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Theses and Dissertations

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Articles 1201 - 1230 of 1292

Full-Text Articles in Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering

Locating An Imaging Radar In Canada For Identifying Spaceborne Objects, William G. Schick Dec 1992

Locating An Imaging Radar In Canada For Identifying Spaceborne Objects, William G. Schick

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents a study of the maximal coverage p-median facility location problem as applied to the location of an imaging radar in Canada for imaging spaceborne objects. The classical mathematical formulation of the maximal coverage p-median problem is converted into network-flow with side constraint formulations that are developed using a scaled down version of the imaging radar location problem. Two types of network-flow with side constraint formulations are developed: a network using side constraints that simulates the gains in a generalized network; and a network resembling a multi-commodity flow problem that uses side constraints to force flow along identical …

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Retinal Modeling: Segmenting Motion From Spatio-Temporal Inputs Using Neural Networks, David E. Swanson Dec 1992

Retinal Modeling: Segmenting Motion From Spatio-Temporal Inputs Using Neural Networks, David E. Swanson

Theses and Dissertations

We applied two first-order, linear, time-varying, differential equations to the task of segmenting motion from sequences of images. The equations are modified Grossberg formulas for long-term and short-term memory models characterizing the neurotransmitter and cell-activity levels of a synapse and neuron. We described how a two layered, sensory, neural network can be built using the equations to simulate the amacrine neurons of the retina. The model is defined using adaptive input nodes (adaptive model) and is compared to a similar model without these nodes (O and G model). By replicating the basic amacrine neuron model to form both one- and …

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Correlation Based Target Location And Identification, Richard A. Wenzel Dec 1992

Correlation Based Target Location And Identification, Richard A. Wenzel

Theses and Dissertations

Correlation was investigated as a technique for locating and identifying visible light terrain board images of tanks, airplanes, and trucks. A correlator was built which utilizes the Fast Fourier Transform. The 180 images in the image set were correlated in both the raw form and after pre-processing via energy normalization and local energy normalization. The correlation of the raw images led to development of quantitative and heuristic rules for possible inclusion in a rule based expert system. The correlation of the local energy normalized images resulted in a 100 percent target location rate and can be used as a baseline …

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Software Support Measurement And Estimating For Oracle Database Applications Using Mark Ii Function Points, Steven D. Radnov Dec 1992

Software Support Measurement And Estimating For Oracle Database Applications Using Mark Ii Function Points, Steven D. Radnov

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the results of measuring software support of Oracle database applications and estimating the effort and schedule required to provide support. Software measurement was accomplished with a variant of the function points metric, called Mark II function points, which is comprised of three weighted parameters, inputs, entities, and outputs. A technique for mapping Mark II function points to Oracle DBMS components was developed, and the size of the software support for each project, per team, was measured by tabulating and weighting the number of inputs, entities, and outputs that are added, changed, and/or deleted. Software support effort was …

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Development Of A Prototype Air Force Institute Of Technology (Afit) Research Management System (Arms), David N. Schaaf, Carl W. Scott Dec 1992

Development Of A Prototype Air Force Institute Of Technology (Afit) Research Management System (Arms), David N. Schaaf, Carl W. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to design, develop, test, and evaluate an initial prototype information system to enhance the conduct and management of research in the School of Systems and Logistics at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). To accomplish this goal, the researchers developed and completed a methodology that was generally patterned after the milestones in a typical system development life cycle. The proof-of-concept nature of this research caused the researchers to also map the study's seven major objectives into a second system development model called the Spiral Model (Boehm, 1988:61). This hybrid approach provided better defined …

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The Efficacy Of Group Decision Support Systems: A Field Experiment To Evaluate Impacts On Air Force Decision Makers, Benjamin C. Huff Dec 1992

The Efficacy Of Group Decision Support Systems: A Field Experiment To Evaluate Impacts On Air Force Decision Makers, Benjamin C. Huff

Theses and Dissertations

The research contributed to the study of Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) in field experiments involving real managers making real decisions. This research was conducted by the Air Force Institute of Technology with the Air Force Armstrong Laboratory to evaluate the efficacy of using GDSS technology in an Air Force decision making environment. This study compared facilitated GDSS, facilitated manual, and unfacilitated manual decision making processes. This study focused on performance and secondary outcomes resulting from GDSS effects versus process structure effects. The research evaluated two performance outcomes: GDSS efficiency in terms of decision speed and effectiveness in terms of …

