Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

Automatic Determination Of Mechanical Properties From Molecular Dynamic Stress-Strain Curves Using Regression Fringe Response, Josh Kemppainen, Tristan Muzzy, Travis Wavrunek, Gregory Odegard

Michigan Tech Publications

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become a powerful tool for studying polymers, designing new materials, and composites. Mechanical behavior in MD simulations are typically evaluated through stress-strain curves. However, MD-generated stress-strain curves are often obscured by thermal noise from atomic vibrations. This noise complicates the reliable derivation of mechanical properties and hinders objective and reproducible analysis. The noise in the stress-strain curves has been removed by using a Butterworth low-pass filter, enabling clearer interpretation of stress-strain data. Building on this, a novel analysis framework the Regression Fringe Response (RFR) is introduced to systematically determine the Young's modulus, yield strength, and …

Silent Skies, N. Sawhney, J. Strank, A. Brownie, A. Bakhouch, T. Vogt, J. Lane, D. Kramer

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Aircraft noise remains a key challenge in aviation due to its environmental and regulatory impacts. • Project Silent Skies investigates noise reduction through passive serrated trailing edges and an active feedforward ANC system integrated into a modular RC aircraft. • The goal is to achieve ≥ 3 dBA noise reduction while maintaining aerodynamic performance.

Argos (Advanced Robotic Gimbal And Orbital Simulator), Sophia Cherry, Tyler Davis, Seth Busche, Dj Benefield, Priyansh Dholakia, Nathan Scott, Jonathan Feliz

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

System Overview ARGOS is a 6-actuator Stewart Platform with an added rotary component. Objectives: • The test stand shall provide at least three rotational DOF. • The satellite model shall be capable of a continuous 360° yaw rotation. • The platform shall rotate about the roll axis to at least 35°. • The platform shall rotate about the pitch axis to at least 35°. • The satellite model’s main body shall have at least one dimension of 460 mm or greater. • When operated inside a space simulation environment, the test stand shall not create bias within the computer vision

Frost (Free-Fall Responsive Operator For Simulating Thermofluid), Whitney Salpietro, Titus Janshon, Jackson Jones, Daniel Ofenbakh, Nathan Halmans, Gavin Devaney, Alessandro Leita, Isabella Valencia Zamora

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Fluid movement in spacecraft fuel tanks poses dangers such as overpressure and vapor ingestion into rocket engines and is difficult to simulate using CFD. By replicating microgravity conditions and recording simulant fluid slosh, areas for refining CFD analyses can be identified, ultimately improving how spacecraft fuel tanks are developed.

Cryoslosh, K. Barrett, J. Dembinskischeif, C. Gonzalez, A. Hardesty, I. Johnson, R. Niebuhr, M. Page, B. Shaw, M. Tristan

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

A lack of experimental data on cryogenic fluid behavior in space limits the design of safe, efficient systems for space missions. The team is tasked with producing accurate data to validate current CFD simulations regarding the slosh of cryogenic fluids in reduced gravity effects.

Saber – Stability Analysis Through Bipropellant Engine Research, S. Conley, R. Gaulin, E. Lucas, A. Ramirez, N. Reese, W. Reinkoester, J. Sadler, W. Tinelli, B. Varozza

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Stability Analysis through Bipropellant Engine Research (SABER) is a small-scale, compressed air and propane bipropellant rocket engine designed as the test subject of a combustion instability analysis. Through various static fires at varying combustion chamber lengths, the project demonstrates that less combustion instabilities are experienced at smaller characteristic lengths.

Panther Lunabotics, N. Vidales, A. Pomerleau, M. Gerster, I. Weisbrod, S. Hemingway, H. Elattari, G. Maccoy, G. Nehma

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

The NASA Lunabotics Competition is a NASA sponsored challenged with the purpose of creating a rover to perform a task in a simulated lunar environment. This year the challenge involves traversing a course, collecting regolith, and using said regolith to build berms at specified locations.

