Engineering Commons^™

Statistical Shape Model (Ssm) Of Infant Femurs And The Relationship With Severity Of Hip Dysplasia, Tamara Chambers, Penny Atkins, Victor Huayamave, Andrew Anderson, Charles Price

PanaSoMM

The objective is to assess the morphology of infant femurs using a statistical shape model (SSM). The Ortolani collection is used in this study and consists of untreated infant cadaveric specimens with both healthy and dysplastic hips. Computed Tomography (CT) scans of 4 of the 14 specimens in the collection were taken at the University of Padua. Manual and semi-automatic segmentation techniques were used to reconstruct the 2D slices of femurs and generate 3D surface models. The SSM model of the infant femurs will be developed using an open-source software called ShapeWorks developed by the University of Utah. The SSM …

Introducing Modeling To First-Year Engineering Students For Effective Implementation In The Engineering Design Process, Carolina Barriento, Juan F. Granizo

PanaSoMM

Introducing Modeling to First-Year Engineering Students for Effective Implementation in the Engineering Design Process

Carolina Barriento and Juan Francisco Granizo

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Abstract

Modeling and Simulation are fundamental skills for all engineering students [1]. However, students are usually introduced to these concepts during their junior or even as late as their senior year. Our research aims at familiarizing students with Modeling and Simulation tools in their first year of engineering studies. We consider the fact that proper learning involves using long-term memory (in contrast with working memory) and this is accomplished by the gradual introduction and practice of the …

Incorporation Of Trajectory Behaviors In The Vicinities Of Different Planetary Moons Using Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponent Maps, David Canales Garcia, Kathleen C. Howell, Elena Fantino

PanaSoMM

There is an increasing interest in future space missions devoted to the exploration of key moons in the Solar system. These many different missions may involve libration point orbits as well as trajectories that satisfy different endgames in the vicinities of the moons. To this end, an efficient design strategy to produce low-energy transfers between the vicinities of adjacent moons of a planetary system is introduced that leverages the dynamics in these multi-body systems. Such a design strategy is denoted as the moon-to-moon analytical transfer (MMAT) method. It consists of a general methodology for transfer design between the vicinities of …

Combination Of Statistical Shape Modeling And Statistical Parametric Mapping To Quantify Cartilage Contact Mechanics In Hip Dysplasia, Penny R. Atkins Phd, Shireen Y. Elhabian Phd, Jeffrey A. Weiss Phd, Ross T. Whitaker Phd, Christopher L. Peters Md, Andrew E. Anderson Phd

PanaSoMM

Finite element models can predict subject-specific chondrolabral stresses and help to elucidate the effect of under-coverage and incongruency of the hip joint in patients with dysplasia. However, complex stress patterns are difficult to generalize and evaluate statistically. With an established correspondence across shapes from statistical shape modeling (SSM), statistical parametric mapping (SPM) allows for evaluation of local variability while preserving model subject-specificity. Herein, we evaluated the combined application of SSM and SPM to compare cartilage contact stress between control subjects and patients with dysplasia.

Previously published hip joint contact stresses were mapped onto chondrolabral surface meshes and incorporated into an …

Application Of Statistical Shape Modeling To Predict Clinical Metric Of Femoral Head Coverage In Patients With Developmental Dysplasia, Penny R. Atkins Phd, Praful Agrawal Phd, Joseph D. Mozingo Phd, Keisuke Uemura Md, Phd, Kunihiko Tokunaga Md, Christopher L. Peters Md, Shireen Y. Elhabian Phd, Ross T. Whitaker Phd, Andrew E. Anderson Phd

PanaSoMM

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is described as under-coverage of the femoral head by the acetabulum, resulting in mechanical instability. Though DDH is often diagnosed using plain film radiographs, these images cannot adequately capture 3D joint coverage. Herein, we applied a 3D statistical shape model (SSM) to the femur and hemi-pelvis of patients with DDH to objectively measure shape variation and evaluated whether SSM outputs could predict measurements of joint coverage.

