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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Review Of Computational Models For Large-Scale Mdao Of Urban Air Mobility Concepts, Darshan Sarojini, Marius L. Ruh, Jiayao Yan, Luca Scotzniovsky, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Ru Xiang, Han Zhao, Joshua J. Krokowski, Michael Warner, Sebastiaan Pc Van Schie, Ashley Cronk, Alexandre T. R. Guibert, Jeffrey T. Chambers, Lauren Wolfe, Rachel Doring, Robin Despins, Cibin Joseph, Ryan Anderson, Andrew Ning, Hyunjune Gill, Seongkyu Lee, Zeyu Cheng, Zhi Cao, Chunting Mi, Y Shirley Meng, Christopher Silva, Jiun-Shyan Chen, H. Alicia Kim, John T. Hwang Jan 2024

Review Of Computational Models For Large-Scale Mdao Of Urban Air Mobility Concepts, Darshan Sarojini, Marius L. Ruh, Jiayao Yan, Luca Scotzniovsky, Nicholas C. Orndorff, Ru Xiang, Han Zhao, Joshua J. Krokowski, Michael Warner, Sebastiaan Pc Van Schie, Ashley Cronk, Alexandre T. R. Guibert, Jeffrey T. Chambers, Lauren Wolfe, Rachel Doring, Robin Despins, Cibin Joseph, Ryan Anderson, Andrew Ning, Hyunjune Gill, Seongkyu Lee, Zeyu Cheng, Zhi Cao, Chunting Mi, Y Shirley Meng, Christopher Silva, Jiun-Shyan Chen, H. Alicia Kim, John T. Hwang

Faculty Publications

The advent of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has necessitated a paradigm shift in aircraft design from traditional regression methods to physics-based analysis and the use of modern computational methods. This paper explores the intricacies of UAM aircraft design, acknowledging the limitations of historical empirical equations and advocating for the use of physics-based tools in the early stages of the design process. It underscores the importance of Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimization (MDAO) as a means to integrate physics-based tools for conceptual design, facilitating decisions on configuration and sizing. The paper presents a comprehensive survey and review of computational models across …


Complete Solution Of The Lady In The Lake Scenario, Alexander Von Moll, Meir Pachter Jan 2024

Complete Solution Of The Lady In The Lake Scenario, Alexander Von Moll, Meir Pachter

Faculty Publications

In the Lady in the Lake scenario, a mobile agent, L, is pitted against an agent, M, who is constrained to move along the perimeter of a circle. L is assumed to begin inside the circle and wishes to escape to the perimeter with some finite angular separation from M at the perimeter. This scenario has, in the past, been formulated as a zero-sum differential game wherein L seeks to maximize terminal separation and M seeks to minimize it. Its solution is well-known. However, there is a large portion of the state space for which the canonical solution does not …


Low-Fidelity Design Optimization And Parameter Sensitivity Analysis Of Tilt-Rotor Evtol Electric Propulsion Systems, Tyler Critchfield, Andrew Ning Jan 2023

Low-Fidelity Design Optimization And Parameter Sensitivity Analysis Of Tilt-Rotor Evtol Electric Propulsion Systems, Tyler Critchfield, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Urban air mobility requires a multidisciplinary approach to tackle the important chal- lenges facing the design of these aircraft. This work uses low-to-mid fidelity tools to model rotor aerodynamics, blade structures, vehicle aerodynamics, and electric propulsion for a tilt-rotor electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. We use gradient-based design optimization and extensive parameter sensitivity analysis to explore the design space and complex tradeoffs of tilt-rotor distributed electric propulsion systems.


