Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

Redesign And Analysis For Landing Gear Components, Daniel Clarke

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A project for Collins Aerospace, the company I co-op at, where I will redesign several components of a landing gear for a military program. Any structural/stress analysis will also be performed. The goal is to reduce weight while maintaining strength and structural integrity.

Research And Design Of A Two-Stage Supersonic Rocket, Ryan Hannaford, James Gase, Matthew Reppa, Harrison Lewis

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This report documents the entire design process for a two-stage vertical launch vehicle and highlights the team’s research, design work, testing, and construction of the launch vehicle. Every major system of the launch vehicle, including motors, electronics systems, interior and exterior structures, and recovery, will be individually analyzed and assessed during the design process. The launch vehicle will compete at the 2020 Spaceport America Cup in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Undergoing this project will allow the team members to further develop the skills learned throughout the Mechanical Engineering curriculum and Aerospace Systems Engineering curriculum at the University of Akron. Additionally, …

Rocket Motor Nozzle, Corey Hillegass

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For this honors research and senior design project, the authors will research, analyze, and manufacture a rocket motor nozzle for the Akronauts rocket design team. This research and design project will improve how the rocket design team will decide and manufacture nozzles going forward. The impact of this improvement allows the rocket design team to take steps toward being self-sustaining by manufacturing student designed parts as opposed to commercially bought parts. This will not only be successful in increasing student impact on future designs, but also provides a technical challenge for the authors and will present as an impressive feat …

Effect Of Turbulence Model Closure Coefficient Uncertainty On Scramjet Flow Field Analysis, Martin Albert Di Stefano

Doctoral Dissertations

“The numerical modeling of supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engine flow paths plays an important role in the design of hypersonic air-breathing propulsion systems. Due to the complexity of the flow field physics and limited experimental data, numerical models possess uncertainties which should be addressed to improve the prediction accuracy of the simulations. In this study, the effect of turbulence model closure coefficient uncertainty on the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solution of a scramjet isolator and scramjet strut fuel injector flow field is investigated with an uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis study for commonly used turbulence models. Turbulence models considered in this work …

Assessing Cognitive Processing And Human Factors Challenges In Nextgen Air Traffic Control Tower Team Operations, Mark D. Miller, Sam Holley, Bettina Mrusek, Linda Weiland

Publications

Previous research of Terminal Radar Control Facilities and Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems interactions by the authors examined how combined NextGen digitized technology affects air traffic controller functions. Applying their updated SHELL model, human factors implications on the Tower Team before and after implementing NextGen technology were examined, focusing on cognitive loading and automated functions affecting each team member. A survey examined where cognitive difficulties occur when controllers are responsible for multiple screen views, remote airfields or helipads, and digitized cameras and blind spots. Scanning challenges were identified where local traffic, ground operations, and data converge onto one screen, and …

Physiological Effects During Aerobatic Flights On Science Astronaut Candidates, Pedro Llanos, Diego M. Garcia

Publications

Spaceflight is considered the last frontier in terms of science, technology, and engineering. But it is also the next frontier in terms of human physiology and performance. After more than 200,000 years humans have evolved under earth’s gravity and atmospheric conditions, spaceflight poses environmental stresses for which human physiology is not adapted. Hypoxia, accelerations, and radiation are among such stressors, our research involves suborbital flights aiming to develop effective countermeasures in order to assure sustainable human space presence. The physiologic baseline of spaceflight participants is subject to great variability driven by age, gender, fitness, and metabolic reserve. The objective of …

Physiological Effects On Scientist Astronaut Candidates: Hypobaric Training Assessment, Pedro Llanos, Diego Garcia

Publications

This paper is addressed to expanding our understanding of the effects of hypoxia training on our bodies to better model its dynamics and leverage some of its implications and effects on human health. Hypoxia training is a recommended practice for military and civilian pilots that allow them to recognize their early hypoxia signs and symptoms, and Scientist Astronaut Candidates (SACs) who underwent hypobaric hypoxia (HH) exposure as part of a training activity for prospective suborbital flight applications. This observational-analytical study describes physiologic responses and symptoms experienced by a SAC group before, during and after HH exposure and proposes a model …

Impact Of Turbulence Models And Shape Parameterization On Robust Aerodynamic Shape Optimization, Aslihan Vuruskan

