Matching Items (44)
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- All Subjects: engineering
- Creators: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program
Description
The goal of this thesis project was to build an understanding of supersonic projectile dynamics through the creation of a trajectory model that incorporates several different aerodynamic concepts and builds a criteria for the stability of a projectile. This was done iteratively where the model was built from a foundation of kinematics with various aerodynamic principles being added incrementally. The primary aerodynamic principle that influenced the trajectory of the projectile was in the coefficient of drag. The drag coefficient was split into three primary components: the form drag, skin friction drag, and base pressure drag. These together made up the core of the model, additional complexity served to increase the accuracy of the model and generalize to different projectile profiles.
ContributorsBlair, Martin (Co-author) / Armenta, Francisco (Co-author) / Takahashi, Timothy (Thesis director) / Herrmann, Marcus (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Solar panels need to be both cost effective and environmentally friendly to compete with traditional energy forms. Photovoltaic recycling has the potential to mitigate the harm of waste, which is often landfilled, while putting material back into the manufacturing process. Out of many, three methods show much promise: Full Recovery End-of-Life Photovoltaic (FRELP), mechanical, and sintering-based recycling. FRELP recycling has quickly gained prominence in Europe and promises to fully recover the components in a solar cell. The mechanical method has produced high yields of valuable materials using basic and inexpensive processes. The sintering method has the potential to tap into a large market for feldspar. Using a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) analysis, the three methods could be compared on an economic basis. This showed that the mechanical method is least expensive, and the sintering method is the most expensive. Using this model, all recycling methods are less cost effective than the control analysis without recycling. Sensitivity analyses were then done on the effect of the discount rate, capacity factor, and lifespan on the LCOE. These results showed that the change in capacity factor had the most significant effect on the levelized cost of electricity. A final sensitivity analysis was done based on the decreased installation and balance of systems costs in 2025. With a 55% decrease in these costs, the LCOE decreased by close to $0.03/kWh for each method. Based on these results, the cost of each recycling method would be a more considerable proportion of the overall LCOE of the solar farm.
ContributorsMeister, William Frederick (Author) / Goodnick, Stephen (Thesis director) / Phelan, Patrick (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
This report summarizes the development of a test stand used to measure the thrust or impulse of pulsed plasma thrusters (PPT). Currently, there is a lack of accessible, cost-efficient methods for measuring thrust in the market due to the difficulties associated with developing a test stand for extremely low thrust outputs. Despite the difficulties, there is an ever-growing need to develop new methods of measuring thrust as the increased demand for small satellites has prompted investors from the government and private sectors to conduct further research into the development of better propulsion systems for space applications. A part of the developmental process of making propulsion systems is being able to test the thrust of these propulsion systems under vacuum conditions that simulate a space environment. This report details the research conducted on existing test stands as well as the process of designing, manufacturing, and testing a thrust measurement device.
ContributorsYu, Finley (Author) / Goryll, Michael (Thesis director) / Sharp, Thomas (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This project focuses on the redesigning process of a projectile launcher apparatus utilized in physics education environments. Affordability was one of the main factors accounted for throughout the project, and it was achieved by implementing 3D printing, and by simplifying pre-existing solutions. The outcomes of the project include: the design of a fully functional projectile launcher with less than 5% errors, and a detailed manual that indicates how to build your own, as well as, how to experiment with it in order to explore the physics behind projectile motion.
ContributorsCalvo Benito, Mario (Author) / Yekani Fard, Masoud (Thesis director) / Reeves, Hunter (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2024-05