Engineering Commons^™

The Integration Of Tanker Aircraft Into Aslar, John S. Stieven

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the proposed addition of heavy KC-135 tanker aircraft to the United States Air Force Aircraft Surge Launch and Recovery (ASLAR) instrument approach system. The Air Force Communications Command, which oversees ASLAR operations, will use these results to determine if KC-135 aircraft should be permitted to fly ASLAR approaches. A SIMSCRIPT II.5 animated simulation model was developed to simulate the Runway 26 approach at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base under a variety of wind conditions. This model was expanded to show the feasibility of KC-135s flying ASLAR approaches and to determine proper controller …

Modified Anderson-Darling And Cramer-Von Mises Goodness-Of-Fit Tests For The Normal Distribution, David A. Gwinn Sr.

Theses and Dissertations

New techniques for calculating goodness-of-fit statistics for normal distributions with parameters estimated from the sample are investigated. Samples are generated for a Normal(0,1) distribution. Critical values are calculated for five modifications to the Anderson-Darling statistic and five modifications to the Cramer-Von Mises statistic. An extensive power study is done to test the power of the new statistics versus the power of the unmodified statistics. Powers of six of the new statistics show minimal to no improvement, two of the new statistics show a marked decrease in power, and two of the new statistics show an overall increase in power over …

Cost Constrained Improvements To The Military Retirement System, Cynthia A. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This research studies possible changes to the current military retirement system. The current military retirement system refers to the system provided under the Military Reform Act of 1986, A new system is proposed which would provide the retiree with four options. Option 1 would provide a pay annuity and medical benefits to the retiree (this is the current system). Option 2 would provide a pay lump sum in place of the, annuity and would offer medical benefits. Option 3 would offer the pay annuity but give a medical lump sum amount in place of the medical benefit. Finally, option 4 …

The Airlift Capabilities Estimation Prototype: A Case Study In Model Validation, Randy Mccanne

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the application of a life cycle approach to the validation of operational models. The classic waterfall life cycle from software engineering is adapted for use on mathematical models by defining four stages of model development. Each stage is discussed in detail and examples of the output from each stage are presented. In addition, techniques are investigated for applying the proposed life cycle to existing models through the recovery of life cycle stages. The methodology is applied to a linear programming model developed for planning airlift operations to demonstrate the power of the life cycle approach to validation. …

Automating The Satellite Range Scheduling Process, Timothy D. Gooley

Theses and Dissertations

Satellite range scheduling is a complex problem that involves scheduling satellite supports in which a satellite and a specific remote tracking station are assigned a time window during which they communicate with each other. As the number and complexity of satellite supports continue to increase, more pressure is placed on the current manual system to efficiently generate a schedule. The objective of this research was to develop a methodology that will automate the generation of the initial 24 hour schedule. The goal of the algorithm developed was to schedule as many conflict free supports as possible. A two phased approach …

Including Maximum Sustained Wind Speed In A Time Series Model To Forecast Hurricane Movement, Timothy B. Mott

Theses and Dissertations

Techniques for applying time series fundamentals to forecasting hurricane movement are thoroughly examined in this research. The objectives are: (1) to modify Dr. Thomas Curry's threshold autoregressive time series model to improve its ability to forecast hurricane movement, (2) to forecast the maximum sustained wind speed for a hurricane, and (3) to identify if wind speed should be included as an explanatory variable to aid in forecasting hurricane movement. Eleven different models to predict the latitude, longitude and maximum sustained wind speed are compared and contrasted with Curry's bivariate time series model. The results showed the modifications allow significant forecasting …

A Generalized Simulation Model For A Typical Medical Treatment Facility Obstetrical Unit, Annette M. Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop a decision support tool for users at Air Force Medical Treatment Facility obstetrical (OB) units. The immediate needs of the generalized simulation model contained in this research provide obstetrical wards with the capability to identify unit effectiveness as well as the ability to predict future performance. As a result of this model, decision-makers will now have access to information on system performance as well as insight into the effects of changing conditions. This model was formulated with the flexibility to be adapted to OB wards at regional and local hospitals throughout the …

Theater Airlifter Survivability On The Ground, Michael A. Silver

Theses and Dissertations

Airlifter attrition can severely decrease the throughput of cargo during extended airlift operations. Much work has been done to enhance the tactical airlifter survivability in the air but little study has gone into airlifter survivability on the ground. This thesis develops a method to measure the threat to parked aircraft from ground weapons. Specific scenarios cover airlifter mobility on the ground, time to off-load cargo, short-field takeoff capability and attack by infantry weapons. A weapon is examined at each of several firing ranges to target. The threat to the aircraft is measured as the probability that the aircraft is hit. …

