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Articles 151 - 180 of 213
Full-Text Articles in Aerospace Engineering
A Flexible Physics-Based Lifing Method For Metals Under Creep And Thermomechanical Fatigue, Firat Irmak
A Flexible Physics-Based Lifing Method For Metals Under Creep And Thermomechanical Fatigue, Firat Irmak
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This thesis focuses on the development of a flexible, physics-based life prediction approach for steels under complex conditions. Low alloy steels continue to be the materials of choice for large turbomachinery structures experiencing high temperatures for long durations. There has been significant advancement in the research of modern alloys; furthermore, these materials are continue to be utilized in boilers, heat exchanger tubes, and throttle valve bodies in both turbomachinery and pressure-vessel/piping applications. The material 2.25Cr-1Mo is studied in the present work. The resistance of this alloy to deformation and damage under creep and/or fatigue at elevated temperatures make it appropriate …
Combustion Of 1,3-Butadiene Behind Reflected Shocks, Joseph Lopez
Combustion Of 1,3-Butadiene Behind Reflected Shocks, Joseph Lopez
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The chemical kinetics of 1,3-butadiene (1,3-C4H6) are important because 1,3-butadiene is a major intermediate during the combustion of real fuels. However, there is only limited information on the chemical kinetics of 1,3-butadiene combustion, which has applications in several combustion schemes that are currently being developed, including spark-assisted homogeneous charge compression ignition and fuel reformate exhaust gas recirculation. In the present work, the ignition delay times of 1,3-butadiene mixtures has been investigated using pressure data. Oxidation of 1,3-butadiene/oxygen mixtures diluted in argon or nitrogen at equivalence ratios (Φ) of 0.3 behind reflected shock waves has been studied at temperatures ranging from …
Simultaneous Imaging Of The Diatomic Carbon And Methylidyne Species Radicals For The Quantification Of The Fuel To Air Ratio From Low To High Pressure Combustion, Jonathan Reyes
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The radical intensity ratio of the diatomic carbon to methylidyne was characterized at initial pressures up to 10 bar using certified gasoline of 93% octane. This gasoline was selected due to its availability as a common fuel. The characterization of the radical intensity ratio of gasoline at elevated pressures enabled the creation of a calibration map of the equivalence ratio at engine relevant conditions. The proposed calibration map acts as a feedback loop for a combustor. It allows for the location of local rich and lean zones. The local information acquired can be used as an optimization parameter for injection …
Design And Modeling Of A Heat Exchanger For Porous Combustor Powered Steam Generators In Automotive Industry, Apratim Dasgupta
Design And Modeling Of A Heat Exchanger For Porous Combustor Powered Steam Generators In Automotive Industry, Apratim Dasgupta
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
A major challenge faced by automobile manufacturers is to achieve reduction of particulate emission to acceptable standards, as the emission standards become more and more stringent. One of the ecologically friendly options to reduce emissions is to develop external combustion in a steam engine as a replacement of the internal combustion engine. There are multiple factors, other than pollution that need to be considered for developing a substitute for Internal Combustion Engine, like specific power, throttle response, torque speed curve, fuel consumption and refueling infrastructure. External combustion in a steam engine seems to be a bright idea, for a cleaner …
Implementation Of Optical Interferometry And Spectral Reflectometry For High Fidelity Thin Film Measurements, Armando Arends-Rodriguez
Implementation Of Optical Interferometry And Spectral Reflectometry For High Fidelity Thin Film Measurements, Armando Arends-Rodriguez
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
An in-house reflectometer/interferometer has been built to investigate the varying curvature and thickness profiles in the contact line region of air, acetone, iso-octane, ethanol, and water on various types of substrates. Light intensity measurements were obtained using our reflectometer/interferomter and then analyzed in MATLAB to produce thickness and curvature profiles. The apparatus is based on the principle of a reflectometer, consisting of different optical elements, probe, light source, and spectrometer. Our reflectometer/interferomter takes measurements in the UV-Vis-IR range (200nm-1000nm). This range is achieved by using a light source that has both a deuterium light (190nm-800nm), a tungsten halogen light (400nm-1100nm), …
Design And Investigation Of Vitiated-Air Heater For Oblique Detonation-Wave Engine, Matthew M. Hoban
Design And Investigation Of Vitiated-Air Heater For Oblique Detonation-Wave Engine, Matthew M. Hoban
Honors Undergraduate Theses
A facility was designed to provide high-enthalpy, hypersonic flow to a detonation chamber. Preliminary investigation identified 1300 K and Mach 5 as the total temperature and Mach number require to stabilize an oblique detonation wave inside the detonation chamber. Vitiated-air heating was the preheating method chosen to meet these capabilities. The vitiator facility heats compressed air while still retaining about 50% of the original oxygen content. Schlieren flow visualization and conventional photography was performed at the exit plane of a choke plate, which simulated the throat of a converging-diverging nozzle. A shock diamond formation was observed within the jet exhausting …
