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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Articles 5581 - 5610 of 5697

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Analysis And Testing Of A Bistatic Radar Cross Section Measurement Capability For The Afit Anechoic Chamber, Timothy D. Mccool Dec 1990

Analysis And Testing Of A Bistatic Radar Cross Section Measurement Capability For The Afit Anechoic Chamber, Timothy D. Mccool

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort examined the feasibility of performing bistatic radar cross section (RCS) measurements in the AFIT anechoic chamber. The capability was established to measure the bistatic RCS of a target versus frequency and versus target azimuth angle. In either case, one of three bistatic angles (angle between transmit and receive antennas) is available: 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 135 degrees. Accurate bistatic RCS measurements were obtained using a CW radar and utilizing background subtraction, bistatic calibration, and software range gating. Simple targets were selected for validation purposes since their bistatic RCS could be predicted. These consisted of spheres and …

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Moving-Bank Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation And Control Applied To A Large Flexible Space Structure, Robert B. Moyle Dec 1990

Moving-Bank Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation And Control Applied To A Large Flexible Space Structure, Robert B. Moyle

Theses and Dissertations

The performance of moving-bank multiple model adaptive estimation (MMAE) and control (MMAC) algorithms for large space structure control is analyzed in this thesis. The performance of a six-state filter model and associated controller are evaluated on the basis of estimation/control performance against a 24-estate truth model. A model developed using finite element analysis is used to approximate a large flexible space structure. The space structure is configured as a two-bay truss which is attached to a large central hub, where the mass of the hub is considered to be much more larger than the mass of the flexible structure. The …

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Kalman Filter Tracking Of A Reflective Target Using Forward Looking Infrared Measurements And Laser Illumination, Roger J. Evans Dec 1990

Kalman Filter Tracking Of A Reflective Target Using Forward Looking Infrared Measurements And Laser Illumination, Roger J. Evans

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates Kalman filter tracking of a missile hardbody, at a range of 2,000 kilometers, using forward looking infrared (FLIR) measurements and low-energy laser illumination of the missile hardbody. A missile reflectivity model provides realism in the simulation. The tracking scenario uses one filter, provided with FLIR measurements, to estimate the intensity centroid location of the missile's plume. A second, independent, filter estimates the center-of-mass of the missile hardbody. The center-of-mass measurements provided to this filter are computed from information gathered by scanning a low-energy laser along the first filter's estimate of the missile velocity vector. Single scans of …

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Feasibility Analysis Of Developing A Formal Performance Model Of Ada Tasking, Kathryn J. Edwards Dec 1990

Feasibility Analysis Of Developing A Formal Performance Model Of Ada Tasking, Kathryn J. Edwards

Theses and Dissertations

As software system requirements become more complex, software engineers must carefully design the systems to ensure the systems to ensure the systems adequately meet all requirements, both functional and non-functional. Because real-time systems have timing constraints, in addition to the more traditional behavioral constraints, a comprehensive software design analysis model is required which incorporate performance, timing, and behavioral constraints. Although the Ada language tasking constructs are compiler independent, Ada tasking is dependent on its runtime environment; therefore, a formal model of Ada tasking and its associated runtime environment is important in order for system designers to make realistic decisions when …

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Digital Control Of The Utah/Mit Dexterous Hand: Initial Evaluation And Analysis, Lloyd W. Rainey Iii Dec 1990

Digital Control Of The Utah/Mit Dexterous Hand: Initial Evaluation And Analysis, Lloyd W. Rainey Iii

Theses and Dissertations

An experimental digital platform is developed as an environment on which to evaluate digital control strategies for dexterous manipulation with a pneumatically actuated tendon-driven manipulator. This environment is used to begin the study of advanced control methods that are suitable for providing the tracking accuracy required for grasping and dexterous manipulation with a pneumatically actuated tendon-driven end-effector. The digital platform consists of a PC/AT-386 and a single board MC68020 microcomputer in a VME chassis with shared RAM between the two processors to control the Utah/MIT Dexterous Hand (UMDH). The MC68020 controls the A/D and D/A access for the UMDH, while …

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Rule-Based Frequency Domain Speech Coding, Vance M. Mcmillan Dec 1990

Rule-Based Frequency Domain Speech Coding, Vance M. Mcmillan

Theses and Dissertations

A speech processing system is designed to simulate the transmission of speech signals using a speech coding scheme. The transmitter portion of the simulation extracts a minimized set of frequencies in Fourier space which represents the essence of each of the speech timeslices. These parameters are then adaptively quantized and transmitted to a receiver portion of the coding scheme. The receiver then generates an estimate of the original timeslice from the transmitted parameters using a sinusoidal speech model. After initial design, the thesis investigates how each of the design parameters affect the human perceived quality of speech. This is done …

