Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

A Bi-Invariant Approach To Approximate Motion Synthesis Of Planar Four-Bar Linkage, Tianze Xu, David H. Myszka, Andrew P. Murray

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents a planar four-bar approximate motion synthesis technique that uses only pole locations. Synthesis for rigid-body guidance determines the linkage dimensions that guide a body in a desired manner. The desired motion is specified with task positions including a location and orientation angle. Approximation motion synthesis is necessary when an exact match to the task positions cannot be obtained. A linkage that achieves the task positions as closely as possible becomes desired. Structural error refers to the deviations between the task positions and the linkage's generated positions. A challenge in approximate motion synthesis is that structural error involves …

Characterization Of Upper Extremity Kinematics Using Virtual Reality Movement Tasks And Wearable Imu Technology, Skyler A. Barclay, Lanna N. Klausing, Tessa M. Hill, Allison L. Kinney, Timothy Reissman, Megan E. Reissman

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Task-specific training has been shown to be an effective neuromotor rehabilitation intervention, however, this repetitive approach is not always very engaging. Virtual reality (VR) systems are becoming increasingly popular in therapy due to their ability to encourage movement through customizable and immersive environments. Additionally, VR can allow for a standardization of tasks that is often lacking in upper extremity research. Here, 16 healthy participants performed upper extremity movement tasks synced to music, using a commercially available VR game known as Beat Saber. VR tasks were customized to characterize participants' joint angles with respect to each task's specified cardinal direction (inward, …

Dynamic Load Identification Using Optimal Sensor Placement And Dynamic Condensation Methods, Iole Pecora

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Knowledge of excitation loads that structures experience during their service life is pivotal in different engineering fields, not only from a structural design optimization point of view but also as prevention of possible damages to the structures themselves. However, in case of dynamic events such as tornadoes, structures subjected to impulsive load due to their vicinity of explosions, the excitation load cannot be directly determined through direct measurements. In these scenarios, the inverse problem is used, and it is called load identification. This type of problem tries to determine the excitation load knowing the system response through a series of …

Cellular Level Changes Induced In Cancer Cells Due To Microgravity, Sai Deepika Reddy Yaram

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The increase in human activity in space has revealed several kinds of physiological challenges brought on by the absence of Earth's gravitational pull. NASA observed that during spaceflight, astronauts experience a 1-1.5% monthly loss in the mineral density of weight-bearing bones, with rehabilitation efforts on Earth often proving ineffective. This issue extends to muscles, the neuro vestibular system, the cardiovascular system, and vision. Cancer has emerged as a significant cause of mortality among astronauts, with studies up to 2017 showing that 41.3% of natural cause deaths among U.S. astronauts were due to cancer, primarily due to space radiation exposure. Cancer …

Materials Testing For Large Format 3d Printing, William Jenkins

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

An ABS Carbon Fiber blend was printed into single walled hexagons at a variety of settings on a Cincinnati BAAM large format 3D printer. These hexagons were then cut down into sheets and had tensile and flexural test samples cut out of them, in order for materials testing to be performed. Tensile strength, tensile strain, young’s modulus, flexural strength, deflection and elastic modulus were all determined. A desktop CNC machine and a planer were purchased for the manufacturing of these samples, and an efficient cutting procedure was designed and optimized. After all data collection concluded, this data was thoroughly analyzed, …

Space Force - Inspection, Romualdo Cipro

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our project deals with a common problem that is encountered with satellites in earth orbit or beyond. It is very common in space for there to be small collisions between satellites and foreign space debris, and it takes a lot of time and money to send a person out to repair the damage caused by the collision. Our goal is to develop a way to perform these repairs autonomously. We plan to develop a way to scan a satellite or spacecraft hull for damage using a robot and then repair the damage while still maintaining the material specifications required for …

Short Strand Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polylactic Acid Filament For Additive Manufacturing, Dale Chenoweth, Lukas Seggi, Luke Phillips