Flame-Turbulence Interaction For Deflagration To Detonation, Jessica Chambers
Flame-Turbulence Interaction For Deflagration To Detonation, Jessica Chambers
Honors Undergraduate Theses
Detonation is a high energetic mode of pressure gain combustion that exploits total pressure rise to augment high flow momentum and thermodynamic cycle efficiencies. Detonation is initiated through the Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition (DDT). This process occurs when a deflagrated flame is accelerated through turbulence induction, producing shock-flame interactions that generate violent explosions and a supersonic detonation wave. There is a broad desire to unravel the physical mechanisms of turbulence induced DDT. For the implementation of efficient detonation methods in propulsion and energy applications, it is crucial to understand optimum turbulence conditions for detonation initiation. The study examines the role of turbulence-flame …
Structural Health Monitoring Of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels, Luca Letizia
Structural Health Monitoring Of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels, Luca Letizia
Honors Undergraduate Theses
This work is focusing to study the structural behavior of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs). These COPVs are found in many engineering applications. In the aerospace field, they are installed onto spaceships and aid the reorientation of the spacecraft in very far and airless, therefore frictionless, orbits to save energy and fuel. The intent of this research is to analyze the difference in performance of both perfectly intact and purposely damaged tanks. Understanding both the source and location of a structural fault will help NASA engineers predict the performance of COPVs subject to similar conditions, which could prevent failures of …
Smart Material Actuation And Morphing For Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Caio H. Da Silva Lima
Smart Material Actuation And Morphing For Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Caio H. Da Silva Lima
Honors Undergraduate Theses
The intent of this thesis is to outline the design, analysis, and characterization of an axially compressed piezocomposite actuator and, in particular, to determine the correlation and accuracy of two models used to predict deflection of an axially compressed piezocomposite bimorph. Restrictions in material properties lead to vehicle inefficiencies caused by the discontinuous geometry of deflected control surfaces in unmanned aircraft systems. This performance disadvantage in discrete control surfaces is caused in part by the sharp edges that are formed when the surface is pivoted. Flow continuity over the body of a vehicle is important in minimizing the effects of …
An Experimental Investigation Of Heat Transfer For Arrays Of Impingement Jets Onto The Featured Surfaces With Cylindrical And Elliptical Raised Surfaces, Marc A. Medina
Honors Undergraduate Theses
This study focuses on multi-jet impingement for gas turbine geometries in which the objective is to understand the influence of the roughness elements on a target surface to the heat transfer. Current work has proven that implementing roughness elements for multi-jet impingement target surfaces has increased heat transfer ranging anywhere from 10-30%. This study has chosen to investigate three different roughness elements, elliptical in cross-section, to compare to smooth surface geometries for multi-jet impingement. An experimental was taken for this study to extend the current knowledge of multi-jet impingement geometries and to further understand the heat transfer performance. A temperature …
Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis Of Combined Regenerative And Discrete Film Cooling In A Rocket Nozzle, Charlotte M. Pearce
Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis Of Combined Regenerative And Discrete Film Cooling In A Rocket Nozzle, Charlotte M. Pearce
Honors Undergraduate Theses
Conjugate heat transfer analysis has been carried out on an 89kN thrust chamber in order to evaluate whether combined discrete film cooling and regenerative cooling in a rocket nozzle is feasible. Several cooling configurations were tested against a baseline design of regenerative cooling only. New designs include combined cooling channels with one row of discrete film cooling holes near the throat of the nozzle, and turbulated cooling channels combined with a row of discrete film cooling holes. Blowing ratio and channel mass flow rate were both varied for each design. The effectiveness of each configuration was measured via the maximum …
Characterization Of Dispersion And Residual Stress In Nanoparticle Reinforced Hybrid Carbon Fiber Composites, Alex Selimov
Characterization Of Dispersion And Residual Stress In Nanoparticle Reinforced Hybrid Carbon Fiber Composites, Alex Selimov
Honors Undergraduate Theses
Hybrid carbon fiber reinforced composites are a new breed of materials that are currently being explored and characterized for next generation aerospace applications. Through the introduction of secondary reinforcements, such as alumina nanoparticles, hybrid properties including improved mechanical properties and stress sensing capabilities can be achieved. In order to maximize these properties, it is necessary to achieve a homogeneous dispersion of particulate filler. Utilizing the photoluminescent properties of alumina, it is possible to compare local levels of particle concentration through emission intensities as a way to determine the effectiveness of the tested manufacturing parameters in increasing material homogeneity. Parameters of …
