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Articles 1 - 30 of 3188

Full-Text Articles in Aerospace Engineering

Crushing Behavior Of Crash Boxes With Hybrid Honeycomb–Auxetic Fillers: Effects Of Architecture, Geometry, And Material Behaviors, A. Yudhanto, A. Jusuf, L. D. Lumanauw, M. Falyanzhuri, A. Afdhal Nov 2026

Crushing Behavior Of Crash Boxes With Hybrid Honeycomb–Auxetic Fillers: Effects Of Architecture, Geometry, And Material Behaviors, A. Yudhanto, A. Jusuf, L. D. Lumanauw, M. Falyanzhuri, A. Afdhal

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Additively manufactured (AM) fillers provide new opportunities to tailor the crushing response and energy absorption of thin-walled metallic crash boxes. This study presents a combined experimental–numerical investigation of hexagonal AA6063-T4 crash boxes filled with architected structures, i.e., honeycomb, auxetic-reentrant, and hybrid honeycomb–auxetic topology. The hybrid configuration, which integrates cells with positive and negative Poisson's ratios, triggers coordinated mechanisms (that enhance folding behavior and collapse control) unattainable via single topology. Quasi-static axial compression tests were conducted to characterize force–displacement curves, deformation mechanisms, energy absorption (EA), and specific energy absorption (SEA). Finite element models developed in the explicit solver LS-DYNA were employed …

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Data From: Physics-Data-Hybrid Modeling And Control For Vtol Aircraft, Samantha Dawn Burton Oct 2026

Data From: Physics-Data-Hybrid Modeling And Control For Vtol Aircraft, Samantha Dawn Burton

Browse all Datasets

The skeleton code corresponding to many of the results from the dissertation "Physics-Data-Hybrid Modeling and Control for VTOL Aircraft" By Samantha Dawn Burton.

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Retraction Notice To "Hydrogen Recovery, Cleaning, Compression, Storage, Dispensing, Distribution System And End-Uses On The University Campus From Combined Heat, Hydrogen And Power System" [International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy 39 (2014) 647-653], Tarek A. Hamad, Abdulhakim A. Agll, Yousif M. Hamad, Sushrut Bapat, Mathew Thomas, Kevin B. Martin, John W. Sheffield Sep 2026

Retraction Notice To "Hydrogen Recovery, Cleaning, Compression, Storage, Dispensing, Distribution System And End-Uses On The University Campus From Combined Heat, Hydrogen And Power System" [International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy 39 (2014) 647-653], Tarek A. Hamad, Abdulhakim A. Agll, Yousif M. Hamad, Sushrut Bapat, Mathew Thomas, Kevin B. Martin, John W. Sheffield

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier policy on Article Correction, Retraction and Removal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor.

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Application Of Machine Learning To Discover Dynamical Structures In 4d Poincaré Maps In The Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem, Kevin M. Trigg, Daniel J. Broyles, Robert A. Bettinger, Tyler J. Kapolka Sep 2026

Application Of Machine Learning To Discover Dynamical Structures In 4d Poincaré Maps In The Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem, Kevin M. Trigg, Daniel J. Broyles, Robert A. Bettinger, Tyler J. Kapolka

Faculty Publications

The spatial Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP) produces complex orbital dynamics that are difficult to classify at scale using traditional, manual Poincaré map analysis. A Poincaré map simplifies continuous orbital motion by recording the points where a trajectory intersects a chosen surface in phase space, converting a continuous path into a discrete set of crossings that reveal underlying topological structure. These crossings make it easier to characterize trajectory behavior, but interpreting them visually becomes impractical for large datasets and as Poincaré maps evolve from two into four dimensions. To address this challenge, an unsupervised clustering pipeline for discovering dynamical structures …

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The Evolution Of Reliability Methods For Nondestructive Evaluation (Nde): From Probability Of Detection (Pod) Conception To Contemporary Practices, Christine E. Knott, Jennifer Brown, John Aldrin, Christine M. Schubert Kabban Sep 2026

The Evolution Of Reliability Methods For Nondestructive Evaluation (Nde): From Probability Of Detection (Pod) Conception To Contemporary Practices, Christine E. Knott, Jennifer Brown, John Aldrin, Christine M. Schubert Kabban