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Multi-Input Multi-Output Flight Control System Design For The Yf-16 Using Nonlinear Qft And Pilot Compensation, Russell B. Miller Dec 1990

Multi-Input Multi-Output Flight Control System Design For The Yf-16 Using Nonlinear Qft And Pilot Compensation, Russell B. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Nonlinear Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) and pilot compensation techniques are used to design a 2x2 flight control system for the YF-16 aircraft over a large range of plant uncertainty. The design is based on numerical input- output time histories generated with a FORTRAN implemented nonlinear simulation of the YF-16. The first step of the design process is the generation of a set of equivalent linear time-invariant (LTI) plant models to represent the actual nonlinear plant. It has been proven that the solution to the equivalent plant problem is guaranteed to solve the original nonlinear problem. Standard QFT techniques are then …

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Pulsed Compression For Aerosol Ranging With Coherent Pulse-Doppler Lidar Systems, Jerry L. Rogers Dec 1990

Pulsed Compression For Aerosol Ranging With Coherent Pulse-Doppler Lidar Systems, Jerry L. Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides a thorough review of conventional matched filter radar theory as it applies to aerosol sensing lidar. Basic matched-filter radar theory and the complex, dense aerosol target model eventually lead to a general derivation of the matched-filter radar receiver response to a dense aerosol target environment. The matched-filter response is obtained in terms of a two dimensional convolution of the target scattering function and the radar ambiguity function. The range and radial velocity resolution of various radar signals were compared using the matched-filter radar receiver and scattering function models. Pulse compression radar signals were compared to the simple …

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The Radar Range Equation For The Detection Of Steady Targets In Weibull Clutter, Leon C. Rountree Dec 1990

The Radar Range Equation For The Detection Of Steady Targets In Weibull Clutter, Leon C. Rountree

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the detection characteristics of a steady target immersed in radar clutter characterized by returns statistically modeled according to a Weibull probability density function are developed. A detector model is developed by modifying an envelope detection scheme used to detect deterministic signals in Gaussian noise. By examining the statistics of the detector output under alternate hypotheses, an expression for the probability of detection (P sub d) is developed in terms of the probability of false alarm (P sub fa), the signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR), and the Weibull skewness parameter (b), which is a function of the type of terrain …

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Te Scattering From A Dielectric Coated Conducting Strip, William D. Wood Jr. Dec 1990

Te Scattering From A Dielectric Coated Conducting Strip, William D. Wood Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Consider a plane wave incident on a conducting strip of infinite length coated on one side with a thin, uniform coating of lossless dielectric, and let the incident magnetic field vector be parallel to the edges of the strip. From first principles we develop the integral equations relating the total, incident, and scattered fields in the dielectric. We expand the fields in the dielectric slab as the sum of three plane waves (the 'forced' wave and two oppositely-directed surface waves). The phase constants in the x and y directions are known and the wave amplitudes are found using least-squared- error-point-matching. …

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An Evaluation Of An Ada Implementation Of The Rete Algorithm For Embedded Flight Processors, F. Jesse Fanning Dec 1990

An Evaluation Of An Ada Implementation Of The Rete Algorithm For Embedded Flight Processors, F. Jesse Fanning

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to design and develop an expert system shell in Ada, and to evaluate the shell's execution and size performance to determine its suitability for real-time operation on the MIL-STD-1750A embedded flight processor. The expert system shell uses the CLIPS/Ada inference engine, a forward-chaining Ada implementation of Rete. The expert system shell design is presented along with an overview of the target environment--the MIL-STD-1750A VHSIC Avionic Modular Processor (VAMP) running under the Ada Avionics Real-Time Software (AARTS) Operating System. Theoretical and empirical complexity analyses of the inference engine are presented and discussed in view of …

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Automatic Flight Control System Design For An Unmanned Research Vehicle Using Discrete Quantitative Feedback Theory, David G. Wheaton Dec 1990

Automatic Flight Control System Design For An Unmanned Research Vehicle Using Discrete Quantitative Feedback Theory, David G. Wheaton

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the application of non-minimum phase (NMP) w'- plane discrete MIMO (multiple-input-multiple-output) Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) to the design of a three-axis rate-commanded automatic flight control system for an unmanned research vehicle (URV). The URV model used has seven inputs and three outputs derived from the small-angle perturbation equations of motion. Plant parameter uncertainty consists of six flight conditions derived from variations in the aircraft center of gravity, airspeed, and gross weight. A weighting matrix delts is used to post-multiply the plants for blending the seven effector inputs into three effective rate-command inputs and resulting in an effective …

