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Articles 31 - 60 of 151
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Integrated Systems Health Management As An Enabler For Condition Based Maintenance And Autonomic Logistics, Robert M. Vandawalker
Integrated Systems Health Management As An Enabler For Condition Based Maintenance And Autonomic Logistics, Robert M. Vandawalker
Theses and Dissertations
Health monitoring systems have demonstrated the ability to detect potential failures in components and predict how long until a critical failure is likely to occur. Implementing these systems on fielded structures, aircraft, or other vehicles is often a struggle to prove cost savings or operational improvements beyond improved safety. A system architecture to identify how the health monitoring systems are integrated into fielded aircraft is developed to assess cost, operations, maintenance, and logistics trade-spaces. The efficiency of a health monitoring system is examined for impacts to the operation of a squadron of cargo aircraft revealing sensitivity to and tolerance for …
Multi-Mode Analysis Of Dual Ridged Waveguide Systems For Material Characterization, Jason G. Crosby
Multi-Mode Analysis Of Dual Ridged Waveguide Systems For Material Characterization, Jason G. Crosby
Theses and Dissertations
In this dissertation, two nondestructive dual ridged waveguide (DRWG) material characterization systems are investigated. The single and clamped DRWG probe geometries were analyzed in previous work; however, that research only incorporated the dominant DRWG mode. Here, that restriction is removed and the existence of evanescent higher- order modes is considered. Theoretical analysis of the single and clamped DRWG probes is presented and discussed. The approach taken here is similar to that presented in previous research: Love's equivalence theorem is used to remove the DRWG apertures which are replaced with equivalent magnetic currents radiating in the presence of the background parallel-plate …
Novel Applications Of A Thermally Tunable Bistable Buckling Silicon-On-Insulator (Soi) Microfabricated Membrane, Robert A. Lake
Novel Applications Of A Thermally Tunable Bistable Buckling Silicon-On-Insulator (Soi) Microfabricated Membrane, Robert A. Lake
Theses and Dissertations
Buckled membranes are commonly used microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures. Recent work has demonstrated that the deflection and stiffness of these membranes can be tuned through localized joule heating. These devices were implemented into the design and fabrication of two novel device applications, a tunable pressure sensor and a steerable micromirror. A differential pressure across the membrane causes de reflection, up or down, which can be measured and related to a specific pressure. By tuning the stiffness of the membrane, its pressure response is varied providing a wider range of application for the pressure sensor. A 2.0mm by 2.0mm square membrane …
Novel Techniques For Secure Use Of Public Cloud Computing Resources, Kyle E. Stewart
Novel Techniques For Secure Use Of Public Cloud Computing Resources, Kyle E. Stewart
Theses and Dissertations
The federal government has an expressed interest in moving data and services to third party service providers in order to take advantage of the flexibility, scalability, and potential cost savings. This approach is called cloud computing. The thesis for this research is that efficient techniques exist to support the secure use of public cloud computing resources by a large, federated enterprise. The primary contributions of this research are the novel cryptographic system MA-AHASBE (Multi-Authority Anonymous Hierarchical Attribute-Set Based Encryption), and the techniques used to incorporate MA-AHASBE in a real world application. Performance results indicate that while there is a cost …
Exploitation Of Unintentional Ethernet Cable Emissions Using Constellation Based-Distinct Native Attribute (Cb-Dna) Fingerprints To Enhance Network Security, Timothy J. Carbino
Exploitation Of Unintentional Ethernet Cable Emissions Using Constellation Based-Distinct Native Attribute (Cb-Dna) Fingerprints To Enhance Network Security, Timothy J. Carbino
Theses and Dissertations
This research contributed to the AFIT's Radio Frequency Intelligence (RFINT) program by developing a new device discrimination technique called Constellation-Based Distinct Native Attribute (CB-DNA) Fingerprinting. This is of great interest to the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Sensor Directorate, who supported the research and now have new method for improving network security. CB-DNA fingerprints are used to authenticate wired network device identities, thwart unauthorized access, and augment traditional bit-level security measures that area easily bypassed by skilled hackers. Similar to human fingerprint features that uniquely identify individuals, CB-DNA uniquely identifies communication devices and improves the rate at which unauthorized rogue …
