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Articles 781 - 810 of 5699

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Interdependent Infrastructure Recovery Using Multilayered Networks And Optimization, Brigham A. Moore Sep 2021

Interdependent Infrastructure Recovery Using Multilayered Networks And Optimization, Brigham A. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

Interdependent infrastructure recovery modeling and simulation are complicated due to various interdependent connections and complexities. Current efforts have identified both operational and restoration interdependency subtypes and coupling strategies that have not been integrated into one comprehensive model. This research presents a model which simultaneously integrates nine interdependency subtypes and four coupling strategies in a multi-objective format to provide the most tailorable and comprehensive network-based recovery model available. This research also created a defense-centric interdependent infrastructure database by modifying the existing CLARC database. This research then addressed assumptions regarding recovery work management in order to address the impact of work crew …


Performance Improvement Through Better Understanding Of Supply Chain Resilience, Amanda L. Femano Sep 2021

Performance Improvement Through Better Understanding Of Supply Chain Resilience, Amanda L. Femano

Theses and Dissertations

Businesses operate every day in a disruptive environment. Supply and demand uncertainty, natural disasters, global pandemics, and mishaps can all cause chaos to a supply chain’s flow. It is impossible to predict every disruption a supply chain may encounter. The best an organization can do to protect network performance is to build resilience in the supply chain and life-blood of its operations. Ensuring that a supply chain has the proper built-in mechanisms to resist and recover from disruptions is referred to as Supply Chain Resilience (SCR). While it is generally agreed that SCR can be improved through the implementation of …


Optimal Incorporation Of Non-Traditional Sensors Into The Space Domain Awareness Architecture, Albert R. Vasso Sep 2021

Optimal Incorporation Of Non-Traditional Sensors Into The Space Domain Awareness Architecture, Albert R. Vasso

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Government is the world’s de facto provider of space object cataloging data, but is challenged to maintain pace in an increasingly complex space environment. This work advances a multi-disciplinary approach to better understand and evaluate an underexplored solution recommended by national policy, in which current collection capabilities are augmented with non-traditional sensors. System architecting and literature identify likely needs, performance measures, and contributors to a conceptualized Augmented Network. Multiple hypothetical telescope architectures are modeled and simulated on four separate days throughout the year, then evaluated against performance measures and constraints using optimization. Decision analysis and Pareto optimality …


Collaborative All-Source Navigation With Integrity, Jonathon S. Gipson Sep 2021

Collaborative All-Source Navigation With Integrity, Jonathon S. Gipson

Theses and Dissertations

The novel ARMAS-SOM framework fuses collaborative all-source sensor information in a resilient manner with fault detection, exclusion, and integrity solutions recognizable to a GNSS user. This framework uses a multi-filter residual monitoring approach for fault detection and exclusion and is augmented with an additional "observability" EKF sub-layer for resilience. We monitor the a posteriori state covariances in this sub-layer to provide intrinsic awareness when navigation state observability assumptions required for integrity are in danger. This is used to selectively augment the framework with offboard information to preserve resilience. By maintaining split parallel collaborative and proprioceptive estimation instances and employing a …


Improvements To Emissive Plume And Shock Wave Diagnostics And Interpretation During Pulsed Laser Ablation Of Graphite, Timothy I. Calver Sep 2021

Improvements To Emissive Plume And Shock Wave Diagnostics And Interpretation During Pulsed Laser Ablation Of Graphite, Timothy I. Calver

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation covers nanosecond pulsed laser ablation of graphite for 4-5.7 J/cm2 fluences with 248 nm and 532 nm lasers in 1-180 Torr helium, argon, nitrogen, air, and mixed gas. Three experiments were performed to improve the interpretation of common diagnostics used to characterize pulsed laser ablation, find simple but universal scaling relationships for comparing dynamics across different materials and ablation conditions, and provide a systematic analysis of graphite emissive plume and shock wave dynamics. A scaling of the Sedov-Taylor energy ratio was developed and validated for a range of studies despite differences in wavelength, pulse duration, fluence, and …


Application Of Vortex Tubes To Gas Turbine Film Cooling, Matthew N. Fuqua Sep 2021