Doctoral Dissertations

"Aerodynamic design optimization is typically performed at fixed flight conditions, without considering the variation and uncertainty in operating conditions. The objective of robust aerodynamic optimization is to design an aerodynamic configuration, which will keep its optimum performance under varying conditions such as the speed of aircraft. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the impact of turbulence models used in RANS simulations on the 2-D airfoil and 3-D wing designs obtained with gradient-based deterministic and robust optimization in transonic, viscous, turbulent flows. The main contribution of this research to the aerodynamic design area was to quantify the impact …

Operability And Wave Characterization Of Hydrogen And Oxygen Fed Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine, Robert Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Recently, novel experimental evidence of continuous rotating detonations for gaseous H2/O2 propellants with a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) was attained on the 3-inch Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Distribution A RDRE, with the fuel and oxidizer injectors modified for H2/O2 gas propellants. Evident in previous experiments, detonation instabilities arising from upstream deflagration, from recirculation zones, and from insufficient gas mixing challenged resolution of detonation wave behavior from back-end imaging with the available optical equipment. Images were often over-illuminated from both the high amount of deflagration in the plume and the higher density of detonation waves in the annulus coupled …

Experimentation And Simulation Of Pulsed Eddy Current Thermography Of Subsurface Aircraft Corrosive Defects, Johnathan Hernandez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

During the life cycle of aircraft, external structures are under constant attack from environmental degradation in the form of corrosion. Corrosive defects consist of multiple types of surface and subsurface damage that are often undetectable due to surface coatings or insulation leading to loss in structural integrity. Non-destructive techniques for corrosion detection typically require the removal of paint. Detection of corrosion under insulation (CUI) is highly valuable for cost and time effectiveness. Although techniques have been developed for detection of CUI, not many of these satisfy the criteria for portability and hangar operation. To address this, multiple techniques were investigated …

Efforts In Numerical Modeling Of Undulating Propulsion, George Loubimov

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Naval propulsion is a critical component for every vessel, and it is the subject of this thesis, specifically bio-inspired propulsion. Numerical modeling is used as a tool to understand the relationship between mechanical undulation and the hydrodynamic response. Through three stages, the research presented here examines and refines tools for understanding fundamentals of undulating propulsion. Those three objectives are: to verify and validate the proposed numerical models against existing experiments, establishing a baseline of fidelity; to examine the causal linkage between fluid-boundary interactions and undulating propulsion; and to create a moment based method for characterizing generalized undulating propulsive mechanisms. First, …

Viscoelastic Analysis Of High Strain Composites For Deployable Structures In Space Applications, Andrew Gomez-Delrio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Thin-ply composite laminates capable of enduring high strains are currently under investigation for compliant deployable spacecraft structures. Deployable structures such as booms fabricated from these materials can be flattened and coiled to high curvatures, achieving a compact configuration for stowage. Once in orbit, they are released with minimal actuation for deployment, allowing the operational geometry to be recovered. Previous studies have shown that the viscoelastic properties of the composite epoxy matrix can negatively impact final shape accuracy due to stress relaxation during stowage. In addition, since the strain energy stored is relied upon for deployment, considerable relaxation can potentially result …

Pulsed Power Control System, Logan Curtis

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Three-Dimensional Measurement Of Electron Temperature And Density In A Split Ring Resonator Microplasma, Neil Laya

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Solar-Powered Exploration Of The Venus Atmosphere, Marc Migliozzi, Cory Everman, Rebecca Buerhle, Umar Muhammed, Steven Abbate, Chase Champagne

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective of this study was to design a solar powered, unmanned aircraft to orbit in the upper Venus atmosphere and search for signs of alien life. Topics of flight conditions, signs of life, basic mission plan, source of power, design process, instrumentation, and final designs are covered. Solar energy is ideal for this type of mission because it is the only reliable and abundant energy source accessible for long term space travel. The target altitude, being 60 to 70 km, has winds of up to 95 m/s. The aircraft will need to remain stable under such conditions. Due to …

Supersonic Propulsion: Inlet Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interaction In A Diffuser, Lucas Fulop, Ian Henry, Jordan Ruffner, Anthony Mcmullen

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Using a finite-volume approach and ANSYS/FLUENT, supersonic flow over a 2-D ramp of varying angles is modeled. The computational results from this model will be used to further explore the design of supersonic diffusers used on military aircraft. Using grid capturing features and inflation layers, shockwave and boundary layer interactions will be observed as well as wave-associated pressure changes in supersonic turbulent flow. The Spalart-Allmaras single-equation model of turbulent flow will be used in all simulations to more accurately represent the phenomena that occur in such high-speed environments. The size of upstream zones and recirculation zones will be obtained through …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Aerospace Materials, Vehicle Shape And Astronaut Position At Lowering The Whole Body Effective Dose Equivalent In Deep Space, Daniel K. Bond

