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Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

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Full-Text Articles in Aerospace Engineering

Bubble Pinch-Off In Turbulence, Daniel J. Ruth, Wouter Mostert, Stephane Perrard, Luc Deike Dec 2019

Bubble Pinch-Off In Turbulence, Daniel J. Ruth, Wouter Mostert, Stephane Perrard, Luc Deike

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Although bubble pinch-off is an archetype of a dynamical system evolving toward a singularity, it has always been described in idealized theoretical and experimental conditions. Here, we consider bubble pinch-off in a turbulent flow representative of natural conditions in the presence of strong and random perturbations, combining laboratory experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical modeling. We show that the turbulence sets the initial conditions for pinch-off, namely the initial bubble shape and flow field, but after the pinch-off starts, the turbulent time at the neck scale becomes much slower than the pinching dynamics: The turbulence freezes. We show that the average …


Droplets As Carriers For Flexible Electronic Devices, Mingxing Zhou, Ziyue Wu, Yicong Zhao, Qing Yang, Wei Ling, Ya Li, Hang Xu, Cheng Wang, Xian Huang Dec 2019

Droplets As Carriers For Flexible Electronic Devices, Mingxing Zhou, Ziyue Wu, Yicong Zhao, Qing Yang, Wei Ling, Ya Li, Hang Xu, Cheng Wang, Xian Huang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Coupling soft bodies and dynamic motions with multifunctional flexible electronics is challenging, but is essential in satisfying the urgent and soaring demands of fully soft and comprehensive robotic systems that can perform tasks in spite of rigorous spatial constraints. Here, the mobility and adaptability of liquid droplets with the functionality of flexible electronics, and techniques to use droplets as carriers for flexible devices are combined. The resulting active droplets (ADs) with volumes ranging from 150 to 600 µL can conduct programmable functions, such as sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting defined by the carried flexible devices and move under the excitation …


Magnetic Field Induced Ferrofluid Droplet Breakup In A Simple Shear Flow At A Low Reynolds Number, Md Rifat Hassan, Cheng Wang Dec 2019

Magnetic Field Induced Ferrofluid Droplet Breakup In A Simple Shear Flow At A Low Reynolds Number, Md Rifat Hassan, Cheng Wang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The breakup phenomenon of a ferrofluid droplet in a simple shear flow under a uniform magnetic field is numerically investigated in this paper. The numerical simulation, based on the finite element method, uses a level set method to capture the dynamic evolution of the droplet interface between the two phases. Focusing on small Reynolds numbers (i.e., Re ≤ 0.03), systematic numerical simulations are carried out to analyze the effects of magnetic field strength, direction, and viscosity ratio on the breakup phenomenon of the ferrofluid droplet. The results suggest that applying a magnetic field along α = 45° and 90° relative …


Transport Phenomena In The Knudsen Layer Near An Evaporating Surface, Eric Bird, Zhi Liang Oct 2019

Transport Phenomena In The Knudsen Layer Near An Evaporating Surface, Eric Bird, Zhi Liang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Using the Combination of the Kinetic Theory of Gases (KTG), Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE), and Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulations, We Study the Transport Phenomena in the Knudsen Layer Near a Planar Evaporating Surface. the MD Simulation is First Used to Validate the Assumption Regarding the Anisotropic Velocity Distribution of Vapor Molecules in the Knudsen Layer. based on This Assumption, We Use the KTG to Formulate the Temperature and Density of Vapor at the Evaporating Surface as a Function of the Evaporation Rate and the Mass Accommodation Coefficient (MAC), and We Use These Vapor Properties as the Boundary Conditions to Find …


Reliability-Based Design Optimization Of Load Sharing Systems Using Ssi-Markov Models, Arun Bala Subramaniyan, Rong Pan, Xiaoping Du Sep 2019

Reliability-Based Design Optimization Of Load Sharing Systems Using Ssi-Markov Models, Arun Bala Subramaniyan, Rong Pan, Xiaoping Du