Application Of Vortex Tubes To Gas Turbine Film Cooling, Matthew N. Fuqua

Theses and Dissertations

To improve thermal efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, gas turbine engines typically operate at increasingly higher turbine inlet temperatures--well in excess of turbine blade material limits--and film cooling schemes are normally employed to reduce metal temperatures within acceptable limits and prevent structural failure. Cooling requirements vary across a blade surface, but there currently exists no means by which coolant temperatures can be locally adjusted to facilitate optimized usage across a blade. Ranque-Hilsch vortex tubes were investigated as a means of adjusting coolant temperatures solely by fluidic means, induced by the phenomenon of temperature separation. Analytical frameworks were developed to determine …


Pseudospectral Methods Of Robust Optimal Motion Planning For Multi-Aperture Space Systems With Motion And Vibration Compensation, Brian W. Bishop Sep 2021

Pseudospectral Methods Of Robust Optimal Motion Planning For Multi-Aperture Space Systems With Motion And Vibration Compensation, Brian W. Bishop

Theses and Dissertations

For multi-body, flexible systems, the ability to achieve rapid reorientation maneuvers can be impacted by nonlinear dynamics and uncertainty in the model parameters impacting the ability to achieve an optimal trajectory computed using nominal parameter values. Trajectory sensitivity to parameter variations increases final pointing error and residual vibrational energy in the system. This manuscript explores using pseudospectral methods to generate robust optimal control trajectories minimizing trajectory sensitivity to parameter variations and derives maneuvers minimizing residual energy and pointing error. The robustness of open-loop optimal control is compared to a standard maneuver derived using traditional methods demonstrating the ability to simultaneously …


Neutron Energy Tuning Assemblies For Nuclear Weapon Environment Applications At The National Ignition Facility, Nicholas J. Quartemont Sep 2021

Neutron Energy Tuning Assemblies For Nuclear Weapon Environment Applications At The National Ignition Facility, Nicholas J. Quartemont

Theses and Dissertations

An energy tuning assembly was developed to spectrally shape the National Ignition Facility deuterium-tritium fusion neutron source to a notional thermonuclear and prompt fission neutron spectrum to fulfill neutron source capability gaps. The experimental neutron environment was characterized with activation dosimetry, neutronics and covariance models, and unfolded to determine the as-fielded neutron spectrum. The first energy tuning assembly was demonstrated to create synthetic spectrally accurate post-detonation fission products, enhancing U.S. technical nuclear forensics capabilities. ATHENA, a second-generation energy tuning assembly, was also optimized to meet similar objectives, but the new platform neutron fluence efficiency was increased by a factor of …


Enterprise Resource Allocation For Intruder Detection And Interception, Adam B. Haywood Sep 2021

Enterprise Resource Allocation For Intruder Detection And Interception, Adam B. Haywood

Theses and Dissertations

This research considers the problem of an intruder attempting to traverse a defender's territory in which the defender locates and employs disparate sets of resources to lower the probability of a successful intrusion. The research is conducted in the form of three related research components. The first component examines the problem in which the defender subdivides their territory into spatial stages and knows the plan of intrusion. Alternative resource-probability modeling techniques as well as variable bounding techniques are examined to improve the convergence of global solvers for this nonlinear, nonconvex optimization problem. The second component studies a similar problem but …


Evaluating Testing Procedures For Openflow Controller Network Re-Provisioning Time, Steven J. Jensen Sep 2021

Evaluating Testing Procedures For Openflow Controller Network Re-Provisioning Time, Steven J. Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Software-Defined Networking promises several advantages over traditional networking architectures, but has seen little adoption. Recently codified controller evaluation methodologies have seen little validation without strong statistical analysis of the results. The research developed an environment testing implementing a published Network Re-provisioning Time methodology to evaluate five OpenFlow controllers. The methodology is strong with required parameters but had issues with some edge cases. Further refinement and adding a convergence metric may close the gaps.


