Aeronautical Vehicles Commons^™

Multi-Rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Jacob Dean, James Mixter, Jordan Barr

Honors Theses

An open-source Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capable of performing at the same capacity as many top commercially available multi-rotor vehicles is developed. The system allows users unfamiliar with multi-rotor vehicles to achieve flight and land safely, while also serving as a flexible foundation for other UAV projects and opening the door to features that are not currently available. Applications of drone technology are explored.

Development Of Long Endurance Small Unmanned Aerial System, Andreas Quainoo

Honors Theses

The purpose of this Senior Design Project is to design, build, and test an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). This will be used as a test platform for airborne electronics. The intended capabilities of this project include a 12-hour flight time, the ability to carry 5 lbs of payload, and the ability to recharge the batteries of electronics while in the air. With these parameters in mind, the focus of the design was on endurance, and, by extension, efficiency and durability. Upon completion, the aircraft and its onboard systems was constructed and evaluated. Secondary products of this project include an instrumented …

Localization And System Identification Of A Quadcopter Uav, Kenneth Befus

Masters Theses

The research conducted explores the comparison of several trilateration algorithms as they apply to the localization of a quadcopter micro air vehicle (MAV). A localization system is developed employing a network of combined ultrasonic/radio frequency sensors used to wirelessly provide range (distance) measurements defining the location of the quadcopter in 3-dimensional space. A Monte Carlo simulation is conducted using the extrinsic parameters of the localization system to evaluate the adequacy of each trilateration method as it applies to this specific quadcopter application. The optimal position calculation method is determined.

Furthermore, flight testing is performed in which real range measurement data …

The Art And Beauty Of Flight, Edmond Ing Huang Tan

The Hilltop Review

This picture nicely represents the art and gracefulness of flight with the beauty of sunset in a tranquil setting. In the picture is a powered paragliding, also known as paramotoring in the plains of Nebraska. The ability to fly both low and slow safely, the 'open' feel, the minimal equipment and maintenance costs, the portability, minimally regulated and requires no license are claimed to be this type of flying's greatest merits. Paramotors can be flown during any season of the year anywhere but not in high wind conditions which typically means at low Sun azimuths as shown in the picture …

Microgas Turbine Engine Characteristics Using Biofuel, Edmond Ing Huang Tan, William W. Liou

The Hilltop Review

Aviation fuels commonly used today are extracted from the kerosene fraction of the crude oil that is distilled between the gasoline and the diesel. Crude oil is not renewable and the world oil reserve is generally believed to be on the decline. In 2006, 6.3% of the world's refinery production was used for aviation fuel (Nygren et. al., 2009). At an estimated rate of 3% increase of fuel demand per year, aviation use alone will consume the world fuel production by 2026. Therefore, there is a need for the aviation industry to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and, perhaps, …

Load Interaction Effects On Fatigue Crack Growth, Stoyan Ivanov Stoychev

Dissertations

Load excursions, in the form of tensile and compressive overloads are known to produce interaction effects during subsequent constant amplitude loading. In this work, the fatigue crack growth and crack closure levels, under both constant amplitude and variable amplitude loading, are investigated in the aluminium-lithium alloy 2090-T84, and the aluminium alloys 2024-T351 and 7150-T651. The crack closure measurements were obtained using both a crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) gauge and a crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) gauge.

Fatigue crack growth tests were performed on specimens of thickness 1.6mm, 3mm, 6mm and 14mm. Tests were performed at load ratios of 0.1 …

Numerical Studies Of Transition For Flows Around Multi-Element Airfoils, Fengjun Liu

Dissertations

The transition of flows around a multi-element airfoil has been numerically studied using RANS with a k - e two-equation transition model, LST and DNS. The transition model uses an effective eddy-viscosity by coupling an intermittence-like correction to a turbulence eddy-viscosity that can be obtained via solving a parent k - e turbulence model. The transition model is truly predictive in that it is able to predict transition onset locations without having to specify prior knowledge of the targeted transition process. The predicted transition onset locations for all the cases studied were compared with the measured data. The results suggest …

Enhancing Commercial Aircraft Survivability Via Active Venting, Roger L. Veldman

Dissertations

A new technique for enhancing aircraft safety in the event of an on-board explosion was studied. The method under study employs deployable vent panels located on the fuselage which are activated by an array of pressure sensors in the aircraft interior. In the event that an explosion is detected, appropriate vent panels are rapidly released from the aircraft. This approach seeks to provide timely relief of explosive pressures within an aircraft to prevent catastrophic structural failure.

In this study, the approximate time scale of an explosive detonation and the subsequent sensing and electronic processing was determined. Then, the actuation response …

The Pratt & Whitney 4060: Power For The Future, Gregory Sumner

Honors Theses

The Pratt & Whitney 4000 engine platform is considered the most economical turbofan engine in its class. It is advertised as providing the most efficient service and the most reliability for air carriers. United Airlines utilizes the company's engines. The paper begins with basic turbine engine theory and moves on to engine classifications, where the Pratt & Whitney 4060 is introduced. The systems are covered in detail. Maintenance areas of service and inspections are described to show how personnel may interact with the computers. Finally, a description of activities during the author's internship describe the interesting facets of a semester …