The femur and hemi-pelvis were semi-automatically segmented from CT images (83 hips from 47 females with DDH). Surfaces of each hip were reconstructed from segmentations, aligned, and input …

Commercial Short-Haul Flight Or Autonomous Mobility-On-Demand: Modeling Air Passengers’ Modal Choice, Agatha Kessler Fentress

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Commercial short-haul flights (SF) are vital to airports and airlines because they account for one-third of hub traffic and have higher profit margins than the long-haul market. While U.S. commercial air passenger travel has increased steadily over the past decades, SF has been declining and was doing so before the unprecedented decrease in air travel caused by restrictions related to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Once autonomous mobility-on-demand (aMoD) is more viable than the human-driven car, demand for SF could be negatively impacted. Although there is published research on SF and aMoD, studies on factors influencing the choice between SF and …

Experimental Characterization Of Additively Manufactured Multi-Feather Wingtip Devices, Patricio Garzon

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Soaring birds have evolved to fly for long periods of time without flapping their wings. Inspired by the flight of these birds, the proposed thesis presents an experimental investigation focused on wingtip devices designed based on biomimicry. The overarching engineering objective was to reduce the induced drag as a means to improve the fuel efficiency via these experimental wingtips. An associated secondary objective was to establish a method for manufacturing complex structures suitable for wing tunnel testing. A manufacturing technique that involved using composite weaves to reinforce additively manufactured structures was developed. This technique has the potential to reduce manufacturing …

Effect Of Spray Rails On Takeoff Performance Of Amphibian Aircraft, Soham Bahulekar

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Amphibian aircraft have seen a rise in popularity in the recreational and utility sectors due to their ability to take off and land on both land and water, thus serving a myriad of purposes such as aerobatics, surveillance, and firefighting. The design of such seaplanes requires to be both aerodynamically and hydrodynamically efficient, especially during the takeoff phase. In the past, naval architects have implemented ways to make boats, yachts, and large ships more efficient; one of them being the addition of chine strips and spray rails on the hull. This thesis study explores the possibility of implementing spray rails …

Synthetic Gecko Inspired Dry Adhesive Through Two-Photon Polymerization For Space Applications, Zefu Ren

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This work aims to develop an advanced and cost-effective fabrication process to produce a simplified gecko-inspired microstructure with two-photon polymerization and polymer molding, aimed to improve the adhesive properties of microstructures. Such adhesive microstructures can be implemented for multi-purpose adhesive grasping devices, which have recently gained significant interest in the space exploration sector. Previous gecko-inspired microstructures were reviewed, and the new gecko-inspired microstructures have been developed with the adaptation of additive manufacturing methods for facile fabrication. The examined microstructures in this thesis were the tilted mushroom-shaped and wedge-shaped designs, which could both maximize adhesion by shearing the micropillars toward the …

Optimization Of Rover Wheel Geometries For Planetary Missions, Nikita Amberkar

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Rovers have been launched into space for exploration of the Moon and Mars to collect samples of rock and soil. To continue the explorations, the rovers need to have reliable wheels to drive around. However, due to the soil being soft, the wheels on the rover start to lose traction and the wheels sink while driving to various locations. Previous work in this field has been done experimentally or with the use of simulations. Only a few references report the effect of uncertainties in grouser simulation on the traction efficiency. The objective of this work was to (a) Understand the …

Quasi-Static Structural Analysis Of An Experimental Aircraft Wing, Scott Bender

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

In this report, a quasi-static load analysis is conducted on an experimental light sport aircraft wing via a whiffletree bending test. This report will discuss the loads present on the aircraft during straight level flight at a speed of 82 knots equivalent air speed. Flight load calculations are described along with the design of the whiffletree and mounting structures utilized for applying the distributed point loads. Initial finite element analysis is performed on the wing structure to determine critical strain locations and optimal sensor distribution. Subsequent mechanical experimentations are performed using a bending test to measure the strain at critical …

Ultrasonic Ndt Methods For The Evaluation Of Post-Tensioned Systems With Flexible Fillers, Denis Mcdonald