Deep Learning For Weather Clustering And Forecasting, Nathaniel R. Beveridge Sep 2021

Deep Learning For Weather Clustering And Forecasting, Nathaniel R. Beveridge

Theses and Dissertations

Clustering weather data is a valuable endeavor in multiple respects. The results can be used in various ways within a larger weather prediction framework or could simply serve as an analytical tool for characterizing climatic differences of a particular region of interest. This research proposes a methodology for clustering geographic locations based on the similarity in shape of their temperature time series over a long time horizon of approximately 11 months. To this end an emerging and powerful class of clustering techniques that leverages deep learning, called deep representation clustering (DRC), are utilized. Moreover, a time series specific DRC algorithm …


New Methods In Wavelet Analysis For Applications Of The Wavelet Transform, Jeffrey D. Williams Sep 2021

New Methods In Wavelet Analysis For Applications Of The Wavelet Transform, Jeffrey D. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

A commonality in the many applications and domains where signal processing (SP)is applied is the detection of events. Detection in SP requires the identification of the occurrence of an event, within a signal, and distinguishing the occurrence from no event. In a classical application of SP, seismologists seek to detect abnormalities in an electromagnetic (EM) signal to detect or not detect the occurrence of an earthquake, represented as an anomalous EM pulse. Since many signals are noisy, such as those produced by a seismograph, it can be challenging to distinguish a significant EM pulse from incident noise. In SP, smoothing …


Physically Unclonable Characteristics For Verification Of Transmon-Based Quantum Computers, Leleia A. Hsia Sep 2021

Physically Unclonable Characteristics For Verification Of Transmon-Based Quantum Computers, Leleia A. Hsia

Theses and Dissertations

Future national security can be strengthened by verifying and securing the quantum computing supply chain. This dissertation proposes physically unclonable characteristics (PUCs), a method of quantum hardware verification inspired by classical physically unclonable functions, for future application to quantum processors implemented with transmon qubits. Qualitative and quantitative analysis is provided on the development of PUCs, including identifying qubit characteristics and qubit discrimination methods suitable for PUCs. Characteristics tested on IBM Quantum services include T1 and T2 coherence times, single-qubit and multi-qubit gate error rates, readout error rates, quantum process tomography metrics, and random benchmarking metrics. Results show that non-parametric qubit …


Stochastic Satellite Air Drag With The Ballistic Coefficient As A Random Variable, Everett B. Palmer Iv Sep 2021

Stochastic Satellite Air Drag With The Ballistic Coefficient As A Random Variable, Everett B. Palmer Iv

Theses and Dissertations

The drag acceleration caused by the Earth's atmosphere is a significant cause of prediction uncertainty for low Earth orbit satellites. Most existing research has focused on improving deterministic atmospheric density predictions or on density as a random variable. This research investigates a new paradigm and focuses on modeling the uncertainty caused by air drag using the ballistic coefficient, a component of air drag that is independent of the model used to predict atmospheric density. Time series of ballistic coefficient values were calculated and analyzed as random processes. These random processes were then used as the foundation of a stochastic satellite …


A Real-Time Algorithm To Achieve Precise Coordinated Arrival Times In A Time-Variant Environment, Shawn S. Stephens Sep 2021

A Real-Time Algorithm To Achieve Precise Coordinated Arrival Times In A Time-Variant Environment, Shawn S. Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

The coordinated arrival time problem seeks to control a vehicle's trajectory to achieve some pre-defined final state at a desired arrival time. The persistent monitoring problem is a type of coordinated arrival problem where a stationary or moving ground target must be constantly observed by a group of aircraft. This research simplifies the problem to overfly the target at specific time intervals relative to the other aircraft in the group while increasing the difficulty of the problem by considering aircraft traveling at vastly different airspeeds. The result of this research is a real time guidance algorithm which accurately guides a …


Evaluation Of Additively Manufactured Lattices Under High Strain Rate Impact, Derek G. Spear Sep 2021

Evaluation Of Additively Manufactured Lattices Under High Strain Rate Impact, Derek G. Spear