Grabbing The Air Force By The Tail: Applying Strategic Cost Analytics To Understand And Manage Indirect Cost Behavior, Bradley C. Boehmke
Grabbing The Air Force By The Tail: Applying Strategic Cost Analytics To Understand And Manage Indirect Cost Behavior, Bradley C. Boehmke
Theses and Dissertations
Recent and projected reductions in defense spending are forcing the military services to develop systematic approaches to identify cost reduction opportunities and better manage financial resources. In response, the Air Force along with her sister services are developing strategic approaches to reduce front-line mission resources, commonly referred to as the Tooth . However, an underemphasized contributing source of costs are mission support activities, commonly referred to as the Tail . With the tail historically representing a sizable portion of the annual Air Force budget, strategically managing cost behavior of these indirect activities has the opportunity to generate significant cost reductions. …
Multidimensional Analysis Of Nuclear Detonations, Robert C. Slaughter
Multidimensional Analysis Of Nuclear Detonations, Robert C. Slaughter
Theses and Dissertations
The focus of this research is to develop the methods for 3-dimensional reconstructions and temperature distributions of early time nuclear fireballs. Initial developments have resulted in the first 2-dimensional temperature distribution of a nuclear fireball using digitized film. This same process was then extended to perform the first limb darkening calculations of nuclear fireballs. Limb darkening coefficients were then used to derive a temperature profile of the nuclear fireball as a function of optical path length. A 3-dimensional reconstruction was performed using a variation of a structure from illuminance technique in combination with limb darkening coefficients to produce structure using …
Evaluation Of Control Inputs On The Spin Recovery Of The 8kcab Super Decathlon, Courtney Allen
Evaluation Of Control Inputs On The Spin Recovery Of The 8kcab Super Decathlon, Courtney Allen
Theses and Dissertations
The current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) response to stall/spin related accidents is prevention through pilot awareness training and encouraging stall proof aircraft design features. Aircraft have an inherent capability to spin. The controls that influence spin recovery have yet to be quantitatively analyzed in a regression analysis. This thesis presents the regression modeling and validation process for the evaluation of control inputs on the spin recovery of the 8KCAB Super Decathlon. The regression models in this thesis explore the control inputs for factors of: rudder, elevator, and aileron. Additionally, this thesis explores the timing of the control inputs factors for …
Corrosion Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior At Notched Hole In 7075-T6 Under Biaxial And Uniaxial Fatigue With Different Phases, Ali Khawagi
Theses and Dissertations
This research investigates fatigue crack propagation behavior in both air and saltwater (3.5% NaCl) environments from pre-cracked notched circular hole in a 7075-T6 cruciform specimen. With stress ratio of 0.5, biaxility stress ratio of unity, and frequency of applied load of 10 Hz, the crack growth behavior was investigated under in-plane biaxial tension-tension fatigue with 45⁰, 90⁰ and 180⁰ phase difference conditions and then compared to previous fatigue tests with no phase difference to study the effect of changing the phase differences between the applied loads on the crack growth rate. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to calculate cyclic …
Improved Terahertz Modulation Using Germanium Telluride (Gete) Chalcogenide Thin Films, Alexander H. Gwin, Christopher H. Kodama, Tod V. Laurvick, Ronald Coutu Jr., Philip F. Taday
Improved Terahertz Modulation Using Germanium Telluride (Gete) Chalcogenide Thin Films, Alexander H. Gwin, Christopher H. Kodama, Tod V. Laurvick, Ronald Coutu Jr., Philip F. Taday
Faculty Publications
We demonstrate improved terahertz (THz) modulation using thermally crystallized germanium telluride (GeTe) thin films. GeTe is a chalcogenide material that exhibits a nonvolatile, amorphous to crystalline phase change at approximately 200 °C, as well as six orders of magnitude decreased electrical resistivity. In this study, amorphous GeTe thin films were sputtered on sapphire substrates and then tested using THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). The test samples, heated in-situ while collecting THz-TDS measurements, exhibited a gradual absorbance increase, an abrupt nonvolatile reduction at the transition temperature, followed by another gradual increase in absorbance. The transition temperature was verified by conducting similar thermal …