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Non-destructive evaluation of post-tensioned structures with flexible fillers is desperately needed due to their rapid implementation in the State of Florida, primarily in roadway structures. This study provides an overview of existing evaluation methods for traditional post-tensioned structures with cementitious grouts and further explores two promising methods to be applied to flexible filler systems. The first method, diffuse ultrasound spectroscopy, indirectly evaluates posttensioned structures by quantifying the severity of microcracking in the structure. Microcrack detection is accomplished by processing received waveforms generated with a pitch-catch transducer configuration. The second method, coda-wave interferometry, measures the velocity variation at the tail end …

Prediction Of Severity Of Aviation Landing Accidents Using Support Vector Machine Models, Dezsö V. Silagyi

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to apply support vector machine (SVM) models to predict the severity of aircraft damage and the severity of personal injury during an aircraft approach and landing accident and to evaluate and rank the importance of 14 accident factors to the severity. Three new factors were introduced using the theory of inattentional blindness: The presence of visual area surface penetrations for a runway, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) visual area surface penetration policy timeframe, and the type of runway approach lighting.

The study comprised 1,297 aircraft approach and landing accidents at airports within the United …

A Patient Risk Minimization Model For Post-Disaster Medical Delivery Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Mark J. Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to develop a novel routing model for delivery of medical supplies using unmanned aircraft systems, improving existing vehicle routing models by using patient risk as the primary minimization variable.

The vehicle routing problem is a subset of operational research that utilizes mathematical models to identify the most efficient route between sets of points. Routing studies using unmanned aircraft systems frequently minimize time, distance, or cost as the primary objective and are powerful decision-making tools for routine delivery operations. However, the fields of emergency triage and disaster response are focused on identifying patient injury severity …

Behavioral Intention Factors For Prescription Deliveries By Small Unmanned Aircraft In Rural Communities, Sarah M. Talley

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Nearly half of the U.S. population regularly use and depend on prescription medications; however, pharmacy availability and access to pharmacy services are often lacking, particularly in rural communities. In an effort to meet local healthcare needs, delivery by sUAS is proposed to ensure the nearly 60 million rural residents have access to their prescription medications.

As an emerging technology with little research into home delivery applications, the successful implementation of sUAS for prescription medication delivery requires public acceptance and positive behavioral intention toward its use. At the time of the current research, no prior studies have specifically focused on the …

Determining Contributing Factors For Passenger Airline Pilot Perceived Fatigue, Heidi C. Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Fatigue is a recurring concern for pilots and continues to be a common contributing cause of aircraft accidents. The purpose of the dissertation was to determine factors that influence fatigue in commercial airline pilots. The ability to accurately associate fatigue in pilots before a flight begins could have a profound and meaningful impact on aviation safety. Seven factors were identified in the literature review as having possible predictive capabilities of perceived fatigue in pilots working for passenger carriers, including time awake, perceived stress, sleep quality, hours of sleep, age, typically scheduled start time, and hours on duty.

An …

Predicting The Impact Of Covid-19 On Air Transportation Volumes, Dothang Truong

Publications

COVID-19 has significant impacts on air transportation. This paper aims to predict domestic and international transportation volumes during the pandemic. Daily trips by distance are novel variables in the prediction. Additionally, COVID-19 severity, vaccination, and economic index are other predictors. Artificial Neural Networks and Monte Carlo simulations were used to develop and validate the predictive models using data from various sources in 2021. The findings confirm the importance of daily trips by distance and vaccination as significant predictors. Airlines can use the models to predict air transportation volumes and formulate appropriate strategies to meet the air travel demand and improve …

Preliminary Study Of Shape-Memory Alloy Torsional Tubes As Thermal Management Actuators Under Non-Ideal Conditions, Paula Sanjuan Espejo, Samuel Desloover, Devon Hardy, Mark Ricklick, Frederick Calkin, David Foutch