Faculty Publications

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods are powerful tools for detecting and characterizing flaws in structural components, but their reliability must be evaluated before they can be used in critical applications. For more than 50 years, probabilistic and statistical methods have been used effectively to estimate reliability by describing an NDE system’s Probability of Detection (POD) for flaws of realistic sizes. The POD methods used by the USAF and NASA, like Hit/Miss, Signal-Response (â vs. a), and Point Estimate method (PEM, a.k.a. 29/29) have evolved, alongside newer approaches like Limited Sample POD (LS-POD) method, and Model Assisted Probability of Detection …

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Optimizing Ball‐Milled Composites For Fast Energy Release Under Shock Compression, Siva Valluri, Edward Dreizin, Dana Dlott Aug 2026

Optimizing Ball‐Milled Composites For Fast Energy Release Under Shock Compression, Siva Valluri, Edward Dreizin, Dana Dlott

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Microparticle additives containing both Al fuel and oxidizer, fabricated by arrested reactive milling (ARM), could potentially increase the power of energetic materials such as HMX because they contain premixed fuel and oxidizer. Optimizing shock reactivity requires exploring a vast parametric space encompassing composition, milling parameters that govern microstructural features such as intraparticle voids and fuel-oxidizer mixing, and the resulting inhomogeneous shock reactivity of individual particles. To present our approach, we used a model composition 8Al⋅3CuO, previously optimized for combustion. We milled powders and prescreened different prepared batches using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to rule out batches with significant pre-reaction. Then …

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Evaluating The Suitability Of Commercial Off-The-Shelf Software Radio Peripheral Front-Ends For High-Fidelity Satnav Monitoring Applications, Mark J. Carroll, Sanjeev Gunawardena, Timothy I. Machin, Christine M. Schubert Kabban, Joseph J. Rushanan Jul 2026

Evaluating The Suitability Of Commercial Off-The-Shelf Software Radio Peripheral Front-Ends For High-Fidelity Satnav Monitoring Applications, Mark J. Carroll, Sanjeev Gunawardena, Timothy I. Machin, Christine M. Schubert Kabban, Joseph J. Rushanan

Faculty Publications

Signal quality monitoring is an essential portion of the Global Positioning System (GPS) enterprise. Through monitoring, accuracy and normality are achieved for each satellite and signal. GPS users rely on this information from monitoring stations to ensure safe and successful operation. Traditional monitoring has been performed with hardware receivers or custom radio frequency front-ends. These receivers have known and measured impacts on the distortions of the received signal. This research aims to elucidate and quantify the amount of distortion introduced by the front-ends of general-purpose commercial off-the-shelf software-defined radio (SDR) peripherals. Monitoring stations outfitted with SDRs are more flexible and …

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Global Time-Resolved Measurements Of Inlet/Isolator Unstart Induced By Mass Injection, Andrew N. Bustard, Benjamin L. Bemis, Aaron Marques, Matthew J. Zahr, Thomas J. Juliano Jul 2026

Global Time-Resolved Measurements Of Inlet/Isolator Unstart Induced By Mass Injection, Andrew N. Bustard, Benjamin L. Bemis, Aaron Marques, Matthew J. Zahr, Thomas J. Juliano

Publications

The inner surface pressure of an axisymmetric inlet/isolator model was measured using anodized-aluminum pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) viewing through cast acrylic. Temperaturesensitive paint was utilized to correct for the PSP’s temperature sensitivity. The model was tested under Mach 5.7 flow at 𝑹𝒆 = 7.1 ×106 /m under conventional noise conditions. Transverse jet injection with jet-to-inlet mass-flow ratios up to 0.8 was used to induce unstart in the inlet/isolator. Background-oriented schlieren visualization of the inlet shocks was collected simultaneously with the PSP to determine when the inlet unstarted. Computational fluid dynamics results were used to determine off-wall flow structures and quantify approach …

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Technological Advancements Of Hybrid Rocket Engines For Sustainable And Competitive In-Space Propulsion Applications, Ryan J. Thibaudeau, Stephen A. Whitmore, Jared Coen, Joshua Sorenson, Logan Mecham, Ava Wilkey Jul 2026

