Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

The Effect Of Biocomposite Material In A Composite Structure Under Compression Loading, Benjamin Andrew Sweeney

Master's Theses

While composite structures exhibit exceptional strength and weight saving possibilities for engineering applications, sometimes their overall cost and/or material performance can limit their usage when compared to conventional structural materials. Meanwhile ‘biocomposites’, composite structures consisting of natural fibers (i.e. bamboo fibers), display higher cost efficiency and unique structural benefits such as ‘sustainability’. This analysis will determine if the integration of these two different types of composites are beneficial to the overall structure. Specifically, the structure will consist of a one internal bamboo veneer biocomposite ply; and two external carbon fiber weave composite plies surrounding the bamboo biocomposite. To acquire results …

Professional Pilot Commercial Off-The-Shelf (Cots) Efb Usage, Policies And Reliability, Tyler A. Babb

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) have flooded the aviation industry. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) tablets are now commonly used by pilots as EFBs. Operators use EFBs for ease of use, faster access to information, to remove weight from the aircraft, and to increase pilots’ quality of life. Identifying trends in EFB usage among professional pilots could benefit operators and universities with flight training programs. EFB policies and procedures may vary among operators but achieve FAA compliance. This study identified these policies and procedures. The types of devices and software vary, and identifying these devices and software could be useful. This research used …

The Effects Of Using Noise Reduction Turbofan Engine Nozzle Designs On A Turbojet Engine, Donald Bartlett

Journal of Applied Sciences and Arts

Abstract

Aircraft noise is a complex topic which is projected to increase with the increasing number of aircraft and size of the engines. Turbine-powered aircraft produce sounds that are considered pollutants at certain decibel levels. Turbofan engines are inherently quieter than turbojet engines for a given level of thrust. The purpose of this research is to determine if current turbofan noise reduction nozzles could reduce the amount of noise for turbojet engines at two different thrust levels. Three turbofan engine nozzles were designed and tested on a turbojet engine. Decibel levels of 30 frequencies for each of the nozzles were …

An Archival Analysis Of Stall Warning System Effectiveness During Airborne Icing Encounters, John Michael Maris

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

An archival study was conducted to determine the influence of stall warning system performance on aircrew decision-making outcomes during airborne icing encounters. A Conservative Icing Response Bias (CIRB) model was developed to explain the historical variability in aircrew performance in the face of airframe icing. The model combined Bayes’ Theorem with Signal Detection Theory (SDT) concepts to yield testable predictions that were evaluated using a Binary Logistic Regression (BLR) multivariate technique applied to two archives: the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) incident database, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident databases, both covering the period January 1, 1988 …

Reference Slides, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation of "Reference Slides" created by Professor Bob Twiggs from January 18, 2017.

An Exciting Opportunity To Advance Stem Education With Femto-Satellites, Dale Nash

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Dale Nash titled "An Exciting Opportunity to Advance STEM Education with Femto-satellites" from January 16, 2017.

Tu-Pod: Launched From The International Space Station, Amin Djamshidpour, Bob Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs and Amin Djamshidpour titled "TU-POD: Launched from the International Space Station" from January 16, 2017.

Image And Information Fusion Experiments With A Software-Defined Multi-Spectral Imaging System For Aviation And Marine Sensor Networks, Sam B. Siewert, Matthew Demi Vis, Ryan Claus, Ramnarayan Krishnamurthy, Surjith B. Singh, Akshay K. Singh, Shivasankar Gunasekaran

Publications

The availability of Internet, line-of-sight and satellite identification and surveillance information as well as low-power, low-cost embedded systems-on-a-chip and a wide range of visible to long-wave infrared cameras prompted Embry Riddle Aeronautical University to collaborate with the University of Alaska Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC) in summer 2016 to prototype a camera system we call the SDMSI (Software-Defined Multi-spectral Imager). The concept for the camera system from the start has been to build a sensor node that is drop-in-place for simple roof, marine, pole-mount, or buoy-mounts. After several years of component testing, the integrated SDMSI is now being tested, first …