Theses and Dissertations

Several additively manufactured lattice designs and configurations were evaluated under compression loads under various strain rates from quasi-static to highly dynamic. These experiments examined how the mechanical behavior of the lattice changed based on the lattice design properties and the applied strain rates. The modulus of elasticity, yield strength, plateau stress, and toughness were observed to decrease with an increase in strain rate, revealing that the lattice designs exhibit a negative strain rate sensitivity. A new lattice flow stress model was developed to account for the mechanical response of the lattice and was incorporated into a computational model for simulation. …


Verification And Validation Of Radiation Protection Factors From Monte Carlo Simulations, William J. Erwin Sep 2021

Verification And Validation Of Radiation Protection Factors From Monte Carlo Simulations, William J. Erwin

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes the verification and validation of methods for producing radiation protection factors (RPFs) using experiments and Monte Carlo N-Particle 6 (MCNP6) simulations. RPF validation of a steel enclosure using a plutonium-beryllium source produced a validated RPF with statistically significant agreement between neutron MCNP6 models and experiments and a gamma protection factor (GPF) with statistically significant agreement to the measured GPF. Efforts to validate more complex enclosures using the Fast Burst Reactor (FBR) yielded the first-ever direct measurements of this reactor’s prompt gamma emission spectrum and revealed irreconcilable differences between the FBR facility-provided source spectrum and spectrometer measurements, resulting …


Visual Navigation And Control For Spacecraft Proximity Operations With Unknown Targets, Wyatt J. Harris Sep 2021

Visual Navigation And Control For Spacecraft Proximity Operations With Unknown Targets, Wyatt J. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Many current and future spacecraft missions must conduct rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) with resident space objects (RSOs). An important subset of spacecraft RPO that is yet to be demonstrated on-orbit involves final approach maneuvers with respect to RSOs where no information (such as geometry, inertia, relative velocity, etc.) is known about the target a priori, and no information is actively provided by the target during maneuvering. Such operation with respect to ‘unknown’ targets represents an important possible mission set for Department of Defense spacecraft and is the subject of this research. Two visual servoing frameworks capable of autonomously controlling …


Wavelet Methods For Very-Short Term Forecasting Of Functional Time Series, Jared K. Nystrom Sep 2021

Wavelet Methods For Very-Short Term Forecasting Of Functional Time Series, Jared K. Nystrom

Theses and Dissertations

Space launch operations at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (KSC/CCSFS) are complicated by unique requirements for near-real time determination of risk from lightning. Lightning forecast weather sensor networks produce data that are noisy, high volume, and high frequency time series for which traditional forecasting methods are often ill-suited. Current approaches result in significant residual uncertainties and consequentially may result in forecasting operational policies that are excessively conservative or inefficient. This work proposes a new methodology of wavelet-enabled semiparametric modeling to develop accurate and timely forecasts robust against chaotic functional data. Wavelets methods are first used to …


Active Attestation Of Embedded Systems, Mark M. Stephenson, Patrick A. Reber, Patrick J. Sweeney, Scott R. Graham Aug 2021

Active Attestation Of Embedded Systems, Mark M. Stephenson, Patrick A. Reber, Patrick J. Sweeney, Scott R. Graham

AFIT Patents

An active attestation apparatus verifies at runtime the integrity of untrusted machine code of an embedded system residing in a memory device while it is being run/used with while slowing the processing time less than other methods. The apparatus uses an integrated circuit chip containing a microcontroller and a reprogrammable logic device, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), to implement software attestation at runtime and in less time than is typically possible with comparable attestation approaches, while not requiring any halt of the processor in the microcontroller. The reprogrammable logic device includes functionality to load an encrypted version …


Analysis Of The Effects Of Spatiotemporal Demand Data Aggregation Methods On Distance And Volume Errors, Zachary Hornberger, Bruce A. Cox, Raymond R. Hill Aug 2021

Analysis Of The Effects Of Spatiotemporal Demand Data Aggregation Methods On Distance And Volume Errors, Zachary Hornberger, Bruce A. Cox, Raymond R. Hill