Technological Advancements Of Hybrid Rocket Engines For Sustainable And Competitive In-Space Propulsion Applications, Ryan J. Thibaudeau, Stephen A. Whitmore, Jared Coen, Joshua Sorenson, Logan Mecham, Ava Wilkey

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Hybrid rocket engines (HREs), which pair a fluid oxidizer with a solid fuel, offer safety and handling advantages, can reduce environmental impact relative to selected legacy systems, and are capable of deep throttling and restart, making them strong candidates for “green” in-space propulsion applications. However, until very recently, there has not been any flight heritage of an HRE used in a spaceflight mission. Over the past decade, the Propulsion Research Laboratory at Utah State University (PRL-USU) has matured a portfolio of HRE technologies—low-energy arc ignition, digital throttling, additively manufactured sustainable fuels, the Nytrox green oxidizer, and electroplated thruster assemblies—that together …

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Gust-Induced Aerodynamic Performance In Insects' Forward Flapping Flight, Arash Farsani, Ori Stearns, Gal Ribak, Roi Gurka Jul 2026

Gust-Induced Aerodynamic Performance In Insects' Forward Flapping Flight, Arash Farsani, Ori Stearns, Gal Ribak, Roi Gurka

Physics and Engineering Science

Flapping-wing flight is inherently unsteady, where atmospheric gusts can substantially degrade the aerodynamic performance when their characteristic time scales are comparable to the wingbeat period. This study presents a numerical investigation and time–frequency characterization of gust-induced aerodynamic response of flapping wings of varying size, inspired by the flight of a longhorn beetle, Batocera rufomaculata. Geometrically similar wings spanning the biological range were simulated in forward flight under identical prescribed kinematics and a transient frontal gust with a smoothly ramped profile. Three-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations using the shear stress transport k–ω turbulence model were performed to resolve the instantaneous pressure …

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3d Semi-Analytical Thermo-Elasto-Plastic Model For Additive Manufacturing, Tao Liu, Ming C. Leu, Edward C. Kinzel, Chinedum Okwudire Jul 2026

3d Semi-Analytical Thermo-Elasto-Plastic Model For Additive Manufacturing, Tao Liu, Ming C. Leu, Edward C. Kinzel, Chinedum Okwudire

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In additive manufacturing (AM), stress field drives distortion and warping and promotes delamination and cracking. Fast, accurate stress prediction is therefore essential for AM process planning and control, including real-time adaptive control, AM digital twins, data-driven and physics-driven workflows. However, spot-wise thermo-elasto-plastic finite element method (FEM) are often too slow for design iteration or real time use. Existing semi-analytical thermo-elasto-plastic approaches achieve high speed but are largely limited to 2D. In this paper, a full 3D semi-analytical thermo-elasto-plastic model for AM is built. The method uses a spot-wise analytical thermal field as the load and computes displacements and stresses via …

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A Comparative Evaluation Of Experimentally Validated Finite Element Modeling Strategies To Simulate Compression-After-Impact Behavior Of Multidirectional Cfrp Laminates With Barely Visible Impact Damage, Niildiip Chandraa, Vinh Tung Le, Arief Yudhanto, Abhendra K. Singh, Douglas E. Smith Jul 2026

A Comparative Evaluation Of Experimentally Validated Finite Element Modeling Strategies To Simulate Compression-After-Impact Behavior Of Multidirectional Cfrp Laminates With Barely Visible Impact Damage, Niildiip Chandraa, Vinh Tung Le, Arief Yudhanto, Abhendra K. Singh, Douglas E. Smith

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Abstract The finite element-based approaches to predict compression-after-impact (CAI) performance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) subject to a low-velocity impact rely on assumptions about compressive failure mechanisms within the barely visible impact damage (BVID). Comprehensive evaluations of finite element (FE) models concerning accuracy, efficiency, and validity with respect to experimental tests are limited. This study explores several finite element-based approaches developed in ABAQUS Explicit to predict the residual strength and related compressive failure mechanisms of multidirectional CFRP laminates. Drop-weight impact experiments followed by CAI tests employing 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) were used to validate our FE models by …