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a novel single loop approach to design the components of the load sharing systems by optimally allocating the failure probabilities to each component, thereby satisfying the overall system reliability requirement. The Reliability–Based Design Optimization (RBDO) of load sharing systems is computationally intensive due to the dynamic nature of component failure probabilities, since the failure of one component will vary the failure probabilities of other working components. Many RBDO methods have been successfully utilized to design individual components, however using these methods for handling system level reliability constraints is still a challenging task. This is because of a …


A Set-Theoretic Model Reference Adaptive Control Architecture With Dead-Zone Effect, Ehsan Arabi, Tansel Yucelen Jul 2019

A Set-Theoretic Model Reference Adaptive Control Architecture With Dead-Zone Effect, Ehsan Arabi, Tansel Yucelen

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

By introducing a system error dependent learning rate, the recently proposed set-theoretic model reference adaptive control architecture provides user-defined worst-case performance guarantees on the system error between an uncertain dynamical system of interest and a given reference model. In this architecture, the adaptation process is always active. However, it is of practical interest to stop the adaptation process when it is not needed (i.e., in the presence of small system errors). Motivated from this standpoint, we present a new set-theoretic model reference adaptive control architecture with dead-zone effect. The key feature of our framework utilizes a modified and continuous generalized …


Stabilization Of Homoclinic Orbits Of Two Degree-Of-Freedom Underactuated Systems, Nilay Kant, Ranjan Mukherjee, Hassan K. Khalil Jul 2019

Stabilization Of Homoclinic Orbits Of Two Degree-Of-Freedom Underactuated Systems, Nilay Kant, Ranjan Mukherjee, Hassan K. Khalil

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A hybrid controller for stabilization of homoclinic orbits of two degree-of-freedom (DOF) underactuated systems is proposed. The controller is comprised of continuous-time inputs, impulsive brakings, and virtual impulsive inputs for resetting of the passive coordinate. Impulsive brakings of the active coordinate result in instantaneous negative changes in the mechanical energy of the system. An impulsive dynamical system framework is adopted for modeling the hybrid dynamics and a Lyapunov function is defined for stabilization of the orbit. Sufficient conditions for stabilization are presented such that the Lyapunov function decreases monotonically under the action of the continuous inputs and undergoes negative jumps …


Active-Passive Dynamic Consensus Filters For Linear Time-Invariant Multiagent Systems, J. Daniel Peterson, Tansel Yucelen, S. Jagannathan Jul 2019

Active-Passive Dynamic Consensus Filters For Linear Time-Invariant Multiagent Systems, J. Daniel Peterson, Tansel Yucelen, S. Jagannathan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Active-passive dynamic consensus filters consist of a group of agents, where a subset of these agents is able to observe a quantity of interest (i.e. active agents) and the rest are subject to no observations (i.e. passive agents). Specifically, the objective of these filters is that the states of all agents are required to converge to the weighted average of the set of observations sensed by the active agents. Existing active-passive dynamic consensus filters in the classical sense assume that all agents can be modeled as having single integrator dynamics, which may not always hold in practice. Motivating from this …


Nanoparticle Injector For Photonic Manipulators Using Dielectrophoresis, Jaykob Maser, Joshua Rovey Jun 2019

Nanoparticle Injector For Photonic Manipulators Using Dielectrophoresis, Jaykob Maser, Joshua Rovey

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We describe the concept of a dielectrophoretic nanoparticle injector and its use in a plasmonic/photonic-based nanoparticle manipulation system. Particle motion is achieved by generating an electrostatic, non-uniform field between two tilted plates and applying the corresponding dielectrophoretic force to net-neutral nanoparticles. We investigate the dependence the dielectrophoretic force has on the plate angle of the charged plates as well as their separation distance, dielectric filler material, and exit interface membrane. Our results indicate an increasing average and maximum dielectrophoretic force attainable in the axial direction with corresponding decreasing plate angle and gap distance. The model also predicts larger field variation …


