Engineering Commons^™

An Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Imagery System Development And Remote Sensing Images Classification For Agricultural Applications, Yiding Han

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This work concentrates on the topic of remote sensing using a multispectral imag-ing system for water management and agriculture applications. The platform, which is alight-weight inexpensive runway-free unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), namely, AggieAir, ispresented initially. A major portion of this work focuses on the development of a light-weight multispectral imager payload for the AggieAir platform, called GhostFoto. Theimager is band-recongurable, covering both visual red, green, and blue (RGB) and nearinfrared (NIR) spectrum, and interfaced with UAV on-board computer. The developmentof the image processing techniques, which are based on the collected multispectral aerialimages, is also presented in this work. One application …

Effects Of Delamination On Composite Sandwich Structures Under Static And Fatigue Loading, Eugene Everett Eswonia

Master's Theses

This thesis will present the experimental and numerical analysis of composite sandwich structures under monotonic and fatigue loading. The sandwich skins were made of fiberglass and the core used was a closed cell PVC foam. Initial delaminations were introduced into the sandwich structures during manufacturing to see the effect of delamination size on the ultimate strength and monotonic fracture. Fiberglass rods, called shear keys, added to the foam core to determine whether or not they increased the strength of the test specimens. Furthermore, shear key locations were also varied and their effects noted. The fixed rate static behavior for all …

Simulation, Synthesis, And Characterization Of Hydrogels And Nanocomposite Gels., Kamleshkumar J. Suthar

Dissertations

Stimuli-responsive gels are three-dimensional, cross-linked polymeric materials that undergo large physical change in response to the environmental stimuli, like temperature, pH, electrical potential, and irradiation. Ferrogels are colloidaldispersion of magnetic nanoparticles in the hydrogel network. The magnetic nanoparticles are attached to the polymeric network by different adhesive forces; as a result, it becomes sensitive to the applied magnetic field.

The main objective of this research is the simulation, synthesis, and characterization of the hydrogel and ferrogel. Simulation of the hydrogel response was performed for various environmental stimuli using a multiphysics finite element analysis software, COMSOL. The pH and electrical response …

The Potential Of Cubesat Networks, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "The Potential of CubeSat Networks" from November 17, 2009.

Numerical Simulation Of Mode Transition In A Hydrogen-Fueled Scramjet, Manan Ajay Vyas

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The Wind-US computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow solver was used to simulate dual-mode direct-connect ramjet/scramjet engine flowpath tests conducted in the University of Virginia (UVa) Supersonic Combustion Facility (SCF). The objective was to develop a computational capability within Wind-US to aid current hypersonic research and provide insight to flow as well as chemistry details that are not resolved by instruments available. Computational results are compared with experimental data to validate the accuracy of the numerical modeling. These results include two fuel-off non-reacting and eight fuel-on reacting cases with different equivalence ratios, split between one set with a clean (non-vitiated) air …

Aerodynamic Performance Enhancement Of A Naca 66–206 Airfoil Using Supersonic Channel Airfoil Design, David Michael Giles

Master's Theses

Supersonic channel airfoil design techniques have been shown to significantly reduce drag in high-speed flows over diamond shaped airfoils by Ruffin and colleagues. The effect of applying these techniques to a NACA 66-206 airfoil is presented. The design domain entails channel heights of 8-16.6% thickness-to-chord and speeds from Mach 1.5-3.0. Numerical simulations show an increase in the lift-to-drag ratio for airfoils at Mach 2.5 at a 35,000-ft altitude with a 12% channel height geometry showing a benefit of 17.2% at 6-deg angle of attack and a sharp channel leading edge. Wave drag is significantly reduced while viscous forces are slightly …

Contribution Based Priority Assessment In A Web-Based Intelligent Argumentation Network For Collaborative Software Development, Xiaoqing Frank Liu, Maithili Satyavolu, Ming-Chuan Leu

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Decision making is an important aspect in a collaborative software development process which involves a complex process of conflict resolution. the priority of the participants plays a vital role in conflict resolution as the decision-making process involves many participants from multiple perspectives. the priority assessment methods used in the process so far are usually static in nature, i.e., the priorities of the participants remain constant throughout the decision-making process. in order to make the collaborative system closer to real world scenarios, we incorporate dynamic priority assessment into a web-Based collaborative system based on intelligent computational argumentation, which was developed in …

Small Satellites, Applications And Launch Opportunities, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Small Satellites, Applications and Launch Opportunities" from October 16, 2009.

Project: F.U.N.B.O.E. (Follow-Up Nucleate Boiling On-Flight Experiment), Getaway Special Team 2009

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

University Satellite Programs, 1982-2009, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "University Satellite Programs, 1982-2009" from October 5, 2009.

Third Grade Lesson Plan: Where Does Heat Come From?, Getaway Special Team 2009

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Numerical Solutions For The Cawapi Configuration On Unstructured Grids At Usafa, United States, Scott A. Morton, David R. Mcdaniel, Russell M. Cummings

Aerospace Engineering

No abstract provided.