Virtual Simulations For Training And Astronautics Research, River Riehle, Ven Smith, Mackenzie Manchester

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Florida Tech has very robust flight simulation facilities, but primarily in aviation due to the university’s focus on flight training and aeronautics research. This leaves a gap in the ability to adequately simulate space vehicles,which overlooks a key part of astronautics research and training. Spaceflight research is one of the founding goals of FIT, so this gap is educationally and academically hindering. A new-gen Orion spacecraft simulator would bolster the university’s ability to do aerospace and astronautics operations research and allow students to gain experience they would otherwise have very little or no access to.

Applications Of Suas Thermal Imaging And Lidar At Letort Spring Garden Preserve: An Independent Study, Kelsey Wardell

Harrisburg University Other Works

No abstract provided.

Experimental Investigation Of Mode-Ii Interlaminar Fatigue Damage In Stitched And Unstitched End-Notched Flexure Carbon Fiber Composites, Madelyn Sloan Berry

Honors Theses

Composite materials are increasingly used in aerospace structures due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, but their susceptibility to interlaminar fatigue damage remains a critical concern, particularly under mode-II shear loading. This study investigates the fatigue behavior of stitched and unstitched quasi-isotropic carbon fiber composite specimens made of SAERTEX Class-75 non-crimp fabrics and Hexcel 1078-1 epoxy via vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. Global fatigue behavior was analyzed using displacement and crack length cycle relationships derived from compliance calibration methods (CCM), while local behavior was examined using digital image correlation (DIC). Unstitched specimens exhibited a single rapid crack growth associated with unstable …

Energetic Characterization Of 3-D Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Fuels For Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Applications, Stephen A. Whitmore, Ryan J. Thibaudeau, Ava T. Wilkey

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Hybrid rocket technologies are gaining recognition as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional propulsion systems. Utah State University’s Propulsion Research Laboratory has developed a High-Performance Green Hybrid Propulsion (HPGHP) technology, leveraging 3D-printed ABS fuel for reliable, low-energy ignition. Among tested materials, only ABS shows suitable electrical-breakdown properties for arc ignition. Unfortunately, due to the proprietary formulations in commercial ABS blends, and its limited use as a rocket-propellant, related composition and combustion data are limited. This study uses spectroscopic evaluation and bomb calorimetry to estimate material compositions, enthalpies of formation, and combustion energies for multiple commercially available 3-D print feed stock ABS types, …

Space Degradable Pyrotechnic Fastener, Jonathan Baker

Honors Theses

Space debris has become a critical threat to orbital operations, with over 30,000 tracked objects currently circling Earth. Traditional separation charges used in satellite launches contribute significantly to this problem by generating unpredictable shrapnel that can remain in orbit for decades or centuries. This project proposes the design and development of a spacedegradable explosive bolt that exploits the harsh space environment to accelerate material breakdown after use.

The design utilizes advanced polymer materials selected for their susceptibility to degradation from UV radiation — an environmental factor abundant in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Our prototype will be engineered to meet industry-standard …

Development Of A Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine With Integrated Water-Based Cooling Jacket, Mauricio Bautista, Jesus Cortes, Christian Lopez, Hugo Robles, Will Owens, Josh Sutton, Jayden Pace, Shelby Enlow

Create@State

This projects describes the development of a liquid rocket engine with a metal casted cooling jacket. We test the system and provide simulation data for the project.

Development Of The Automated Verification And Validation System For The Improvement Of Operations Of Morehead State University's Dss-17, Austin S. Music

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Engineering Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Austin S. Music on April 16, 2026.

