Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

Methods Of Variability Reduction In Ramjet Fuel Injection Using Fluid-Structure Interactions, Egan J. Rigney

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Liquid Jet in Crossflow (LJIC) method of fuel injection in ramjet engines is widely used and well-studied. However, they experience variation in their behavior at different altitudes and flight speeds due to the varied flow conditions following the inlet. This variation becomes more noticeable at high-temperature and high-speed airflow conditions. The optimized and consistent breakup of liquid fuel is a key component in ramjet engine design as there is a minimum surface area requirement of the droplets for combustion to occur. Local equivalence ratios also have a significant influence on the effectiveness of combustion. As such, researchers at the …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Cislunar Space: A Detailed Study Of Periodic Orbits And Their Applications In The Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem, Nicole Weeden

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Ever since NASA announced the Artemis program in 2019, the cislunar space, a region between Earth and the Moon, has attracted substantial research interest. Nonetheless, understanding the complex multipart physics that guides our solar system is not a new area of interest. The ThreeBody Problem was first formulated by Lagrange in ”Essai sur le Probleme des Trois Corps” in 1772 and had additional refinements done by mathematicians like Poincare. However, it was not until NASA’s Apollo program that the cislunar space gained traction, and the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP) model became more prominent. By deriving and explaining the necessary …

Review: Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators For In-Flight Applications, Sabeel Saleem Mohammed

Anthós

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is a phenomenon observed when high voltage is passed through a dielectric barrier at high frequencies. Current DBD plasma actuators (PAs) excel at laminar fluid boundary layer control but suffer from limited momentum flux and fluid mechanic inefficiencies. In this article, Mohammed analyzes previous discourse on DBD PAs and offers directions for future research and potential DBD PA applications. Previous work on DBD PAs documented thrust generation at high voltages and frequencies, thrust in varying fluid compositions, and vortex generation. However, certain arrangements hinder flow magnitudes, limiting the use of multiple DBD PAs in close proximity. …

Development Of An Quadcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle For Atmospheric Remote Sensing, Omar J. Addasi

Dissertations and Theses

This paper explores the development of a quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, a.k.a. drone) for atmospheric remote sensing of temperature, pressure, humidity, and PM2.5 particulate matter quantities. A 3-D printed drone body is designed and flight tuning is performed. An optimal length for an upward extending mast for the drone body is determined. Low cost, lightweight sensors are compared against higher precision sensors in both static and dynamic conditions. In addition, an initial investigation into the design of a pressure sensor based anemometer is performed.

A Novel Dual-Imaging Approach For Visualizing Multiphase And Droplet Interactions Including Shock-Driven Flows, Tad Jerzy Misztal

Dissertations and Theses

Shock-droplet/particle interactions have garnered substantial interest in recent years, fueled by advancements in aerospace and defense technologies, including supersonic and hypersonic systems in highly humid conditions, as well as the ongoing space exploration efforts from global space centers as well as private space companies. Understanding the interactions between shockwaves and droplets that impact on solid surfaces is critical due to the potential to cause significant damage to materials and structures in high-speed flow environments. Studies like these have applications in areas ranging from aerospace engineering to blast mitigation systems, where these interactions play a pivotal role in designing the relevant …

Celis: Compact Eyesafe Lidar System, A Portable 1.5 Μm Elastic Lidar System For Rapid Aerosol Concentration Measurement: Part 2, Retrieval Of Particulate Matter Concentration, Kori D. Moore, Alan W. Bird, Michael D. Wojcik, Robert Lemon, Jerry L. Hatfield

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL Poster on the CELiS Compact Eyesafe Lidar System

Integrating Satellite-Based Precipitation Analysis: A Case Study In Norfolk, Virginia, Imiya M. Chathuranika, Dalya Ismael

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

In many developing cities, the scarcity of adequate observed precipitation stations, due to constraints such as limited space, urban growth, and maintenance challenges, compromises data reliability. This study explores the use of satellite-based precipitation products (SbPPs) as a solution to supplement missing data over the long term, thereby enabling more accurate environmental analysis and decision-making. Specifically, the effectiveness of SbPPs in Norfolk, Virginia, is assessed by comparing them with observed precipitation data from Norfolk International Airport (NIA) using common bias adjustment methods. The study applies three different methods to correct biases caused by sensor limitations and calibration discrepancies and then …

Improving Visual Inspection Performance During Pre-Flight Visual Inspections By Aircraft Maintenance Technicians., Patrick Codd