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Characterization Of Radar Signals Using Neural Networks, Daniel R. Zahirniak Dec 1990

Characterization Of Radar Signals Using Neural Networks, Daniel R. Zahirniak

Theses and Dissertations

Recent work concerning artificial neural networks has focused on decreasing network training times. Kernel Classifier networks, using radial basis functions (RBFs) as the kernel function, can be trained quickly with little performance degradation. Short training times are critical for systems which must adapt to changing environments. The function of Kernel Classifier networks is based on the principle that multivariate functions can be approximated via linear combinations of RBFs. RBFs can also perform probability density estimations, making classifications approximating a Baye's optimal descriminant. Methods used to set the RBF centers included matching the training data, Kohonen Training, K-Means Clustering and placement …

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Fluorescent Lifetime Measurements Of Rare Earth Elements In Gallium Arsenide, Danny J. Topp Dec 1990

Fluorescent Lifetime Measurements Of Rare Earth Elements In Gallium Arsenide, Danny J. Topp

Theses and Dissertations

Lifetime measurements of the excited states of three GaAs semiconductors doped with the rare earth elements Erbium (ER), Praseodymium (Pr) , and Thulium (Tm) has been studied using a pulsed nitrogen laser and germanium detector. The measurements were made with an experimental set up with a system response time of 0.34 micro seconds. A 330 milliwatt nitrogen laser with a wavelength of 3370 angstrums was used to excite transitions of the rare earth elements.

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Low Temperature Photoluminescence Study Of Holmium And Thulium Implanted Into Iii-V Semiconductors And Silicon, Eric Silkowski Dec 1990

Low Temperature Photoluminescence Study Of Holmium And Thulium Implanted Into Iii-V Semiconductors And Silicon, Eric Silkowski

Theses and Dissertations

Low temperature photoluminescence studies were performed on holmium implanted into InP, GaAs, and Si; and thulium implanted into AlGaAs, GaAs, and Si. Samples were annealed by the conventional furnace and rapid thermal techniques. None of the characteristic 4f emissions of holmium were found in the spectral region of .73 to 1.55 eV. AlGaAs:Tm showed strong thulium emissions in the .93 to 1.03 eV region. These emissions were studied and compared to those in GaAs:Tm. Low and high temperature annealed samples showed evidence of trivalent Tm centers. Temperature dependence studies showed that thulium 4f emissions were present above 200 K but …

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Multidisciplinary Modeling And Design Of A Space Structure, Brian K. Cassiday, Lawrence L. Gatchet, John T. Tester, Stephen O. Gaines Ii, Mario N. Moya Dec 1990

Multidisciplinary Modeling And Design Of A Space Structure, Brian K. Cassiday, Lawrence L. Gatchet, John T. Tester, Stephen O. Gaines Ii, Mario N. Moya

Theses and Dissertations

A method is needed to simultaneously integrate several engineering disciplines into one complete model to determine the performance of the system as a whole during the design development. System engineering methodologies are particularly suited to this problem. These methods provide a structured approach to problem formulation and system parameter identification. Bond graphs are also well suited as bond graphs model power flow and energy relationships within subsystems, a characteristic inherent to all dynamic systems. The intent of this research was to demonstrate the use of concurrent engineering theory to systematically model a large flexible space structure involving several engineering disciplines. …

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Development Of An Image Registration Technique For Polar-Orbiting Satellites, Jerry L. Mehlberg Dec 1990

Development Of An Image Registration Technique For Polar-Orbiting Satellites, Jerry L. Mehlberg

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, a means to perform spatial registration (gridding) of meteorological satellite data is developed. It is applicable to Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) data from the TIROS-N series polar-orbiting satellites operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This technique does not require the use of ground control points. Registration is accomplished using an advanced orbital model to precisely compute the satellite's location based on NORAD two-line element sets and the time of the image. This technique is examined for accuracy and sensitivity to errors in the element set and satellite attitude control. This study involves over 70 …

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Model-Based Reasoning In The Detection Of Satellite Anomalies, Ralph W. Dries Dec 1990