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Tailoring Crushing Responses Of Hexagonal Crash Box Filled With Additively Manufactured Lattice Structures By Assessing The Influence Of Material Parameters, L. D. Lumanauw, A. Jusuf, M. H. Jarwadi, L. Gunawan, T. Sebaey, A. Yudhanto Jul 2026

Tailoring Crushing Responses Of Hexagonal Crash Box Filled With Additively Manufactured Lattice Structures By Assessing The Influence Of Material Parameters, L. D. Lumanauw, A. Jusuf, M. H. Jarwadi, L. Gunawan, T. Sebaey, A. Yudhanto

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hexagonal crash boxes offer superior crashworthiness compared to other cross-sectional geometries, and their performance can be further enhanced by integrating additively manufactured lattice fillers. This study investigates the quasi-static crushing behavior of hexagonal crash boxes filled with hexagonal close-packed (HCP) lattice structures fabricated via stereolithography (SLA). Finite element models developed in ABAQUS/Explicit, validated against quasi-static compression experiments, show discrepancies below 5%, indicating that polymeric lattice fillers provide modest performance gains, achieving a crushing force efficiency (CFE) of 20%–25%. Replacing polymeric lattices with metallic fillers, namely 316L stainless steel and Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy, substantially increases energy absorption, with Ti–6Al–4V delivering the …

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Nascent Titanium-/Silicon-Containing Particle Formation In Corona-Discharge-Assisted Combustion, Chanakya Bagya Ramesh, Frank Daoru Han, Yang Wang Jul 2026

Nascent Titanium-/Silicon-Containing Particle Formation In Corona-Discharge-Assisted Combustion, Chanakya Bagya Ramesh, Frank Daoru Han, Yang Wang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Adding plasmas to a flame has been shown to introduce high concentrations of charges, ions, and radicals to the said flame. This technique of adding plasma to a flame is called plasma-assisted combustion (PAC), and this addition has been shown to make a flame more stable and efficient. At the same time, PAC has also been shown to alter particle formation during combustion. Here, we investigate the effect of a high-frequency (∼21 kHz) alternating current (AC) corona discharge on particle formation and growth in a premixed flame, especially at the initial stages (with particle sizes below 10 nm). We first …

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Atomistic Simulations Of Crystallographic Anisotropy And Defects In Shock Loading, Benjamin P. Helman, Andre Archer, Logan Nagy, Samuel C. Wagers, Douglas E. Spearot, Adib J. Samin Jun 2026

Atomistic Simulations Of Crystallographic Anisotropy And Defects In Shock Loading, Benjamin P. Helman, Andre Archer, Logan Nagy, Samuel C. Wagers, Douglas E. Spearot, Adib J. Samin

Faculty Publications

The impact of crystallographic orientation, select grain boundaries, and vacancies on the shock response of aluminum was investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Shock loading in the [001], [011], and [111] directions was explored, revealing anisotropic behavior in shock speed, generated dislocation density, and melting. The Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL) in the [100], [110], and [111] directions were calculated as 18.7 GPa, 17.8 GPa, and 22.5 GPa, respectively. These results were found to be an order of magnitude larger than the uniaxial compressive yield strengths computed at high strain rate using an affine loading scheme. Metastable melting in the [011] and …

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Nozzle Erosion Reconstruction Model For Data Analysis In Rocket Engines And Correlation With Chamber Pressure, Ryan J. Thibaudeau, Stephen A. Whitmore Jun 2026

Nozzle Erosion Reconstruction Model For Data Analysis In Rocket Engines And Correlation With Chamber Pressure, Ryan J. Thibaudeau, Stephen A. Whitmore

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Graphite nozzles remain the dominant choice for small hybrid and solid rocket motors operating on laboratory and university budgets, owing to their low cost, ease of machining, and rapid turnaround during iterative design campaigns. These same programs, however, must contend with the fact that graphite erodes through coupled thermochemical and mechanical mechanisms when exposed to the oxidizing species generated by high-energy propellant combustion, and the resulting throat-area growth fundamentally alters the time histories of chamber pressure, thrust, and delivered specific impulse. This paper presents a nozzle-erosion reconstruction model that extracts the time-resolved throat area from coupled thrust and chamber-pressure measurements …

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Mae Enewsbrief January-March 2026, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University Jun 2026