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The Adaptation Of The Sei's Capability Maturity Model To The Air Force Software Acquisition Management Process, William G. Dickerhoff Jr., William J. Sommers Dec 1992

The Adaptation Of The Sei's Capability Maturity Model To The Air Force Software Acquisition Management Process, William G. Dickerhoff Jr., William J. Sommers

Theses and Dissertations

This study develops an Air Force Software Acquisition Maturity Framework (SAMF) by adapting the Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) capability Maturity Model (CMM) to the Air Force software acquisition process. The SAMFs purpose is to provide the Air Force Materiel Command's product centers and program off ices with criterion to assess their software acquisition maturity in a similar fashion as the SEI's CMM provides companies a benchmark to measure their organization's software production maturity. The research was accomplished through a combination of information gathering techniques and data analysis. A literature search of documentation, both within and external to the Department of …

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An Assessment Of Software Safety As Applied To The Department Of Defense Software Development Process, Peter W. Colan, Robert W. Prouhet Dec 1992

An Assessment Of Software Safety As Applied To The Department Of Defense Software Development Process, Peter W. Colan, Robert W. Prouhet

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzed the relationships between the DOD software development process, system safety requirements, and current structured software safety analysis techniques. The current state of software safety was assessed within the aerospace industry and DOD, and a training program for DOD System Safety Managers was developed. A telephone survey was conducted to gather information on current software safety analysis techniques and methodologies. Personal interviews were conducted with Aeronautical System Center System Safety Managers to gather data on job perception and perceived training needs. The results of the study indicate that the DOD guidance and policy documents needed to implement and …

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Review Of Factors Impacting Warranty Cost-Benefit Analysis For The Sensor Fuzed Weapon System, Donna E. Kehrt Sep 1992

Review Of Factors Impacting Warranty Cost-Benefit Analysis For The Sensor Fuzed Weapon System, Donna E. Kehrt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research effort was to identify factor that affect the warranty cost-benefit analysis for the Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW) system since an essential performance requirement (EPR) warranty waiver was under consideration. Defense funding has become scarce, and the limited dollars must be spent wisely. A cost-benefit analysis should provide a relevant projection of cost-effectiveness based on the best available data. The SFW and other dormant weapon systems present difficulties in determining cost- effectiveness because the systems most probably will be non-operating, non- reusable, and non-restorable. Three recommendations were made, relevant to dormant weapon systems, that pertained to …

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An Analysis Of Strategic Planning To Support The United States Special Operations Forces' C3 Interoperability, George M. Pierce Ii Sep 1992

An Analysis Of Strategic Planning To Support The United States Special Operations Forces' C3 Interoperability, George M. Pierce Ii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the strategic plans of USSOCOM to determine its role in resolving the C3 interoperability issues. A model using strategic controls and Theory of Constraints was used as a standard to evaluate USSOCOM's management plans. A literature search revealed that hardware and new technology were the primary concerns of previous studies. However, the literature did not address whether the lack of a formal strategy contributed to the C3 interoperability problems. Therefore, the determination was to adopt a fresh approach to the C3 interoperability issues and analyze the strategic process. The data analysis of …

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Demonstrating The Effects Of Shop Flow Process Variability On The Air Force Depot Level Reparable Item Pipeline, Marvin A. Arostegui Jr., Jon A. Larvick Sep 1992

Demonstrating The Effects Of Shop Flow Process Variability On The Air Force Depot Level Reparable Item Pipeline, Marvin A. Arostegui Jr., Jon A. Larvick

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of reducing the mean processing time and variability in the Shop Flow Segment of the Depot Level Reparable Item pipeline. The measure of interest was the average number of units in the pipeline of a particular type of item (referred to as the average pipeline contents). A literature review revealed that process variability in the pipeline has an impact on its effective operation and cost. A simulation model was developed to determine if reducing mean processing time and/or variability in the Shop Flow Segment would result in a reduction in the average pipeline contents. The …

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A Methodology For Model Comparison Using The Theater Simulation Of Airbase Resources And All Mobile Tactical Air Force Models, Heston R. Hicks, Lawrence L. Long Sep 1992

A Methodology For Model Comparison Using The Theater Simulation Of Airbase Resources And All Mobile Tactical Air Force Models, Heston R. Hicks, Lawrence L. Long