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In this design project, the additive manufacturing filament of short strand carbon fiber (SSCF) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composite was developed. The micro-size, precision cut SSCFs were mixed with the PLA pellets through a melting homogenization process. Through this process the composite material block is cut and divided into pieces for ease of pelletizing. The material block pieces are then pelletized to be fed through the single screw extruder to develop the SSCF-PLA composite filament. The SSCF-PLA filaments were manufactured with a varying amount of SSCF ranging from 0.5% to 10% of the material block's weight. Development of a 1% …

Inspection/Fault Detection Team, James Worrall

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our project deals with a common problem that is encountered with satellites in earth orbit or beyond. It is very common in space for there to be small collisions between satellites and foreign space debris, and it takes a lot of time and money to send a person out to repair the damage caused by the collision. Our goal is to develop a way to perform these repairs autonomously. We plan to develop a way to scan a satellite or spacecraft hull for damage using a robot and then repair the damage while still maintaining the material specifications required for …

Space Force Spacecraft Hull Inspection: Creation Of A Process To Inspect, Compare, And Fault Detect On The Surface Of A Spacecraft Hull, Ethan Rainsburg

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Space Force Inspection design project aims to create a system for scanning the hull of a spacecraft, identifying any damage by cross-checking the new scan with a previous scan, and fixing any identified damage picked up by the scan. This project contains key objectives such as defining testable parameters for any given scanner, creating a repeatable process for comparing scans, and automating the process using open-source code and software. The ideal outcome for this project is to have the fully automated system implemented to a robot that is being designed and manufactured by a sister team. Some of the …

Uav To Carry Heavy Loads, Jacob Cannon, Robert Connor Downs, Anthony Orlando

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our senior design project aims to develop an innovative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying heavy payloads up to 50 lbs. This UAV will address the growing demand for efficient and autonomous cargo transportation, unlocking new possibilities in logistics and remote deliveries. The primary goal is to design, build, and test a robust UAV platform equipped with advanced propulsion systems, stabilizing mechanisms, and a secure payload attachment system. The heavy-lift UAV will be capable of transporting payloads in challenging environments, enhancing its versatility for various industries, including emergency response, disaster relief, and commercial logistics. For the extent of this …

Ambient Temperature Strength Degradation Of A Ceramic Matrix Composite Due To Solid Particle Erosion, Jonathan Clawson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Solid particle erosion (SPE) is an issue for aircraft exposed to hard, fine particles, such as sand or dust, that can be ingested into the engine at a high velocity without reaching their melting point, resulting in material removal. SPE can be attributed to the intake of particulate debris from the runway or from airborne particulates. The cumulative mass loss from SPE damage affects the structural integrity and performance of the engine; however, its effects on ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), that are being employed in the aerospace industry, are not well understood in literature. The limited SPE research studies that …

Systems Engineering In Zips Aero Design, Benjamin Kemal Sabic, Mathieu Kumiega

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project has the goal of implementing systems engineering in the Zips Aero Design team at the University of Akron at a general member level. The use of systems engineering techniques will be employed to keep every member on track throughout the competition season. The deliverables of this project are the PDR, CDR, AIAA DBF Proposal, AIAA Technical Design Report, the Prototype Aircraft, and the Competition Aircraft.

Design Of An Experimental Solid Rocket Motor, Johnathan Bettes, Andrew Fuller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project utilizes mechanical and chemical principles to characterize propellant grains and to manufacture a custom nozzle to create experimental Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) with a propellant called Angry Listerine. For the propellant grains, one major non-chemical factor that determines its thrust performance is the grain geometry, or the core of the grains for which hot gases flow through the propellant and out of the nozzle to further react with exposed chemical surfaces. The two kinds of grain geometries analyzed and tested in this report are called MoonBurner, an offset circular core, and Finocyl, a gear-shaped core. The nozzle for …

