Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

Payloads For Student Thinsat Satellites, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Payloads for Student ThinSat Satellites" from October 2, 2017.

An Enhanced Operational Definition Of Dielectric Breakdown For Dc Voltage Step-Up Tests, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison

Journal Articles

The imprecise definition of breakdown in the ASTM D3755-14 standard can misidentify breakdown. If the recommended test circuit current sensing element threshold is set too high, breakdown may occur undetected. Conversely, false positives may result from designating a low current threshold. An operational definition of breakdown much less sensitive to these pitfalls is outlined herein. This enhanced definition of breakdown is based on the average rate of change of the leakage current with increasing voltage, rather than a simple current threshold, avoiding ambiguous association with anomalies in current traces. For tests that continuously monitor leakage current, breakdown can be detected …

Holistic Methodology For Stochastic Space Mission Utility Analysis, Ja'mar Alexander Watson

Theses and Dissertations

Analysis and design mechanisms have a profound effect on space missions; yet, space mission engineering is a discipline without unanimous definition and implementation. Current philosophies are inadequate due to incomplete mission phasespaces, disaggregated design methods, exclusion of constitutive relations, curtailed tradespace exploration, and unsubstantiated mission concept solutions. This dissertation presents a new paradigm for simultaneously developing, exploring, and assessing statistically validated space mission concepts. Stochastic modeling and simulation, providing multivariate mission utility analysis with concurrently integrated tradespace exploration, risk assessment, and holistic design, facilitates the methodology. Backtesting of the Apollo II-17 crewed missions to the Moon and retrodiction of Martian …

The Shaping Of Things That Are: How Airplane Windows Took Their Shape, Morgan Lopez

Student Works

Have you ever wondered why your airplane's windows are rounded? It is not for aesthetic appeal.

The first commercial jetliner windows' sole purpose was appearance; a squared window afforded an impressive view of the earth, but the view was not without consequence.

The Capabilities Of The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (Goes-16), Brandon M. Kane

Student Works

This report investigates the capability of the new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (GOES-16) satellite to display 16 channels of the electromagnetic spectrum, to produce images at a higher resolution at increased intervals, and to detect and display lightning. This report also discusses the main instrumentation aboard the new geostationary satellite and how it aids in creating accurate data collection, which in turn, produces quicker weather forecasts and warnings. The 16 different channels produced by the Advanced Baseline Imager aboard the new satellite are analyzed in detail as to the functions and wavelengths on which the channels operate. The image resolution …

United States Drone Laws, Jacob Crittenden

Student Works

The purpose of this Directed Study was to investigate and compile the drone laws that exist within the United States, both on the federal level and for each individual state. The federal laws are directed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under laws that pertain to “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” (UAS) and are relatively new. Most states have further regulations on UAS that they have passed. Most of these laws are in place to protect public safety and privacy, but some also prohibit certain locations of flight and certain modifications that might be made to the platform. State laws that limit …

Computational Methods For Nonlinear Systems Analysis With Applications In Mathematics And Engineering, Geoffrey Kenneth Rose

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An investigation into current methods and new approaches for solving systems of nonlinear equations was performed. Nontraditional methods for implementing arc-length type solvers were developed in search of a more robust capability for solving general systems of nonlinear algebraic equations. Processes for construction of parameterized curves representing the many possible solutions to systems of equations versus finding single or point solutions were established. A procedure based on these methods was then developed to identify static equilibrium states for solutions to multi-body-dynamic systems. This methodology provided for a pictorial of the overall solution to a given system, which demonstrated the possibility …

Development Of A Data Acquisition System For Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav) System Identification, Donald Joseph Lear

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Aircraft system identification techniques are developed for fixed wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The use of a designed flight experiment with measured system inputs/outputs can be used to derive aircraft stability derivatives. This project set out to develop a methodology to support an experiment to model pitch damping in the longitudinal short-period mode of a UAV. A Central Composite Response Surface Design was formed using angle of attack and power levels as factors to test for the pitching moment coefficient response induced by a multistep pitching maneuver.