Theses and Dissertations

As future crewed, deep space missions are being planned, it is important to assess how spacecraft design can be used to minimize radiation exposure. Collectively with shielding material, vehicle shape and astronaut position must be used to protect astronauts from the two primary sources of space radiation: Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) and Solar Particle Events (SPE). GCRs, which are composed of low intensity, highly energetic, and fully ionized stable and meta-stable isotopes, are considered a chronic source of radiation risk to the astronauts. SPEs, which originate from solar coronal mass ejections, are composed mostly of high intensity protons that can …

Peridynamic Approaches For Damage Prediction In Carbon Fiber And Carbon Nanotube Yarn Reinforced Polymer Composites, Forrest E. Baber

Theses and Dissertations

Aerospace structures are increasingly utilizing advanced composites because of their high specific modulus and specific strength. While the introduction of these material systems can dramatically decrease weight, they pose unique certification challenges, often requiring extensive experimental testing in each stage of the design cycle. The expensive and time-consuming nature of experimental testing necessitates the advancement of simulation methodologies to both aid in the certification process and assist in the exploration of the microstructure design space.

Peridynamic (PD) theory, originating from Sandia National Lab’s in the early 2000’s, is a nonlocal continuum-based method that reformulates the equation of motion into an …

Reliability Estimation Of Rotary Lip Seal In Aircraft Utility System Based On Time-Varying Dependence Degradation Model And Its Experimental Validation, Chao Zhang, Rentong Chen, Guanghan Bai, Shaoping Wang, Mileta M. Tomovic

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

With several attractive properties, rotary lip seals are widely used in aircraft utility system, and their reliability estimation has drawn more and more attention. This work proposes a reliability estimation approach based on time-varying dependence analysis. The dependence between the two performance indicators of rotary lip seals, namely leakage rate and friction torque, is modeled by time-varying copula function with polynomial to denote the time-varying parameters, and an efficient copula selection approach is utilized to select the optimal copula function. Parameter estimation is carried out based on a Bayesian method and the reliability during the whole lifetime is calculated based …

Design And Development Of Power Processing Units For Applications In Electrically-Propelled Satellite Systems, Kartikeya Jayadurga Prasad Veeramraju

Masters Theses

"Electrospray technology provides a way to ionize specialized liquids by applying high voltages across a sharp porous tip and a metallic mesh. This technology is widely used in the field of mass spectroscopy for generating ions for testing purposes. The dawn of nano-satellites posed new challenges in the miniaturization of many conventional satellite sub-systems. One significant challenge faced in such a process was the miniaturization of the propulsion system. Electrosprays have started to find their application in the field of Aerospace Engineering and now are formally known as Electrospray Thrusters. These thrusters provide high specific impulse and are attractive substitutes …

Comparison Of Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Turbulence Models For Simulating Boundary Layers In Hypersonic Flows, Jorge-Valentino Kurose Bretzke

Masters Theses

“This study describes the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes to simulate hypersonic boundary layers using several different turbulent closure models and comparing Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations against Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of similar test cases. The test cases in this study consist of a flat plate in a Mach 8 freestream with a zero pressure gradient and wall recovery ratio of 0.48, as well as a Mach 8 axisymmetric nozzle also with a cold wall. The RANS models used in this study are the Spalart-Allmaras model, Baldwin-Lomax model, Menter K-Omega Baseline and Menter K-Omega Shear Stress Transport models. …

Characterization Of A Plasma Source Simulating Solar Wind Plasma In A Vacuum Chamber, Blake Anthony Folta

Masters Theses

"The United States has set an aggressive time line to not only return to the Moon, but also to establish a sustained human presence. In the Apollo missions dust was a significant factor, but the duration of those missions was short so dust and surface charging were problems, but they did not pose an immediate threat. For a long-term mission, these problems instead become incredibly detrimental. Because of this, research needs to be conducted to investigate these phenomena so that mitigation techniques can be developed and tested. To this end, this thesis serves to demonstrate the Gas and Plasma Dynamics …

Satellite Constellation Deployment And Management, Joseph Ryan Kopacz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper will review results and discuss a new method to address the deployment and management of a satellite constellation. The first two chapters will explorer the use of small satellites, and some of the advances in technology that have enabled small spacecraft to maintain modern performance requirements in incredibly small packages.