Mae Enewsbrief January-March 2026, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

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Boiling Flow Estimation For Aero-Optic Phase Screen Generation, Jeffrey W. Utley, Gregery T. Buzzard, Charles A. Bouman, Matthew R. Kemnetz Jun 2026

Boiling Flow Estimation For Aero-Optic Phase Screen Generation, Jeffrey W. Utley, Gregery T. Buzzard, Charles A. Bouman, Matthew R. Kemnetz

Faculty Publications

Aero-optic effects due to turbulence can reduce the effectiveness of transmitting light waves to a distant target. Methods to compensate for turbulence typically rely on realistic turbulence data, which can be generated by i) experiment, ii) high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD), iii) low-fidelity CFD, and iv) autoregressive methods. However, each of these methods has significant drawbacks, including monetary and/or computational expense, limited quantity, inaccurate statistics, and overall complexity. By contrast, the boiling flow algorithm is a simple, computationally efficient model that can generate atmospheric phase screen data with only a handful of parameters. However, boiling flow has not been widely …

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Comparative Analysis Of Leaflet Materials, Stent Materials, And Stent Cell Density For Bileaflet Transcatheter Mitral Valve Design, Joseph Chibuike Nwokeafor, Joshua D. Hofmeister, Breandan B. Yeats, Lakshmi Prasad Dasi, Charanjit S. Rihal, Juan A. Crestanello, Leigh Griffiths, Mohamad A. Alkhouli, Hoda Hatoum Jun 2026

Comparative Analysis Of Leaflet Materials, Stent Materials, And Stent Cell Density For Bileaflet Transcatheter Mitral Valve Design, Joseph Chibuike Nwokeafor, Joshua D. Hofmeister, Breandan B. Yeats, Lakshmi Prasad Dasi, Charanjit S. Rihal, Juan A. Crestanello, Leigh Griffiths, Mohamad A. Alkhouli, Hoda Hatoum

Michigan Tech Publications

Background: The biomechanical performance of bileaflet transcatheter mitral valves (TMVs) depends on complex interactions between leaflet material behavior and stent design. However, the contributions of leaflet materials and constitutive models, stent materials, and stent geometry to valve function and durability remain poorly understood. Methods: A parametric finite element study was conducted using a CAD model of a bileaflet TMV subjected to physiological pressure loading. Five leaflet material models were evaluated: 3 glutaraldehyde-fixed tissues—bovine pericardium (BP; FBP1, FBP2) and porcine pericardium (PP; FPP)—and 2 unfixed tissues—bovine (UBP) and porcine pericardium (UPP). BP was modeled as a linear elastic (FBP1) and Ogden …

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A Provable Semi-Infinite Programming Approach For Solving Constrained Dynamic Games, Tyler C. Gardner, Matthew W. Harris, Logan Lancaster Jun 2026

A Provable Semi-Infinite Programming Approach For Solving Constrained Dynamic Games, Tyler C. Gardner, Matthew W. Harris, Logan Lancaster

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Many engineering problems must account for the non-cooperative decisions and actions of multiple players. These problems can be modeled within a game-theoretic framework. The approach herein is to model such problems as mathematical games, convert them to semi-infinite programs, and utilize a semi-infinite program solver whose output is provably an ϵ-optimal Nash equilibrium. The approach is successfully benchmarked on two low-dimensional problems. Two types of higher-dimensional linear quadratic dynamic games are then investigated: ones where each player’s problem is convex and ones where at least one player’s problem is nonconvex. Within each type, variations based on information structure, control …

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Winddensity-Mbir: Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction For Wind Tunnel 3d Density Estimation, Karl J. Weisenburger, Gregery T. Buzzard, Charles A. Bouman, Matthew R. Kemnetz Jun 2026

Winddensity-Mbir: Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction For Wind Tunnel 3d Density Estimation, Karl J. Weisenburger, Gregery T. Buzzard, Charles A. Bouman, Matthew R. Kemnetz