Model-Based Reasoning In The Detection Of Satellite Anomalies, Ralph W. Dries

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic fault detection and recovery would be a mandatory requirement for a satellite where some degree of autonomy is required. This thesis reviews some AI techniques used for the detection of satellite anomalies, and concludes that the model-based reasoning paradigm is best suited for automated on-board fault detection because it can cope with situations not necessarily programmed into the knowledge base. Using the Scheme language and its SCOOPS object oriented extension, development of software is described that models the pitch control channel in the attitude and velocity control subsystem of a typical geo-stationary communications satellite. This model is used by …

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An Analysis Of The Effects Of Phenytoin In Treating Motion Sickness And The Effects Of Motion Sickness On The Human Electroencephalogram, Todd M. Banducci Dec 1990

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Phenytoin In Treating Motion Sickness And The Effects Of Motion Sickness On The Human Electroencephalogram, Todd M. Banducci

Theses and Dissertations

This research had two goals: to continue the ongoing research at AFIT to determine the efficacy of the anticonvulsant drug phenytoin in combating the onset and progression of motion sickness; and to note whether or not there is a discernable similarity in the brains of the test subjects to indicate a common point of origin (epicenter) and propagation pattern of the effects of motion sickness in the brain. Eight male DOD personnel were used as subjects to complete twelve trials. Four subjects completed the phenytoin verses placebo double-blind crossover experiment. These four subjects experienced a 99% mean increase in their …

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Improving Reliability In A Stochastic Communication Network, William L. Gaught Dec 1990

Improving Reliability In A Stochastic Communication Network, William L. Gaught

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the behavior of increasing the reliability of components in stochastic communication networks. A stochastic communication network is one in which the components, links and nodes, are not 100 percent reliable. In addition the reliability value, each component also has a capacity value that limits the flow through the component. The throughput in a stochastic communication network can be improved by increasing the capacity or the reliability of the individual components. A set of linear and nonlinear models was developed to determine the best investment strategy for increasing the reliability of individual components. Once the models were developed, …

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Measuring The Effectiveness Of Space: Satellite Weather Systems, Steven T. Wilson Dec 1990

Measuring The Effectiveness Of Space: Satellite Weather Systems, Steven T. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Using concepts from multivariate utility theory, basic orbital mechanics, and information regarding operational and planned meteorological satellites, this thesis develops a meaningful MOE to support high-level decision making regarding the allocation, acquisition, and operational deployment of space meteorological satellite (METSAT) assets. Satellite meteorological systems were chosen because of the ready availability of pertinent unclassified data. However, the methodology presented may be applied to any type of space system.

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An Aluminum Salvage Station For The External Tank (Asset), James N. Haislip Jr., William C. Raynes Jr., David L. Van Matte, Roger E. Linscott, Michael A. Skinner Dec 1990

An Aluminum Salvage Station For The External Tank (Asset), James N. Haislip Jr., William C. Raynes Jr., David L. Van Matte, Roger E. Linscott, Michael A. Skinner

Theses and Dissertations

The external tank is currently the only non-reusable portion of the National Space Transportation System. The tank has 98% of the energy required to be placed in orbit at the point it is jettisoned. The purpose of this study is to develop techniques which would transform this throw-away item into a source of construction material at low earth orbit. A simulation is developed to verify the reduction timelines and peak power requirements for manual and automated reduction. The required tools to accomplish the tasks of initial cutting, product transport, spray on foam insulation removal, and product storage are developed. A …

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Application Of Influence Diagrams In Identifying Soviet Satellite Missions, Cary C. Chun Dec 1990

Application Of Influence Diagrams In Identifying Soviet Satellite Missions, Cary C. Chun

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the feasibility of applying influence diagrams to capture expert knowledge and incorporate decision theory to construct a Soviet satellite mission prediction model. Before a Soviet launch occurs, formulations of the model's prior probability distribution allows the input of expert knowledge and any available information. As the predictive variables of the model become known, the information is used to successively refine the estimate of the probable mission, thereby, reducing the uncertainty in the model. Discretizing is used to approximate continuous variables as discrete variables which successfully allows the combination of both variable types in a single influence diagram …

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A Correlation And Forecasting Analysis On Lost Satellites, Kenneth R. Norton Dec 1990

A Correlation And Forecasting Analysis On Lost Satellites, Kenneth R. Norton

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between the size of the United States Air Force Space Command's lost satellite lists and thirteen other variables is investigated. The thirteen variables contain the Space Surveillance Center crew's effort to work the lost list, solar activity, geomagnetic field strength, and the number of observations received each day from seven space track sensors. To identify the relationship of cause and effect between the lost lists and the thirteen variables, simple and multiple linear regressions are used on a data set that begins on 1 January 1988 and ends on 31 December 1988. Multiple linear regression and basic time-series …