Sparsity For Gradient-Based Optimization Of Wind Farm Layouts, Benjamin T. Varela, Andrew Ning Jan 2023

Sparsity For Gradient-Based Optimization Of Wind Farm Layouts, Benjamin T. Varela, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Optimizing wind farm layouts is an important step in designing an efficient wind farm. Optimizing wind farm layouts is also a difficult task due to computation times increasing with the number of turbines present in the farm. The most computationally expensive part of gradient- based optimization is calculating the gradient. In order to reduce the expense of gradient calculation, we performed a study on the use of sparsity in wind farm layout optimization. This paper presents the findings of the sparsity study and provides a method to use sparsity in wind farm layout optimization. We tested this sparsity method by …


On The Synthesis Of Optimal Control Laws, Meir Pachter, Isaac E. Weintraub Dec 2021

On The Synthesis Of Optimal Control Laws, Meir Pachter, Isaac E. Weintraub

Faculty Publications

In this paper we advocate for Isaacs' method for the solution of differential games to be applied to the solution of optimal control problems. To make the argument, the vehicle employed is Pontryagin's canonical optimal control example, which entails a double integrator plant. However, rather than controlling the state to the origin, we correctly require the end state to reach a terminal set that contains the origin in its interior. Indeed, in practice, it is required to control to a prescribed tolerance rather than reach a desired end state; achieving tight tolerances is expensive, and from a theoretical point of …


Using Blade Element Momentum Methods With Gradient-Based Design Optimization, Andrew Ning May 2021

Using Blade Element Momentum Methods With Gradient-Based Design Optimization, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Blade element momentum methods are widely used for initial aerodynamic analysis of propellers and wind turbines. A wide variety of correction methods exist, but common to all variations, a pair of residuals are converged to ensure compatibility between the two theories. This paper shows how to rearrange the sequence of calculations reducing to a single residual. This yields the significant advantage that convergence can be guaranteed and to machine precision. Both of these considerations are particularly important for gradient- based optimization where a wide variety of atypical inputs may be explored, and where tight convergence is necessary for accurate derivative …


Unified Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm For Energy Efficient Job Shop Scheduling, Hongjong Wei, Shaobo Li, Huageng Quan, Dacheng Liu, Shu Rao, Chuanjiang Li, Jianjun Hu Apr 2021

Unified Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm For Energy Efficient Job Shop Scheduling, Hongjong Wei, Shaobo Li, Huageng Quan, Dacheng Liu, Shu Rao, Chuanjiang Li, Jianjun Hu

Faculty Publications

In recent years, people have paid more and more attention to traditional manufacturing’s environmental impact, especially in terms of energy consumption and related emissions of carbon dioxide. Except for adopting new equipment, production scheduling could play an important role in reducing the total energy consumption of a manufacturing plant. Machine tools waste a considerable amount of energy because of their underutilization. Consequently, energy saving can be achieved by switching machines to standby or off when they lay idle for a comparatively long period. Herein, we first introduce the objectives of minimizing non-processing energy consumption, total weighted tardiness and earliness, and …


Optimization Of Turbine Tilt In A Wind Farm, James Cutler, Andrew P.J. Stanley, Jared J. Thomas, Andrew Ning Jan 2021

Optimization Of Turbine Tilt In A Wind Farm, James Cutler, Andrew P.J. Stanley, Jared J. Thomas, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Wind farm power production is significantly affected by upstream turbines creating wakes of slower wind speeds that overlap the rotor swept areas of downstream turbines. By optimizing the tilt angle of the turbines in a farm, wakes may be deflected away from downstream turbines, increasing the overall energy production. In this study, we optimized the tilt angle of turbines in a wind farm to maximize energy production. We used an analytic wake model modified for gradient-based optimization to consider wake deflection from tilt. We considered optimizing the tilt angle of each turbine assuming that it remained fixed for the lifetime …


A Comparison Of Aerodynamic Models For Optimizing The Takeoff And Transition Of A Bi-Wing Tailsitter, Ryan Anderson, Jacob Willis, Jacob Johnson, Andrew Ning, Randal Beard Jan 2021