Modal Characterization Of A Piezoelectric Shaker Table, Randall J. Hodkin
Modal Characterization Of A Piezoelectric Shaker Table, Randall J. Hodkin
Theses and Dissertations
Piezoelectric actuated shaker tables are often used for high frequency fatigue testing. Since natural frequencies can appear in the operating range of these shaker tables, it is necessary to conduct modal characterization of the system before testing. This thesis describes the design and experimental validation of a mechanical model used for modal analysis of a piezoelectric shaker table. A commercially available three-dimensional scanning device was used to produce a point cloud model of the surface geometry, which was converted to a solid model and imported into a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) package for modal analysis. Using a laser vibrometer to …
Effect Of Prior Exposure At Elevated Temperatures On Tensile Properties And Stress-Strain Behavior Of Four Non-Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composites, Sarah M. Wallentine
Effect Of Prior Exposure At Elevated Temperatures On Tensile Properties And Stress-Strain Behavior Of Four Non-Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composites, Sarah M. Wallentine
Theses and Dissertations
Thermal stability of four non-oxide ceramic matrix composites was studied. The materials studied were commercially available composites: SiC/SiNC; C/SiC; C/SiC-B4C (C/HYPR-SiCTM); and SiC/SiC-B4C (SiC/HYPR-SiCTM). COI Ceramics manufactured the SiC/SiNC and C/SiC composites using polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP). The C/HYPR-SiCTM and SiC/HYPR-SiCTM CMCs were manufactured by Hyper-Therm High-Temperature Composites using chemical vapor infiltration (CVI). All four composites rely on a dense matrix for strength, stiffness, and oxidation protection. Fiber coating provides a fiber-matrix interface that allows fiber-matrix debonding and fiber pullout to occur, imparting fracture toughness to the CMC. The SiC/SiNC, C/SiC, and C/HYPR-SiC …
Simulation Of Metal Particulates In High Energetic Materials, Eduardo Nieto
Simulation Of Metal Particulates In High Energetic Materials, Eduardo Nieto
Theses and Dissertations
This research focused on analyzing the effects of aluminum in high explosives such as PBX9501 using the MPEXS computational simulation code for a wide range of metalized explosive cases. The varying parameters are aluminum particle diameter and mass fraction of aluminum. The addition of metal particulates in explosive mixtures increases the density of the shock wave, causing a higher pressure in the shock. It was concluded that pressure and density steadily increases as the Al particle diameter increases, and pressure and density decreases when Al mass fraction increases. The concentrated pressures will dissipate quickly due to the high density, providing …
Supply Chain Interoperability Measurement, Christos E. Chalyvidis
Supply Chain Interoperability Measurement, Christos E. Chalyvidis
Theses and Dissertations
Academia recognizes that although supply chains have an inherent need to be validated for their performance, supply chain performance measurement systems are still inadequate and one of the major barriers to successful supply chain collaboration. In this research, theory of Systems Architecture is used to make the first step towards an innovative supply chain performance measure defined as supply chain interoperability. Interoperability is considered a similarity metric with regard to a set of deterministic and stochastic characters (criteria) describing supply chain participants, a methodology that adapts and expands an interoperability measurement tool initially developed in and for a military context. …
A Method To Predict Compressor Stall In The Tf34-100 Turbofan Engine Utilizing Real-Time Performance Data, Shuxiang A. Li, Trevor G. Jones
A Method To Predict Compressor Stall In The Tf34-100 Turbofan Engine Utilizing Real-Time Performance Data, Shuxiang A. Li, Trevor G. Jones
Theses and Dissertations
The Air Force current operations continue to undergo significant changes compelled by decreasing fiscal appropriations, aging aircraft, and personnel drawdown. The Air Force must effectively improve current maintenance operations in part to deal with these challenges. This study will explore the area of the A-10 aircraft fleet's TF34-100 high-pass turbo-fan engine sensor data to seek its deterioration modelling and prognostics capability. In futurity this will allow for achievement of greater confidence in predicting the compressor stall which leads to engine performance deterioration and a costly repair in maintenance. By utilizing an innovative method to forecast the probability of compressor stall, …
An Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Air Force Risk Management Practices In Program Acquisition Using Survey Instrument Analysis, Michael J. Maroney Jr.
An Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Air Force Risk Management Practices In Program Acquisition Using Survey Instrument Analysis, Michael J. Maroney Jr.
Theses and Dissertations
Air Force acquisition programs invest a large amount of resources to develop and field systems. Many of these resources go to risk management in order to help ensure those programs finish successfully with respect to cost, schedule, and technical performance goals. The question arises as to whether this is a sound investment. Although risk management has been shown to be effective in industry, scant empirical evidence exists for its effectiveness within the Air Force. Correlation and regression analysis of survey data show that a positive relationship does exist between specific risk practices and project success. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that …
Creep Of Sylramic-Ibn Fiber Tows At Elevated Temperature In Air And In Silicic Acid-Saturated Steam, Kevin B. Sprinkle
Creep Of Sylramic-Ibn Fiber Tows At Elevated Temperature In Air And In Silicic Acid-Saturated Steam, Kevin B. Sprinkle
Theses and Dissertations
Stressed oxidation experiments on Sylramic-iBN fiber tows were performed to evaluate the novel fiber's mechanical performance, creep behavior, and creep mechanisms. This research effort investigated creep response of Sylramic-iBN fiber tows at elevated temperatures in both air and in silicic acid-saturated steam environments. Creep experiments were conducted at creep stresses ranging from 127 to 762 MPa at 400°C and 500°C in order to examine the mechanical behavior of the Sylramic-iBN fiber tows at temperatures below and above the melting point of boria (450°C). Sylramic-iBN fibers are known to have excellent creep resistance, better than most other non-oxide fibers and significantly …
Topology Optimization Of An Aircraft Wing, David L. Walker
Topology Optimization Of An Aircraft Wing, David L. Walker
Theses and Dissertations
A Topology Optimization (TO) was conducted on an aircraft wing in order to mathematically determine an ideal structural case for future aircraft. TO generally involves iteratively reducing individual elemental density until the desired mass or volume constraint is met. Two different TO styles where approached: a global three-dimensional concept and a more traditional two-dimensional rib and spar optimization which more closely mimics the baseline model. All optimizations were compared against a baseline wing for von-Mises stress, displacement, and buckling. The objective of this research was to develop a design procedure maintaining the baseline structural integrity of the wing while reducing …
Exhaust Composition In A Small Internal Combustion Engine Using Ftir Spectroscopy, Kevin P. Horn
Exhaust Composition In A Small Internal Combustion Engine Using Ftir Spectroscopy, Kevin P. Horn
Theses and Dissertations
The mission-specific needs of small, remotely piloted aircraft demand lighter, more efficient engines with increased performance for their propulsion systems. A wide range of experimental efforts were undertaken to further the ability to obtain performance data on small engines as well as to develop understanding of their operation. Data were collected to quantify friction losses present in the dynamometer drivetrain on the small engine research bench. A correction and calibration model was developed for brake power collected by the dynamometer. Mechanical efficiencies for 28 cm3, 55 cm3 and 85 cm3 engines were 92.4%, 91.3% and 89.7%, respectively. Maximum fuel conversion …
Generation Of Strategies For Environmental Deception In Two-Player Normal-Form Games, Howard E. Poston
Generation Of Strategies For Environmental Deception In Two-Player Normal-Form Games, Howard E. Poston
Theses and Dissertations
Methods of performing and defending against deceptive actions are a popular field of study in game theory; however, the focus is mostly on action deception in turn-based games. This work focuses on developing strategies for performing environmental deception in two-player, strategic-form games. Environmental deception is defined as deception where one player has the ability to change the other's perception of the state of the game through modification of their perception of the game's payoff matrix, similar to the use of camouflage. The main contributions of this research are an expansion of the definition of the stability of a Nash equilibrium …
Coupling Nuclear Induced Phonon Propagation With Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Michael J. Parker
