonghyun Park, Ming-Chuan Leu

PSMRC Faculty Research

Particles of AISI 304L stainless steel powder were spheroidized by the induction plasma spheroidization process (TekSphero-15 spheroidization system) to assess the effects of the spheroidization process on powder and part properties. The morphology of both as-received and spheroidized powders was characterized by measuring particle size and shape distribution. The chemistry of powders was studied using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy for evaluation of composing elements, and the powder’s microstructure was assessed by X-ray diffraction for phase identification and by electron backscattered diffraction patterns for crystallography characterization. The Revolution Powder Analyzer was used to quantify powder flowability. The mechanical properties …

Air Passenger Demand Forecast Through The Use Of Artificial Neural Network Algorithms, Juan Gerardo Muros Anguita, Oscar Díaz Olariaga

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Airport planning depends to a large extent on the levels of activity that are anticipated. To plan the facilities and infrastructures of an airport system and to be able to satisfy future needs, it is essential to predict the level and distribution of demand. This document presents a short- and medium-term forecast of the demand for air passengers carried out through a specific case study (Colombia), in which the impact of the pandemic period due to COVID-19 on air traffic was taken into account. To make the forecast, an algorithm that implements techniques based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) (Machine …

Air Passenger Demand Forecast Through The Use Of Artificial Neural Network Algorithms, Juan Gerardo Muros Anguita, Oscar Díaz Olariaga

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Airport planning depends to a large extent on the levels of activity that are anticipated. In order to plan facilities and infrastructures of an airport system and to be able to satisfy future needs, it is essential to predict the level and distribution of demand. This document presents a short- and medium-term forecast of the demand for air passengers carried out through a specific case study (Colombia), in which the impact of the pandemic period due to COVID-19 on air traffic was taken into account. To make the forecast, an algorithm that implements techniques based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) …

3d Printing Technology In Aerospace Industry – A Review, Mohammad Suhel Karkun, Sathish Dharmalingam

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

In the modern era, several new technologies are being developed for the most convenient and easy usage of materials. Due to its effortless and quick usage properties, 3D printing technology has a vast application range nowadays in different fields. The application of 3D printing technology in the aerospace industry has been developed in the past few decades, but now it has been enhanced to a new level. 3D printing technology now has several applications in the aeronautical and space sectors. Soon, 3D printing technology will be used for building habitations on other planets and for the printing of spacecraft and …

Space Harpoon Projectile Analysis For Space Debris Capture, Miraj D. Lathia, Sam M. Dakka Dr

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Space debris will become a more prevalent issue in this decade as technological advancements and greater dependencies on communications require more satellites in orbit, with some companies already hosting mega-constellations. Mitigating the debris using a space-tether is the most viable method to construct a space debris capture regime with current technology levels. Harpoon heads for the tethers are key design interests as these will penetrate through the satellites and/or debris. The focus of this paper is the analysis of an aluminium 6082, flat and conical head design, used to perforate aluminium 1050A plates using a gas gun laboratory. The aim …

Conceptual Design Of Fuel Dumping System In Aircraft, Naveen M. Kumar Mr., Ravi A. Kannan Be., Magesh L Be., Praveen T. Kumar Be., Vijay K. Babu Me., Prashanth Radhakrishnan Be.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Airlines release the unburned jet fuel into the atmosphere to reduce the weight of aircraft before landing. Sometimes, aircraft reach a weight more than takeoff weight while departing from the airport. Therefore, the pilot follows the ATC comment to dump fuel into the atmosphere to reduce the aircraft's weight to avoid accidents. Due to fuel dumping, an airline faces fuel consumption, loss, and several diseases affect environmental pollutants, and living things. The total fuel consumption of commercial airlines worldwide in 2021 is 57 billion gallons. If jet fuel routinely hit the ground, it would pollute water and land and damage …

Space Cargo: Ultra-Fast Delivery On Earth –Potential Of Using Suborbital Space Vehicles For The Transportation Of Cargo, Robert O. Walton, Robert A. Goehlich

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

No abstract provided.

Accuracy Of Commercially-Available Speech Recognition Systems In Identifying Pirep Terminology, Deborah Carstens, Ph.D., Michael S. Harwin, J.D., M.S., Tianhua Li, Ph.D., Michael Splitt, M.S., Ridwan Olabanji, M.S.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Pilot Reports (PIREPs) are an important source of information that aids, other pilots, air traffic control, and operational aviation meteorologists in terms of forecasting and updating weather advisories such as SIGMETs. Pilots rely upon PIREPs so they can avoid hazardous weather and fly their aircraft in the safest manner possible. However, many PIREPs are not successfully submitted or transmitted to the many end users which impedes their ability to be used to keep the NAS safe. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made several recommendations for increasing the effectiveness and distribution of PIREPs, including receiving PIREPs from pilots directly and …

The Bobo Project: Hexa-Eagles, Anjana Mahesh Kumar, Huna Amad, Jean Samirah Venturina, Sakthivel Mithra, Suhasini, Sumaiyathul Faaliha

Student Works

The consumer business has undergone a substantial shift in how customers to shop since the introduction of online shopping. When the world was affected by Covid-19 in 2020, one of the most major repercussions was in the Food & Beverage (F&B) and grocery industries. As a result of the pandemic, many cities were put under lockdown, and everyone remained indoors. Consumer purchasing patterns changed dramatically, with malls closing or operating with limited access, and customers avoiding common spaces for fear of getting the virus. As the global epidemic progressed, several firms were forced to close their physical locations due to …

A Non-Reacting Passive Scalar Comparison Of Starccm And Openfoam In A Supersonic Cavity Flame Holder, Thomas Nuese

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The scramjet engine equipped with a modern-day airliner would allow for very quick travel across the United States. The major problem is that designing such an engine and testing it to make sure it is safe would cost millions if not billions of dollars. Computational fluid dynamics allows for complex designs to be tested but can still take many days, weeks, or even months to complete. With the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the scramjet engine can be analyzed to determine a quicker way to test and develop a reliable configuration in addition to analyzing the effects of different …

A Study Of Microgravity On Fluid Transport Through Porous Structures In Microfluidic Devices, Sylvain Le Henaff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The objective of this study is to refine the understanding of micro-fluidics subject to micro-gravity in an attempt to support future space exploration efforts. A combination of experimental and numerical approaches were utilized to build a validated assessment approach. A quasi-pore geometry, inspired by CT scans of rat bones, was used in lieu of human bone structures. A quasi-1D assessment of the conservation of momentum was used to identify the dominant forces acting on the fluid at the operating length-scales. The dominant forces were surface tension, gravity, and shear stress. Experiments were conducted to visualize the flow moving through the …

Interactions Of Aerosol Droplets With Ventilated Airflows In The Context Of Airborne Pathogen Transmission, Steven Schroeder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This multidisciplinary study provides a comprehensive visualization of airborne aerosols and droplets coming into contact with a crossflow of moving air utilizing both experimental particle measuring methods and multiphase computational fluids dynamics (CFD). The aim of this research is to provide a Eulerian visualization of how ventilation can alter the position and density of an aerosol cloud, with the goal of applying this information to our understanding of social distancing ranges within outdoor settings and ventilated rooms. The results indicate that even minor perpendicular crossflows across the trajectory of an aerosol cloud can greatly reduce both the linear displacement and …