A Comparison Of Aerodynamic Models For Optimizing The Takeoff And Transition Of A Bi-Wing Tailsitter, Ryan Anderson, Jacob Willis, Jacob Johnson, Andrew Ning, Randal Beard

Faculty Publications

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft take advantage of distributed electric propulsion as well as aerodynamic lifting surfaces to take off vertically and perform long-duration flights. Complex aerodynamic interactions and a hard-to-predict transition maneuver from hover to wing-borne flight are one challenge in their development. To address this, we compare three different interaction models of varying fidelity for optimizing the transition trajectory of a biplane tailsitter. The first model accounts for simplified rotor-on-wing interactions using momentum theory, while the other two account for wing-on-wing interactions using a vortex lattice method and rotor-on-wing aerodynamic interactions using blade element momentum theory. …


Cost Analysis Of Optimized Islanded Energy Systems In A Dispersed Air Base Conflict, Jay F. Pearson, Torrey J. Wagner, Justin D. Delorit Sep 2020

Cost Analysis Of Optimized Islanded Energy Systems In A Dispersed Air Base Conflict, Jay F. Pearson, Torrey J. Wagner, Justin D. Delorit

Faculty Publications

The United States Air Force has implemented a dispersed air base strategy to enhance mission effectiveness for near-peer conflicts. Asset dispersal places many smaller bases across a wide geographic area, which increases resupply requirements and logistical complexity. Hybrid energy systems reduce resupply requirements through sustainable, off-grid energy production. This paper presents a novel hybrid energy renewable delivery system (HERDS) model capable of (1) selecting the optimal hybrid energy system design that meets demand at the lowest net present cost and (2) optimizing the delivery of the selected system using existing Air Force cargo aircraft. The novelty of the model’s capabilities …


Challenges To Levulinic Acid And Humins Valuation In The Sugarcane Bagasse Biorefinery Concept, Emília Savioli Lopes, Jean Felipe Leal Silva, Elmer Ccopa Rivera, Alana Petrina Gomes, Melina Savioli Lopes, Rubens Maciel Filho, Laura Plazas Tovar Sep 2020

Challenges To Levulinic Acid And Humins Valuation In The Sugarcane Bagasse Biorefinery Concept, Emília Savioli Lopes, Jean Felipe Leal Silva, Elmer Ccopa Rivera, Alana Petrina Gomes, Melina Savioli Lopes, Rubens Maciel Filho, Laura Plazas Tovar

Faculty Publications

© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. Levulinic acid (LA) is currently one of the most promising chemicals derived from biomass. However, its large-scale production is hampered by the challenges in biomass hydrolysis and the poor selectivity due to the formation of humins (HUs). This study addresses these challenges using the biorefinery concept of biomass fractionation. A three-step process (pretreatment, delignification, and acid-catalyzed conversion) was optimized to produce LA from SCB considering the yield (YLA), efficiency (ELA), and concentration of LA (CLA) as functions of temperature, reaction time, acid concentration, and solids loading. By means of a …


Survey Of 8 Uav Set-Covering Algorithms For Terrain Photogrammetry, Joshua Hammond, Cory Vernon, Trent Okeson, Benjamin Barrett, Samuel Arce, Valerie Newell, Joseph Janson, Kevin Franke, John Hedengren Jul 2020

Survey Of 8 Uav Set-Covering Algorithms For Terrain Photogrammetry, Joshua Hammond, Cory Vernon, Trent Okeson, Benjamin Barrett, Samuel Arce, Valerie Newell, Joseph Janson, Kevin Franke, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

Remote sensing with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) facilitates photogrammetry for environmental and infrastructural monitoring. Models are created with less computational cost by reducing the number of photos required. Optimal camera locations for reducing the number of photos needed for structure-from-motion (SfM) are determined through eight mathematical set-covering algorithms as constrained by solve time. The algorithms examined are: traditional greedy, reverse greedy, carousel greedy (CG), linear programming, particle swarm optimization, simulated annealing, genetic, and ant colony optimization. Coverage and solve time are investigated for these algorithms. CG is the best method for choosing optimal camera locations as it balances number of …