Publications

Shape-memory alloys (SMAs) have been used in many engineering applications because of their shape-memory effect and pseudoelasticity. SMA behavior is well understood under steady and constant temperature and loading conditions, whereas transient and non-ideal conditions effects should be further investigated. In this research, SMA torque tubes are studied for use in thermal management applications as self-regulated actuators responding to a process fluid with changes in temperature, with the goal of improved system efficiency by keeping components at an optimal temperature. When utilized in a thermal management configuration, it is likely that the SMA’s thermal environment will be different than that …

Comparing Training Effects Of Virtual Reality Flight Simulation To Conventional Pc-Based Flight Simulation, Tianxin Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of the current project was to investigate the effect of utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) technologies for flight training by comparing the training results when using conventional desktop flight simulation versus VR flight simulation. Additionally, this project examined the user experience of VR flight simulation and how users’ motivation and satisfaction with VR simulations. This research employed a quasi-transfer of training experiment including 48 participants. Analyses indicated that VR group participants performed better in the post-training maneuver performance on an FTD than in the conventional desktop simulation group. Findings also supported that VR flight simulation could provide a better …

Design, Development, And Calibration Of An Electric Field Probe For Use On Sounding Rockets, Anthony Oreo

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Earth’s ionosphere is a dynamic environment that has yet to be fully understood. Interactions of high-energy particles from space with atmospheric plasma and the Earth’s natural magnetic field create many interesting interactions, many of which have direct impacts on the planet and human life. Understanding the dynamics of the upper atmosphere is a compelling endeavor, with much of the research being conducted through high-altitude sounding rockets. These rockets allow for in-situ measurements of the physical parameters of the upper atmosphere which in turn helps in the answering of important questions in space science. In order to quantify the force a …

Greater Understanding Of Human Factors Will Lead To Improved Aviation Safety, Alaba Gabriel Idowu

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

The objective of this research was to reveal the impact of human factors on flight safety and provide corrective recommendations that can mitigate human errors in the aviation industry. The method of investigation included an evaluation of the crash of Avianca Airlines Flight 052, which resulted in findings of probable cause of the accident and evaluated how human factors, including a lack of effective communication, stress, fatigue, complacency, lack of awareness, norms, assumptions, and pressure affected the safety of flight. In addition, an analysis of the data and information synthesis was done to arrive at results, conclusions, and recommendations to …

Finite Element Model Of The Pediatric Hip Joint During The Barlow Maneuver, Christina M. Zlock

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip is the dysplasia or dislocation of an unstable femoral head in the acetabulum of the pelvis. This is a result of an abnormal or underdeveloped growth of the acetabulum and triradiate cartilages and/or an out of place and uncentered femoral head in the acetabulum. This underdevelopment, if not diagnosed and treated at an early age, may lead to abnormal and pain and osteoarthritis later in life. A common step in diagnosis is to perform a physical examination of the hip, one method is the Barlow maneuver.

The aim of the project is to use healthy …

Challenges In Kinetic-Kinematic Driven Musculoskeletal Subject-Specific Infant Modeling, Yeram Lim, Victor Huayamave, Tamara Chambers, Christine Walck, Safeer Siddicky, Erin Mannen

Publications

Musculoskeletal computational models provide a non-invasive approach to investigate human movement biomechanics. These models could be particularly useful for pediatric applications where in vivo and in vitro biomechanical parameters are difficult or impossible to examine using physical experiments alone. The objective was to develop a novel musculoskeletal subject-specific infant model to investigate hip joint biomechanics during cyclic leg movements. Experimental motion-capture marker data of a supine-lying 2-month-old infant were placed on a generic GAIT 2392 OpenSim model. After scaling the model using body segment anthropometric measurements and joint center locations, inverse kinematics and dynamics were used to estimate hip ranges …

Let's Get Serious About It: Plastic-Free Campus Initiative, Geoffrey Kain, Camdyn Doucette, Regan Bossie