Three Degree Of Freedom Wave Energy Converter Design For Resonant Motion, Greg Ballen, David G. Wilson, Rush Robinett, Shangyan Zou, Wayne Weaver

Michigan Tech Publications

As multiple-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) wave energy converters (WECs) have demonstrated the ability to produce more power than single-degree-of-freedom devices, the challenge of designing buoys for efficient energy harvesting has increased in complexity. In this paper, a cylindrical WEC is designed to naturally resonate in surge, pitch, and heave modes at a specific target frequency of 0.2 Hz. By utilizing a penalty-based optimization method to balance buoyancy requirements with natural resonance, the design achieves minimal control force input, thereby reducing fluctuations in energy output and local energy storage requirements. The performance is evaluated under irregular sea states using a Bretschneider spectrum. Results …

Hypersonic Impact Method For Aerodynamics And Convective Heating (Hi-Mach) With Sensitivities, Jeremiah Goates, Logan Freeman, Nathan Hoch, Douglas Hunsaker

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this paper is to present the development of an engineering level code for calculating hypersonic aerodynamics and convective heating, HI-Mach. Novel to this paper are the use of analytic methods for streamline tracing and the direct differentiation of geometric sensitivities for both forces and heat load. Independent panel inclination methods calculate the pressure distribution on the surface of a hypersonic vehicle. Normal shock relations provide the thermodynamic state on each panel. Streamlines are integrated using closed-form streamline equations. Flat plate formulas corrected for compressibility calculate the skin friction coefficient and acreage heat flux on each panel. Formulas …

Further Development Of A Low-Energy Arc-Ignition System For Nytrox/Abs Hybrid Propulsion Systems, Stephen A. Whitmore, Jared S. Coen, Ryan J. Thibaudeau

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Utah State University has developed a high-performance “green” hybrid propulsion technology based on the unique electrical breakdown properties of 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Using 3D-printed ABS as fuel, typical startup sequences require approximately 5–15 joules and, once started, the system can be sequentially fired with no additional energy inputs required. The number of possible ignitions is limited only by the amount of fuel. The most technologically mature version uses gaseous oxygen (GOX) as oxidizer and 3D-printed ABS as fuel. While GOX is mass-efficient, it lacks volumetric efficiency unless highly pressurized. Nytrox, a blend of GOX and nitrous oxide, improves propellant …

Mathematical Modelling And Optimisation Of The Reactor For The Esterification Process Of Safflower Oil With N-Butyl Alcohol, Sadritdin Makhamatdinovich Turabdjanov Academician, Hasan Sadriddin Ugli Fozilov, Ozoda Bakhronovna Axmedova, Sadriddin Fayzullayevich Fozilov

Technical science and innovation

This study addresses the mathematical modelling and optimisation of a reactor for the esterification of safflower oil with n-butyl alcohol. To improve process controllability and reduce the need for numerous pilot-scale trials, an ideal-mixing continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) model was adopted. Incorporating reaction kinetics, the effect of contact time on the relative viscosity of the product mixture was analysed. The modelling results indicate that achieving an acceptable degree of feedstock conversion is difficult when a single ideal-mixing reactor is used. Therefore, a CSTR cascade was proposed, and the configuration with N = 2 reactors was selected as the most appropriate …

Manufacturing Of Functional Surface Coatings In The Automotive Industry, Gulirano Saidakhmedova

Technical science and innovation

The development of environmentally sustainable technologies for material processing represents one of the most pressing scientific and technical challenges in modern industrial production. This issue is particularly relevant to the automotive industry, where growing demands for energy efficiency, durability, and environmental safety necessitate the adoption of advanced manufacturing methods. Special attention is given to developing vacuum-based, import-substituting equipment and technologies for producing functional coatings from composite materials with predefined physical, mechanical, and optical properties, including reflective and protective characteristics. Current requirements for mechanical engineering products and production technologies drive the need for innovative approaches to material processing and specialized technical …

Refinement Of Wind Speed Estimation At Turbine Hub Height Using Satellite Data And Regression Analysis Under Complex Terrain Conditions, Isroil Abriyevich Yuldoshev, Tulqin Rustamovich Jamolov, Sa'dullo Sayfiddin Ugli Fazliddinov, Jumanazar Farhodjon OʻGʻL Abdurashidov