Efficient Incorporation Of Fatigue Damage Constraints In Wind Turbine Blade Optimization, Bryce Ingersoll, Andrew Ning Jan 2020

Efficient Incorporation Of Fatigue Damage Constraints In Wind Turbine Blade Optimization, Bryce Ingersoll, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Wind turbine design is a challenging multidisciplinary optimization problem, where the aerodynamic shapes, structural member sizing, and material composition must all be determined and optimized. Some previous blade design methods incorporate static loading with an added safety factor to account for dynamic effects. Others incorporate dynamic loading, but in general limit the evaluation to a few design cases. By not fully incorporating the dynamic loading of the wind turbine, the final turbine blade design is either too conservative by overemphasizing the dynamic effects or infeasible by failing to adequately account for these effects. We propose an iterative method that estimates …


Insulation Sensitivity Analysis For An Optimized Fabric Shelter Off-Grid Hybrid Energy System, Jay F. Pearson [*], Torrey J. Wagner, Steven Schuldt Oct 2019

Insulation Sensitivity Analysis For An Optimized Fabric Shelter Off-Grid Hybrid Energy System, Jay F. Pearson [*], Torrey J. Wagner, Steven Schuldt

Faculty Publications

During military and disaster relief operations, connecting to an established electrical grid is rarely an option. In these situations, camps consisting of poorly insulated fabric shelters are predominantly powered by inefficient diesel generators that require frequent fuel resupply. In order to reduce the fuel demand of these generators, camps may utilize photovoltaic-battery systems. This paper presents an innovative cost-performance model capable of optimizing solar array size, battery backup system, and shelter insulation type to minimize the operating cost of powering a single fabric shelter. Model performance was evaluated using one year of insolation, weather and energy requirement data from a …


Takeoff And Performance Tradeoffs Of Retrofit Distributed Electric Propulsion For Urban Transport, Kevin Moore, Andrew Ning Aug 2019

Takeoff And Performance Tradeoffs Of Retrofit Distributed Electric Propulsion For Urban Transport, Kevin Moore, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

While vertical takeoff and landing aircraft have shown promise for urban air transport, distributed electric propulsion on existing aircraft may offer immediately implementable alternatives. Distributed electric propulsion could potentially decrease takeoff distances enough to enable thousands of potential inter-city runways. This conceptual study explores the effects of a retrofit of open-bladed electric propulsion units. To model and explore the design space we use blade element momentum method, vortex lattice method, linear-beam finite element analysis, classical laminate theory, composite failure, empirically-based blade noise modeling, motor and motor-controller mass models, and gradient-based optimization. With liftoff time of seconds and the safe total …


An Examination Into The Defining Characteristics Of Flexible Solar Aircraft Configurations Through Optimization, Taylor Mcdonnell, Andrew Ning Jun 2019

An Examination Into The Defining Characteristics Of Flexible Solar Aircraft Configurations Through Optimization, Taylor Mcdonnell, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

This paper examines the defining characteristics of various solar aircraft configurations through gradient-based multidisciplinary design optimization. We first present a general gradient-based solar aircraft optimization framework which accounts for nonlinear aeroelastic effects resulting from structural flexibility. We then apply this framework to several discrete SR- HALE aircraft geometric, structural, and propulsion system configuration choices to determine the defining characteristics of each configuration choice.