Theses and Dissertations

This research compares the Theater Simulation of Airbase Resources (TSAR) model to the sortie generation (SORGEN) module of the AH Mobile Tactical Air Force (AMTAF) model, qualitatively and quantitatively, while concurrently developing and proving a model co methodology. The qualitative analysis compares the models' background and documentation, features and databases, and useability. The quantitative analysis statistically compares the models' estimates of sorties generated. For the quantitative study, eight variables are chosen and assigned high and low values for use in a 2' 1/4 fractional factorial experimental design. Equivalent input databases are developed from a TSAR F-15C database and pilot trials …

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An Analysis Of The Air Force Enlisted Performance Feedback System, Dee J. Jackson, Mark A. Ward Sep 1992

An Analysis Of The Air Force Enlisted Performance Feedback System, Dee J. Jackson, Mark A. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

This research evaluated the effectiveness of the enlisted evaluation performance feedback system. The Air Force created the feedback system because many airmen, especially those in lower ranks, did not know or did not understand their duties. Therefore, for the purpose of this study, effectiveness was defined as the degree to which the Air Force model mimicked the ideal feedback model as formulated by the researcher's analysis of the literature. The researchers found evidence that the new Air Force feedback system is an improvement over the old design. Under the old system, the only regulated means of providing feedback was a …

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Cost/Schedule Control Systems Criteria: A Reference Guide To C/Scsc Information, Erik G. Cummings, Kirk A. Schneider Sep 1992

Cost/Schedule Control Systems Criteria: A Reference Guide To C/Scsc Information, Erik G. Cummings, Kirk A. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis effort provides a valuable tool for contract performance measurement (CPM) analysts to use both while attending formalized Cost/Schedule Control Systems Criteria (C/SCSC) training, and while on the job. Research indicated a large amount of written material existed on contract performance measurement and the more specific topic of C/SCSC, yet this information was hidden in a wide array of unindexed professional journals, master's thesis, and texts. Further, while many professions have a reference guide of annotated bibliographies, CPM had none. Through an extensive literature review using several search and retrieval methods, the authors were able to amass a bibliography …

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Change In Self-Efficacy As A Measure Of Training Effectiveness At Squadron Officer School, Edward J. Berghorn, Michael Lewis Sep 1992

Change In Self-Efficacy As A Measure Of Training Effectiveness At Squadron Officer School, Edward J. Berghorn, Michael Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of the US air Force Squadron Officer School (SOS) training curriculum by measuring students' self-efficacy before and after training. The authors verified through the literature that an individual's personal assessment of his self-efficacy was associated with task understanding and performance. Then self-efficacy questions were generated (for each of the four SOS curriculum areas) for an individual to assess his ability to perform a behavior related to a particular SOS learning objective. Demographic questions were also developed and combined with the self- efficacy questions to form pretest (before SOS training) and …

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A Comparison Of Computer And Paper Media In Psychological Testing, Anthony C. Hensley, Timothy R. Morris Sep 1992

A Comparison Of Computer And Paper Media In Psychological Testing, Anthony C. Hensley, Timothy R. Morris

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined differences based on computer and paper modes of administration in psychological testing. The hypotheses tested were the expectations that scores on the computer Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT) would be higher than the paper version and subjects would report higher levels on the computer Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) scales. A counterbalance experimental design with two experimental groups was used. The subjects were volunteers from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and Wright State University (WSU); 90 subjects completed the study. This included 75 students from AFIT and 15 from WSU; 69 subjects were male and 21 were …

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An Investigation Of Integrated Weapon System Management Implementation Issues, Scott A. Dalrymple, Lester F. Pietraszuk Sep 1992

An Investigation Of Integrated Weapon System Management Implementation Issues, Scott A. Dalrymple, Lester F. Pietraszuk

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated Integrated Weapon System Management implementation issues. Five functional areas were examined: Contracting, Engineering, Financial management, Program Management, and Test Management. Data was collected through interviews. The most significant lessons learned were to establish a direct chain of command and to use TQM principles. Program business practices were changed by increasing Product Center/ALC interaction and implementing a single joint CCB. Program personnel obtained useful guidance from other IWSM programs and from the information products distributed by HQ AFMC. Communication improvements included increased teleconference capability and establishment of a Local Area Network. Cultural differences between centers, insufficient initial guidance, …

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An Evaluation Of Schedule Metrics Used Within Aeronautical Systems Center, Robert J. Hayes, Lawrence M. Miller Sep 1992