Faculty Publications

Experimentalists often use wind tunnels to study aerodynamic turbulence, but most wind tunnel imaging techniques are limited in their ability to take non-invasive three-dimensional (3D) density measurements of turbulence. Wavefront tomography is a technique that uses multiple wavefront measurements from various viewing angles to non-invasively measure the 3D density field of a turbulent medium. Existing methods make strong assumptions, such as a spline basis representation, to address the ill-conditioned nature of this problem. We formulate this problem as a Bayesian, sparse-view tomographic reconstruction problem and develop a model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm for measuring the volumetric 3D density field inside a …

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Tracking Continuous Non-Differentiable Trajectories In Euler–Lagrange Systems With Continuous Dynamics, Nilay Kant Jun 2026

Tracking Continuous Non-Differentiable Trajectories In Euler–Lagrange Systems With Continuous Dynamics, Nilay Kant

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Tracking controllers for Euler–Lagrange systems are designed under the assumption that reference trajectories are continuous, and at least twice differentiable with respect to time. However, this assumption precludes several use cases, such as when a robot end-effector must track a path with corners at constant speed. This paper introduces the control design for tracking continuous but non-differentiable trajectories in fully actuated Euler–Lagrange systems that have continuous-time dynamics. The proposed controller combines a continuous feedback law with impulsive inputs, that are intermittently applied at the instants of non-differentiability. A Lyapunov stability analysis establishes global exponential convergence of the tracking error to …

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Evaluation Of The Effect Of Vibration On Signal Reflection In Coaxial Cable Connectors For Vibration Sensing In Aircraft Structures And Systems, Saidanvar Esanjonovich Valiev, Anthony C. Okafor, Jeremiah J. Rittenhouse, Daniel S. Stutts, Jie Huang Jun 2026

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Vibration On Signal Reflection In Coaxial Cable Connectors For Vibration Sensing In Aircraft Structures And Systems, Saidanvar Esanjonovich Valiev, Anthony C. Okafor, Jeremiah J. Rittenhouse, Daniel S. Stutts, Jie Huang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper investigates the effects of vibration on signal reflection (S11) in aerospace data transmission line (ADTL) and commercial data transmission line (DTL) connectors for their alternative use as vibration sensors. The impact of vibration on the S11 signal was investigated on five ADTL and four DTL connectors at six vibration frequencies (20 Hz, 40 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz, 320 Hz, and 640 Hz) and four vibration accelerations (0.5G, 1 G, 2 G, and 4G). The experiment was conducted using a split-plot design with a cable type assigned as the main-plot factor, with vibration frequency and acceleration as subplot …

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Entropy-Constrained Closure For Steady, Quasi-One-Dimensional Flow Of Ideal Gases, Andrew A. Oliva May 2026

Entropy-Constrained Closure For Steady, Quasi-One-Dimensional Flow Of Ideal Gases, Andrew A. Oliva

Michigan Tech Publications

An entropy-constrained closure is developed for steady quasi-one-dimensional flow of a calorically perfect ideal gas. Net irreversibility is represented by a prescribed entropy change between the inlet and outlet or, equivalently, by a stagnation pressure ratio together with the stagnation temperature ratio implied by the energy balance equation. The thermodynamic constraint, enforced through Gibbs relation together with conservation of mass and energy, yields an algebraic mapping from the inlet flow state, area ratio and prescribed stagnation property ratios to the outlet flow state. The momentum balance is retained only as an auxiliary post-processing relation and may be used to infer …

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Data-Driven Lpv Modeling Via Parametric Dmd And Predictive Control Of Highly Flexible Aircraft, Larry Catalasan, Tianyi He, Weihua Su May 2026

Data-Driven Lpv Modeling Via Parametric Dmd And Predictive Control Of Highly Flexible Aircraft, Larry Catalasan, Tianyi He, Weihua Su

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

This paper presents a method of data-driven parametric dynamic mode decomposition (p-DMD) to derive a linear parameter-varying reduced-order model (LPV-ROM) and predictive control for the nonlinear aeroelasticity of highly flexible aircraft. It directly uses the data snapshots obtained at varying flight conditions and encodes a nonlinear model’s polynomial dependency on flight conditions to produce a polynomial-dependent LPV-ROM. The modeling method can handle not only equilibrium flight conditions but also continuously varying flight conditions. In numerical studies, the proposed data-driven p-DMD modeling is applied to a highly flexible cantilever wing perturbed around equilibrium conditions and a flexible aircraft with time-varying angles …