Electrostatic Sorting Of Lunar Regolith Simulants For Sustainable Resource Utilization: Modeling And Characterization Of Particle Size Distribution, Abdullah Al Moinee, Peter Bachle, Kyle Newport, William Schonberg, David Bayless, Jeffrey Smith, Daoru Han, Fateme Rezaei

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In pursuit of sustainable resource utilization on the Moon, this paper delves into modeling and characterization of particle size distribution (PSD) of lunar regolith simulants in an electrostatic system. a prototype electrostatic sieve was built and tested with four sample simulants mirroring properties of lunar mare and highland regolith. an alternating four-phase (90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, 360 degrees) traveling square-wave was utilized for particle-directed transport to model the diverse trajectories of the particles. Numerically, we scrutinized how the distribution functions of the particles are manifested as the electrostatic field propagates, with a focus on three distinct particle ranges …

A Review Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Cold Atmospheric Plasma For Surface Sterilization And Decontamination, Kolawole Adesina, Ta Chun Lin, Yue-Wern Huang, Marek Locmelis, Daoru Frank Han

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Numerous investigations have shown that non-equilibrium discharges at atmospheric pressure, also known as "cold atmospheric plasma" (CAP) are efficient to remove biological contaminants from surfaces of a variety of materials. Recently, CAP has quickly advanced as a technique for microbial cleaning, wound healing, and cancer therapy due to the chemical and biologically active radicals it produces, known collectively as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). This article reviews studies pertaining to one of the atmospheric plasma sources known as Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) which has been widely used to treat materials with microbes for sterilization, disinfection, and decontamination purposes. To …

Bioprinting With Adipose Stem Cells And Hydrogel Modified With Bioactive Glass, Krishna C.R. Kolan, Apurv Saxena, Bradley A. Bromet, Lesa B. Steen, August T. Bindbeutel, Julie A. Semon, Delbert E. Day, Ming C. Leu

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Bioprinting research is focused on utilizing growth factors and multiple cell types to create clinically relevant three-dimensional (3D) tissue models using hydrogels. Rheological and biological challenges are two main factors that limit the creation of extrudable bioactive hydrogels. In this study, we investigate incorporation of fast dissolving and bioactive borate glass in different weight to volume percentages (0.075 to 0.6%) to alginate-gelatin (1:1) hydrogel to improve rheological properties and enable bioprinting with bioactive glass. The addition of glass improved the stiffness of the hydrogel. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) were uniformly mixed in this bioink at 1 x 106 …

Magnetic Separation Of Lunar Regolith Simulants With Applications To In Situ Resource Utilization On The Moon, Peter Bachle, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William Schonberg, Daoru Han

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of in situ resource utilization (ISRU) for metal extraction is imperative as a steppingstone for habitation construction in lunar and non-terrestrial environments. Separation of minerals by chemical composition is important to optimize metal and oxygen liberation from lunar ore. To this effect, devices capable of separating aluminum bearing minerals from iron-bearing minerals from the lunar regolith simulants have been developed. Twenty-eight different simulants have been used in this study. A dual-belt separator was designed to reduce middling. Para-magnetic minerals were reliably separated using a neodymium N52-magnet-separator system. Effective separation of aluminum-bearing minerals from iron-bearing minerals was greater than …

Propulsion Heat Analysis Nuclear Trajectory Optimization (Phantom), Ana Clecia Alves Almeida, Jonathan Davis, Ryan Dippolito

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Interplanetary Travel requirements necessitate the use of increasingly complex propulsion systems. Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) is a cutting-edge concept that holds immense potential for the future of space exploration. By utilizing nuclear fission to heat a propellant and generate thrust, NTP offers the potential for unprecedented efficiency, enabling faster interplanetary travel and extended mission capabilities. A nuclear thermal rocket engine is a type of propulsion system that utilizes the heat generated by a nuclear reactor to heat and expel a propellant, typically hydrogen, at high velocities to produce thrust. The engine consists of three main subsystems: the nuclear reactor, the …