Faculty Publications

Purpose — Large/stochastic spatiotemporal demand data sets can prove intractable for location optimization problems, motivating the need for aggregation. However, demand aggregation induces errors. Significant theoretical research has been performed related to the modifiable areal unit problem and the zone definition problem. Minimal research has been accomplished related to the specific issues inherent to spatiotemporal demand data, such as search and rescue (SAR) data. This study provides a quantitative comparison of various aggregation methodologies and their relation to distance and volume based aggregation errors. Design/methodology/approach — This paper introduces and applies a framework for comparing both deterministic and stochastic aggregation …


Augmenting The Space Domain Awareness Ground Architecture Via Decision Analysis And Multi-Objective Optimization, Albert R. Vasso, Richard G. Cobb, John M. Colombi, Bryan D. Little, David R. Meyer Aug 2021

Augmenting The Space Domain Awareness Ground Architecture Via Decision Analysis And Multi-Objective Optimization, Albert R. Vasso, Richard G. Cobb, John M. Colombi, Bryan D. Little, David R. Meyer

Faculty Publications

Purpose — The US Government is challenged to maintain pace as the world’s de facto provider of space object cataloging data. Augmenting capabilities with nontraditional sensors present an expeditious and low-cost improvement. However, the large tradespace and unexplored system of systems performance requirements pose a challenge to successful capitalization. This paper aims to better define and assess the utility of augmentation via a multi-disiplinary study. Design/methodology/approach — Hypothetical telescope architectures are modeled and simulated on two separate days, then evaluated against performance measures and constraints using multi-objective optimization in a heuristic algorithm. Decision analysis and Pareto optimality identifies a set …


Investigation And Statistical Modeling Of The Mechanical Properties Of Additively Manufactured Lattices, Derek G. Spear, Anthony N. Palazotto Jul 2021

Investigation And Statistical Modeling Of The Mechanical Properties Of Additively Manufactured Lattices, Derek G. Spear, Anthony N. Palazotto

Faculty Publications

This paper describes the background, test methodology, and experimental results associated with the testing and analysis of quasi-static compression testing of additively manufactured open-cell lattice structures. The study aims to examine the effect of lattice topology, cell size, cell density, and surface thickness on the mechanical properties of lattice structures. Three lattice designs were chosen, the Diamond, I-WP, and Primitive Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMSs). Uniaxial compression tests were conducted for every combination of the three lattice designs, three cell sizes, three cell densities, and three surface thicknesses. In order to perform an efficient experiment and gain the most information …


Efficient, Dual-Particle Directional Detection System Using A Rotating Scatter Mask, Robert Olesen, Bryan V. Egner, Darren E. Holland, Valerie Martin, James E. Bevins, Larry W. Burggraf, Buckley E. O'Day Iii Jul 2021

Efficient, Dual-Particle Directional Detection System Using A Rotating Scatter Mask, Robert Olesen, Bryan V. Egner, Darren E. Holland, Valerie Martin, James E. Bevins, Larry W. Burggraf, Buckley E. O'Day Iii

AFIT Patents

A directional radiation detection system and an omnidirectional radiation detector. The omnidirectional radiation detector detects radiation comprising at least one of: (i) gamma rays; and (ii) neutron particles. A radiation scatter mask (RSM) of the radiation detection system includes a rotating sleeve received over the omnidirectional radiation detector and rotating about a longitudinal axis. The RSM further includes: (i) a fin extending longitudinally from one side of the rotating sleeve; and (ii) a wall extending from the rotating sleeve and spaced apart from the fin having an upper end distally positioned on the rotating sleeve spaced apart or next to …


Uranium Integral Fission Product Yields For A Spectrally-Shaped 14.1 Mev Neutron Source At The National Ignition Facility, Nicholas J. Quartemont, N. Gharibyan, K. Moody, James E. Bevins Jul 2021

Uranium Integral Fission Product Yields For A Spectrally-Shaped 14.1 Mev Neutron Source At The National Ignition Facility, Nicholas J. Quartemont, N. Gharibyan, K. Moody, James E. Bevins