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The Impact Of Dispatch Weight Restrictions On Derivative Aircraft Propulsion Technology Evaluation, Timothy T. Takahashi May 2026

The Impact Of Dispatch Weight Restrictions On Derivative Aircraft Propulsion Technology Evaluation, Timothy T. Takahashi

Faculty Publications

This paper arises from an ARPA-E-sponsored project seeking design opportunities to retrofit existing aircraft with hybrid electric propulsion systems. Engineers typically configure aircraft to fly a given payload over a long range, which is subject to field performance constraints. In practice, operators fly transport aircraft (civilian and military) in a manner where dispatch consciously trades payload and/or range to enable safe operations to and from short runways. This work describes a simple yet novel analytical process suitable for inclusion in conceptual design or technology portfolio trade study evaluations to assess the impacts of weight-restricted dispatch upon usable payloads. We find …

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Meeting The Moment With Ai-Employer Informed Education, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca May 2026

Meeting The Moment With Ai-Employer Informed Education, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence transforms aviation, aerospace, and autonomy-related sectors, higher education must adapt to meet evolving workforce demands. This session shares emerging findings from a nationwide study led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focused on employer perceptions of AI adoption, responsible use, and workforce preparedness in domains including uncrewed systems, space systems, robotics, and advanced air mobility. Based on a structured survey and follow-up interviews, the presentation explores how organizations are using AI tools, from generative platforms to enterprise systems, and defining effective and inappropriate use in operational contexts. Participants will gain insight into critical concerns (e.g., data privacy, compliance, security, …

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Design Optimization Of Active-Stabilizing Canards For High-Powered Rockets, Simon Babcock May 2026

Design Optimization Of Active-Stabilizing Canards For High-Powered Rockets, Simon Babcock

Senior Honors Theses

Rocket canards are a common means of stabilizing a high-powered rocket in flight by producing aerodynamic forces to correct the rocket's trajectory. The size, shape, and position of the canards relative to the rocket body determine their control effectiveness and aerodynamic efficiency – two objectives of canard design with an inverse relationship to each other. By integrating automated iterative rocket trajectory simulation with adaptive surrogate modelling, this research optimized the canard planform geometry for a high-powered rocket to maximize the canards’ control effectiveness and aerodynamic efficiency through multi-variable, multi-objective design optimization. The canard design was first parameterized into four design …

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A Machine Learning-Based Apogee Prediction Methodology For Experimental Student Rockets, Price Hamilton Drawdy May 2026

A Machine Learning-Based Apogee Prediction Methodology For Experimental Student Rockets, Price Hamilton Drawdy

Senior Honors Theses

The ability to predict the maximum altitude of a rocket (apogee) in real-time is incredibly useful for collegiate-level competition rockets. This project creates a machine learning-based real-time apogee prediction methodology. Three model types were tested: linear regression, random forest, and a 3-layer multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network. These models were trained on a large dataset of simulated flights. All models performed well on simulated test flights, with the linear regression model showing most promise for use on edge compute. More development and real-world testing are necessary to determine how applicable this method is for real-time operation. Nevertheless, this methodology provides …

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Measurements And Scaling Of Ion Propulsion Impulse During Driven Magnetic Reconnection, Fatima Ebrahimi, Nicholas A. O'Gorman, Kush Maheshwari, Jongsoo Yoo, Alexandre Sainterme, Hantao Ji May 2026

Measurements And Scaling Of Ion Propulsion Impulse During Driven Magnetic Reconnection, Fatima Ebrahimi, Nicholas A. O'Gorman, Kush Maheshwari, Jongsoo Yoo, Alexandre Sainterme, Hantao Ji

Faculty Publications

Impulse scaling during magnetic reconnection, the magnetic energy conversion to kinetic energy, via direct Mach probe measurements in Magnetic Reconnection Experiment is examined. Ion exhaust velocity and impulse scalings with reconnecting magnetic field during the push phase of driven reconnection are presented. The outflows and impulse measurements are compared with global MHD simulations. Both measurements and simulations reveal a favorable scaling, greater than linear, of impulse with reconnecting field. These scaling results establish that magnetic reconnection could be utilized for plasma propulsion.

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