Coupling Nuclear Induced Phonon Propagation With Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Michael J. Parker
Theses and Dissertations
Mössbauer spectroscopy is a very sensitive measurement technique (10-8 eV) which prompted motivation for the experiment described in this thesis. Namely, can a sensitive detection system be developed to detect nuclear recoils on the order of 10 to 100 of eVs? The hypothesis that this thesis tests is: Nuclear induced phonon bursts caused by Rutherford scattered alphas, decayed from 241Am, in a type-310 stainless steel material can couple with 7.3 keV conversion electron Mössbauer events at the other end of the material which will have a statistically significant effect on a Mössbauer spectrum. The phonon bursts produced by …
A System Dynamics Approach To The Efficacy Of Oxime Therapy In Sub Lethal Exposure To Sarin Gas, Daniel J. Droste
A System Dynamics Approach To The Efficacy Of Oxime Therapy In Sub Lethal Exposure To Sarin Gas, Daniel J. Droste
Theses and Dissertations
The 2010 National Security Strategy states, The effective dissemination of a lethal agent would endanger the lives of thousands of people and have unprecedented economic, societal, and political consequences. We must continue to work at home with first responders and health officials to reduce the risk associated with high-consequence threats . Nerve agents, such as Sarin gas, are considered high consequence threats. The threat of use of agents such as Sarin is as much a threat today as any other time in our history. However, the suggested treatment protocol is not as precise as it could be. Debate exists over …
Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of The F-15e Risk Management During Peacetime Operations, Elliot B. Vasquez
Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of The F-15e Risk Management During Peacetime Operations, Elliot B. Vasquez
Theses and Dissertations
Human factors are causal or contributory in 80% of Class A mishaps in the Air Force. Risk management tools are used throughout the service in every aircraft to help mitigate the risk of those human factors occurring. The F-15E Strike Eagle community was selected for analysis on the effectiveness of its risk management program but the data was comprised on Class A mishaps from Accident Investigation Boards since 2000 between the F-15 (all models), F-16 (all models), and F-22. Cases were selected if there were human factors root causes or contributory. A fault tree analysis coupled with the Department of …
Orbit Estimation Of Non-Cooperative Maneuvering Spacecraft, Gary M. Goff
Orbit Estimation Of Non-Cooperative Maneuvering Spacecraft, Gary M. Goff
Theses and Dissertations
Due to the ever increasing congestion of the space environment, there is an increased demand for real-time situation awareness of all objects in space. An unknown spacecraft maneuver changes the predicted orbit, complicates tracking, and degrades estimate accuracies. Traditional orbit estimation routines are implemented, tested, and compared to a multiple model format that adaptively handles unknown maneuvers. Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation is implemented in an original way to track a non-cooperative satellite by covariance inflation and filtering-through a maneuver. Parameters for successful instantaneous maneuver reconstruction are analyzed. Variable State Dimension estimation of a continuously maneuvering spacecraft is investigated. A requirements …
Intrinsic Physical Layer Authentication Of Integrated Circuits, William E. Cobb, Michael A. Temple, Rusty O. Baldwin, Eric W. Garcia, Eric D. Lapse
Intrinsic Physical Layer Authentication Of Integrated Circuits, William E. Cobb, Michael A. Temple, Rusty O. Baldwin, Eric W. Garcia, Eric D. Lapse
AFIT Patents
A system and method of generating and comparing a fingerprint for an integrated circuit is provided. A sensor module captures electromagnetic emissions from the integrated circuit. A feature extraction module extracts discriminating features from the captured electromagnetic emissions. A classifier training module generates a plurality of authentication fingerprints of the integrated circuit from the extracted discriminating features creating a reference fingerprint template for the integrated circuit. The reference template for the integrated circuit is stored in a database. For authentication, the reference fingerprint template from the database is compared to the generated authentication fingerprint.