High Temperature Shock Tube Ignition Studies Of Co2 Diluted Mixtures, Owen Pryor
High Temperature Shock Tube Ignition Studies Of Co2 Diluted Mixtures, Owen Pryor
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Energy demand is expected to grow by 20% over the next 10 years. In order to account for this increase in energy consumption new and novel combustion techniques are required to mitigate the effects of pollution and fossil fuel dependency. Oxy-fuel combustion in supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) cycles can increase plant efficiencies up to 52% and reduce pollutants such as NOX and CO2 by 99%. Supercritical engine cycles have demonstrated electricity costs of $121/MWh, which is competitive in comparison to conventional coal ($95.60/MWh) and natural gas power plants ($128.4/MWe). This increase in efficiency is mainly driven by the near-liquid density …
Approximated Control Affine Dynamics Mode For An Agricultural Field Robot Considering Wheel Terrain Interaction, Pablo Menendez-Aponte
Approximated Control Affine Dynamics Mode For An Agricultural Field Robot Considering Wheel Terrain Interaction, Pablo Menendez-Aponte
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
As populations and the demand for higher crop yields grow, so to does the need for efficient agricultural wheeled mobile robots. To achieve precise navigation through a field it is desirable that the control system is designed based on an accurate dynamic model. In this paper a control affine model for a custom designed skid-steer differential drive wheeled mobile robot is found. The Terramechanic wheel terrain interaction is adopted and modified to consider wheels with a torus geometry. Varying slip ratios and slip angles are considered in the terrain reaction forces, which is curve-fitted using a nonlinear least squares approach …
Kinematical Modelling And Its Analytical Inverse Kinematic Solution For The Handling Mechanism Of An Agricultural Robot, Sinem Gozde Defterli
Kinematical Modelling And Its Analytical Inverse Kinematic Solution For The Handling Mechanism Of An Agricultural Robot, Sinem Gozde Defterli
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Early detection of the crop diseases helps to prevent failure in the amount and the quality of the production. In agricultural robotics, the idea of a disease detection robot is a fresh and an innovative hot-button topic. The exclusion of the diseased parts from the strawberry plants for further analyses is one of the main tasks of a recently developed strawberry robot. To this purpose, the handling mechanism in the robot needs to achieve an accurate manipulation task to reach the target. Reaching, cutting and storing the diseased leaf are challenging and delicate processes during the procedure of the handling …
Geolocation Of Diseased Leaves In Strawberry Orchards For A Custom-Designed Octorotor, Christian Garcia
Geolocation Of Diseased Leaves In Strawberry Orchards For A Custom-Designed Octorotor, Christian Garcia
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
In recent years, technological advances have shown a strive for more automated processes in agriculture, as seem with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with onboard sensors in many applications, including disease detection and yield prediction. In this thesis, an octorotor UAV is presented that was designed, built, and flight tested, with features that are custom-designed for strawberry orchard disease detection. To further automate the disease scouting operation, geolocation, or the process of determining global position coordinates of identified diseased regions based on images taken, is investigated. A Kalman filter is designed, based on a linear measurement model derived …
The Impact Of Automation Reliability And Fatigue On Reliance, Ryan Wohleber
The Impact Of Automation Reliability And Fatigue On Reliance, Ryan Wohleber
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The objective of this research is to inform the design of dynamic interfaces to optimize unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator reliance on automation. A broad goal of the U.S. military is to improve the ratio of UAV operators to UAVs controlled. Accomplishing this goal requires the use of automation; however, the benefits of automation are jeopardized without appropriate operator reliance. To improve reliance on automation, this effort sought to accomplish several objectives organized into phases. The first phase aimed to validate metrics that could be used to gauge operator fatigue online, to understand how the reliability of automated systems influences …
Evaporative Vapor Deposition For Depositing 2d Materials, Kevin Gleason
Evaporative Vapor Deposition For Depositing 2d Materials, Kevin Gleason
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The development of a new deposition technique called evaporative vapor deposition (EVD) is reported, allowing deposition and formation of atomically-thin, large area materials on arbitrary substrates. This work focuses on the highly popular monolayer material – graphene oxide (GO). A droplet of a GO solution is formed on a heated polymer substrate, and maintained at steady-state evaporation (all droplet parameters are held constant over time). The polymer substrate is laser patterned to control the droplet's contact line dynamics and the droplet's contact angle is maintained using a computer controlled syringe pump. A room temperature silicon wafer is translated through the …