Technical science and innovation

Reliable assessment of wind energy potential in regions characterized by complex terrain is often constrained by the limited availability of ground-based meteorological measurements. This study proposes an improved regression-based approach for refining wind speed estimates at the wind turbine hub height of 65 m using satellite-derived data from the NASA POWER database combined with a logarithmic vertical wind profile. The proposed methodology is validated using real operational data from a 750 kW wind power plant located in the mountainous Bostanlyk district of Uzbekistan for the period 2018–2021. The regression analysis demonstrates a strong linear relationship between the extrapolated wind speed …

Impact Of Compositing Method Choice On Spectral Fidelity In Semi-Arid Mining Landscapes, Ruslan Nailevich Khadzhaev, Dilbarkhon Shamuradovna Fazilova

Technical science and innovation

This study examines the choice of satellite image compositing method for Landsat 8/9 (Collection 2 Level-2) imagery to calculate the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). This paper compares the methods used to create median and medoid composites for the Angren open pit coal mine. The 'synthetic' nature of the composites is quantified based on a spectral consistency metric. This involves assessing the equivalence of median and medoid values, and analysing the sensitivity of NDVI to the compositing method across varying surface types. A strongly right-skewed distribution of surface reflectance values was found, covering 82.8% of the pixels, mostly in areas …

Theoretical And Practical Foundations Of Healthcare System Digitalization, Sanjarbek Bekturdiev Sharifboyevich Phd, Muxlisa G‘Ulom Qizi G‘Ofurova

Technical science and innovation

The digital transformation of healthcare represents a key direction in improving the accessibility, quality, and efficiency of medical services. This study examines the main components of eHealth, including telemedicine, electronic health records, cloud technologies, and mobile applications, as well as the role of international organizations in promoting national digital health strategies. Particular attention is given to the current state of digital healthcare in the Republic of Uzbekistan, where significant progress has been made in developing infrastructure and implementing information systems, although challenges related to integration, standardization, and regulatory support remain. The work identifies the main trends in the development of …

Development Of New Methods For Calculating Pressure And Energy Losses For Pumping Station Water Intakes, Faxriddin Jaylovovich Nosirov, Oleg Yakovlevich Glovatsky, Jurabek Abdyrahmon O'G'Li Urolov, Abduqodirkhon Samatkhonovich Abdullakhaev, Anvar Mamur Ugli Uzokov

Technical science and innovation

The aim of this study is to improve the efficiency of water resource management methods. Improvements to the water intake of the Karshi Main Canal are considered using calculations of pressure losses at the entry and exit of liquid into the flow, which differ from pressure losses in a stationary medium. The article considers some of the methods for using renewable energy sources, where the change in gravitational potential energy does not depend on the way of using energy and the operating scheme is a gravitational energy pump. The implementation of control and monitoring systems is necessary to ensure optimal …

Biomass Demineralization: A Critical Need For Future Biorefineries, Leoncio Santiago-Martínez, Styliani Avraamidou, Alejandro Ayala-Cortés, Ruth Azike, Santanu Bakshi, Chumki Banik, Ezra Bar Ziv, Fei Long, Rebecca Ong, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Biomass contains up to 14 essential elements that serve as nutrients for plant growth and development, including photosynthesis and enzyme functionalities. These elements in different chemical forms (e.g., minerals) constitute the inorganic fraction of biomass and can cause operational issues in thermal and biochemical biomass conversion technologies. In biomass gasification and pyrolysis processes, for instance, inorganics can cause fouling, tar formation, and corrosion. In catalytic and biochemical processes, inorganics can poison catalysts, alter biochemical pathways, and modify product yields and selectivity. This review provides an overview of the inorganic content in biomass feedstocks, the critical role inorganics play in plant …

Thermoacoustic Effects Of A Variable Equivalence Ratio In A Single Element Methane Combustor, Carter Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Combustion instability is one of the leading factors in limiting the progress and innovations of liquid rocket engines and power plants. Under certain operating conditions, unsteady heat release and acoustic wave interactions can couple and lead to instabilities, such as self-sustaining pressure oscillations, that can lead to reduced combustor performance and potentially hardware damage. In this project, the thermoacoustic effects of controlling the equivalence ratio of a single-element natural gas combustor were modeled and analyzed. The project used Fidelity Pointwise for meshing, ANSYS Fluent for modeling, ERAU VEGA HPC for computing, and MATLAB for acoustic analysis. A numerical model of …

A Platform For Acquiring And Classifying Low-Noise Electrocardiogram Signals For Applications In Cardiovascular Monitoring, Begmamat Berdimurodovich Dushanov, Narzullo Mamatov Dr.