Efficient Connectivity Management And Path Planning For Iot And Uav Networks, Amirahmad Chapnevis

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how to better manage resources in mobile networks, especially for enhancing the performance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)-supported IoT networks. We explored ways to set up a flexible communication architecture that can handle large IoT deployments by making good use of mobile core network resources like bearers and data paths. We developed strategies that meet the needs of IoT networks and enhance network performance. We also developed and tested a system that combines traffic from several mobile devices that use the same user identity and network resources within the core mobile network. We used everyday smartphones, SIM …

Initial Solution Improvements To A Tethered Robotic Path Planner Using Random Geometric Graph Configurations And Biased Sampling, Austen J. Goddu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

With NASA's ongoing efforts to establish a presence on the lunar surface to eventually move on to exploring mars, the development of intelligent robotic systems is more important than ever. The ability of robotics to explore hazardous and extreme terrain, coupled with long communication times from earth places an ever increasing need on more robust and efficient autonomy. Tethered robotics offer unique advantages to explore scientific targets both on the lunar and martian surfaces, capable of using their tether as a physical or metaphorical lifeline to allow the exploration of slopes, extreme dark regions, or areas in which wireless communication …

Electronics Design For Krepe Atmospheric Entry Capsule Avionics, Matt Ruffner

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

This research documents the design, testing, and implementation of sensing, control, and communications subsystems for small atmospheric entry capsules. Atmospheric entry capsules pose a unique electronics design challenge given mission requirements, environmental constraints, and inherent risk involved in space based missions. Previous work on small satellites developed the CubeSat platform as a means of ensuring reliability after university-led small satellite missions experienced failures. The publication of the CubeSat platform allowed researchers to focus on the payload science utilizing a standardized form-factor and reusable electronics. Environmental and operational constraints of CubeSats and atmospheric entry capsules overlap and best-practices associated with building …

Computational Analysis Of A Naca 0012 Straight Wing At Various Reynolds Numbers Approaching Stall, John E. Crowe Iii

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As the capabilities and power of computational resources improve with each passing year, the implementation of simulation in the field of aerospace engineering also increases due to its increased efficiency, as it allows for reducing both time and resources. In this study, a computational method is created and tested for determining and visualizing the effect of increasing flow velocity on a NACA 0012 3D wing as it approaches and reaches stall. For this study, the flow over a NACA 0012 3D wing is simulated using a Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes simulation at angles of attack of 6, 8, 10, 12, and …

Implementation Of Cavity Vortex Generators To Mitigate Stall And Ice Accretion On The Naca 0012, Eric Pernell

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

With the growing environmental concerns of international aviation carbon emissions are driven by the ever-increasing commercial aviation traffic. This study aims to increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the NACA 0012, by implementing cavity vortex generators with the intent to increase the effective stall angle without a substantial increase of drag. This study is performed with Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) at a low Reynolds of 5.0E+04 with varying cavity depths along the leading edge. The depths study is placed at 10 percent cord at depths of 3, 5, and 10 percent cord. All cavity vortex generators effectively increased the stall angle …

Aeroelastic Phenomena Of Fixed-Wing Aircraft In Transonic And Supersonic Flows Using A Tightly-Coupled Computational Approach, John C. Havenar

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Aeroelastic phenomena encountered during flight have considerable effects on the aerodynamic characteristics of fixed-wing aircraft. Transonic aeroelastic phenomena are often characterized by unique flow features which have complex ramifications for aircraft in transonic flight. Computational study of high-speed aeroelastic phenomena requires a fully-coupled aeroelastic algorithm. A series of wing designs are studied with a computational finite volume method solver accompanied by a finite element method solver for the calculation of structural deformation. The computational model for the flow field is validated with experimental data. Modeled flight conditions include transonic flows with bordering subsonic and supersonic cases included for completeness. The …

Experimental Characterization And Quantification Of Deformation Behavior In A Porous Carbon Fiber Network, Robert N Quammen