An Evaluation Of Schedule Metrics Used Within Aeronautical Systems Center, Robert J. Hayes, Lawrence M. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on a selected group of schedule metrics in use at Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) acquisition program offices. Over 300 metrics were collected from the System Program Offices (SPOs). The metrics data were sorted into the categories of cost, schedule, and performance. In order to narrow the scope of the project, the team decided to focus on schedule metrics. Seven of the most common schedule metrics were selected for evaluation by a group of five experienced acquisition professionals. The group was asked to input the likely behaviors driven by the metrics being addressed by the study. Next, they …

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Range Scheduling Automation For The Air Force Satellite Control Network: A Case Study In Computer System Development, Donald J. Aitken, Steven C. Bishop Sep 1992

Range Scheduling Automation For The Air Force Satellite Control Network: A Case Study In Computer System Development, Donald J. Aitken, Steven C. Bishop

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the factors influencing divergent outcomes of two computer system development efforts which were undertaken to fulfill the same requirement for computer automation of a manual resource scheduling process. The first project employed the traditional waterfall approach to system development, but resulted in user rejection and cancellation after considerable resources and effort had been expended. The second project employed prototyping and both the process and the product were well received by the users and ultimately produced an operational system. Analysis yielded eight contributory factors to the failure of the first effort. Three of these were related to the …

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The Theory Of Constraints Applied To Project Scheduling: The Critical Chain Concept Defined, Andrew D. Ingram, Paul E. Scherer Sep 1992

The Theory Of Constraints Applied To Project Scheduling: The Critical Chain Concept Defined, Andrew D. Ingram, Paul E. Scherer

Theses and Dissertations

This research applies the Theory of Constraints' principles to a project management environment. The Constraint Theory developed by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt has been successfully applied in many manufacturing settings. Researchers are now beginning to apply Theory of Constraints' principles and techniques outside the manufacturing environment. Specific objectives of this research effort include: to develop and demonstrate a resource constrained project scheduling algorithm based on the Theory of Constraints' principles and techniques: to perform a detailed comparison of the manufacturing and project scheduling environments designed to support algorithm development; and to lay the foundation for additional research in this area …

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A Methodology For Project Selection Using Economic Analysis And The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Jeffrey L. Battin, Thomas J. Bender Sep 1992

A Methodology For Project Selection Using Economic Analysis And The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Jeffrey L. Battin, Thomas J. Bender

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the applicability of a multiple criterion decision making method, known as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) , to economic analysis decisions involving project selection. Through a survey of the literature and current practices, it was determined that qualitative criteria were not adequately represented in a typical economic analysis of projects. Several MCDM methods were examined and the AHP was found to be the most promising technique to rate projects on a ratio scale. Two types of project selection problems, those involving nonmutually exclusive alternatives and those involving mutually exclusive alternatives, were examined. It was determined that the …

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A Method For Determining Schedule Delay Information In A Channel Cargo Route Network Schedule, Justin E. Moul Jun 1992

A Method For Determining Schedule Delay Information In A Channel Cargo Route Network Schedule, Justin E. Moul

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops a method for measuring schedule effectiveness by determining the amounts of enroute, cargo delay caused by a given aircraft mission schedule. The method is designed to generate information which helps identify flights for which different scheduling might decrease overall cargo delay in the entire network, given that all non-scheduling factors are held constant. The research uses a simplified twelve-airport cargo route network to test the methodology.

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Strategic Deterrence In The Post-Start Era, David C. Mccormick Apr 1992

Strategic Deterrence In The Post-Start Era, David C. Mccormick

Theses and Dissertations

With the Soviet Union's fall there have been widespread calls for drastic reductions in the United States military's strategic nuclear forces. Although a major threat to the United States has been greatly reduced, the number of strategic targets will not decrease as rapidly as the number of available weapons. This research considers how the United States should think about strategic forces in the rapidly changing world order of the 1990s. An extensive literature review of deterrence concepts and conventional weapons capabilities is conducted with special attention paid to the role that precision guided munitions played in the 1991 Persian Gulf …

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Multilayer Perceptrons For Classification, Lisa M. Belue Mar 1992

Multilayer Perceptrons For Classification, Lisa M. Belue

Theses and Dissertations

Techniques for training, testing, and validating multilayer perceptrons are thoroughly examined. Results obtained using perceptrons are compared and contrasted with two multivariate discriminant analysis techniques- logistic regression and k neighbor. Methods for determining significant input features are investigated and a procedure for examining the confidence to place in the significance of these features is developed. Procedures to evaluate the applicability of high-order feature inputs are examined. These methods and procedures are applied to two very different applications. The first application concerns the prediction of Air Force pilot retention/separation rates for input to force projection models. The second application concerns the …