A Modified Chi-Squared Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Three-Parameter Gamma Distribution With Unknown Parameters, Thomas J. Sterle

Theses and Dissertations

A modified chi-squared goodness-of-fit test was created for the gamma distribution in the case where all three parameters must be estimated from the sample. Critical values are generated using a Monte Carlo simulation procedure with 5000 repetitions each. Random samples of 8 different sizes were drawn from gamma distributions with shape parameters 1, 1.5, 2., and 2.5. The shape, scale, and location parameters were then estimated from each sample, using an iterative technique combining the maximum likelihood and minimum distance methods, enabling, computation of the chi-squared statistics and critical values. The same process is used to generate random samples, parameter …

A Comparison Of Variable Selection Criteria For Multiple Linear Regression: A Second Simulation Study, David P. Woollard

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis implements a variable selection method proposed by Alan J. Miller, and makes an extension of Ross J. Hansen's 1988 thesis research by comparing the methods he examined: Minimum MSE, Minimum Sp, and Minimum Cp with Miller's method. Response Surface methodology is employed with two performance measures: the percentage of correct variables in a model and the Theoretical Mean Squared Error of Prediction (TMSEP). Each technique is applied on generated data with known multicollinearities, variances, random predictors, and sample sizes. Both performance measures are computed for models selected under each technique. A full factorial design using each performance measure …

An Analysis Of The Generalized Lambda Distribution, Robert J. Bergevin

Theses and Dissertations

The Generalized Lambda Distribution (GLD) is a four parameter function that is capable of mimicking the behavior of a wide range of probability density functions (pdfs). Unfortunately, the GLD presently cannot model every possible type of pdf. Since the reasons for this limitation are unknown, this thesis examines several potential problems in an attempt to expand the range of distributions the GLD can mimic. We first present a discussion of the behavior of the algorithm that is used to search for the appropriate GLD parameter values. In particular, we examine the effect of using an unconstrained search to find the …

An Analysis Of Tactical Airlifter Characteristics And Their Impact On Theater Airlift System Performance, John J. Koger

Theses and Dissertations

This study used computer simulation and Response Surface Technology to determine what tactical airlifter characteristics most impact theater airlift system performance in a Southwest Asia (SWA) scenario. Some Aircraft characteristics were grouped into functional sets, while others were considered individually. After screening one characteristic, reliability, with a two-level factorial experiment, a Box-Behnken design was used to estimate second-order metamodels. A stepwise regression procedure indicated that, if attrition rates are ignored, airlift system performance is most impacted by the aircraft's size, survivability, cruise speed, and ability to operate on short fields. The SWA scenario used in this study covers a large …

Estimating Test Range Capacity, Paul A. Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The main focus of this thesis effort was to develop a means to estimate the capacity of the test range complex at Eglin AFB, Florida. For the purposes of this study, test range capacity was defined as the maximum number of missions, of a given set, that could possibly be supported by range resources on any given day. In trying to determine this number, the complexities of the overall multi-resource constrained scheduling problem dictated a more practical approach be taken in modeling the allocation process of range resources to test missions. Therefore, a series of three single-resource, 0-1 integer programming …

An Analysis Of The Ability Of Commercial Wargames To Fulfill The Education Requirements Of The Air Force Wargaming Center, Scott Goehring

Theses and Dissertations

It has been the contention of some that current commercial wargames could possibly fulfill the education requirements addressed by the Air Force Wargaming Center. The Wargaming Center, lacking the opportunity to conduct a thorough, in-house analysis of these commercial wargames, requested an independent evaluation be performed. This thesis identifies potential commercial wargames and provides an analysis of those wargames to determine their ability to educate senior military officers in the application of aerospace power. In addition, this thesis establishes a set of Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) against which future wargames can be easily evaluated. The MOEs were developed from the …

The Battle Of Little Round Top: An Analysis Of Battle Alternatives Through Commercial Wargames, John J. Mcguiness