Technical science and innovation

The early screening and continuous monitoring of cardiovascular diseases need effective acquisition and smart processing of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. In this article, we introduce a compact platform designed for the acquisition of low-noise ECG signals and classification of the signals using a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN). Our compact platform consists of a low-noise analog front-end (AFE), including an instrumentation amplifier and a chain of analog filters, along with a data acquisition component designed to ensure effective suppression of baseline wander and high frequencies. Our compact platform consumes a low amount of power and can therefore be used for continuous …

Simulating Thermal Diffusion Through Image-Derived Microstructures Of Ceramic Matrix Composites, Matik Heskin

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Thermal energy transport in materials can be effectively modeled using finite element software such as COMSOL. Experimentally measured or NIST–JANAF thermal conductivity data can be used to represent material behavior within these simulations. For heterogeneous or composite materials, effective properties are often approximated using rule-of-mixtures calculations. However, this overlooks the nuanced effects caused by complex microstructural geometry. To address this limitation, imaging and coding tools such as MATLAB can be used to process scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. By thresholding the images to distinguish constituent materials, a representative mesh can be generated and imported into an FEM program. This approach …

Designing Space-Based Architectures To Discover And Track Hazardous Asteroids Using Mo-Mcts, Adam P. Wilmer, Michael J. Klonowski, Marcus J. Holzinger, Robert A. Bettinger

Faculty Publications

The discovery and tracking of near-Earth objects (NEOs), such as asteroids and comets, form the foundation of any effective planetary defense mitigation strategy—that is, the process of reducing or eliminating the threat these objects pose to humanity. Establishing sufficient warning time prior to a potential Earth impact is a critical outcome of this capability, as it enables informed decision-making and the selection of viable mitigation options. This study investigates how to optimally pre-position a fleet of NEO discovery and tracking (D&T) spacecraft within the Sun-Earth system. Candidate architectures—one or more pre-positioned spacecraft—are designed using Multi-Objective Monte Carlo Tree Search (MO-MCTS). …

Cooperative Unmanned Aerial System (Uas) Geolocation Of Emitters, Christopher Peters

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

A collection of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can be networked as a cooperative wireless sensor array to geolocate an unknown-location RF emitter using time-based measurements. In operation, however, environmental multipath and hardware errors in sensor positioning and timing can degrade emitter localization accuracy and limit the practicality of single-snapshot solutions. This dissertation evaluates time-of-arrival and time-difference-of-arrival (TOA/TDOA) geolocation for cooperative UAS arrays under realistic error sources and develops geometry-control strategies that actively reduce localization uncertainty through iterative UAS repositioning.

This work studies the Location on a Conic Axis (LOCA) method for emitter localization. Using Monte Carlo simulations with hardware error …

Numerical Study Of Nutrient Mixing In Trabecular Bone In Microgravity, Disuse And Normogravity, Sagar Gharti

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Mechanical loading is known to regulate bone remodeling by driving interstitial fluid flow which stimulates cells and drives nutrient transport within the trabecular network. In microgravity, the absence of mechanical stimulation or loading suppresses convective flow processes, causing diffusion-driven nutrient mixing and renewal, and accelerated bone loss. This thesis investigates how oscillation frequency and trabecular bone density jointly control nutrient mixing and wall shear stress within trabecular cavities.

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework is developed in STAR-CCM+ using a soft-cap oscillation model that mimics cyclic compression. Three idealized trabecular morphologies are simulated across different frequencies to represent microgravity or …