Theses/Dissertations
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Improving Crash Safety of Jet Dragsters Through Modeling and Analysis
(2017-07)The objective of this thesis was to analyze how additional foam implementation in a jet dragster driver’s compartment can improve driver safety in the case of an accident. This analysis was divided into two sections: a ... -
Tuning Micro-Electro-Mechanical Resonators for Maximum Dynamic Range
(2017-07)This research seeks to improve the linear dynamic range (LDR) of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) resonators, which are commonly used in sensing and timing applications. We address specifically the need for devices ... -
The Controlled Human Gyroscope
(2016-07)The objective of this thesis was to design an adaptive rotational motion simulator capable of replicating the attitudes of spacecrafts and aircrafts, while avoiding gimbal lock. Flight motion simulators are currently ... -
Design of a Compact Helical Counterflow Heat Exchanger
(2017-06)Compact heat exchangers are desirable in many aerospace applications. New additive manufacturing approaches, such 3D printing, have enabled the fabrication of heat exchange devices utilizing geometries that cannot be ... -
Takeoff and Landing Distance Measurement: An Evaluation of Laser Altimetry for the Collection of Absolute Aircraft Altitude
(2017-05)The measurement of takeoff and landing distance during flight testing of general aviation aircraft requires the accurate measurement of aircraft position over the ground and altitude up to 50 feet above surface elevation. ... -
Single Waypoint ZEM/ZEV Based Closed-Loop Controller Design for Rendezvous with a Rotating Target
(2017-05)The research presented in this thesis addresses a very specific kind of autonomous rendezvous procedure between two spacecraft in close proximity, namely that in which the chaser object is attempting to dock at a location ... -
Empirical Study of In-Plane Shrinkage and Bulging of Circular Cylinders Fabricated with the Fused Deposition Modeling Additive Manufacturing Method
(2017-04)This thesis presents a set of empirical studies, leading to three Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) tools for estimating diametric shrinkage and the longitudinal variation of diameter in circular cylinders produced ... -
Effect of the Wake Structure on Drag Coefficient for a Thin Flexible Wire
(2017-04)The present research work focuses on investigating the effect of wake structure on the drag coefficient of a thin flexible wire. Previous researchers have investigated the flow characteristics around the cylinder and ... -
An Empirical Examination of Cognitive Chunking and Information Generation in Freehand Sketches during Design Ideation
(2017-05)This thesis proposes a method to measure information content of freehand sketches during design ideation based on the cognitive chunk formation. The research is broken down into two phases. The first is a protocol study ... -
Dynamic Anchoring in Soft Regolith for Celestial Exploration
(2017-05)Recent exploration missions to celestial bodies have shown an increasing demand for surface based landers and rovers designed to perform experiments on the ground, rather than relying purely on traditional orbiting ... -
Multi-Axial Fiber Optic Reference Strain Sensor for Flexible Dynamics of Structures
(2016-12)Launch vehicles are in an ever-decreasing weight trend, with bodies becoming more slender to reduce aerodynamic loading. Mass and stiffness tend to be opposing concepts when designing launch vehicles: a stiffer structure ... -
Design of a 3D Printable Mechanical Time Simulating Solar System Model for use in STEM Education
(2017-03)The use of designed tools to assist with relating abstract ideas to reality is now a possibility with the use of the modern manufacturing method of 3D printing. The inner four planets’ natural orbital periods with respect ... -
Cooling Performance of Reciprocating Aircraft Engines: A Quantitative Analysis of 14 CFR Part 23 Certification Requirements
(2016-12)An analysis of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aircraft certification requirements has revealed a potential error in the temperature correction formula the FAA requires aircraft manufacturers to use to process ... -
Design of a Rotating Brush Underwater Grooming Device with a Focus on Brush Optimization, Motor Control and Design for Reliability
(2016-12)The design and control of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) to groom or clean the underwater surface of ship hulls is becoming an important aspect of the maintenance of vessels to the United States Navy. The biological ... -
Numerical Study of Erosion of the Internal Wall of Sales Gas Piping by Black Powder Particles
(2016-12)Micro particles, primarily from iron, can wreak havoc on a Sales Gas System. For example, the transport of particles with the gas flow can cause erosion damage to the piping system, lead to the release of toxic gasses, ... -
Modeling and Analysis of a Novel Imbedded Organic Thermal Cycle
(2016-12)A thermal cycle is a device that converts thermal energy into work energy. There is a strong need in the United States and the world for a cycle that can have viable performances with low-grade temperature heat sources ... -
A Robot Platform for Intelligent Ground Vehicle Research
(2016-11)This thesis presents a mobile platform developed for further research on the Intellegent Ground Vehicle project which began as a capstone project but without achieving full autonomy. The scope of the current project is ... -
Dynamics and Control of Three-Dimensional Perching Maneuver under Dynamic Stall Influence
(2016-10)Perching is a type of aggressive maneuver performed by the class ‘Aves’ species to attain precision point landing with a generally short landing distance. Perching capability is desirable on unmanned aerial vehicles ... -
A Maximum Entropy Approach to Identifying Important Statistical Moments to Best-Represent Spray Distribution Data
(2016-10)To obtain accurate spray droplet size and velocity distributions, higher-order statistical moments are needed. The Maximum Entropy formalism has been successfully used to predict the motion of spray flow in different ... -
On Phase Change Material Heat Exchangers: A Computational and Experimental Investigation
(2016-10)The emergence of ground- and airborne-based high energy laser (HEL) weapon systems has created a need for high-rate thermal energy storage (TES) devices that meet demanding size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements for ...
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