Lessons Learned From The Numerical Investigations On The Vfe-2 Configuration, Willy Fritz, Russell M. Cummings

Aerospace Engineering

The Second International Vortex Flow Experiment provided a variety of experimental data for a 65° delta wing with sharp and blunt/rounded leading edges. Flow measurements including forces and moments, surface pressures, Pressure Sensitive Paint measurements, and off-surface flow variables from Particle Image Velocimetry were made available for comparisons with computational simulations. A number of test cases were chosen for simulation by seven numerical groups, and a summary of their results is presented here. The ability of computational fluid dynamics to predict such flow features as the dual primary vortex system found on the blunt leading edge configuration and a shock/vortex …

Shock Effects On Delta Wing Vortex Breakdown, Lucy A. Schiavetta, Okko J. Boelens, Simone Crippa, Russell M. Cummings, Willy Fritz, Ken J. Badcock

Aerospace Engineering

It has been observed that delta wings placed in a transonic freestream can experience a sudden movement of the vortex breakdown location as the angle of incidence is increased. The chapter reports on the use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to examine this behaviour in detail. The study shows that a shock-vortex interaction is responsible. The balance of the vortex strength and axial flow, and the shock strength, is examined to provide an explanation of the sensitivity of the breakdown location. Limited experimental data is available to supplement the CFD results in certain key respects, and the ideal synergy between CFD …

Numerical Solutions For The Vfe-2 Configuration On Unstructured Grids At Usafa, United States, Russell M. Cummings, Andreas Schϋtte

Aerospace Engineering

The numerical simulation of the flow for the VFE-2 configuration with rounded leading edges is presented. For the numerical simulation the Cobalt Code was used, which uses a cell-centered unstructured hybrid mesh approach. Several numerical results are presented for the steady RANS equations as well as for DES and DDES hybrid approaches. Within this paper the focus is related to the dual primary vortex flow topology, especially the sensitivity of the flow to angle of attack and Reynolds number effects. Reasonable results are obtained with both steady RANS and SA-DDES simulations. The results are compared and verified by experimental data, …

Fifth Grade Lesson Plan: Solid, Liquid, And Gas, Getaway Special Team 2009

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Sixth Grade Lesson Plan: Heat Moves, Getaway Special Team 2009

Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Avoiding Aircraft Icing Accidents, Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Pilot And Air Traffic Control Experiences & Automation Management Strategies On Uas Mission Task Performance, Christopher J. Reynolds

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Unmanned aircraft are relied on now more than ever to save lives and support the troops in the recent Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The demands for UAS capabilities are rapidly increasing in the civilian sector. However, UAS operations will not be carried out in the NAS until safety concerns are alleviated. Among these concerns is determining the appropriate level of automation in conjunction with a suitable pilot who exhibits the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely operate these systems.

This research examined two levels of automation: Management by Consent (MBC) and Management by Exception (MBE). User …

Flight Regime And Maneuver Recognition For Complex Maneuvers, Jerome H. Travert

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate capability of flight regime recognition during complex maneuvers flown in a fixed wing airplane using measured data from an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Flight Regime Recognition (FRR) is required for numerous applications in the aerospace and aviation industry, including the determination of loads for stress and strain analysis. It can also be used in recreational aviation for maneuver recognition, for example in aerobatics.

This study uses a flight simulator to generate representative flight data that is parsed by a specifically developed algorithm into appropriate flight regimes. This algorithm is a filter technique …

An Analytical Investigation Of Natural Frequency For A Symmetric Composite Box-Beam With Thermal Effects, Lakshmi Narayana Sanjeev Chitikela

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The main purpose of the following analysis is to develop an analytical method for determining the natural frequency of a symmetric composite box-beam subjected to temperature gradient. A set of coupled partial differential equations of motion is obtained by means of small defection theory and D'Alembert's method. The Smith and Chopra stiffness matrix is used in the governing equations of motion and an appropriate MATLAB® code has been written to solve for the stiffness matrix elements of the box-beam. The resulting governing equations of motion are solved to obtain the natural frequencies of the box-beam in flap and lag directions …

Compression After Impact Load Prediction In Graphite/Epoxy Laminates Using Acoustic Emission And Artificial Neural Networks, Anthony Michael Gunasekera

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in predicting the compression after impact (CAI) load of graphite/epoxy laminates from acoustic emission (AE) nondestructive testing (NDT) data. Thirty-four 24-ply bidirectional woven cloth laminate coupons were constructed and impacted at various energy levels ranging from 8 to 20 Joules, generating barely visible impact damage (BVID). Acoustic emission data were acquired as the coupons were compressed to failure. Not having been analyzed by previous experimenters, several noise tests were also performed to determine the impact of external noise on acoustic emission data during testing. Once …

Thermal Modeling Of Lithium-Ion Energy Storage Systems For Hybrid Electric Vehicles Using Computational Fluid Dynamics With Conjugate Heat Transfer, Craig R. Czlapinski