Faculty Publications

This paper describes the experimental results for an energy tuning assembly created to modify the National Ignition Facility deuterium–tritium fusion neutron source into a notional thermonuclear and prompt fission neutron spectrum, which has applications in integral measurements, nuclear data benchmarks, and radiation effects on microelectronics. The Monte Carlo neutron transport utilized MCNP5 to estimate the ETA-modified fluence using the ENDF-B/VIII.0 and IRDFF-II continuous energy nuclear data libraries, and SCALE Sampler was used to estimate the systematic nuclear data covariance using ENDF-B/VII.1 and IRDFF-II in a 252-group structure. The experiment fielded eight activation foils and a highly enriched uranium sample. This …


Design And Fabrication Of Zinc Oxide Optofluidic Laser Elements, Kyle T. Bodily Jun 2021

Design And Fabrication Of Zinc Oxide Optofluidic Laser Elements, Kyle T. Bodily

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis systematically goes through the derivation, simulation, and experimentation of Zinc Oxide optofluidic micro laser elements. Single and coupled ring resonators were simulated to show single mode transmission as well as enhanced coupling capabilities when surrounded by high refractive index liquid. Devices with diameters ranging from 100-500 µm were successfully fabricated inexpensively through standard cleanroom procedures. The devices were tested using two different pump laser systems. Testing included such factors as high pump intensity, various angles of excitation, and low temperature. In all cases PL emission was observed and recorded.


Autonomous Mission Planning For Spacecraft Rendezvous And Proximity Operations, Julia C. Bell Jun 2021

Autonomous Mission Planning For Spacecraft Rendezvous And Proximity Operations, Julia C. Bell

Theses and Dissertations

The evolving space environment has created a demand for autonomous spacecraft that can maneuver in complex and sometimes contentious environments. Constraint enforcement, such as an avoidance zone to prevent collision with a target, is a key component of autonomous control to ensure safety and performance requirements are met. Finite-horizon Model Predictive Control (MPC) is a popular control method due to its improved computation time while optimizing performance. Two areas of MPC in need of expansion are time-varying constraints and phase transitions in multi-phase applications. In this work, MPC is employed to track the reference trajectory of a multi-phase satellite inspection …


Developing A Basic Formal Supply Chain Ontology To Improve Communication And Interoperability, David Morrow Jun 2021

Developing A Basic Formal Supply Chain Ontology To Improve Communication And Interoperability, David Morrow

Theses and Dissertations

Information is crucial to supply chain performance because it is used to make decisions and trigger actions. Organizations across world-class supply chains increasingly use information technology to analyze and process supply chain data. However, supply chain management lacks a common language, making information exchange difficult. An ontology can provide a standardized framework that organizes a given knowledge domain. This research proposes a common language for developing a supply chain ontology that can be built into a basic formal ontology understood by both humans and computers. According to current research, an established and widely used supply chain framework is a good …


Statistically Defensible Wind Tunnel Models, Timothy A. Roche Jun 2021

Statistically Defensible Wind Tunnel Models, Timothy A. Roche

Theses and Dissertations

Wind tunnels are used to test scale-model air frames in order to collect aerodynamic data. The Subsonic Aerodynamic Research Laboratory (SARL) Wind Tunnel is a low speed wind tunnel located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The SARL Wind Tunnel team approached AFIT for assistance in creating statistically defensible models for the conditions inside the wind tunnel. During a wind tunnel test, pressure sensors cannot be placed at the test model. Instead, pressure is measured by a pitot probe permanently mounted in the corner of the test chamber. The pressure at the model location is predicted from the measurements taken by …


Six Degree-Of-Freedom Mission Planning For Reentry Trajectories, Peter Davis Jun 2021

Six Degree-Of-Freedom Mission Planning For Reentry Trajectories, Peter Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional reentry dynamics and planning has typically explored 3 Degrees-of- Freedom (3 DOF) or pseudo 6-DoF problem formulations. This research expands upon previous work and presents a path-constrained optimal control formulation of a fully 6 Degrees-of-Freedom (3 DOF) dynamic system for an unpowered Reentry Vehicle (RV). In a full 6-DoF dynamic system, the translation, rotation and rotational rates are continually tracked. A system of equations of motion are developed to express the dynamics of the RV in terms of defined states and the RV's physical control detections. A neural-network is used to approximate the aerodynamic database of an exemplary RV. …