Estimation Of The Region Of Attraction Of Underactuated Systems And Its Enlargement Using Impulsive Inputs, Nilay Kant, Ranjan Mukherjee, Dhrubajit Chowdhury, Hassan K. Khalil Jun 2019

Estimation Of The Region Of Attraction Of Underactuated Systems And Its Enlargement Using Impulsive Inputs, Nilay Kant, Ranjan Mukherjee, Dhrubajit Chowdhury, Hassan K. Khalil

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Stabilization of an equilibrium point is an important control problem for underactuated systems. For a given control design, the ability of the system to remain stable in the presence of disturbances depends on the size of the region of attraction of the stabilized equilibrium. The sum of squares and trajectory reversing methods are combined together to generate a large estimate of the region of attraction. Then, this estimate is effectively enlarged by applying the impulse manifold method, which can stabilize equilibria from points lying outside the estimated region of attraction. In this paper, the generality of the approach is demonstrated …


Internal Strain Assessment Using Fbgs In A Thermoplastic Composite Subjected To Quasi-Static Indentation And Low-Velocity Impact, M. Mulle, A. Yudhanto, G. Lubineau, R. Yaldiz, W. Schijve, N. Verghese May 2019

Internal Strain Assessment Using Fbgs In A Thermoplastic Composite Subjected To Quasi-Static Indentation And Low-Velocity Impact, M. Mulle, A. Yudhanto, G. Lubineau, R. Yaldiz, W. Schijve, N. Verghese

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We present, for the first time, an experimental investigation of internal strain monitoring in thermoplastic composites subjected to quasi-static indentation and low-velocity impact using embedded fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The goal is to highlight the interest and limitations of the in-core instrumentation of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene laminates subjected to these two classical loading conditions. We propose an instrumentation strategy utilizing FBGs that is expected to provide a reliable set of internal strain values and strain rates, which can be used for the analysis of the damage behavior and the validation of a numerical mesoscale model of laminates. Based on a …


Fast Yield Estimation Of Multi-Band Patch Antennas By Pc-Kriging, Xiaosong Du, Leifur Leifsson, Slawomir Koziel May 2019

Fast Yield Estimation Of Multi-Band Patch Antennas By Pc-Kriging, Xiaosong Du, Leifur Leifsson, Slawomir Koziel

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The PC-Kriging metamodeling method is proposed for yield estimation of multi-band patch antennas. PC-Kriging is a combination of polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) and Kriging metamodeling, where PCE is used as a trend function for the Kriging interpolation metamodel. The method is demonstrated on the Ishigami analytical function and a dual-band patch antenna. The PC-Kriging is shown to reach the prescribed accuracy limit with significantly fewer training points than both PCE and Kriging. This translates into considerable computational savings of yield estimation over alternative metamodel-based procedures and direct EM-driven Monte Carlo simulation. The saving are obtained without compromising evaluation reliability.


On The Anisotropic Behavior Of Electrodes For Electrical-Based Monitoring Of Cfrp Laminated Composites, Khaled Almuhammadi, Arief Yudhanto, Gilles Lubineau May 2019

On The Anisotropic Behavior Of Electrodes For Electrical-Based Monitoring Of Cfrp Laminated Composites, Khaled Almuhammadi, Arief Yudhanto, Gilles Lubineau

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a promising structural health monitoring technique for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. EIT technique has been specifically adopted as a non-destructive testing method along with the electrical characterization methods. Electrodes are the primary component in any EIT system because they act as an interface connecting the instrument/hardware to the structure under inspection. Simulation of electrical inspection of CFRP usually assumes the electrodes to be electrically isotropic interfaces. We show here that such isotropic assumption is a very poor approximation. We experimentally investigated the electrodes contact impedance behavior on CFRP-laminated composite specimens for different surface processing …


Mass Accommodation At A High-Velocity Water Liquid-Vapor Interface, J. Nie, A. Chandra, Z. Liang, P. Keblinski Apr 2019