Selecting a high-quality data acquisition platform was critical to the success of the …

Design Of Dc-Link Vscf Ac Electrical Power System For The Embraer 190/195 Aircraft, Eduardo Francis Carvalho Freitas, Nihad E. Daidzic

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

A proposed novel DC-Link VSCF AC-DC-AC electrical power system converter for Embraer 190/195 transport category airplane is presented. The proposed converter could replace the existing conventional system based on the CSCF IDGs. Several contemporary production airplanes already have VSCF as a major or backup source of electrical power. Problems existed with the older VSCF systems in the past; however, the switched power electronics and digital controllers have matured and can be now, in our opinion, safely integrated and replace existing constant-speed hydraulic transmissions powering CSCF AC generators. IGBT power transistors for medium-level power conversion and relatively fast efficient switching are …

Two Dimensional Grating Magneto-Optical Trap, Eric A. Imhof, Benjamin K. Stuhl, Brian Kasch, Bethany Kroese, Spencer E. Olson, Matthew B. Squires

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

We demonstrate a two-dimensional grating magneto optical trap (2D GMOT) with a single input beam and a planar diffraction grating in ⁸⁷Rb. This configuration allows for an increase in experimental access when compared with a traditional 2D MOT. As configured in the paper, the output flux is > 4 × 10⁸ rubidium atoms/s at a mean velocity of 18 m/s. The velocity distribution has a 3 m/s standard deviation. We use the atomic beam from the 2D GMOT to demonstrate loading of a three dimensional grating MOT (3D GMOT) with 2 × 10⁸ atoms. Methods to improve flux …

Shear Joy Of Watching Paint Dry, Randy Craig Hurd, Nathan B. Spiers, J. Belden, Zhao Pan, B. Lovett, W. G. Robinson, M. A. Zamora, Saberul I. Sharker, Mohammad M. Mansoor, A. Merritt, Tadd T. Truscott

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper is associated with a video winner of a 2016 APS/DFD Milton van Dyke Award for work presented at the DFD Gallery of Fluid Motion.

Students Reaching For The Stars Become The Next Generation Of International Leaders, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Students reaching for the stars become the next generation of International Leaders" on September 22, 2017.

Students Reaching For The Stars Become The Next Generation Of International Leaders: Pucp 100 Year Anniversary - Part 1, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Students reaching for the stars become the next generation of International Leaders: PUCP 100 Year Anniversary" from September 22, 2017.

Students Reaching For The Stars Become The Next Generation Of International Leaders: Pucp 100 Year Anniversary - Part 2, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Students reaching for the stars become the next generation of International Leaders: PUCP 100 Year Anniversary" from Saptember 22, 2017.

Self-Propulsion Of Leidenfrost Drops Between Non-Parallel Structures, Cheng Luo, Manjarik Mrinal, Xiang Wang

Mechanical and Aerospace Faculty Publications - Archive

In this work, we explored self-propulsion of a Leidenfrost drop between non-parallel structures. A theoretical model was first developed to determine conditions for liquid drops to start moving away from the corner of two non-parallel plates. These conditions were then simplified for the case of a Leidenfrost drop. Furthermore, ejection speeds and travel distances of Leidenfrost drops were derived using a scaling law. Subsequently, the theoretical models were validated by experiments. Finally, three new devices have been developed to manipulate Leidenfrost drops in different ways.

