The ZaP-HD Flow Z-Pinch project provides a platform to explore how shear flow stabilized Z-pinches could scale to high-energy-density plasma (plasma with pressures exceeding 1~Mbar) and fusion reactor conditions. The Z-pinch is a linear plasma confinement geometry in which the plasma carries axial electric current and is ...

Vortex Generators (VGs) are known to hinder boundary layer separation, a frequently unwanted phenomenon when it comes to external flows over aircraft wings, on-ground vehicles or internal flows within pipes, diffusers and turbomachinery. Boundary layer separation leads to loss of lift, higher drag and subsequently, energy ...

This thesis presents a method for the integration of complex network control algorithms with localized agent specific algorithms for maneuvering and obstacle avoidance. This method allows for successful implementation of group and agent specific behaviors. It has proven to be robust and will work for a variety of vehicle ...

Wall shear stress is characterized for underexpanded axisymmetric impinging jets for the application of aerodynamic particle resuspension from a surface. Analysis of the flow field resulting from normally impinging jets is conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics. A normally impinging jet is modeled, considering a large ...

A capability was developed to build a perform mass-minimization of a truss with SMA actuation to determine optimal element diameters and actuator applied temperature changes. The Nonlinear Programming/Approximation Concepts (NLP/AC) approach was used. This method is based on using a sequence of approximate optimization ...

In flight vehicles, a large portion of fuel consumption is due to skin-friction drag. Reduction of this drag will significantly reduce the fuel consumption of flight vehicles and help our nation to reduce CO₂ emissions. In order to reduce skin-friction drag, an increased understanding of wall-turbulence is needed. ...

As the support and technology for unmanned vehicles has increased, so have the possible applications for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). From military intelligence gathering missions, to civilian search and rescue missions, the demand for highly capable UAVs is high. Drawing inspiration from biological examples such as the ...

The compressible flow structure in front of deforming droplets in a continuously accelerating supersonic flow was examined in a draw-down supersonic wind tunnel which allowed relative velocities as high as Mach 1.8. 100-micron diameter droplets were generated upstream of the tunnel entrance using a Droplet-On-Demand generator. ...

The vortex persistence theory predicts that the addition of a sufficiently strong, stationary vortex near a wall will reduce the wall fluxes in turbulent flows. To test the theory flow visualization and hot-wire experiments in a water tunnel at moderate Reynolds number reveal that a persistent vortex will relaminarize the ...

Hail is a significant threat to aircraft both on the ground and in the air. Aeronautical engineers are interested in better understanding the properties of hail to improve the safety of new aircraft. However, the failure mechanism and mechanical properties of hail, as opposed to clear ice, are not well understood. A ...