Mass Accommodation At A High-Velocity Water Liquid-Vapor Interface, J. Nie, A. Chandra, Z. Liang, P. Keblinski

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We Use Molecular Dynamics to Determine the Mass Accommodation Coefficient (MAC) of Water Vapor Molecules Colliding with a Rapidly Moving Liquid-Vapor Interface. This Interface Mimics Those Present in Collapsing Vapor Bubbles that Are Characterized by Large Interfacial Velocities. We Find that at Room Temperature, the MAC is Generally Close to Unity, and Even with Interfaces Moving at 10 Km/s Velocity, It Has a Large Value of 0.79. using a Simplified Atomistic Fluid Model, We Explore the Consequences of Vapor Molecule Interfacial Collision Rules on Pressure, Temperature, and Density of a Vapor Subjected to an Incoming High-Velocity Liquid-Vapor Interface.


A Comprehensive Experimental And Modeling Study On Dissolution In Li-Ion Batteries, Yoon Koo Lee, Jonghyun Park, Wei Lu Apr 2019

A Comprehensive Experimental And Modeling Study On Dissolution In Li-Ion Batteries, Yoon Koo Lee, Jonghyun Park, Wei Lu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dissolution is a critical challenge in metal oxide battery materials, which affects battery performance across multiple scales. At the particle level, the loss of active material as a result of dissolution directly results in capacity fade. At the electrode level, the re-deposition of dissolved metal ions onto the cathode increases cell polarization and hinders lithium transport. At the cell level, the dissolved ions further transport to and deposit on the anode, which consumes cycle-able lithium and leads to capacity fade. These processes lead to poor lithium reversibility, diffusivity, and conductivity. In this work, detailed experimental studies from the particle level …


Assessment Of Turbulence Models In A Hypersonic Cold-Wall Turbulent Boundary Layer, Junji Huang, Jorge-Valentino Bretzke, Lian Duan Mar 2019

Assessment Of Turbulence Models In A Hypersonic Cold-Wall Turbulent Boundary Layer, Junji Huang, Jorge-Valentino Bretzke, Lian Duan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this study, the ability of standard one- or two-equation turbulence models to predict mean and turbulence profiles, the Reynolds stress, and the turbulent heat flux in hypersonic cold-wall boundary-layer applications is investigated. The turbulence models under investigation include the one-equation model of Spalart-Allmaras, the baseline k-ω model by Menter, as well as the shear-stress transport k-ω model by Menter. Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations with the different turbulence models are conducted for a flat-plate, zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer with a nominal free-stream Mach number of 8 and wall-to-recovery temperature ratio of 0.48, and the RANS results are compared with those …


In Situ Micro-Scale High-Speed Imaging For Evaluation Of Fracture Propagation And Fracture Toughness Of Thermoplastic Laminates Subjected To Impact, H. Wafai, A. Yudhanto, G. Lubineau, M. Mulle, T. Alghamdi, S. T. Thoroddsen, R. Yaldiz, N. Verghese Feb 2019

In Situ Micro-Scale High-Speed Imaging For Evaluation Of Fracture Propagation And Fracture Toughness Of Thermoplastic Laminates Subjected To Impact, H. Wafai, A. Yudhanto, G. Lubineau, M. Mulle, T. Alghamdi, S. T. Thoroddsen, R. Yaldiz, N. Verghese

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Measuring parameters related to each damage mode of composites subjected to impact is very challenging because of the complex damage phenomenology. Here, we developed an experimental methodology for evaluating the micro-scale fracture characteristics of two principal damage modes, i.e., transverse crack and delamination, and providing the corresponding fracture toughness. We demonstrated the capability of the method by comparing and providing additional insights about two materials, namely homopolymer-based (ductile) and copolymer-based (less-ductile) glass/polypropylene thermoplastic composites. We found that (i) transverse crack behavior of both composites is similar as indicated by a small difference in their fracture toughness, (ii) delamination growth in …