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the problem of whether one can use commercial wargames as a tool for historical research. The research examines two wargames dealing with the battle of Little Round Top: Gettysburg: The Turning Point and Thunder at the Crossroads. This research emphasized the need to analyze the wargame's structure prior to playing the game. This will avoid a possible mistake of drawing a conclusion about a particular driver in the battle which may not be from the historical situation but rather an inevitable outcome produced by the model's basic assumptions. Additionally, quantitative measures of time lines, casualty rates, and …

An Empirical Evaluation Of Five Circular Error Probable Estimation Techniques And A Method For Improving Them, William L. Tongue

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared five CEP estimation techniques under the assumption that the crossrange and downrange miss distances of the sample data follow a bivariate normal distribution. The analysis determined the sensitivities of these models to changes in sample size, bias, correlation, and ellipticity in terms of three measures of effectiveness: Mean relative error (RE), variance of RE, and mean squared error (MSE) of RE. In general, it was found that sample size was the most significant parameter in determining the best CEP method. Mean RE provided a 'strong' distinction between estimators, while variance and MSE provided 'weak' distinctions between estimators. …

Acuta Enews February 1993, Vol. 22, No. 2

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Side

Region Director Nominations

President's column

Institutional Excellence Award

Drew Uinv. Voice Mail

New Publications Editor

Miami Univ. Voice Mail

Tampa Exhibits Review

Executive Director

Simulation Study For The Effect Of Dependencies In Queueing Systems, Yitao Bai

Theses

Few theoretical results have been obtained in the literature for the effects of dependencies between random variables on the performance of queueing systems. This thesis aims at investigating this issue via simulation. Several dependencies are studied in detail, including dependencies between interarrival times, between interarrival time and service time, between service times and dependencies between different stages in networks of queues. We define several classes of dependent random variables and study their correlation coefficients, then we apply them to single and multiple station service systems. Comparisons with the independent case, for which the explicit form solution are available, are made …

Measures For Estimating The Need For Flexibility In A Manufacturing Facility, Raghu Chilukuri

Theses

Manufacturing technology is in the midst of on-going developments stemming from rapid improvements in machine tools, computers and robots. These developments present engineers with greater challenges and opportunities in designing more complex and productive systems. The concept of flexibility was defined by authors like Jaikumar, Son & Park, and Buzacott. The various challenges can be partly over come by building flexibility into the various systems. Various operational or raw measures are described as they help managers to understand the kind and extent of flexibility embedded in their production process and allow them to make informal judgement on new equipment.

Various …

The Use Of A Factory Simulation To Evaluate A Flexible Control Structure For Integrated Manufacturing, Ling Ling Pan

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Once a control structure for an integrated manufacturing system is decided upon, manufacturing activities are limited by that structure. A flexible control structure is presented as an approach for accommodating a variety of manufacturing activities, without being limited to a single control structure. A flexible control structure is one that allows multiple types of control structure in the manufacturing process. For example, both hierarchical and non-hierarchical structures may be used in a flexible structure. The properties of a flexible control structure are discussed from the point of view of graph theory.

Control structures for automated manufacturing are difficult to evaluate …

Cultural Transposition: Exploring Meanings Of And Strategies For Cross-Cultural Transfer Of Organizational Practices, Yongming Tang

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The research objective is to study the phenomenon of transferring organizational practices which are conceptualized in one culture to another different culture. The purpose of the study is (1) to understand how cultural values and beliefs are manifested in behavior; (2) to explore how the Western organizational practices are interpreted and assimilated into an organization in an Eastern culture; and (3) to explore strategies for the fit between local cultural orientations and imported organizational practices. A qualitative, interpretive, and reflexive research methodology was developed to conduct this study.

The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase was designed …

Diffusion Of Total Quality Management: An Organizational Self-Production Perspective, Baizhong Zhao

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

American industries are in the process of a quality revolution. Most companies are busy implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) programs. However, the experience of both Japanese and American companies indicates that successful TQM implementation depends on an understanding of implementation processes, which itself relies on an understanding of organizational self-organizing, for it is through this process that TQM gets diffused and becomes a core component of an organization's culture. Self-organizing is a so-called process-oriented approach, based on theory from cybernetics (Ashby, 1962; Steier & Smith, 1985; von Foerster, 1960), dissipative structure theory (Prigogine & Stengers, 1984), and chaos theory (Gleick, …

Multidimensional Approach To Implementation Of Continuous Process Improvement Utilizing Small Run Analysis In A Shipyard Environment, Paul Ray Hollandsworth

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Nationally, both public and private shipyards are experiencing a high rework rate (over 40%) in the fabrication of plug connectors used for electronic systems onboard Navy vessels. The shipyard's survival depends on acquiring the elements necessary to maintain a major industry in a position of continuous improvement that produces a better product than their competitors, at less cost, in a safe manner, and on schedule.

