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 neutron flux-energy spectral characterization of a Thermo Fisher MP320 deuterium-tritium neutron generator was performed for two shielding configurations, one with substantial moderator between the source and the sample and one without such moderator. The STAYSL PNNL spectral adjustment code was utilized in conjunction with MCNP modelled reference spectra and...
Natural uranium samples were irradiated in-core for 7 seconds using the pneumatic rabbit system within the TRIGA Mark II Reactor at Oregon State University, and then used to generate a gamma-ray spectrum with a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The irradiated sample was simulated in Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP), a...
The purpose of this work was to explore the feasibility of using the GOTHIC thermal hydraulics software package to model a pressurized conduction cooldown event in the High Temperature Test Facility. To achieve that aim, a model of the facility was constructed in the GOTHIC software and a selection of...
In this work, I developed a six degree of freedom flight simulator specific to liquid engine launch vehicles. This flight simulator improves upon available software by accounting for liquid engine specific phenomena such as tank pressurization, liquid engine performance, and center of gravity modeling. Additionally, I implemented methods for optimization...
Motion planning is a cornerstone of autonomous robots, enabling robots to safely and efficiently perform tasks such as package delivery, infrastructure inspection, and manipulation. However, as the field of robotics matures, robotic systems are being developed that (1) are challenging to analytically model, (2) require computationally expensive model-based controllers, and...
This dissertation presents novel, field-activated smart material systems for the actuation and control of autonomous robots. Smart materials, a type of material whose properties can be changed with an external stimuli, represent a promising direction to expand upon existing robotic control and actuation methods, particularly in the sub-fields of soft...
Radiological emergency plans ensure that protective actions can and will be taken in the event of an accident. Principle protective actions for the early phase of an emergency are evacuation and sheltering-in-place. While evacuations are generally safe, there are deterministic, long-term health consequences from prolonged displacement that outweigh the stochastic...
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) prohibits the testing of nuclear weapons on the face of the earth. The detection of atmospheric radioxenon (131mXe, 133m/133Xe, and 135Xe) plays an important role in the identification of sub-surface clandestine nuclear weapon explosions. Since the radioxenon identified above decay via two radiation in coincidence,...
Faithful modeling of the expected gamma signals inside an electrochemical facility at various key measurement points is important for understanding what detection limits are available for the next generation of safeguards technologies. Gamma Detector Response and Analysis Software (GADRAS) and the Separation Safeguards Performance Model (SSPM) were used to build...