Qualitative Analysis Of Loss Of Control Aircraft Accidents Using Text Mining Techniques, Carolina Anderson, Maryjo O. Smith

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The purpose of this study was to analyze the narrative National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident cause descriptions for general aviation (GA) Loss of Control (LOC) accident reports by the different certification categories: Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23 (Part 23), Civil Air Regulations 3 (CAR 3), Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), and Experimental-Amateur Built (E-AB). Airworthiness certification categories represent a wide diversity of government oversight. Part 23 rules have evolved from the initial set of simpler design standards and have progressed into a comprehensive and strict set of rules to address the safety issues of the more complex airplanes within the …

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav): Flight Performance, Fevens Louis Jean

Student Works

It is important that when measuring the sideslip angle and angles of attack during flight test performance of a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), to fully understand that the Angles of attack and sideslip are parameters that aid in determining the safety of the flight as they improve stability and control of the aircraft. The disadvantage of the measurement of these angles using this method is low accuracy of measurement due to friction to the potentiometers in connection with the vanes. To counter this, a new sensing method was developed to minimize friction and collect more accurate data. The method is …

Compensating For Cryogenic Propellant Boiloff For A Cargo Mission To Mars, Thomas M. Perrin, James Casler

Space Studies Faculty Publications

A previous work by the authors (Architecture Study for a Fuel Depot Supplied from Lunar Resources – AIAA 2016-5306) examined architectures for a fuel depot supplied from lunar ice deposits. The study recommended a fuel depot be located at Earth-Moon L1. The study used three design reference missions in the formulation of candidate architectures – among them a Mars Cargo Vehicle (MCV). Each vehicle used 60 layers of multi-layer insulation (MLI) to minimize the boiloff of cryogenic propellants. Boiloff was shown to not be a driver in architecture selection, but it was noted that reducing the number of layers of …

Characterization And Scaling Study Of Energy Pathways In Small Four-Stroke Internal Combustion Engines, Jason R. Blantin

Theses and Dissertations

A study of the efficiency and energy losses of a selection of five small (40 - 200 cm³ displacement) single cylinder, four-stroke engines was accomplished. The study was performed as part of a larger effort to improve the range and endurance of small internal combustion engines (ICE) that power Group II Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Little is known about the performance, efficiency, and allocation of energy losses for four-stroke ICEs in this size range. The goal of the study was to characterize these parameters for use in future research efforts. Three research objectives were developed to guide the study …

Wingtip Vortex Alleviation Using A Reverse Delta Type Add-On Device, Afaq Altaf

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The result of interactions of a wingtip vortex of a half-span wing and vortices generated by a slender reverse delta type add-on device were studied using Particle Image Velocimetry in a closed-loop low-speed wind tunnel. Characteristics of the vortex interactions produced downstream in planes perpendicular to the free stream direction at a mean chord-based Reynolds number, Re_c = 2.75×10⁵, are explored in this work. The study reveals that the reverse delta type add-on device considerably reduces the tangential velocity, vorticity and circulation magnitude of the resultant vortex by up to 79.6%, 85.6% and 48.7%, respectively. It was …

Acid: Anti-Jam Cots Infiltrator Drone, Scott Anderson

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Anticipating the adversaries’ next move

Next-generation improvised, RF-silent drone:

• No GPS and no RF link in or out
• Passive sensor navigation (inertial, vision, etc.)
• Impervious to electronic countermeasures
• Renders electronic attack devices obsolete
• Freely operates in GPS-denied/EW areas

Low-cost, fire-and-forget, improvised weapon

Red team test asset

Deployable system in its own right

Kinetic/directed energy is the only way to defeat

Simplex Solutions For Optimal Control Flight Paths In Urban Environments, Michael D. Zollars, Richard G. Cobb, David J. Grymin

Faculty Publications

This paper identifies feasible fight paths for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems in a highly constrained environment. Optimal control software has long been used for vehicle path planning and has proven most successful when an adequate initial guess is presented flight to an optimal control solver. Leveraging fast geometric planning techniques, a large search space is discretized into a set of simplexes where a Dubins path solution is generated and contained in a polygonal search corridor free of path constraints. Direct optimal control methods are then used to determine the optimal flight path through the newly defined search corridor. Two scenarios …

Assessment On Food And Water Collection On Mars Vs. Human Survival, Michael Todd Herman Jr.