This research addresses the complex problem of how to introduce quality control methodologies within a job shop environment that assists in identifying variables that influence the rework rate of plug fabrication process over a four …

Decision-Support Tools For Transferring Am/Fm/Gis To Small Communities, Steven W. Mccrary, Colin Othniel Benjamin, Peter J. Schmidt

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper examines several decision-support tools for transferring AM/FM/GIS technology to small communities. The term Computer-Assisted Spatial Information Systems (CASIS) provides a basis for a systematic categorization and definition of AM/FM/GIS systems that will serve to enhance small communities' understanding of these technologies for future decisions. The acronym CASIS includes such areas as database-management systems, automated mapping/facilities management/geographic information systems (AM/FM/GIS), and computer-aided drafting (CAD). Further, this paper reports the highlights of a survey that assesses the theory-practice gap in AM/FM/GIS usage among very small local government agencies. The survey uncovered an existing theory-practice gap: A, slow rate of system …

Introduction To Intellisim 2.0, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

IntelliSIM is a prototype for a new generation of knowledge-based simulation tool that has been developed by the Systems Simulation Laboratory at Arizona State University. This tool is a computer environment that allows non-simulation trained modelers to predict the performance of a manufacturing system for which the necessary data is available. The system provides predictive data on such items as throughput time, queue levels, equipment utilization, reactions to machine failures, etc. With IntelliSIM, the benefits of discrete-event simulation can be exploited without requiring the high level of expertise necessary to successfully conduct a sound simulation study. The approach offered with …

A Model Of Electronic Warfare Systems Acquisition And Engineering For Saudi Arabia, Negaa M. Albegami

Doctoral Dissertations

"A major activity within the systems engineering process is the requirements definition and analysis phase. In technical systems, planning this phase looks too technical for top management and too broad for the engineers specialized in narrow technical fields. This categorization (too technical/too broad) represents a gap between top management and specialized engineering. In Saudi Arabia, such a gap is believed to be very wide.

The main objective of this research is to find a way to narrow this gap between management and engineering when planning government systems, especially in electronic warfare (EW) systems. A solution in this effort is to …

Reliability Trend Analyses With Statistical Confidence Limits Using The Luke Reliability Trend Chart, Stephen R. Luke

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In electronic systems, it is interesting to understand exactly how the reliability is changing with time. Dynamic performance changes when a system passes from infant mortality stage into useful life phase and when the system passes from useful life phase into wearout phase. Dynamic performance also changes when the system is redesigned or when the system is acted on by a number of other outside forces such as a change in maintenance policy, escalation of alignment problems, or a change in training program. It is important to know when a system is changing dynamically in order to assess design, policy …

An Investigation Of Performance Appraisal With Recommendations For White Collar And Blue Collar Workers, Mark W. Alberts

Graduate Research Papers

The accurate evaluation of an employee's performance, whether it be a salary or wage worker, is one of the most challenging problems confronting any organization. According to Lazer (1977), which is still true today, performance appraisal is absolutely necessary if an organization is to prosper in the highly competitive world of modern business.

Regardless of all that has been written about the how and why of performance appraisal, there still seems to be constant problems and areas of clear disagreement. Published writings about performance appraisal cover approximately the past 30 years and deal mostly with private corporations. Before that, performance …

Acuta Enews December 1992, Vol. 21, No. 12

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Regulatory update

President's column

Dual routing protects Duke

Talking clock "tells" time

Seminar ratings

Director's column

Hands-On Structural Engineering Experiences With The "Anex" Mini-Laboratory, Richard A. Behr, Colin Othniel Benjamin, Azam A. Mirza

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The ANEX facility has been developed to allow nearly real-time comparisons of analysis results with experimental data gathered on small-scale structural models. ANEX has been used successfully for in-class demonstrations, student-designed experiments, and comprehensive design/build competitions in an introductory structural analysis course at the University of Missouri-Rolla. An expert system is now being developed to guide ANEX users and to act as a trouble-shooter and advisor in the event that analytical and experimental results do not correlate acceptably well. ANEX, using only simple, small-scale model structures, is able to enrich structural engineering instruction by introducing students to the sophisticated capabilities …