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Full-Text Articles in Structures and Materials

Optimization Of Co₂ Removal In Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (Cdra) Using Nonlinear Equilibrium Modeling And Zeolite-Based Adsorption Simulation, Frányerson R. López Ochoa Aug 2026

Optimization Of Co₂ Removal In Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (Cdra) Using Nonlinear Equilibrium Modeling And Zeolite-Based Adsorption Simulation, Frányerson R. López Ochoa

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study follows a quantitative, non-experimental, existing-data design to examine the optimization of carbon dioxide removal in spacecraft’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) through the integration of nonlinear isotherm modeling and process-level cycle simulation. Existing carbon dioxide adsorption equilibrium data from multiple zeolite sorbents, including Grace Davison Grade (544 13X, 522 5A, and 514 4A), Honeywell UOP (APG-III, LiLSX VSA-10), and BASF 13X, is analyzed to determine which adsorption models best represent carbon dioxide loading behavior and how these models can be used to reduce energy consumption in spacecraft regeneration processes. The study fitted eight nonlinear isotherm models – Langmuir, …


Enhancing Fibre–Matrix Interface Properties In Cfrps Using Cohesive Zone Modelling, Arjun Myadam, Alexander Skoppe Aug 2026

Enhancing Fibre–Matrix Interface Properties In Cfrps Using Cohesive Zone Modelling, Arjun Myadam, Alexander Skoppe

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are extensively used in aerospace, automotive, and structural applications owing to their high specific strength, stiffness, and design flexibility. The mechanical performance of these composites is critically governed by the fibre–matrix interface, which controls stress transfer and directly influences damage initiation, crack propagation, and fracture behaviour. The interface strength is quantified through the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and fracture energy, both serving as key indicators of composite integrity. Nanoscale fibre surface modifications are widely employed to enhance interfacial bonding and can also impart multifunctionality, such as capacitive properties, magnetic behaviour, and piezoelectricity. For instance, nanoscale …


N31 Multi-Sensor Data Fusion For Enhanced Cislunar Space Domain Awareness Using Radar And Optical Observations, Lucas Bottero Aug 2026

N31 Multi-Sensor Data Fusion For Enhanced Cislunar Space Domain Awareness Using Radar And Optical Observations, Lucas Bottero

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

MULTI-SENSOR DATA FUSION FOR ENHANCED CISLUNAR SPACE DOMAIN AWARENESS USING RADAR AND OPTICAL OBSERVATIONS   As operations extend into cislunar space, maintaining Space Domain Awareness (SDA) becomes increasingly challenging due to the vast distances, sparse infrastructure, and complex gravitational dynamics between Earth and the Moon. Radar and optical sensors are the primary modalities used for space surveillance, each with its strengths and limitations. Radar offers continuous observation capabilities regardless of lighting conditions but is limited by power and range at cislunar distances. Optical sensors provide high angular precision but depend on favorable illumination and line-of-sight geometry. However, there has been limited …


Vibration And Thermal-Vacuum Feasibility For Micro Carbon Fiber Filled Nylon Filament Lunar Applications, Andrew Murphy, Shannon O'Sullivan, Daniel Lopez Aug 2026

Vibration And Thermal-Vacuum Feasibility For Micro Carbon Fiber Filled Nylon Filament Lunar Applications, Andrew Murphy, Shannon O'Sullivan, Daniel Lopez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The proposed work seeks to improve the fundamental understanding of the properties concerning 3-D printing filaments that have potential to be used for lunar applications. The associated properties in focus for the proposed study, vibration and thermal-vacuum-resistance, are fundamental aspects of spaceflight and are critical to mission success for objectives associated with the environmental factors in space. The successful outcome of the proposed work will answer questions relating to the feasibility of micro carbon fiber filled nylon 3-D printing filaments such as Markforged’s Onyx® for application for projects in the Space Technologies Laboratory, including for the development of structures relating …