Rans Simulations Of Aerodynamic Performance Of Naca 0015 Flapped Airfoil, Sohaib Obeid, Ratneshwar Jha, Goodarz Ahmadi

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

An analysis of 2D subsonic flow over an NACA 0015 airfoil with a 30% trailing edge flap at a constant Reynolds number of 106 for various incidence angles and a range of flap deflections is presented. The steady-state governing equations of continuity and momentum conservation are solved combined with the realizable k-ε turbulence model using the ANSYS-Fluent code (Version 13.7, ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA). The primary objective of the study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of flow characteristics around the NACA 0015 airfoil as a function of the angle of attack and flap deflection at Re = 106 …

Multi-Stage Nozzle-Shape Optimization For Pulsed Hydrogen-Air Detonation Combustor, Francesco Ornano, James Braun, Bayindir H. Saracoglu, Guillermo Paniagua

School of Aeronautics and Astronautics Faculty Publications

hermal engines based on pressure gain combustion offer new opportunities to generate thrust with enhanced efficiency and relatively simple machinery. The sudden expansion of detonation products from a single-opening tube yields thrust, although this is suboptimal. In this article, we present the complete design optimization strategy for nozzles exposed to detonation pulses, combining unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solvers with the accurate modeling of the combustion process. The parameterized shape of the nozzle is optimized using a differential evolution algorithm to maxi­ mize the force at the nozzle exhaust. The design of experiments begins with a first optimization considering steady-flow conditions, subsequently …

Multi-Stage Axial Compressor With Counter-Rotation, Vinod Gehlot, Magdy S. Attia, Divyam Garg

Publications

A multi-stage axial compressor incorporating a counter-rotational movement is provided with a series of rotors mounted along and driven by a driveshaft, and a geared counter-rotating outer casing. A planetary gear system is assembled along a static casing, which can be assembled as a forward or aft casing for the compressor. The bearings of the planetary gear system typically will be aligned concentrically with a center rotor drum assembly mounted along the single driveshaft. The counter-rotating drum assembly will be assembled over the rotor drum assembly and will be engaged by the forward and aft casings so as to provide …

A Multiscale Model For Damage Progression And Detection In Piezo/Pyroelectric Composite Laminates, Yehia Bahei-El-Din, Amany Micheal

Centre for Advanced Materials

Assessment of damage initiation and progression in composite structures reinforced with electrically active filaments is modelled in a multiscale analysis. The analysis developed is a two-tier, interactive analysis, which involves two length scales; macroscopic, and microscopic. The proposed multiscale analysis provides seamless integration of the mechanics at the two length scales, including piezoelectric and pyroelectric coupling effects and damage under overall thermomechanical loads and an electric field applied to electroactive fibers. The macromechanical analysis is performed for multidirectional, fibrous laminates using the lamination theory, including bending, and the micromechanical analysis is performed using a two-phase model and a periodic array …

The Gettysburg Economic Review, Volume 10, Spring 2017

Gettysburg Economic Review

No abstract provided.

Detecting Laminate Damage Using Embedded Electrically Active Plies – An Analytical Approach, Amany Micheal, Yehia Bahei-El-Din

Centre for Advanced Materials

Assessment of damage initiation and progression in composite laminates with embedded electrically active plies is modeled. Utilizing electrically active layers embedded in composite laminates as damage sensors is proposed by several researchers and is mainly assessed experimentally. Sensing damage using embedded electrically active plies is generally preferred over the use of surface mounted PZT wafers since the range of the latter is limited to a very narrow area underneath the surface, while multiple damage mechanisms can generally be found in several plies of the laminate. The solution presented invokes two levels of analysis. Firstly, on the laminate level, applied membrane …