Deposition Thickness Modeling And Parameter Identification For Spray Assisted Vacuum Filtration Process In Additive Manufacturing, August Mark
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
To enhance mechanical and/or electrical properties of composite materials used in additive manufacturing, nanoparticles are often time deposited to form nanocomposite layers. To customize the mechanical and/or electrical properties, the thickness of such nanocomposite layers must be precisely controlled. A thickness model of filter cakes created through a spray assisted vacuum filtration is presented in this paper, to enable the development of advanced thickness controllers. The mass transfer dynamics in the spray atomization and vacuum filtration are studied for the mass of solid particles and mass of water in differential areas, and then the thickness of a filter cake is …
Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence Experiments And Modeling Study Of Jets In Crossflow At Various Injection Angles, Luke Thompson
Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence Experiments And Modeling Study Of Jets In Crossflow At Various Injection Angles, Luke Thompson
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) with acetone seeding was applied to measure the scalar fields of an axisymmetric freejet and an inclined jet-in-crossflow as applicable to film cooling. From the scalar fields, jet-mixing and trajectory characteristics were obtained. In order to validate the technique, the canonical example of a nonreacting freejet of Reynolds Numbers 900-9000 was investigated. Desired structural characteristics were observed and showed strong agreement with computational modeling. After validating the technique with the axisymmetric jet, the jet-in-crossflow was tested with various velocity ratios and jet injection angles. Results indicated the degree of wall separation for different injection angles …
Experimental And Numerical Investigations Of Microdroplet Evaporation With A Forced Pinned Contact Line, Kevin Gleason
Experimental And Numerical Investigations Of Microdroplet Evaporation With A Forced Pinned Contact Line, Kevin Gleason
HIM 1990-2015
Experimental and numerical investigations of water microdroplet evaporation on heated, laser patterned polymer substrates are reported. The study is focused on both (1) validating numerical models with experimental data, (2) identifying how changes in the contact line infuences evaporative heat transfer and (3) determining methods of controlling contact line dynamics during evaporation. Droplets are formed using a bottom-up methodology, where a computer-controlled syringe pump supplies water to a ~200[micro]m in diameter fluid channel within the heated substrate. This methodology facilitates precise control of the droplets growth rate, size, and inlet temperature. In addition to this microchannel supply line, the substrate …
The Thermodynamics Of Planetary Engineering On The Planet Mars, Christopher Barsoum
The Thermodynamics Of Planetary Engineering On The Planet Mars, Christopher Barsoum
HIM 1990-2015
Mars is a potentially habitable planet given the appropriate planetary engineering efforts. In order to create a habitable environment, the planet must be terraformed, creating quasi-Earth conditions. Benchmarks for minimum acceptable survivable human conditions were set by observing atmospheric pressures and temperatures here on Earth that humans are known to exist in. By observing a positive feedback reaction, it is shown how the sublimation of the volatile southern polar ice cap on Mars can increase global temperatures and pressures to the benchmarks set for minimum acceptable survivable human conditions. Given the degree of uncertainty, utilization of pressure scale heights and …
Load Transfer In An Isolated Particle Embedded Within An Epoxy Matrix, Erik Durnberg
Load Transfer In An Isolated Particle Embedded Within An Epoxy Matrix, Erik Durnberg
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Particulate composites are widely used in many aerospace applications such as protective coatings, adhesives, or structural members of a body and their mechanical properties and behavior have gained increasing significance. The addition of modifiers such as alumina generally leads to improved mechanical properties. This addition also enables the non-invasive study of the load transfer between the particle and the matrix. Understanding the load transfer between the particulate and the matrix material is the first step to understanding the behavior and mechanical properties of the composite as a whole. In this work, samples with an isolated alumina particle embedded in an …
Ignition Studies Of Diisopropyl Ketone, A Second-Generation Biofuel, Owen Pryor
Ignition Studies Of Diisopropyl Ketone, A Second-Generation Biofuel, Owen Pryor
HIM 1990-2015
This thesis focuses on ignition of diisopropyl ketone (DIPK), a new biofuel candidate that is produced by endophytic conversion. The ignition delay times behind reflected shockwaves were modeled in a high-pressure shock tube. The ignition delay times were compared to other biofuels and gasoline surrogates. Parametric studies of the ignition delay experiments were performed between 1-10 atm and 900 -1200K. An OH optical sensor was developed in conjunction for the ignition delay experiments. The OH optical sensor uses a microwave discharge lamp to generate light at 308 nm that will then be shined through the combustion reaction. Using Beer-Lambert law …