Policy Brief: Satellite Resiliency Against Nuclear Detonation In Space, Brianna Johnshon, Samantha Harper, Tyler Thompson Aug 2026

Policy Brief: Satellite Resiliency Against Nuclear Detonation In Space, Brianna Johnshon, Samantha Harper, Tyler Thompson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The deployment of nuclear weapons in space poses an arms challenge that is both critically important and inherently ambiguous. Although Article IV of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST) explicitly prohibits placing nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit (UNOOSA, 1966), recent developments suggest that this prohibition is not absolute. In 2024, the U.S. and Japan brought concerns regarding WMD in space to the UN Security Council, calling on states to work to prevent an arms race in space and agree not to place nuclear weapons and WMD in orbit (United Nations Security Council, 2024). However, this …


Project Nightshade: Carrier-Based Multirole Navy Strike Fighter Aircraft, Matthew Kaplan, Alex Gardner, Adam Wanner, Sara Gonzalez, Joseph Deleo, Canyon Swaffar Aug 2026

Project Nightshade: Carrier-Based Multirole Navy Strike Fighter Aircraft, Matthew Kaplan, Alex Gardner, Adam Wanner, Sara Gonzalez, Joseph Deleo, Canyon Swaffar

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Project Nightshade: Detail Design for a Carrier-Based Multirole Strike Fighter This project focuses on the structural detail design of the wing box for a carrier-based multirole strike fighter, emphasizing strength, stiffness, and fatigue resistance under maneuver and carrier landing loads. The objective is to develop a structurally efficient configuration capable of supporting critical loading conditions while maintaining realistic weight and structural integrity. Classical aerospace structural analysis methods were used to size primary load-carrying components including spar caps, shear webs, and skin panels. Maneuver and gust load cases were applied to determine internal shear forces and bending moments, enabling calculation of …


Zfq-50 "Radiance", Craig Slovensky, Michael Rath Iii, Kyan Spaete, Long P. Nguyen, Woo Hyun Lee, Roman Czerniejewski Aug 2026

Zfq-50 "Radiance", Craig Slovensky, Michael Rath Iii, Kyan Spaete, Long P. Nguyen, Woo Hyun Lee, Roman Czerniejewski

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project presents the preliminary design of the ZFQ-50 "Radiance", a Collaborative Unmanned Vehicle (CUV) built around the VerdeGo VH-5 blended turbofan intended for military defense applications. This design presents a novel aircraft coupled with a powerplant that blends traditional combustion thrust with electrical power output, an new and evolving capability within the aerospace industry. This aircraft was sized considering multiple constraint parameters, configuration trade studies, CFD analysis, and mission requirements including carrier assisted take-off and landing, an effective operational range, and a loiter period with 40 kW of continuous power output from the powerplant. The selected configuration allows for …


Project Chimaera: Development Of A Tessellated Tetrahedral Truss Structure For Adaptive Multi-Regime Morphing Wing Technology, Evan Meyer, Eric Rodarte, Maximo Failla, Joshua Shuster, Jackson G. Schuler Aug 2026

Project Chimaera: Development Of A Tessellated Tetrahedral Truss Structure For Adaptive Multi-Regime Morphing Wing Technology, Evan Meyer, Eric Rodarte, Maximo Failla, Joshua Shuster, Jackson G. Schuler

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Project Chimaera: Physical Assembly of tessellated tetrahedral wing for Multi-Regime Flight. Modern Aircrafts lose aerodynamic efficiency because they are primarily made utilizing fixed wings which are designed for a single optimal flight condition. This forces an aircraft’s performance to become compromised across various speed maneuvers and flight regimes. Project Chimaera addresses this limitation through the development of a morphing wing capable of dynamically changing its geometry extensively during flight to allow an aircraft to travel between subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic speeds. Whereas traditional wings rely on wing flaps and other flight controls; Project Chimaera addresses the limitation of flight controls …


Modeling The Effect Of Damping On Mechanical Vibrations In An Aircraft Wing, Daniel Ingleton, Ethan Burrell, Noah Evans Aug 2026