Missouri S&T’s Peer to Peer

This research focuses on the possibility of farming and water collection on Mars to determine if enough food and water can be gathered to support sustained human life. The inspiration for this comes from the plans to put a human on Mars and create a sustained colony, such as Mars One. This colony can become the basis for a multi-planetary civilization that will substantially reduce future overcrowding problems (the population in 2050 is projected to be 11 billion and is expected to continue to grow exponentially) and promote additional research on space travel that can aid in the reduction of …

The Subject Librarian Newsletter, Engineering And Computer Science, Fall 2017, Buenaventura "Ven" Basco

Libraries' Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Conditions For Barrel And Clam-Shell Liquid Drops To Move On Bio-Inspired Conical Wires, Cheng Luo, Xiang Wang

Mechanical and Aerospace Faculty Publications - Archive

It has been reported that, in a foggy environment, water drops with either barrel or clam-shell shapes are capable of self-running on conical wire-like structures, such as cactus spines, spider silk, and water striders’ legs. On the other hand, the corresponding moving mechanisms are still not quite understood. For instance, it is unclear under what conditions clam-shell drops would move from the tip towards the root on a conical wire. In this work, based on the balance of forces, we derive conditions for a drop to self-transport towards or away from the root. We find that, although barrel and clam-shell …

The Study On Shanghai International Air Transportation Hub, Diandian Li

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Design And Validation Of Pressure Based Flow Rate Soft Sensor For Freeze-Drying, Pasita Pibulchinda, Tong Zhu, Vaibhav Kshirsagar, Alina A. Alexeenko

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Lyophilization or freeze drying is a process of removing water by sublimation. It is commonly used to extend the shelf life of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. Because the process is costly and time consuming, precise and efficient pressure, temperature control and drying time estimation are required. It is the goal of freeze-drying to run at maximum capacity while staying within the safe zone by carefully controlling the sublimation rate. Currently, real time estimation of sublimation rate is still challenging. The technique available called Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) is invasive, and requires major modifications. The current study focuses …

Minimum Induced Power For A Helicopter In High-Speed Forward Flight, Junsoo (Sean) Hong

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

A dynamic inflow model is used to calculate minimum induced power for a helicopter in high-speed forward flight with infinite and finite number of blades. Comparisons between analytical and numerical results are shown and they show good agreement. Different flow conditions (such as with and without reverse flow or inflow feedback) are used to show how each condition affects optimum induced power. Several results confirm the findings of earlier investigations such as a singularity in rotor power in reverse flow and induced power reduction with increase in blade number. Some of the new findings are that greater inflow feedback (due …

Satellite Propulsion Spectral Signature Detection And Analysis For Space Situational Awareness Using Small Telescopes, Pamela L. Wheeler

Theses and Dissertations

Safe satellite operations are of utmost importance. Maintaining precise orbital maintenance places stringent performance requirements on current propulsion systems, which are often electric propulsion systems. Electron temperature is a commonly used diagnostic to determine the performance of a Hall thruster, and recent work has correlated near infrared (NIR) spectral measurements of ionization lines of xenon and krypton to electron temperature measurements. In the research herein, appropriate line spectra ratios are identified for each propellant type when used with remote space-to-ground observations. NIR plume emissions were used to characterize a 600 Watt Hall thruster for a variety of observation angles and …

Tu-Pod: A Cube Satellite (Cubesat) And Tube Satellite Dispenser Produced Via 3d Printing, Successful Launch, Orbit And Dispensing Of Two Tube Satellites, Robert J. Twiggs, Matt Craft, Amin Djamshidpour, Chantal Cappelletti, Ken Biba, Stewart Davis

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Matt Craft, Amin Djamshidpour, Chantal Cappelletti, Bob Twiggs, Ken Biba, and Stewart Davis titled "TU-POD: A Cube Satellite (CubeSat) and Tube Satellite Dispenser Produced via 3D Printing, Successful Launch, Orbit and Dispensing of Two Tube Satellites" from August 6, 2017.