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An Analysis Of The Endurance Of Mobile Satellite Command And Control Systems, Steven O. Brown Mar 1992

An Analysis Of The Endurance Of Mobile Satellite Command And Control Systems, Steven O. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the endurance of a single deployed generic mobile space (GMS) command and control (C2) system. Specifically, factors which affect overall system performance were examined. The analysis began with the development of a simulation model for a GMS C2 system. Optimal settings of factor levels were determined by using the model to find peak system endurance and availability. Factors set were field support vehicle (FSV) access, numbers of maintenance personnel, and numbers of spare components available. After optimum values were chosen for these factors, an experimental design was conducted to determine factor effect between maintenance manpower and the …

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Transformation Of Combat Data In Support Of Battle Trace, Hyoung-Kyu Choi Mar 1992

Transformation Of Combat Data In Support Of Battle Trace, Hyoung-Kyu Choi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to find an appropriate way of characterizing battle data as a function of time. This study was initially designed to remove the numerical instability problem cited in Barr's battle trace methodology as suggested by TRAC-MTRY. The research focused on the instability problem and identifying/recommending a technique that improved the efficiency of computation, and enhanced an analyst's ability to meaningfully interpret the battle trace. Two Lanchester's Square Law based methodologies are introduced and analyzed. The results of this analysis indicate that the battle trace of a constant value generated by Lanchester's Square Law integration seemed …

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Visual Information Processing And Response Time In Traffic-Signal Cognition, Hasan H. Demirarslan Mar 1992

Visual Information Processing And Response Time In Traffic-Signal Cognition, Hasan H. Demirarslan

Theses and Dissertations

In man-machine design, it is important to quantify the reaction time components instead of simply determining the lump-sum reaction time to stimulus. The primary purpose of this thesis was to investigate the reaction time components, such as visual perception and muscle response time, and to quantify them by separating from their aggregated sum. The prime example, traffic-signal cognition simulation was used to examine human reaction time to signal change. With a modified computer program that stimulates the driver's approach to the intersection, we measured the subject's reaction times and examined behavioral patterns. Twelve subjects were involved in the experiment. A …

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An Investigation Of Modifications To The Tac Campaign Model, Efgan Denguer Mar 1992

An Investigation Of Modifications To The Tac Campaign Model, Efgan Denguer

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the cost and budget modifications to Mixmaster which is an aggregate version of the Theater Attack Model (TAM). Seven simple cost employment methods, a goal programming approach, a probabilistic approach for determining cost coefficients, and goal programming version of that probabilistic approach were applied to Mixmaster. Also, Mixmaster was enhanced with an additional leading constraint to incorporate the Air Force tactical considerations in a campaign scenario. The results favor the advantages of the goal programming approaches. In addition, the probabilistic approach introducing the time factor in the computations promises more accurate results, given that the required parameters …

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Automating The Weekly Flight Scheduling Process At The Usaf Test Pilot School, Gary G. Foster Mar 1992

Automating The Weekly Flight Scheduling Process At The Usaf Test Pilot School, Gary G. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated different scheduling solution approaches that could be automated and applied at the USAF Test Pilot School (TPS). Currently at the TPS, flight schedules are manually developed on a daily basis. Weekly flight schedules are not developed due to the large quantity of data that must be processed to develop a flight schedule for an entire week. A weekly flight scheduling approach would reduce the occurrence of scheduling problems and unbalanced resource utilization, both of which are often the result of a daily flight scheduling approach. In addition, posting a flight schedule for the entire week would improve …

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Modular Simulation Of Hei Fragments And Blast Pressure, Gordon L. Galloway Mar 1992

Modular Simulation Of Hei Fragments And Blast Pressure, Gordon L. Galloway

Theses and Dissertations

The fragmentation and blast pressure of High Explosive Incendiary projectiles are major causes of aircraft fuel fires. Because Halon 1301 is being banned from DoD use as a fire suppressant, alternative fire suppressants must be developed and tested. These new suppressants must counteract the fire directly or eliminate one or more of the factors which cause the fire. To this end, this thesis takes a detailed look at the HEI processes that lead to a fire. A comprehensive review of the current knowledge and understanding of these processes is presented. In addition, hypothesized dependencies between the various processes are stated. …

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