Model Predictive Automatic Control Of Sucker Rod Pump System With Simulation Case Study, Brigham Hansen, Brandon Tolbert, Cory Vernon, John Hedengren Feb 2019

Model Predictive Automatic Control Of Sucker Rod Pump System With Simulation Case Study, Brigham Hansen, Brandon Tolbert, Cory Vernon, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

This work enables accelerated fluid recovery in oil and gas reservoirs by automatically controlling fluid height and bottomhole pressure in wells. Several literature studies show significant increase in recovered oil by determining a target bottomhole pressure but rarely consider how to control to that value. This work enables those benefits by maintaining bottomhole pressure or fluid height. Moving Horizon Estimation (MHE) determines uncertain well parameters using only common surface measurements. A Model Predictive Controller (MPC) adjusts the stroking speed of a sucker rod pump to maintain fluid height. Pump boundary conditions are simulated with Mathematical Programs with Complementarity Constraints (MPCCs) …


The Effect Of Communication And Vehicle Properties On The Search Performance Of A Swarm Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Jenna E. Newcomb, Andrew Ning Jan 2019

The Effect Of Communication And Vehicle Properties On The Search Performance Of A Swarm Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Jenna E. Newcomb, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm allows for a more time-efficient method of searching a specified area than a single UAV or piloted plane. There are a variety of factors that affect how well an area is surveyed. We specifically analyzed the effect both vehicle properties and communication had on the swarm search performance. We used non-dimensionalization to examine the effect vehicle properties had on search performance so the results can be applied to any domain size with any number and type of vehicle. We found that even if vehicles could only sense 10% of the grid area at any …


A Sustainable Prototype For Renewable Energy: Optimized Prime-Power Generator Solar Array Replacement, Nathan Thomsen, Torrey J. Wagner, Andrew J. Hoisington, Steven J. Schuldt Jan 2019

A Sustainable Prototype For Renewable Energy: Optimized Prime-Power Generator Solar Array Replacement, Nathan Thomsen, Torrey J. Wagner, Andrew J. Hoisington, Steven J. Schuldt

Faculty Publications

Remote locations such as disaster relief camps, isolated arctic communities, and military forward operating bases are disconnected from traditional power grids forcing them to rely on diesel generators with a total installed capacity of 10,000 MW worldwide. The generators require a constant resupply of fuel, resulting in increased operating costs, negative environmental impacts, and challenging fuel logistics. To enhance remote site sustainability, planners can develop stand-alone photovoltaic-battery systems to replace existing prime power generators. This paper presents the development of a novel cost-performance model capable of optimizing solar array and Li-ion battery storage size by generating tradeoffs between minimizing initial …


Gekko Optimization Suite, Logan Beal, Daniel Hill, Ronald Abraham Martin, John Hedengren Jul 2018

Gekko Optimization Suite, Logan Beal, Daniel Hill, Ronald Abraham Martin, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

This paper introduces GEKKO as an optimization suite for Python. GEKKO specializes in dynamic optimization problems for mixed-integer, nonlinear, and differential algebraic equations (DAE) problems. By blending the approaches of typical algebraic modeling languages (AML) and optimal control packages, GEKKO greatly facilitates the development and application of tools such as nonlinear model predicative control (NMPC), real-time optimization (RTO), moving horizon estimation (MHE), and dynamic simulation. GEKKO is an object-oriented Python library that offers model construction, analysis tools, and visualization of simulation and optimization. In a single package, GEKKO provides model reduction, an object-oriented library for data reconciliation/model predictive control, and …


Simplex Solutions For Optimal Control Flight Paths In Urban Environments, Michael D. Zollars, Richard G. Cobb, David J. Grymin Aug 2017

Simplex Solutions For Optimal Control Flight Paths In Urban Environments, Michael D. Zollars, Richard G. Cobb, David J. Grymin

Faculty Publications

This paper identifies feasible fight paths for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems in a highly constrained environment. Optimal control software has long been used for vehicle path planning and has proven most successful when an adequate initial guess is presented flight to an optimal control solver. Leveraging fast geometric planning techniques, a large search space is discretized into a set of simplexes where a Dubins path solution is generated and contained in a polygonal search corridor free of path constraints. Direct optimal control methods are then used to determine the optimal flight path through the newly defined search corridor. Two scenarios …