Doctoral

Visual inspection is a critical task in aircraft maintenance and is the predominant inspection technique used in the global aviation sector. For safety reasons, visual inspections by Aircraft Maintenance Technicians are routinely conducted on a daily basis during pre-flight inspections. Its significance becomes evident when considering the potential consequences of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians not seeing observable defects during visual inspections. For example, an aircraft crash landing in 1989 resulted in 111 fatalities and was attributed to a visual inspection failure. The industrial quality control literature also illustrates the varying accuracy for the observation of defects and hazards, underscoring the inherent …

Optimizing Hypersonic Scramjets: A Numerical Study Of Fuel Type And Cavity Flameholder Design Impacts On Supersonic Combustion, Delaney Baumberger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents recommendations for optimizing hypersonic scramjets via a numerical study focusing on fuel type and cavity flameholder design and the impacts they have on supersonic combustion. The research is divided into two main investigations aimed at improving scramjet engine efficiency using two distinct geometrical configurations, a square cavity engine and an axisymmetric cavity engine. Each configuration is examined under Mach 2 inflow conditions to assess the role of geometric variation and fuel selection on combustion stability, flameholding, and overall performance. The first study focuses on a comparative assessment of hydrogen and ethylene as scramjet fuels to evaluate their …

Delivery Of Medical Supplies To Remote Locations Via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Approaches, Challenges, And Solutions, Meshari Aljohani, Ravi Mukkamala, Stephanie Olariu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming more important in improving healthcare logistics, in particular due to their cost effectiveness, minimized risk, and versatile operational capabilities. This study explores the deployment of autonomous UAVs to deliver medical supplies to remote areas. Advances in ledger technology, smart contracts, and machine learning have transformed tasks previously managed by human teams or manually controlled UAVs into fully autonomous missions. We present a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and initial solutions vital for the effective use of autonomous UAVs in the delivery of medical supplies. In addition, we propose a machine-learning model to optimize UAV …

Flame Boundary Effects Of Hydrogen-Air Premixing, Alecson L. De Lima Junior

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The objective of this research was to investigate the reaction of hydrogen and heated air premixing when injected into a combusting ethylene-air crossflow, and to study the flame stabilization location with varying premixing levels. The main parameter of this investigation was the flame stabilization diagnosed through chemiluminescence, based on recorded equivalence ratio, temperature, and flame boundaries, and maintaining a constant air temperature, hydrogen and air mass flow, and momentum flux ratios. Testing was conducted at different ratios of hydrogen and air premixing achieved through alternating the distance between the point where hydrogen and air are mixed and the combusting crossflow. …

Integrated Qfd-Triz Optimization Method For Satellite Solar Array Design In Cost-Sensitive Environment, Hongyi Zhang, Liang Su

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

With the rapid evolution of commercial space markets in the new space era, satellite design philosophy is transitioning from "performance supremacy" toward "cost-effectiveness priority." This research concentrates on solar arrays, a critical component representing 15%-20% of satellite costs, addressing limitations in traditional design methodologies that inadequately coordinate user requirements and lack systematic frameworks for cost-performance collaborative optimization. We propose a solar array optimization methodology predicated on the integration of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). This methodology incorporates cost dimensions through an extended QFD matrix, employs TRIZ to resolve technical contradictions, and develops a …

Suas Agricultural Aerial Application Operational Field Test, David Thirtyacre, Joseph Cerreta, Scott S. Burgess

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

One of the most promising uses of aerial applications by a sUAS is on small farms where traditional crewed aerial applicators were not practical due to the limited size of the operations. This controlled field test aimed to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using a sUAS spreading system compared to the traditional manual application of weed killer and fertilizer on cranberry bogs in Western Washington that were less than 10 acres. The aerial application took place over two separate days as scheduled by the farmer for maximum product efficiency. A total of sixty-three flights were necessary to apply the …

Mitigating Information Overload In Aviation Safety: Ai-Driven Hierarchical Tagging And Summarization Of Notam For Pre-Flight Information Bulletin, Rutong Gu, Yefeng Qu, Dongling Chen, Yu Tang, Ailin Zhou

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

To address the challenges of aviation safety information overload in Pre-flight Information Bulletin (PIB) systems, this study proposes an intelligent classification framework (ERNIE-DPCNN) that integrates knowledge-enhanced semantic representation with a Deep Pyramid Convolutional Network. Traditional systems relying on rule-based filtering mechanisms suffer from inefficiencies in critical information identification and high risks of human misjudgment. The proposed framework achieves breakthroughs through three technical innovations: (1) An aviation domain-adapted ERNIE model is constructed, leveraging phrase-level masking strategies to enhance semantic representation of compound identifiers; (2) A Deep Pyramid Convolutional Network (DPCNN) is designed to extract multi-granularity features via hierarchical convolution-pooling architecture, optimized …