Sustainability Conference

On February 23, 2022, the UN agreed to start negotiating a world-first global treaty on plastic waste--since nearly 200 nations unanimously agreed to move toward a legally binding plastics treaty by 2024. In 2019 the UN Environmental Programme report highlighted that "our world is drowning in plastic." As with the climate change crisis (to which plastics production and disposal are also linked), the data resoundingly illustrate the imminent systemic threat that disposable plastics pose to the world's seas, freshwater sources, soils, food supply, air, and species. Nevertheless, plastics production is predicted to rise dramatically over the next 20 years, with …

Vertically Air Lifted High Altitude Light Launch Apparatus (Valhalla), Benjamin E. Chaback, Ethan L. Deweese, Avery Evans, Alyssa Hodum

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

Project VALHALLA aims to get collegiate level rockets to reach higher altitudes by providing a launch platform that shall allow them to be launched from 100,000 ft. This shall allow researchers to pass ninety percent of Earth's dense atmosphere when launching their rockets and shall allow for research at altitude. VALHALLA’s design consists of using multiple high-altitude balloons arranged around a launch platform to reach the target altitude with the rocket. The project shall consist of the following subsystems: policy, structure and design, helium recovery system, and electronics. The policy team shall be responsible for ensuring that this platform conforms …

Vertical Take-Off And Landing Control Via Dual-Quaternions And Sliding Mode, Joshua Sonderegger

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The landing and reusability of space vehicles is one of the driving forces into renewed interest in space utilization. For missions to planetary surfaces, this soft landing has been most commonly accomplished with parachutes. However, in spite of their simplicity, they are susceptible to parachute drift. This parachute drift makes it very difficult to predict where the vehicle will land, especially in a dense and windy atmosphere such as Earth. Instead, recent focus has been put into developing a powered landing through gimbaled thrust. This gimbaled thrust output is dependent on robust path planning and controls algorithms. Being able to …

Online Pilot Model Parameter Estimation For Loss-Of-Control Prevention In Aircraft Systems, Frederick Schill

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

A pilot is a highly nonlinear and incredibly complex controller whose responses are difficult to predict. Many accidents have occurred from pilot error before or after failures and almost always after entering areas of the flight envelope considered as Loss-of-Control regimes. If a pilot's inputs to the flight control system can be predicted, then the introduction of dangerous flight conditions can be readily avoided. Avoidance could take the form of a warning indicator or augmentation of the pilot's inputs. The primary difficulty lies in how to actually predict how the pilot will perform in the future.

Methods to solve this …

Water Based Soil Fluidization Using A Soft Eversion Robot, James E. Hand

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Soft robotics, a form of robotics that incorporates nonrigid components, continues to grow in scope, system design, and application. A recent addition to this field is the Vine Robot platform, a bio-inspired robot designed by Stanford University in 2017. Its method of movement, known as eversion, closely resembles the way that a vine grows along a tree, giving it its name. The focus of this research was to take its proven abilities of underwater vine-like movement and soil fluidization, a process where granular materials are converted from a solid-like state to a fluid-like state, to create an underwater eversion robot …

Dynamic Analysis Of Cubesat Impact On Lunar Surface, Dalton C. Korczyk

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

EagleCam is a pico-satellite (CubeSat) with dimensions of 100 x 100 x 150 mm3 that is going to the moon as a payload of the Intuitive Machines Nova-C lunar lander. The CubeSat’s purpose is to record the lunar landing from a 3rd person view. Unlike other CubeSats, EagleCam is designed to impact the lunar surface and there is no history to build off of. Specifically, EagleCam will need to survive a 30 m drop onto the lunar surface with all internal components fully operational post impact. This thesis is focused on the analytical, numerical, and experimental methods for determining the …

Controller Design For A Swirl Injection Hybrid Launch Vehicle, Ryan Kinzie

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This research is focused on the design of controllers for stabilizing a launch vehicle with an internally originating torque. The motivation for this research arises from the new development of rocket engines which swirl combustion gases to gain combustion stability benefits, and in the case of hybrid rocket engines, fuel regression benefits as well. The stability of the launch vehicle dynamics due to the internal torque has not been discussed before. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first research to address the stabilization problem of the launch vehicle with internal torque. Due to the new design/characteristics of these engines, …