In this thesis, we propose a systematic code for correcting t = 1 insertion/deletion errors of the character ”0” that can occur between any two consecutive 1’s in a binary string. The code requires balanced input strings, where each word of length n contains ⌈n/2⌉ 0’s and ⌊n/2⌋ 1’s. This...
This thesis explores the mechanical properties of hemp fiber reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites. Fused filament fabrication (FFF) was used to compare the performance of three different weight percentages of hemp fiber reinforced PLA against PLA and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). It was found that as the weight percentage of...
The design of a competition-winning aero package must consider multiple vehicle attitudes. Aerodynamic concepts simulated in heave, pitch, roll, high-speed yaw, and low-speed yaw to design a stable and predictable aero package. The methodology automates the simulation setup process of five vehicle attitudes. The overall and subsystem force coefficients are...
Integrated Distributed Electric Augmented Lift (IDEAL) applies upper surface blowing in a novel way to achieve electric short take-off and landing to meet the growing need for urban air transportation. Additional research on propulsion airframe interaction (PAI) with trailing edge flaps at low Reynolds numbers was necessary to advance the...
In a power system, operators maintain voltage stability through adequate reactive reserves. Maintaining and accessing an efficient allocation of reactive reserves is prohibitively complex because of reactive line losses, the variety of reactive resources, and either limited or variable reactive outputs from renewable sources. By clustering the system into smaller...
Wave energy converters (WECs) show promising potential to significantly contribute to global renewable energy goals. Numerous WEC designs have been proposed and investigated, but wave energy conversion technology has yet to reach convergence in the same way wind or solar has. Of the designs currently in existence, surface-piercing WECs are...
Pillars in modern vehicles provide structural integrity by surrounding the windows and joining the roof with the frame. Although they protect the driver and passengers, A-pillars also create obstruction zones by limiting drivers' forward field of view leading to unforeseeable accidents or mishaps. We argue that providing a better pillar...
The end goal of any educational program is to prepare a student for the challenges they will see after completion of their studies. In the realm of engineering, the pinnacle of this occurs during a student’s final Capstone course series, where students are asked to apply their various skills learned...
It is desirable for complex engineered systems to perform missions efficiently and economically, even when these missions' complex, variable, long-term operational profiles make it likely for hazards to arise. It is thus important to design these systems to be resilient so that they will actively prevent and recover from hazards...
Modern engineered systems are increasingly integrated into society, decentralized, and interconnected. However, scale and complexity create unique challenges in system design, such as emergent behavior and unintended consequences. This work investigates the structural characteristics of robustness in complex engineered systems by identifying patterns of under-recognized vulnerabilities at various levels of...