Modeling The Effect Of Damping On Mechanical Vibrations In An Aircraft Wing, Daniel Ingleton, Ethan Burrell, Noah Evans

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Aircraft wings experience vibrations during flight due to aerodynamic forces, turbulence, engine effects, and the flexibility of the structure itself. If these vibrations are not properly controlled, they can affect the wing’s performance, structural life, and overall aircraft safety. This research project focuses on modeling how damping reduces mechanical vibrations in an airplane wing. To make the problem manageable, the wing will be represented as a simplified cantilever beam. The project will examine how damping, stiffness, and mass influence the wing’s vibration response over time. Using mathematical equations of motion and simulation tools such as MATLAB or ANSYS, the study …


Simulation-Based Analysis Of Aeroelastic Flutter Using A 2-Dof Mass–Spring–Damper Model, Jamie Shore, Jose Murphy, Emily Brown, Leia Vargas Ii, Carl Pellegrino Aug 2026

Simulation-Based Analysis Of Aeroelastic Flutter Using A 2-Dof Mass–Spring–Damper Model, Jamie Shore, Jose Murphy, Emily Brown, Leia Vargas Ii, Carl Pellegrino

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research project focuses on utilizing a mass-spring dampening system to analyze wing flutter. Given that wing flutter is an instability caused by elastic and inertial forces, these create increasing oscillations that lead to structural failure. Our group will create a simulator developed in MATLAB to analyze data on how different variables such as angle of attack, aspect ratio and wind speed influence the flutter. The simulation will help us to determine how flutter is affected by mass, structural stiffness, and the damping coefficient on several materials. These materials include aluminum 6061, birch wood, steel 36, and tungsten. The goal …


Internal Structural Design For Low-Cost Unmanned Fighter/Interceptor Aircraft, Andrew Zubyk Oct 2025

Internal Structural Design For Low-Cost Unmanned Fighter/Interceptor Aircraft, Andrew Zubyk

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Akriveia Aerospace is focused on the design of a high strength and efficient structure to accommodate the small size of Akriveia Aerospace’s Accipiter aircraft while ensuring the structure’s ability to sustain the required loadings. Emphasis is placed on wing spar, fuselage bulkhead, bulkhead-to-spar bracket, skin, and spar web sizing; as well as the fasteners used to join the structural components. The Accipiter was inspired based on historical and modern fighter/interceptor aircraft, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Preliminary sizing was conducted using conventional evaluation techniques; future aims involve validation using Finite Element Analysis. Due to …


Wing Structure Design The Ramp-200, Nicholas Hillburn Oct 2025

Wing Structure Design The Ramp-200, Nicholas Hillburn

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project focuses on the design of the wing structure to increase fatigue resistance and lessen the shear force across the skin of the wings, while maintaining the structure’s stability and soundness. The designed wing structure will be optimized to account for the proposed weight and endurance of the aircraft. The overall wing shape and size was defined using preliminary design methods and optimized for efficiency at Mach 0.9. The main structures were sized using calculations that were programmed into MATLAB and supported by hand calculations. Finite element analysis was used to verify sizing, and the structures were assessed using …


Wing Structure Design For Yf-27 Shrike Homeland Defense Interceptor, Maurya Jandyala Oct 2025

Wing Structure Design For Yf-27 Shrike Homeland Defense Interceptor, Maurya Jandyala

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project focuses on designing the wing structure of an interceptor aircraft to withstand sustained supersonic flight and provide sufficient fuel storage for extended operations. The aircraft and structure were designed according to the AIAA Homeland Defense Interceptor request for proposal (RFP). Sizing of structural components was performed utilizing hand calculations and an idealized shear box approach focused on maximum aircraft limit loads. Based on these preliminary calculations, different wing structural components such as spars, ribs, stringers, and attachment points were designed using computer aided design (CAD) software. Finite element analysis was used to verify results and structural integrity of …