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Debris Production In Hypervelocity Impact Asat Engagements, Stephen K. Remillard Dec 1990

Debris Production In Hypervelocity Impact Asat Engagements, Stephen K. Remillard

Theses and Dissertations

This study reviews laboratory experiments on hypervelocity impacts and applies the results from those experiments to predict the mass of debris produced, the number of particles, and the size distribution of the debris particles produced in an ASAT engagement using kinetic energy weapons. The three possible types of hypervelocity collisions are discussed and parameters are provided that will help predict what type of collisions will occur between a given projectile and a target satellite. Once the collision type is determined, various equations are supplied which can be used to calculate debris mass, etc. Next, a notional attack between a miniature …

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Proposed Design Of A Tactical Reconnaissance Satellite System, John D. T. Severance Dec 1990

Proposed Design Of A Tactical Reconnaissance Satellite System, John D. T. Severance

Theses and Dissertations

Tactical reconnaissance is a much needed wartime asset, yet with the deactivation of all active-duty RF-4C squadrons world-wide there appears to be a gap in this country's war-fighting capability. This study proposes a system which utilizes a constellation of small tactical satellites and mobile ground receiving stations that can fulfill the tactical reconnaissance mission. A literature review gives background information on resolution variables, the RF-4C, space reconnaissance, and sensing technologies. After defining system requirements and constraints, a basic system concept is determined. Three alternative systems, separated mostly by threat scenario, technology, and cost, are evaluated using Athey's Systematic Systems Approach. …

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Adaptive Filtering And Smoothing For Tracking A Hypersonic Aircraft From A Space Platform, Kenneth A. Gotski Dec 1990

Adaptive Filtering And Smoothing For Tracking A Hypersonic Aircraft From A Space Platform, Kenneth A. Gotski

Theses and Dissertations

This study took a previously developed six state Kalman filter (designed for space-based tracking of a hypersonic transatmospheric vehicle), tuned it, and performed a Monte Carlo analysis. Three multiple model adaptive filters were then developed, with sub-filters designed for quiescent periods and periods with apparent acceleration. Next, a smoother was developed using the six state filter as the forward filter and a form of that same filter as the backward filter. The smoother and all of the above filters were compared for their ability to most accurately estimate the transatmospheric vehicle's state, with special emphasis on the acceleration states. This …

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A Numerical Investigation Of The Series Reversion/Inversion And Series Reversion Of Lambert's Time Function, Michael P. Ward Dec 1990

A Numerical Investigation Of The Series Reversion/Inversion And Series Reversion Of Lambert's Time Function, Michael P. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

An expression for the semi-major axis as a function of time may be determined by performing a series reversion and inversion of Lambert's Time Function. Since the resulting series contains a singularity, it is desirable to perform only a reversion on the original series to obtain an expression for the inverse of the semi-major axis. Using a Lagrange expansion to obtain the coefficients for this series is very computer intensive. Therefore, alternative methods are presented. Also, each series was expanded into a continued fraction which provided greater accuracy than the series using the same number of coefficients. The accuracy was …

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Material Properties Of Silicon Carbide Fibers With Continuously Applied Sol-Gel Alumina Coatings, Christian C. Daehnick Dec 1990

Material Properties Of Silicon Carbide Fibers With Continuously Applied Sol-Gel Alumina Coatings, Christian C. Daehnick

Theses and Dissertations

An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of non-alpha- alumina coatings applied under varying conditions on some of the properties of silicon carbide fibers. Limited characterization of the coating by optical, scanning electron, and transmitted electron microscopy as well as energy- dispersive x-ray analysis was performed. Tensile tests were used to determine changes in elastic modulus, ultimate strength, and strain to failure of the coated fibers relative to uncoated fibers. The coatings were found to lower the mean value of the measured properties as their thickness increased, but the measurements were not accurate enough to determine if this corresponded …

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Analysis Of Periodic Orbits About The Martian Moons By Continuation Techniques, Frank Luria Dec 1990

Analysis Of Periodic Orbits About The Martian Moons By Continuation Techniques, Frank Luria

Theses and Dissertations

From a few known periodic orbits of Phobos and Deimos, continuation techniques were used to find entire families of stable orbits. These techniques involved varying a parameter, the Hamiltonian, of the system and analyzing how the orbital behavior changed with the parameter. Floquet multipliers, for stability analysis, were also computed. AUTO86, a continuation/bifurcation software package, was used in this study. Artificial energy dissipation had to be added to the conservative Hamiltonian system to enable use of AUTO.

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