Nondestructive Analysis Of Advanced Aerospace Materials Via Spectroscopy And Synchrotron Radiation, Albert Manero
Nondestructive Analysis Of Advanced Aerospace Materials Via Spectroscopy And Synchrotron Radiation, Albert Manero
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Advanced aerospace materials require extensive testing and characterization to anticipate and ensure their integrity under hostile environments. Characterization methods utilizing synchrotron X-Ray diffraction and spectroscopy can decrease the time required to determine an emerging material's readiness for application through intrinsic information on the material response and failure mechanisms. In this study, thermal barrier coating samples applicable to turbine blades of jet engines were studied using Raman and Photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as Synchrotron X-ray diffraction while Kevlar based fiber composites applicable to ballistic resistant armor were studied using Raman spectroscopy to investigate the mechanical state and corresponding damage and failure …
Application Of Non-Local Approaches For Predicting The Response Of V-Notch Under Thermomechanical Fatigue Loading, Trung Nguyen
Application Of Non-Local Approaches For Predicting The Response Of V-Notch Under Thermomechanical Fatigue Loading, Trung Nguyen
HIM 1990-2015
The topic of this thesis is the construction of a formula to approximate stress-strain responses at notches under thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) loading. The understanding of material behavior of the V-notched component which experiences TMF is important to the mechanical industries where V-notched structures are often utilized. In such applications, it is crucial that the designers be able to predict the material behavior; therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine and to model the precise effects a stress concentration will have on a specimen made of a generic Ni-base superalloy. The effects of non-isothermal loading will be studied, and …
Numerical Simulation Of Fracture Of A Nano-Paper Coated E-Glass/Polyester Composite With Thermal Damage, Zachary Graham
Numerical Simulation Of Fracture Of A Nano-Paper Coated E-Glass/Polyester Composite With Thermal Damage, Zachary Graham
HIM 1990-2015
Aerospace research for next-generation travel increasingly focuses on the use of advanced composites to reduce weight and cost while retaining strength. One subset of materials with great potential is based on the combination of resin matrix and glass-fiber reinforcement. This research explores the application of a candidate nanopaper coating with a given composite. Prior research applied a set of given heat fluxes to the top surface of the composite for a set of given periods of time, and subsequently performed a 3-point flexural test to determine the elastic modulus for both the coated and uncoated composite for all of the …
Strategically Minded Dynamic Analysis Of Strategic Flight Bat Maneuvers, Marie Kaspryzk
Strategically Minded Dynamic Analysis Of Strategic Flight Bat Maneuvers, Marie Kaspryzk
HIM 1990-2015
CATD was not only adequate for analyzing the pursuit of erratically moving prey but also worked well when analyzing the pursuit of prey that remained stationary. It cannot be fully concluded that bats utilize the CATD strategy to successfully capture erratically flying prey. The angle remains relatively constant but does not exhibit a zero change in angle as by definition. The large forces experienced by the bat were seen when the bat began to rotate its body about its pitch axis or when the bat made a large turn. Moments were seen specifically when the bat began to bank into …
Vision-Based Sensing And Optimal Control For Low-Cost And Small Satellite Platforms, Bradley Sease
Vision-Based Sensing And Optimal Control For Low-Cost And Small Satellite Platforms, Bradley Sease
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Current trends in spacecraft are leading to smaller, more inexpensive options whenever possible. This shift has been primarily pursued for the opportunity to open a new frontier for technologies with a small financial obligation. Limited power, processing, pointing, and communication capabilities are all common issues which must be considered when miniaturizing systems and implementing low-cost components. This thesis addresses some of these concerns by applying two methods, in attitude estimation and control. Additionally, these methods are not restricted to only small, inexpensive satellites, but offer a benefit to large-scale spacecraft as well. First, star cameras are examined for the tendency …
Mission Analysis For Pico-Scale Satellite Based Dust Detection In Low Earth Orbits, Jacob Belli
Mission Analysis For Pico-Scale Satellite Based Dust Detection In Low Earth Orbits, Jacob Belli
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
A conceptual dust detection mission, KnightSat III, using pico-scale satellites is analyzed. The purpose of the proposed KnightSat III mission is to aid in the determination of the size, mass, distribution, and number of dust particles in low earth orbits through a low cost and flexible satellite or a formation of satellites equipped with a new dust detector. The analysis of a single satellite mission with an on-board dust detector is described; though this analysis can easily be extended to a formation of pico-scale satellites. Many design aspects of the mission are discussed, including orbit analysis, power management, attitude determination …