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Due to their wide range of attractive functional properties (such as low thermal conductivity and low density) porous materials are utilized in a variety of applications. In order to characterize these properties and others, the intrinsically heterogeneous microstructures of these materials need to be taken into account. These microstructures result in interactions across multiple length scales spanning several orders of magnitude. This makes the creation of robust computational models and straight-forward predictions of mechanical properties difficult for porous materials. With this in mind, this dissertation aims to provide experimental mechanical and deformation information spanning the length scales of interest for …

Fluid Flow And Thermal Performance Investigation Of Twisted Elliptical Tubes For Use In High Prandtl Number Systems, Connor F. Donlan

Theses and Dissertations

The development of clean energy systems is paramount to reducing mankind's climate impact. These clean energy systems include solar, wind, and nuclear power where nuclear power shows a reduced lifetime carbon dioxide footprint per kilowatt hour compared to other sources [102]. Advanced nuclear reactors, fusion energy systems, and concentrated solar power designers are looking at using molten salt heat transfer fluids and improved heat exchanger design to increase power production and efficiency of clean energy systems. The improving heat transfer within the main heat transfer components within advanced nuclear reactors will enable increased efficiencies and power production.

Heat transfer improvements …

Simulation Of Reacting Supersonic Flow In A Cavity Flameholder, Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Scramjet engines, or Supersonic Combustion Ramjets, are pivotal for achieving and maintaining hypersonic flight speeds. These engines leverage the high-speed airflow to compress and mix air and fuel for combustion. A significant challenge in Scramjet engine design is ensuring stable and efficient combustion within this high-speed environment. Cavity flameholders are crucial components that stabilize the combustion process by creating a subsonic region where the fuel-air mixture can ignite and sustain combustion. This research simulates this supersonic flow within the combustion chamber to accurately model and analyze the combustion dynamics. Various turbulence models, including RANS, and DES, are evaluated for their …

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence To Improve Data Configuration & Accuracy In Modern Flight Management Systems, Sreeram Chittayil

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

AI (Artificial intelligence) can automate the process of generating optimized flight routes using real-time data, such as AIRAC (Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control), significantly reducing the time needed for flight management tasks. While AIRAC data typically takes up to 28 days to refresh, AI could condense this process to just minutes, enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring pilots have timely and accurate flight information. The research includes practical experiments, prototype code, and visual case studies to demonstrate AI's role in optimizing FMS functions while addressing issues related to data input errors and human intervention. Key findings from trials show the algorithm's …

Automatic Detection Of Birds In Images Acquired With Remotely Piloted Aircraft For Managing Wildlife Strikes To Civil Aircraft, Maurycio Rodrigues Oviedo, Flavio A. C. Mendonca Ph.D., Jose Cabrera, Cole A. Mcnall, Raymond Ayres, Ricardo Luís Barbosa, Rodrigo Gallis

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Wildlife strikes represent a significant threat to aviation safety and economics, as evidenced by notable incidents such as the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledges this growing concern, as evidenced by its report on Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States from 1990 to 2019.To address the need for improved risk management, airports conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHA), a laborious process typically relying on visual identification by Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists (QAWB). However, technological advancements, such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and machine learning (ML), offer promising solutions to …

Applications Of Ai/Ml In Maritime Cyber Supply Chains, Rafael Diaz, Ricardo Ungo, Katie Smith, Lida Haghnegahdar, Bikash Singh, Tran Phuong

School of Cybersecurity Faculty Publications

Digital transformation is a new trend that describes enterprise efforts in transitioning manual and likely outdated processes and activities to digital formats dominated by the extensive use of Industry 4.0 elements, including the pervasive use of cyber-physical systems to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and increase responsiveness. A new domain that intersects supply chain management and cybersecurity emerges as many processes as possible of the enterprise require the convergence and synchronizing of resources and information flows in data-driven environments to support planning and execution activities. Protecting the information becomes imperative as big data flows must be parsed and translated into actions …