Design, Implementation, And Testing Of Spatial Disorientation Scenarios In A Modified Hexapod Motion Simulator, Jarod Hinckley, Ryan Paul, Logan Rock, Joe Conner, Jon M. Loffi

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Abstract

Investigations into aviation accidents aim to identify root causes and enhance safety. Despite advancements in safety measures, technology, and education, general aviation accident rates remain stable, with loss of control identified as the leading cause. Spatial disorientation is a significant contributing factor in these incidents, accounting for approximately 10% of general aviation accidents—90% of which are fatal. Addressing spatial disorientation is increasingly critical with the emergence of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) vehicles, a sector projected to reach a $30 billion market by 2030. While AAM is expected to transition toward full autonomy, human pilots will operate these vehicles during …

The Interacting Roles Of Attention Allocation And Trust In Highly Automated Aam Environments, Yusuke Yamani

Psychology Faculty Publications

[First slide]

Mechanisms of attentive visual processing

• Attention control
• Visual search
• Eye movement
• Aging and individual differences

Limits of human performance in applied environment

• Complex displays
• Machine operation
• Surface transportation
• Advanced air mobility
• Nuclear operation

Methods to ameliorate human cognitive performance

• Human-machine interface
• Human autonomy/AI teaming
• Human-systems integration
• Training

Reduced Set-Shifting Processing Speed In Male Rats Following Low Dose (10 Cgy) Proton Exposure, Hui Ho Vanessa Chang, Gyutae Kim, Kyu-Sung Kim, Richard A. Britten

Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases (CINID) Faculty Publications

Space radiation (SR) exposure poses significant biomedical risks, including effects on the central nervous system (CNS). These risks are particularly relevant to cognitive function during long-duration space missions. One critical cognitive skill is decision-making, which requires attentional set-shifting (ATSET)—the ability to quickly assess problems, evaluate options, and select the best actions. Previous studies have shown that exposure to However, the impact of low LET (< 1 keV/μm) protons, which significantly contribute to the total radiation flux astronauts encounter within spacecraft, on ATSET performance is unknown. To address this gap, we evaluated the effects of cranial irradiation with 10 cGy of 100 MeV/n protons (LET = 0.732 keV/μm) on ATSET performance in male Sprague-Dawley rats. We also investigated whether concurrent exposure to variable gravity (hypergravity step-up, step down, purported to have the same effect as exposure to microgravity (another major spaceflight stressor) exacerbated SR-induced cognitive deficits. Our findings indicate that proton exposure alone significantly impaired ATSET performance, as evidenced by decreased processing speed while performing compound discrimination reversal and extra-dimensional shifting. Notably, no additive or synergistic effects were observed when hypergravity was combined with proton exposure. The impact that low-dose proton exposure has on CNS functionality, particularly in reducing processing speed during complex tasks, warrant further investigation. If similar cognitive deficits were to occur in astronauts exposed to galactic cosmic rays, mission success and safety could be significantly compromised.

Neuroinflammatory Signaling And Immune Cell Infiltration Differ In Brains Of Rats Exposed To Space Radiation And Social Isolation, Austin M. Adkins, Zachary N. M. Luyo, Alea F. Boden, Riley S. Heerbrandt, Richard A. Britten, Laurie L. Wellman, Larry D. Sanford

Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases (CINID) Faculty Publications

Astronauts on the proposed Mars missions will be exposed to extended periods of social isolation (SI) and space radiation (SR). SI and SR-induced immune dysregulation can result in persistent neuroinflammation and neuronal damage which could negatively impact an astronaut’s health and ability to maintain adequate levels of performance. The synergistic effects of combined SI and SR on immune system functionality and the brain remain unknown. Determining how single and combined inflight stressors modulate the immune system is crucial for fully understanding pathways impacting astronaut health and performance. We used ground-based analogs of SI and SR in rodent models to investigate …

Versatile Injector Platform: A Modular Design For Supersonic Flow Research, Connor Bell, Davide Viganò

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fuel–air mixing remains a critical challenge in the development of high-speed air-breathing propulsion due to the extremely short residence times in supersonic combustors. Experimental studies are essential to investigate the underlying mixing mechanisms, but they require injection systems that can deliver repeatable and controlled flow conditions. In this work, we present the design of a modular strut-type injection platform developed for the Missouri S&T Supersonic Wind Tunnel. In its initial configuration, the platform features a planar trailing-edge slit to generate a two-dimensional jet and includes interchangeable trailing-edge modules to support a wide range of geometries and flow-control strategies. Designed with …