Revealing The Effects Of Matrix Behavior On Low-Velocity Impact Response Of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Laminates, A. Yudhanto, H. Wafai, G. Lubineau, S. Goutham, M. Mulle, R. Yaldiz, N. Verghese Feb 2019

Revealing The Effects Of Matrix Behavior On Low-Velocity Impact Response Of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Laminates, A. Yudhanto, H. Wafai, G. Lubineau, S. Goutham, M. Mulle, R. Yaldiz, N. Verghese

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Matrix behavior is expected to widely influence the impact response of composites, but detailed conclusions in the case of thermoplastic laminates are still needed. In this paper, we investigated the effect of using either ductile homopolymer PP or less-ductile impact copolymer PP matrices on the low-velocity impact responses of continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) laminate. These PP types represent two variants in the same family of thermoplastic matrix. A thorough experimental campaign was first performed to provide the tensile properties (for PP and glass/PP) and fracture toughness (Mode-I and Mode-II, glass/PP only) of the employed materials. Then, low-velocity impact tests …


Fluorine-Containing Oxidizers For Metal Fuels In Energetic Formulations, Siva Kumar Valluri, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward Dreizin Feb 2019

Fluorine-Containing Oxidizers For Metal Fuels In Energetic Formulations, Siva Kumar Valluri, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward Dreizin

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fluorine containing oxidizers, primarily polymers, are extensively used in pyrotechnic compositions. Fluorinated oxidizers are less explored for metalized propellants and explosives despite a potential advantage of substantial heat release combined with gaseous combustion products. This review summarizes different types of fluorinated oxidizers used in energetic formulations or of potential interest for such systems, including gases, polymers, and inorganic compounds. Types of energetic formulations employing metals and fluoropolymers are discussed in more detail, including methods used to prepare composites and resulting salient features of the obtained materials. Laboratory experiments characterizing such materials, in particular, electron microscopy and thermal analysis, are discussed, …


Influence Of Process-Induced Shrinkage And Annealing On The Thermomechanical Behavior Of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene, M. Mulle, H. Wafai, A. Yudhanto, G. Lubineau, R. Yaldiz, W. Schijve, N. Verghese Jan 2019

Influence Of Process-Induced Shrinkage And Annealing On The Thermomechanical Behavior Of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene, M. Mulle, H. Wafai, A. Yudhanto, G. Lubineau, R. Yaldiz, W. Schijve, N. Verghese

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We investigate the influence of process-induced shrinkage and subsequent annealing on the thermomechanical behavior of unidirectional laminates made of continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (GFPP). We use two different industrial lamination processes: static hot-presses (SHP), and double-belt press (DBP) that are characterized by different cooling rates and pressure levels and most importantly, by the use of a closed mold in the case of SHP manufacturing. We measure the longitudinal and transverse shrinkage during the manufacturing and annealing processes using embedded fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The SHP molding reveals much lower induced shrinkage in GFPP as compared to the DBP process, although …


Electrical/Chemical Thruster Using The Same Monopropellant And Method, Steven P. Berg, Joshua L. Rovey Jan 2019

Electrical/Chemical Thruster Using The Same Monopropellant And Method, Steven P. Berg, Joshua L. Rovey

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A thruster operable in a chemical mode or in an electrospray mode using the same liquid monopropellant for operation in both modes is described having a multiplicity of a microthrusters made of a catalytic material having a bore therethrough, where, when operated in the chemical mode, the microthrusters are heated to decompose the monopropellant the monopropellant flows therethrough to generate relatively high thrust. An extractor is positioned downstream of the outlet ends of the microthrusters, such that when the system is operated in its electrospray mode the flowrate of the monopropellant through the microthrusters is substantially lower than in the …


An Experimental Approach That Assesses In-Situ Micro-Scale Damage Mechanisms And Fracture Toughness In Thermoplastic Laminates Under Out-Of-Plane Loading, H. Wafai, A. Yudhanto, G. Lubineau, R. Yaldiz, N. Verghese Jan 2019