Improving The Floris Wind Plant Model For Compatibility With Gradient-Based Optimization, Jared Thomas, Pieter Gebraad, Andrew Ning Aug 2017

Improving The Floris Wind Plant Model For Compatibility With Gradient-Based Optimization, Jared Thomas, Pieter Gebraad, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

The FLOw Redirection and Induction in Steady-state (FLORIS) model, a parametric wind turbine wake model that predicts steady state wake characteristics based on wind turbine position and yaw angle, was developed for optimization of control settings and turbine locations. This paper provides details on the recent changes made to the FLORIS model to make the model more suitable for gradient-based optimization. Changes to the FLORIS model were made to remove discontinuities and add curvature to regions of non-physical zero gradient. Exact gradients for the FLORIS model were obtained using algorithmic differentiation. A set of three case studies demonstrate that using …


Optimization Under Uncertainty For Wake Steering Strategies, Julian Quick, Jennifer Annoni, Ryan King, Katherine Dykes, Paul Fleming, Andrew Ning May 2017

Optimization Under Uncertainty For Wake Steering Strategies, Julian Quick, Jennifer Annoni, Ryan King, Katherine Dykes, Paul Fleming, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Wind turbines in a wind power plant experience significant power losses because of aerodynamic interactions between turbines. One control strategy to reduce these losses is known as 'wake steering,' in which upstream turbines are yawed to direct wakes away from downstream turbines. Previous wake steering research has assumed perfect information, however, there can be significant uncertainty in many aspects of the problem, including wind inflow and various turbine measurements. Uncertainty has significant implications for performance of wake steering strategies. Consequently, the authors formulate and solve an optimization under uncertainty (OUU) problem for finding optimal wake steering strategies in the presence …


Polynomial Chaos For The Computation Of Annual Energy Production In Wind Farm Layout Optimization, Santiago Padrón, Andrew P.J. Stanley, Jared Thomas, Juan Alonso, Andrew Ning Oct 2016

Polynomial Chaos For The Computation Of Annual Energy Production In Wind Farm Layout Optimization, Santiago Padrón, Andrew P.J. Stanley, Jared Thomas, Juan Alonso, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Careful management of wake interference is essential to further improve Annual Energy Production (AEP) of wind farms. Wake effects can be minimized through optimization of turbine layout, wind farm control, and turbine design. Realistic wind farm optimization is challenging because it has numerous design degrees of freedom and must account for the stochastic nature of wind. In this paper we provide a framework for calculating AEP for any relevant uncertain (stochastic) variable of interest. We use Polynomial Chaos (PC) to efficiently quantify the effect of the stochastic variables—wind direction and wind speed—on the statistical outputs of interest (AEP) for wind …


Comparison Of Two Wake Models For Use In Gradient-Based Wind Farm Layout Optimization, Jared Thomas, Eric Tingey, Andrew Ning Jul 2015

Comparison Of Two Wake Models For Use In Gradient-Based Wind Farm Layout Optimization, Jared Thomas, Eric Tingey, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Wind farm layout has a significant impact on the productivity of a wind farm. To ensure that the turbines are placed in the most advantageous arrangement, optimization algorithms are often used during the layout design process. Depending on the wake model used for the optimization, optimizing the layout can be time intensive or potentially inaccurate. In this paper we present a comparison of optimization results using two simple wake models, the FLORIS model and the Jensen model. Results highlight some of the key similarities and differences of layout optimization results when different wake models are used.