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The success and performance of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) relies largely on its Energy Storage System (ESS). High temperatures and thermal variations can significantly affect a battery's performance and lifecycle. An effective thermal management system is vital to the health and safe operation of the ESS's batteries. A well designed thermal management system begins with the accurate prediction of the battery's thermal conditions. In hot climates, HEVs may be required to operate within ten degrees Celsius of the maximum safe operating temperature of their batteries. This study aims to evaluate the thermal management system of a lithium-ion based energy …

Determination Of Stability And Control Derivatives For A Modern Light Composite Twin Engine Airplane, Monica M. Londono

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

To develop and compare full envelope stability and control derivatives and their associated errors for a modern light composite twin engine airplane from flight test data and digital DATCOM (Data Compendium). This development is to serve three purposes 1) to provide data for validation of newer analytical techniques such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), 2) to provide public domain static and dynamic stability and control derivatives for a modern twin engine airplane, 3) to analyze the relationship between test design and error for both output error and equation error methods.

A flight test program was conducted on a Diamond Twin …

Application Of Systems Engineering To Rapid Prototyping For Close Air Support, John M. Colombi, Richard G. Cobb

Faculty Publications

Twenty-first century military operations have brought forth many new challenges for the Armed Forces of the United States. One such challenge is with new operating environments, where current systems are not always effective. While it is desirable to apply a systems engineering approach to best meet critical user needs, there may be a misconception that systems engineering requires a lengthy and detailed process not nimble enough for a rapid prototyping effort. This article describes how a classic systems engineering methodology was successfully tailored to the rapid development of potential material solutions to meet a critical operational need. Key observations are …

Reinforcement-Learning-Based Output-Feedback Control Of Nonstrict Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems With Application To Engine Emission Control, Peter Shih, Brian C. Kaul, Jagannathan Sarangapani, J. A. Drallmeier

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel reinforcement-learning-based output adaptive neural network (NN) controller, which is also referred to as the adaptive-critic NN controller, is developed to deliver the desired tracking performance for a class of nonlinear discrete-time systems expressed in nonstrict feedback form in the presence of bounded and unknown disturbances. The adaptive-critic NN controller consists of an observer, a critic, and two action NNs. The observer estimates the states and output, and the two action NNs provide virtual and actual control inputs to the nonlinear discrete-time system. The critic approximates a certain strategic utility function, and the action NNs minimize the strategic utility …

Development Of A Supersonic Nozzle For A Compressed Carbon Dioxide Propulsion System Intended For Mars Surface Applications, Erin K. Blass

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This work focuses on the development of a reusable rocket nozzle unit for near-term Mars surface applications, utilizing Mars atmosphere as a propellant source. Mars atmosphere is more than 95% carbon dioxide, and its low ambient temperatures facilitate the condensation of dry ice out of the atmosphere. Furthermore, the low critical temperature of carbon dioxide enables . the production of a supercritical fluid by heating dry ice at constant volume to temperatures on the order of 400 K. The goal of this research was to develop a supersonic nozzle for reusable high-thrust propulsion. Due to the complex behavior of supercritical …

Aerodynamic Analysis Of An Urban Magnetic Levitation Vehicle, John Matthew Wells

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis will detail the aerodynamic qualities of a magnetic levitation concept vehicle designed to be installed on Old Dominion University's campus. The vehicle is representative of a class of small, low-speed Maglev systems commonly referred to as Urban Maglev. A 1:12 scale model underwent testing in Old Dominion's low speed wind tunnel. Force and moment coefficients were measured over a wide range of yaw angles. Results give insight into crosswind effects and how these forces affect vehicle dynamics. An analysis of this type is important in understanding the ride quality and safety of the system. Force Coefficients range from …

Dynamic Interaction Of Elevated Guideway With Uncontrolled Maglev Vehicles, Sumanth Reddy Velma

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A flexible guideway on an elevated foundation is a key to affordable maglev urban transit. The flexible guideway can undergo significant dynamic motion, either when a vehicle solely relies on an open-loop control system or when a vehicle equipped with feedback control system experiences failure, due to fluctuating magnetic forces between the vehicle and the guideway. In an attempt to understand the effect of the uncontrolled vehicle on the structural response of the guideway, its dynamic interaction with maglev vehicles is investigated under various operating conditions. To this end, two vehicle models using Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) and Electromagnetic suspension (EMS) …

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Of An Extreme Aspect Ration Hale Uav, Bryan Morrisey, Robert A. Mcdonald

Aerospace Engineering

Development of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft systems is part of a vision for a low cost communications/surveillance capability. Applications of a multi payload aircraft operating for extended periods at stratospheric altitudes span military and civil genres and support battlefield operations, communications, atmospheric or agricultural monitoring, surveillance, and other disciplines that may currently require satellite-based infrastructure. The central goal of this research was the development of a multidisciplinary tool for analysis, design, and optimization of HALE UAVs, facilitating the study of a novel configuration concept. Applying design ideas stemming from a unique WWII-era project, a "pinned wing" HALE aircraft …