Global Navigation Satellite System Signal Decomposition And Parameterization Algorithm, Marshall E. Haker, John F. Raquet
Global Navigation Satellite System Signal Decomposition And Parameterization Algorithm, Marshall E. Haker, John F. Raquet
AFIT Patents
A method and apparatus is provided for intra-PIT signal decomposition of a signal received with RF front end hardware. The method begins by aligning a signal received by RF front end hardware into integer multiples of a duration of a pseudorandom noise code sequence. A search grid is computed based on an integer multiple of the aligned signal. A plurality of initial ray parameters associated with the computed search grid is coarsely estimated. Using the coarsely estimated plurality of initial ray parameters, a fine estimation of the plurality of initial ray parameters is initiated utilizing stochastic search and optimization techniques. …
Impact Of Prognostic Uncertainty In System Health Monitoring, Robert M. Vandawalker, David R. Jacques, Jason K. Freels
Impact Of Prognostic Uncertainty In System Health Monitoring, Robert M. Vandawalker, David R. Jacques, Jason K. Freels
Faculty Publications
Across many industries, systems are exceeding their intended design lives, whether they are ships, bridges or military aircraft. As a result failure rates can increase and unanticipated wear or failure conditions can arise. Health monitoring research and application has the potential to more safely lengthen the service life of a range of systems through utilization of sensor data and knowledge of failure mechanisms to predict component life remaining. A further benefit of health monitoring when combined across an entire platform is system health management. System health management is an enabler of condition based maintenance, which allows repair or replacement based …
Interstitial Silicon Ions In Rutile Tio2 Crystals, Eric M. Golden, Nancy C. Giles, Shan Yang, Larry E. Halliburton
Interstitial Silicon Ions In Rutile Tio2 Crystals, Eric M. Golden, Nancy C. Giles, Shan Yang, Larry E. Halliburton
Faculty Publications
Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used to identify a new and unique photoactive silicon-related point defect in single crystals of rutile TiO2. The importance of this defect lies in its assignment to interstitial silicon ions and the unexpected establishment of silicon impurities as a major hole trap in TiO2. Principal g values of this new S=1/2 center are 1.9159, 1.9377, and 1.9668 with principal axes along the [¯110],[001], and [110] directions, respectively. Hyperfine structure in the EPR spectrum shows the unpaired spin interacting equally with two Ti nuclei and unequally with two Si nuclei. These silicon …
Theoretical Limits Of Lunar Vision Aided Navigation With Inertial Navigation System, David W. Jones
Theoretical Limits Of Lunar Vision Aided Navigation With Inertial Navigation System, David W. Jones
Theses and Dissertations
The precision navigation capabilities of the Global Positioning System (GPS) are used extensively within US military operations. However, GPS is highly vulnerable to intentional and unintentional external interference. Therefore, a need exists to develop a non-GPS precision navigation method to operate in GPS degraded environments. This research effort presents the theoretical limits of a precision navigation method based on an inertial navigation system (INS) aided by angle measurements with respect to lunar surface features observed by a fixed camera. To accomplish this task, an extended Kalman filter (EKF) was implemented to estimate INS drift errors and bring in simulated lunar …
Precision Relative Positioning For Automated Aerial Refueling From A Stereo Imaging System, Kyle P. Werner
Precision Relative Positioning For Automated Aerial Refueling From A Stereo Imaging System, Kyle P. Werner
Theses and Dissertations
The United States Air Force relies upon aerial refueling to fulfill its missions. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) do not currently have access to this capability due to the lack of an on-board pilot to safely maintain a refueling position. This research examines stereo vision for precision relative navigation in order to accomplish the Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) task. Previous work toward an AAR solution has involved the use of Differential Global Positioning (DGPS), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and monocular vision. This research aims to leverage organic systems in future aircraft to compliment these solutions. …