Weight estimation techniques for composite airplanes in general aviation industry

Currently available weight estimation methods for general aviation airplanes were investigated. New equations with explicit material properties were developed for the weight estimation of aircraft components such as wing, fuselage and empennage. Regression analysis was applied to the basic equations for a data base of twelve airplanes to determine the coefficients. The resulting equations can be used to predict the component weights of either metallic or composite airplanes

THERMTRAJ: A FORTRAN program to compute the trajectory and gas film temperatures of zero pressure balloons

A FORTRAN computer program called THERMTRAJ is presented which can be used to compute the trajectory of high altitude scientific zero pressure balloons from launch through all subsequent phases of the balloon flight. In addition, balloon gas and film temperatures can be computed at every point of the flight. The program has the ability to account for ballasting, changes in cloud cover, variable atmospheric temperature profiles, and both unconditional valving and scheduled valving of the balloon gas. The program was verified for an extensive range of balloon sizes (from 0.5 to 41.47 million cubic feet). Instructions on program usage, listing of the program source deck, input data and printed and plotted output for a verification case are included

A unified thermal and vertical trajectory model for the prediction of high altitude balloon performance

A computer model for the prediction of the trajectory and thermal behavior of zero-pressure high altitude balloon was developed. In accord with flight data, the model permits radiative emission and absorption of the lifting gas and daytime gas temperatures above that of the balloon film. It also includes ballasting, venting, and valving. Predictions obtained with the model are compared with flight data from several flights and newly discovered features are discussed

Design of a composite wing extension for a general aviation aircraft

A composite wing extension was designed for a typical general aviation aircraft to improve lift curve slope, dihedral effect, and lift to drag ratio. Advanced composite materials were used in the design to evaluate their use as primary structural components in general aviation aircraft. Extensive wind tunnel tests were used to evaluate six extension shapes. The extension shape chosen as the best choice was 28 inches long with a total area of 17 square feet. Subsequent flight tests showed the wing extension's predicted aerodynamic improvements to be correct. The structural design of the wing extension consisted of a hybrid laminate carbon core with outer layers of Kevlar - layed up over a foam interior which acted as an internal support. The laminate skin of the wing extension was designed from strength requirements, and the foam core was included to prevent buckling. A joint lap was recommended to attach the wing extension to the main wing structure

Ground Beetles of Islands in the Western Basin of Lake Erie and the Adjacent Mainland (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Including Cicindelini)

We report 241 species representing 63 genera of ground beetles from the islands of the western basin of Lake Erie and selected mainland sites from a 1991-93 survey, plus specimens examined in public and private collections, and previously published sources. Most species are generally distributed; however, a restricted population of Sphaeroderus schaumii schaumii we rediscovered is no doubt imperiled. Comparison of wing morphotype frequencies of the Lake Erie island species with mainland populations from studies in Ohio and Michigan support a hypothesis that vagility is of increased import in the islands. Regression and correlation analysis show a positive relationship between species number and island area, no correlation between species number and distance from the mainland and an improved fit for a multiple regression which includes collecting effort

ENERGY SUPPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR WHEAT PASTURE STOCKER CATTLE UNDER UNCERTAIN FORAGE AVAILABILITY

Energy supplementation provides a means of reducing production risk of growing stocker cattle on winter wheat pasture. This study addresses the issue of risk aversion and energy supplement input use. Differences in supplementation practices induced by risk aversion and the effects of cattle and feed market conditions are examined. Results show that supplementation practices are likely to be similar across producers, irrespective of their risk attitudes. Cattle and feed market conditions, however, markedly affect supplementation practices. These findings provide information for assisting stockmen in identifying efficient supplement strategies.Risk, Wheat pasture grazing, Numerical integration, Energy supplementation, Livestock Production/Industries,

Meeting the Needs of the Workforce in a Shifting Regional Economy

The tri-state region (New York/New Jersey/Connecticut) supports a highly complex and diverse labor market that has been subject not only to the shocking events of September 11th, 2001, but also to broad demographic and economic trends that have shaped the structure of work and the makeup of the available workforce. This paper examines the shifts that occurred in the regional economy throughout the past decade and discusses the possible implications of these changes for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, educational institutions, and state and local governments

Quantum quench dynamics of the Bose-Hubbard model at finite temperatures

We study quench dynamics of the Bose-Hubbard model by exact diagonalization. Initially the system is at thermal equilibrium and of a finite temperature. The system is then quenched by changing the on-site interaction strength $U$ suddenly. Both the single-quench and double-quench scenarios are considered. In the former case, the time-averaged density matrix and the real-time evolution are investigated. It is found that though the system thermalizes only in a very narrow range of the quenched value of $U$, it does equilibrate or relax well in a much larger range. Most importantly, it is proven that this is guaranteed for some typical observables in the thermodynamic limit. In order to test whether it is possible to distinguish the unitarily evolving density matrix from the time-averaged (thus time-independent), fully decoherenced density matrix, a second quench is considered. It turns out that the answer is affirmative or negative according to the intermediate value of $U$ is zero or not.Comment: preprint, 20 pages, 7 figure

The effect of nose geometry on the aerothermodynamic environment of shuttle entry configurations

The effect was studied of nose geometry on the transition criteria for the windward boundary layer, on the extent of separation, on the heat transfer perturbation due to the canopy, and on the surface pressure and the heat transfer in the separated region. The data for each of these problems is analyzed. A literature review that concentrates on separation and the leeward flow-field is presented