An Experimental Approach That Assesses In-Situ Micro-Scale Damage Mechanisms And Fracture Toughness In Thermoplastic Laminates Under Out-Of-Plane Loading, H. Wafai, A. Yudhanto, G. Lubineau, R. Yaldiz, N. Verghese

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Studying the response of laminated composites under out-of-plane loading routinely involves mechanical tests, such as quasi-static indentation or impact. The phenomenology during these tests is so complex that it is difficult to identify different material properties related to each failure mechanism (damage mode). We aim at providing an experimental approach, which is practical and fast, for assessing the in-situ micro-scale damage mechanism and extracting the fracture toughness in thermoplastic laminates under out-of-plane loading. To this end, we developed a dedicated, micro-scale, three-point bending (micro-3PB) test fitted inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In a single experiment, we were able: (i) …


Thermodynamic And Transport Properties Of Hydroxylammonium Nitrate-Based Electric Solid Propellant Vapor, Matthew S. Glascock, Patrick D. Drew, Joshua L. Rovey Jan 2019

Thermodynamic And Transport Properties Of Hydroxylammonium Nitrate-Based Electric Solid Propellant Vapor, Matthew S. Glascock, Patrick D. Drew, Joshua L. Rovey

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electric solid propellants are advanced solid chemical rocket propellants controlled by electric current. Electric solid propellants may also be used in an electric propulsion system, specifically, an ablative pulsed plasma thruster. Previous experiments with the electric solid propellant HIPEP suggest its ablation processes are similar to traditional propellant polytetrafluoroethylene (C2F4). Better understanding of the ablation and resulting propulsion performance of HIPEP requires a model of its vapor composition and transport properties. This paper reports on the development of such a model. The model was validated by comparing results for C2F4 with literature, which showed agreement with multiple models described. Transport …


Experimental Investigation Of Mixtures Of 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Ethyl Sulfate And Ethylammonium Nitrate With Electrospray Propulsion Applications, Mitchell J. Wainwright, Joshua L. Rovey, Shawn W. Miller, Benjamin D. Prince Jan 2019

Experimental Investigation Of Mixtures Of 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Ethyl Sulfate And Ethylammonium Nitrate With Electrospray Propulsion Applications, Mitchell J. Wainwright, Joshua L. Rovey, Shawn W. Miller, Benjamin D. Prince

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Physical properties, performance metrics, and mass spectra of mixtures of two ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl-sulfate aka [Emim][EtSO4] and ethyl ammonium nitrate aka EAN) are investigated from the standpoint of electrospray propulsive characteristics. Spectra suggest that as the [Emim][EtSO4] mixture fraction increases, the intensity of [Emim][EtSO4] related species in the plume also increases, while the presence of EAN decreases. Spectra also show presence of both EAN proton transfer species and species related to chemical reaction of [EtSO4] and water. Despite the volatility of EAN, it emits stably into vacuum at low flow rates when mixed with 25% [Emim][EtSO4]. Spectra also show …


Influence Of A Backward-Facing Step On Swept-Wing Boundary-Layer Transition, Jenna L. Eppink, Richard W. Wlezien, Rudolph A. King, Meelan Choudhari Jan 2019

Influence Of A Backward-Facing Step On Swept-Wing Boundary-Layer Transition, Jenna L. Eppink, Richard W. Wlezien, Rudolph A. King, Meelan Choudhari

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Experimental measurements were performed on a swept flat-plate model with an airfoil leading edge and imposed chordwise pressure gradient to determine the effects of a backward-facing step on transition in a low-speed stationary crossflow-dominated boundary layer. Detailed hot-wire measurements were performed for three step heights ranging from 36 to 49% of the boundary-layer thickness at the step and corresponding to subcritical, nearly critical, and critical cases. In general, the step had a small, localized effect on the growth of the stationary crossflow vortex, whereas the unsteady disturbance amplitudes increased with increasing step height. Intermittent spikes in instantaneous velocity began to …