Optimal Trajectory Generation Using Model Predictive Control For Aerially Towed Cable Systems, Liang Sun, John Hedengren, Randal W. Beard Jan 2014

Optimal Trajectory Generation Using Model Predictive Control For Aerially Towed Cable Systems, Liang Sun, John Hedengren, Randal W. Beard

Faculty Publications

This paper studies trajectory generation for a mothership that tows a drogue using a flexible cable. The contributions of this paper include model validation for the towed cable system described by a lumped mass extensible cable using flight data, and optimal trajectory generation for the towed cable system with tension constraints using model predictive control. The optimization problem is formulated using a combination of the squared error and l1-norm objective functions. Different desired circular trajectories of the towed body are used to calculate optimal trajectories for the towing vehicle subject to performance limits and wind disturbances. Trajectory generation for transitions …


Constrained Control And Optimization Of Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells For Extending Cell Lifetime, Ben Spivey, John Hedengren, Thomas F. Edgar Jul 2012

Constrained Control And Optimization Of Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells For Extending Cell Lifetime, Ben Spivey, John Hedengren, Thomas F. Edgar

Faculty Publications

Extending fuel cell lifetime is a necessary objective for reducing fuel cell power generation cost of electricity. Capital costs comprise the most significant fraction of the cost of electricity. Reducing the frequency of fuel cell replacement can be achieved by implementing a control strategy that prevents excursions into operating regions causing failure. In this paper we implement a constrained MIMO model predictive controller (MPC) to avoid the failure modes relevant for a high-temperature tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system while performing load-following. The primary causes of failure are catalyst poisoning, fuel or air starvation, carbon deposition, and microcracking. Prior …


Optimization Of Nano-Magneto-Optic Sensitivity Using Dual Dielectric Layer Enhancement, Aaron R. Hawkins, J. D. Maas, S. Wang, A. Barman, Holger Schmidt, S. Kwon, B. Harteneck, S. Cabrini, J. Bokor Jun 2007

Optimization Of Nano-Magneto-Optic Sensitivity Using Dual Dielectric Layer Enhancement, Aaron R. Hawkins, J. D. Maas, S. Wang, A. Barman, Holger Schmidt, S. Kwon, B. Harteneck, S. Cabrini, J. Bokor

Faculty Publications

We discuss maximization of the sensitivity of magneto-optical detection of single nanomagnets. We show that a combination of optimized dielectric coating on the magnets with an antireflection coated substrate can increase the areal magneto-optic sensitivity by about three orders of magnitude in the deep nanometer range. A dual layer nanofabrication process is developed to implement this approach, and magnetization switching of single nickel nanomagnets with 50 nm diameter is demonstrated.


Gradient-Based Non-Linear Microstructure Design, Brent L. Adams, M. Lyon Apr 2004

Gradient-Based Non-Linear Microstructure Design, Brent L. Adams, M. Lyon

Faculty Publications

The support of this research by the Army Research Office is gratefully acknowledged. M. Lyon is supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Fourier analysis is implemented on the orientation distribution of a polycrystalline microstructure. The linearity and convexity of the Fourier space, with respect to orientation, allows one to consider all possible distributions by considering all linear combinations of single-grain orientations. The limits of the Fourier space are therefore defined by the solutions to a set of linear programming problems. A unique approach to the linear programming, similar to the Krylov subspace methods for obtaining solutions to …


Microstructure-Sensitive Design Of A Compliant Beam, Brent L. Adams, Alisa J. Millar Henrie, B. Henrie, M. Lyon, H. Garmestani, Surya R. Kalidindi Jan 2001

Microstructure-Sensitive Design Of A Compliant Beam, Brent L. Adams, Alisa J. Millar Henrie, B. Henrie, M. Lyon, H. Garmestani, Surya R. Kalidindi

Faculty Publications

BA acknowledges financial support provided by the MRSEC Program of the National Science Foundation under Award Number DMR-9632556. SK acknowledges financial support from National Science Foundation under Award Number CMS-9732699. BA, SK and HG also acknowledge support from the NSF-CIRE program centered at Florida A&M University, facilitating collaborations. Support was also provided by the College of Engineering and Technology at BYU (AH, BH and ML). Computations were performed on the new SGI Origin 2000 supercomputer at Brigham Young University, donated by Ira Fulton. We show that mechanical design can be conducted where consideration of polycrystalline microstructure as a continuous design …