Generative Adversarial Networks For Dimensionality Reduction In Evtol Aircraft Takeoff Trajectory Optimization, Samuel Sisk, Farzaam Khorasani-Gerdehkouhi, Abdulaziz Abutunis, K. Chandrashekhara, Xiaosong Du

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft play a key role in urban air mobility (UAM), which aims to alleviate traffic congestion in urban areas. Despite their value, eVTOL aircraft suffer from battery energy consumption, which affects their range and endurance in real world flight tasks. Especially, the takeoff process has been identified for excessive power demands. Multidisciplinary analysis and optimization manage to discover optimal takeoff trajectories with minimum energy consumption while balancing multidisciplinary trade-offs, such as short distance takeoff and passengers' comfort. However, conventional parametrization methods (such as B-spline curves) leverage an empirically high-dimensional design space to include real …

A Ground Thermal Vacuum Facility For Simulating Cryogenic Space Environment Conditions, Emmanuel Kofi Asuako Wie-Addo, Lucas Scott, Daoru Han

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This work presents the ongoing progress of a vacuum facility upgrade at the Gas and Plasma Dynamics Laboratory (GPDL) at Missouri University of Science and Technology. A movable shroud has been fabricated and installed to enable the simulation of extreme cold conditions. The cooling rate of the shroud, a dummy test article, and a platform, using liquid nitrogen as the thermal fluid, is analyzed and reported under varying vacuum conditions for cryogenic runs. Preliminary testing revealed substantial thermal exchange between the shroud and the chamber walls, underscoring the necessity for implementing effective thermal isolation measures to mitigate heat transfer.

Arc-Jet And Free-Flight Evaluation Of Laminar And Turbulent Diffusion Models On Ablation, Kyle Worden, Andrew Heider, Serhat Hosder

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper investigates the effect of diffusion models on carbon ablation with a parametric study on a slug-calorimeter geometry in arc-jet flow at two enthalpy conditions using two arc-jet flow modeling approaches, and at corresponding enthalpy-matched free-flight conditions using RANS CFD simulations. Additionally, a sphere-cone geometry is modeled at the arc-jet enthalpy matched free-flight conditions and at a high Reynolds number free-flight condition. The approximate-corrected form of Fick's law and the Stefan-Maxwell diffusion models are investigated for equilibrium and finite-rate carbon ablation in laminar and turbulent flows, which is simulated with the Menter-SST turbulence model. The turbulent cases include the …

Multifidelity Dust Erosion Analysis Of Mars Entry Vehicles, Adam Boland, Dominic Zanti, Serhat Hosder, Andrew Hinkle

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The objective of this paper is to present a multifidelity approach for estimating recession rate and kinetic energy impact rate on the surface of planetary entry vehicles operating in dusty atmospheric environments at hypersonic speeds. The multifidelity model used a co-Kriging approach that combined a low-fidelity correlation with a correction factor from high-fidelity CFD solutions. The developed multifidelity model enables efficient and accurate exploration of a design space to determine at what conditions encountering dust is most dangerous to TPS survivability. Two sample problems are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach: the Mars 2020 lander and a HIAD-type …

An Adaptive Sampling Strategy On Optimal Takeoff Trajectory Prediction Of Electric Drones, Dheeraj Paramkusham, Samuel Sisk, Jiachen Wang, Shuan Tai Yeh, Xiaosong Du, Nathan Roberts

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft transforms future transportation systems by alleviating transportation congestion on the ground. This eVTOL technique possesses unique features, including reduced noise, low pollutant emissions, efficient operating costs, and flexible maneuverability. Meanwhile, battery consumption poses critical challenges to flight task duration. Thus, optimal takeoff trajectory design is essential due to immense power demands during eVTOL takeoffs. Conventional design optimization, however, iteratively evaluates high fidelity simulation models, making the design process computationally intensive. In this work, we implement a machine learning-enabled inverse mapping optimization concept, i .e., directly predicting optimal design based on design requirements (including …

Improving Neural Network Efficiency With Multi-Fidelity And Dimensionality Reduction Techniques, Vignesh Sella, Thomas O'Leary-Roseberry, Xiaosong Du, Mengwu Guo, Joaquim R.R.A. Martins, Omar Ghattas, Karen Willcox, Anirban Chaudhuri