Hydroxylammonium Nitrate Species In A Monopropellant Electrospray Plume, Mitchell J. Wainwright, Joshua L. Rovey, Shawn W. Miller, Benjamin D. Prince, Steven P. Berg Jan 2019

Hydroxylammonium Nitrate Species In A Monopropellant Electrospray Plume, Mitchell J. Wainwright, Joshua L. Rovey, Shawn W. Miller, Benjamin D. Prince, Steven P. Berg

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A mixture of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ([Emim][EtSO4]) and hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) is an energetic monopropellant potentially suitable in a multi-mode chemical-electric microtube-electrospray micro propulsion system. In this work, electrospray plume mass spectra are compared between the monopropellant mixture and neat [Emim][EtSO4]. This comparison clearly indicates new and additional species present in the plume due to the addition of HAN. Mass spectra from 20-600 amu/q were obtained over a variety of angles and flow rates from 2 pL/sec to 3 nL/sec in both cation and anion extraction modes. Mass spectrum dependence on flow rate and angular orientation agree qualitatively well with …


Determine Airborne Release Fractions (Arf) / Respirable Fractions (Rf) For Use In Safety Based Documents, Michael Quinn, Jacob Miller Jan 2019

Determine Airborne Release Fractions (Arf) / Respirable Fractions (Rf) For Use In Safety Based Documents, Michael Quinn, Jacob Miller

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.


Real-Time Electrical Impedance Monitoring Of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Laminates Undergoing Quasi-Static Indentation, Khaled Almuhammadi, Arief Yudhanto, Gilles Lubineau Jan 2019

Real-Time Electrical Impedance Monitoring Of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Laminates Undergoing Quasi-Static Indentation, Khaled Almuhammadi, Arief Yudhanto, Gilles Lubineau

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Laminated composites are vulnerable to damage from out-of-plane loading, particularly impact loading, and the incurred damage is often only detected by evaluating the post-impact condition of the composites. Real-time monitoring techniques are desirable for early detection of damage. Utilizing changes in the electrical properties of composites to track incurred damage is promising, but the interpretation of such measurements is still challenging. Here, an electro-mechanical system is introduced to understand how well we could detect mechanical degradation in carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates undergoing a quasi-static indentation (QSI) test, which is representative of an impact load. The system measures the in situ, …


Impulse Measurements Of Electric Solid Propellant In An Electrothermal Ablation-Fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster, Matthew S. Glascock, Joshua L. Rovey, Kurt A. Polzin Jan 2019

Impulse Measurements Of Electric Solid Propellant In An Electrothermal Ablation-Fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster, Matthew S. Glascock, Joshua L. Rovey, Kurt A. Polzin

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electric solid propellants are advanced solid chemical rocket propellants that can be controlled (ignited, throttled and extinguished) through the application and removal of an electric current. These propellants are also being considered for use in the ablative pulsed plasma thruster. In this paper, the performance of an electric solid propellant operating in an electrothermal ablation-fed pulsed plasma thruster was investigated using an inverted pendulum micro-Newton thrust stand. The impulse bit and specific impulse of the device using the electric solid propellant were measured for short-duration test runs of 100 pulses and longer-duration runs to end-of-life, at energy levels of 5, …


Electric Solid Propellant Ablation In An Arc Discharge, Matthew S. Glascock, Joshua L. Rovey, Kurt A. Polzin Jan 2019

Electric Solid Propellant Ablation In An Arc Discharge, Matthew S. Glascock, Joshua L. Rovey, Kurt A. Polzin

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electric solid propellants are advanced solid chemical rocket propellants that can be controlled (ignited, throttled, and extinguished) through the application and removal of an electric current. Electric solid propellants are also being considered for pulsed arc ablation electric thrusters, such as the pulsed plasma thruster. The focus of this work is the electrical and ablation characteristics of electric solid propellant within an arc discharge. Arc discharges of 5–20 J per pulse were created within a cylindrical cavity, and results for the electric solid propellant are compared with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is a traditional propellant in ablative pulsed plasma thrusters. The …