The Effects Of Airline Behavior On Aircraft Accidents, Anneliese S. Brown

Gettysburg Economic Review

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of specific airline business decisions on aircraft accident propensity. Airline safety affects everyone and has large regulatory and policy implications. Existing research has focused largely on three areas: airline financial health, safety and the resulting effects of accidents. I use both Poisson and Negative Binomial models to study two different airline features: low-cost carriers and flight length, and how they relate to the probability of an aircraft accident. Based on results using a Generalized Negative Binomial model, I find statistically significant evidence at the 99% confidence level that a 1-unit …

Utilizing Ground-Based Lidar Measurements To Aid Autonomous Airdrop Systems, Martin Cacan, Edward Scheuermann, Michael Ward, Mark Costello, Nathan Slegers

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

Uncertainty in atmospheric winds represents one of the primary sources of landing error in airdrop systems. In this work, a ground-based LIDAR system samples the wind field at discrete points above the target and transmits real-time data to approaching autonomous airdrop systems. In simulation and experimentation, the inclusion of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system showed a maximum of 40% improvement over unaided autonomous airdrop systems. Wind information nearest ground level has the largest impact on improving accuracy.

Vtol Hybrids: Tiltrotors Are Gaining Acceptance, Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

No abstract provided.

Optimal Trajectory Determination And Mission Design For Asteroid/Deep-Space Exploration Via Multibody Gravity Assist Maneuvers, Sean Fritz, Kamran Turkoglu

Faculty Publications

This paper discusses the creation of a genetic algorithm to locate and optimize interplanetary trajectories using gravity assist maneuvers to improve fuel efficiency of the mission. The algorithm is implemented on two cases: (i) a Centaur-class target close to the ecliptic plane and (ii) a Centaur-class target with a high inclination to the ecliptic plane. Cases for multiple numbers of flybys (up to three) are discussed and compared. It is shown that, for the targets considered here, a single flyby of Jupiter is the most efficient trajectory to either target with the conditions and limitations discussed in this paper. In …

Weather Balloon Payload Box, Shellbie Liberty

All Undergraduate Projects

A payload box holding a self-rotating camera was constructed to go on a weather balloon that will document the upcoming solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. A group of physics students, and the paper’s author, are working under Dr. Darci Snowden on the CWU Near Space Observation Team for research dedicated to the eclipse in Oregon. Various projects, including the payload box, are being designed to go up on a high altitude weather balloon. The payload box was designed and constructed to withstand the impact force of falling from 120,000 ft. This was done so the box could be reusable …

Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, 2016-2017, College Of Engineering And Applied Sciences

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering News

• Letter from the Department Chair
• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Wins Grant from DENSO North America Foundation
• NSF $452,399 award to bring state-of-the-art instrument to WMU
• Faculty Research
• Faculty Summer Research
• Research in Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics
• Auto lab upgrades make it a premier teaching and research facility
• MAE faculty

Six Degree Of Freedom Dynamic Modeling Of A High Altitude Airship And Its Trajectory Optimization Using Direct Collocation Method, Pradens Pierre-Louis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The long duration airborne feature of airships makes them an attractive solution for many military and civil applications such as long-endurance surveillance, reconnaissance, environment monitoring, communication utilities, and energy harvesting. To achieve a minimum energy periodic motion in the air, an optimal trajectory problem is solved using basic direct collocation methods. In the direct approach, the optimal control problem is converted into a nonlinear programming (NLP). Pseudo-inverse and several discretization methods such as Trapezoidal and Hermite-Simpson are used to obtain a numerical approximated solution by discretizing the states and controls into a set of equal nodes. These nodes are approximated …

Space Race - Introduction, Jesse Lackey

Cold War & Space Race

The infographic linked below is a timeline of events in 20^th-century America related to the Cold War, the Space Race, and the Civil Rights Movement. The timeline is designed to put the events in Hidden Figures into historical context. The timeline chronologically compares groundbreaking historical events such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the creation of NASA alongside the historical presence of the three women, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson, that the reading is focused around. The book hops around from year to year and is very difficult to follow chronologically. That is part …

Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (Sunrise): Tracking Particle Acceleration And Transport In The Inner Heliosphere, Farah Alibay, Justin C. Kasper, T. Joseph W. Lazio

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The authors present a space-based array designed to localize and track the radio emission associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun. Radio emission from CMEs is a direct tracer of the particle acceleration in the inner heliosphere and potential magnetic connections from the lower solar corona to the larger heliosphere. These questions are among those highlighted in the Solar Decadal Study, e.g., “Discover and characterize fundamental processes that occur both within the heliosphere and throughout the Universe.” Furthermore, CME radio emission is quite strong such that only a relatively small number of antennas is required, and a small …

Real-Time Optimal Trajectory Planning For Orbital Rendezvous, Satellite Inspection, And Docking Based On Convex Optimization, David K. Geller, Nicholas Ortolano, Aaron Avery

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Convex optimization techniques have deterministic convergence properties, are self-starting, i.e., they do not require an initial guess, and have been tested in real-time environments. These optimization techniques are applied to the trajectory planning problem for orbital rendezvous and proximity operations. Spacecraft rendezvous, inspection, and final approach trajectories are considered. Optional trajectory constraints are considered including approach corridors, keep-out zones, and maximum thrust acceleration levels. Two linear dynamics models are investigated: Clohessy-Wiltshire dynamics to describe the relative motion in an LVLH frame, and a new relative orbital motion dynamics model to describe the motion relative to a spinning or uncontrolled spacecraft. …

Calibration & Testing, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

WHY CALIBRATE?

Once you have designed and built a sensor, it is essential that you calibrate it—especially when it comes to space instruments. Calibration is the only way to translate your raw sensor data into scientific units that can be analyzed for vital information. Science can only occur when you have calibrated data.

In addition, calibration helps you verify that your sensor meets the requirements and helps to identify performance issues under operational conditions before you fly. Thorough calibration testing before deployment significantly increases the probability of mission success.

Iris: Deep Space Small Satellite Radio, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

With nanosatellites being used for deep space missions, the need for a unique communications architecture to relay valuable mission data back to NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) is vital.

Ground Segment: Solutions, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL is a one-stop-shop for overhead and airborne ground systems and specializes in agile and flexible customized solutions. SDL’s solutions are Government owned with Government purpose rights. SDL has the facilities and staff to provide both unclassified and classified solutions.

Pearl: Spacecraft Platform, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL’s Pearl spacecraft platform delivers the performance, reliability, and mission flexibility needed for demanding small satellite missions. The Pearl platform architecture draws from common sets of components to build 3U, 6U, 12U, and custom sizes with variations in mission capability, parts quality, and radiation tolerance. This flexibility enables our professional staff to develop systems specific to each mission while drawing on a common design to maintain reliability and costs.

Nova Test Facility: Nanosat Operation Verification & Assessment Test Facility, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Space Dynamics Laboratory’s (SDL) advanced NOVA test facility characterizes and verifies subsystem and system performance of small satellites up to 12 kg. The NOVA test facility provides testing to reduce preflight risk and verify requirements and is designed specifically for CubeSat-sized components and systems. NOVA augments SDL’s manufacturing, environmental testing, and calibration facilities, offering comprehensive testing capabilities and expertise for this class of small satellites.

Relative Orbital Motion Dynamics With Respect To A Rotating Spacecraft-Fixed Frame, Nicholas Ortolano, David K. Geller, Aaron Avery

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Clohessy-Wiltshire equations are commonly used to describe the relative orbit motion of two spacecraft in proximity to each other. The relative motion solution provided by these equations is most naturally given in a local-vertical, local horizontal frame. However, if a nearby spacecraft is spinning in a controlled or uncontrolled manner, it may be more convenient to describe the relative orbital motion in the rotating spacecraft-fixed frame. This may be especially true for satellite inspection or approach to a spinning spacecraft. In this paper a set of linear-time-varying differential equations describing the orbital relative motion of two spacecraft as observed …