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Design problems in aerospace engineering often require numerous evaluations of expensive to-evaluate high-fidelity models, resulting in prohibitive computational costs. One way to address the computational cost is through building surrogates, such as deep neural networks (DNNs). However, DNNs may only be an effective surrogate when sufficient evaluations of the high-fidelity model are required such that the up-front training cost is amortized, or in situations that require real-time responses (such as interactive visualizations). Typically, the data requirements for adequately accurate training of DNNs are often impractical for engineering applications. To alleviate this issue, the proposed work utilizes output dimensionality reduction along …

High-Order Dynamic Mode Decomposition For Multidimensional Harmonic Retrieval, Yanming Zhang, Steven Gao, Lijun Jiang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Estimating channel parameters such as azimuth, elevation, Doppler shift, and delay is a key challenge in wireless communication, often formulated as a multidimensional harmonic retrieval (MHR) problem. To address this, we propose a high-order dynamic mode decomposition (HODMD) framework for robust frequency estimation from high-dimensional signals in noisy environments. The HODMD approach combines high-order singular value decomposition (HOSVD) to decompose tensor data into a core tensor and mode matrices, with dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) to extract frequencies from the imaginary parts of the DMD eigenvalues. Simulation examples validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, demonstrating its efficiency in solving MHR …

Characterizing Intralaminar Distal Crack And Delamination In Multidirectional Laminates Under Low Velocity Impact: Modeling Approach With Ultrasound Testing Validation, Niildiip Chandraa, Rachel Van Lear, Arief Yudhanto, Yuqing Zhao, David A. Jack, Douglas E. Smith

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Multidirectional laminated composites are essential for load-bearing structures, especially under frequent impact loading. While existing modeling techniques simulate various impact damage modes, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms, specifically the initiation and progression of intralaminar distal cracks and interlaminar delamination, needs improvement. Validating these mechanisms is crucial for enhancing modeling accuracy and expediting the design process. In this work, we propose a three-dimensional finite element modeling (3D FEM) approach aimed at elucidating the impact damage mechanisms in multidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Our model incorporates cohesive zone models (CZM) to simulate the behavior of intralaminar cracks at distal points …

Anisotropic And Temperature-Tunable Second-Harmonic Vortex Generation In Ferroelectric Nbocl2 Holograms, Jayanta Deka, Xiaodong Yang, Jie Gao

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Optical vortex beams with helical phase fronts have immense potential to enhance data capacity due to the unbounded values of orbital angular momentum. Chip-scale platforms for producing vortex beams are of paramount importance for a variety of applications. On the other hand, 2D materials with unique optical properties are essential for developing multifunctional ultrathin photonic devices. Here, anisotropic and temperature-tunable second-harmonic vortex beam generation is demonstrated with ultrathin ferroelectric niobium oxide dichloride (NbOCl₂) fork holograms. The polarization-resolved Raman measurements are performed on the NbOCl₂ crystal to understand the anisotropic behavior of the Raman modes. It is demonstrated …

Performance Evaluation And Multiphysics Process Modeling Of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoset Composites Using Microwave And Autoclave, Nayan Pundhir, Patrick Schwartzkopf, K. Chandrashekhara, Logan Wilcox, Kristen M. Donnell, Jim Lua, Rui Li

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this study, IM7/Cycom 5320-1 unidirectional prepreg has been utilized to manufacture 16-layer laminated composites: a symmetric cross-ply ([0°/90°]4s) and a quasi-isotropic ([45°/90°/−45°/0°]2s) configuration. Microwave and autoclave curing processes have been employed to manufacture the laminated composites. The manufactured composite cure was assessed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The quality and porosity of the microwave-cured parts were juxtaposed to those of autoclave-cured parts through optical microscopy and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning. Mechanical characterization of the microwave-cured panels was conducted using uniaxial tensile and flexural tests, with results juxtaposed to autoclave-cured samples. Experimental characterization revealed that the microwave-cured parts exhibited nearly …

Design And Testing Of An Intrusive Arm For Supersonic Flow Sampling, Caleb Roberts, Davide Viganò

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Intrusive probes are critical tools in supersonic wind tunnel testing, enabling direct measurement of flow properties such as pressure and heat flux. To support these measurements, a single-axis intrusive arm was designed and implemented in the Missouri S&T Supersonic Wind Tunnel. The system is designed to maintains precise probe positioning, while withstanding the aerodynamic loads, and preserving a dynamic seal between the test section and ambient environment. Its modular design accommodates a range of probe types for various research applications. This paper presents the design methodology, including structural, mechanical, and aerodynamic considerations, and details the integration process. System performance was …