The third chapter will address the multiple-objective optimization problem for a global persistent coverage constellation of communications spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit. A genetic algorithm was implemented in MATLAB to explore the design space – 288 trillion possibilities – utilizing the Satellite Tool Kit (STK) software developers kit. …

Applications Of Drones In Atmospheric Chemistry, Travis J. Schuyler

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) has changed the composition of the atmosphere during the Anthropocene. A major technical and scientific challenge is quantifying the resulting fugitive trace gas fluxes under variable meteorological conditions. Accurately documenting the sources and magnitude of GHGs emission is an important undertaking for discriminating contributions of different processes to radiative forcing. Therefore, the adverse environmental and health effects of undetected gas leaks motivates new methods of detecting, characterizing, and quantifying plumes of fugitive trace gases. Currently, there is no mobile platform able to quantify trace gases at altitudes(UASs), or drones, can be deployed on-site in …

Thermal / Structural Analysis Of The Hb 650 Thermal Shield, Gerald J. Smith

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Fermilab’s PIP-II project’s superconducting linear accelerator (Linac) will drive the next generation of particle accelerators through a revolution in beam intensity. Key to beam intensification are the high efficiencies of niobium-tin superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities operating at cryogenic temperatures near 5 Kelvin. A multifaceted approach is employed to achieve and maintain the extreme temperature. Vacuum provides the first barrier to thermal convection. Physical thermal intercept zones further isolate the exterior shell vacuum vessel at 300 Kelvin from the supercooled beamline. The first thermal intercept lies just inside the exterior vacuum vessel forming the 40 Kelvin zone. This 40K thermal shield …

Adaptive Filtration Of The Uav Movement Parameters Based On The Aoa-Measurement Sensor Networks, Igor Tovkach, Serhii Zhuk

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Currently, the urgent task is to assess the small-sized maneuvering UAVs movement parameters. The location of an unknown UAV as a radio source can be determined using AoA measurements of the wireless sensor network. To describe the movement of a maneuvering UAV, a model is used in the form of a dynamic system with switching in discrete time. The values of switching variable determine type of UAV movement. To synthesize trajectory filtering algorithms, the Markov property of the extended process is used, which includes a vector of UAV movement parameters and a switching variable. The optimal trajectory filtering algorithm describes …

Strategies For Improving The Success Rates Of Lean Six Sigma Projects, Victoria Reed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective Lean Six Sigma (LSS) project strategies can lead to excessive Lean Six Sigma (LSS) project costs. Manufacturing business leaders who fail to mitigate LSS project costs expose the LSS project to failure. Grounded in the theory of constraints, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore successful strategies LSS project leaders use to mitigate project costs in manufacturing. The participants comprised 16 aerospace manufacturing business leaders located in the southeast and northwest regions of the United States, who successfully implemented strategies to mitigate LSS project costs. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, a focus group, and …

Bio-Inspired Method For Close-Proximity Operations On A Near-Earth Asteroid, Rene Alberto Valenzuela Najera

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Space maneuvers in the vicinity of small celestial bodies and achieving a soft landing over the surface of small celestial bodies are essential movements to advance the status of exploration, collection of geographical data, measurement of physical properties among other on-orbit tasks. Before a spacecraft reaches hovering position over an asteroid in order to perform orbital tasks, close-proximity operations must be done. Since the movements of the spaceships depend on the acceleration forces provided by the thrusters and external disturbances forces, the correct planning of execution of the close-up trajectories on the celestial body orbit and trajectory to land on …

Wind Release Mechanical Sun Tracker, Tyler Andrus, Brady Fisher, Jt Gibson, Cynthia Rigby, Derek Smith

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

• Solar panel sun tracking system that releases solar panels to orient to wind flow in high wind conditions

• Operates on a single rotational motor

• Designed to be lightweight and portable

Afrl Downed Airman Recovery System, Daniel Cornia, James Bennett, Matthew Halton, Matthew Bennett, Brandon Haws, Tyson Compton, Jacob Needham, Daniel Spreier, Thory Van Dyke

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

For the 2020 Air Force Research Laboratory design competition, teams were challenged to develop a system to assist Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) in recovering a downed pilot in contested waters.

In the event of a pilot ejecting from their aircraft, a GPS beacon notifies CSAR of the pilot’s approximate location. During the rescue operation, a swimmer from a CSAR crew enters the water and assists the isolated person (IP) to use rescue equipment.

The current procedure exposes an additional person to hazards and increases IP extraction time. The additional required personnel and setup time increases mission risk.

USU’s student …