Reduction of trimmed drag

Methods are reported for reducing the aircraft drag coefficient for a given aircraft lift coefficient, or speed. The emphasis is placed in determining the load distribution between the wing-body combination and the tail which reduces overall drag coefficient. Furthermore, a technique is presented which allows the determination of various aerodynamic and geometric parameters to permit the best location to satisfy inherent stability requirements. Included in the method is the calculation of sensitivity coefficients which indicate the importance of various parameters in achieving specified goals. Preliminary results indicate that such an approach is feasible

The German Rocket Jet and the Nuclear Programs of World War II

German military technology in World War II was among the best of the major warring powers and in many cases it was the groundwork for postwar innovations that permanently changed global warfare. Three of the most important projects undertaken, which were not only German initiatives and therefore perhaps among the most valuable programs for both the major Axis and Allied nations, include the rocket, jet, and nuclear programs. In Germany, each of these technologies was given different levels of attention and met with varying degrees of success in their development and application. By the end of the war, both rockets and jets had been used in combat, but nuclear weapons, despite the work of some of the best nuclear scientists in the world, never came to fruition. For each program, the level of success depended on several different factors, such as how the war was going, the effect of Allied air raids, and Germany’s industrial capacities. The course of the war in particular decided the extent of investment in each project. It influenced those within research and industry with regard to lobbying for more development support and also those in the Nazi military and leadership, who heeded such calls as it became more and more difficult for the German military to win using conventional weapons and tactics. But Germany lost the war, which meant that none of these technological developments achieved the desired goal. Not only that, but they also represent a ton of time, resources, and manpower that were wasted instead of more practically applied to other military deficiencies, such as the Air Force’s lack of long-range bombers. With all of this in mind, it begs the 3 question: why were revolutionary technology projects given such high levels of priority and attention? Moreover, how rational was it of those involved in the decision-making process in German technological research and development to invest in these technologies? The clear, present-day answer is that it was very irrational, given the many factors that inhibited the success of the programs. However, the pressure of a possible, looming defeat in a World War might explain why this modern conclusion would not have been as easy to reach during the war as it is now

Applications of the calculus of variations to aircraft performance

Variational calculus used to describe optimum aircraft flight trajectorie

Solving Chromatic Number with Quantum Search and Quantum Counting

This thesis presents a novel quantum algorithm that solves the Chromatic Number problem. Complexity analysis of this algorithm revealed a run time of O(2n/2n2(log2n)2). This is an improvement over the best known algorithm, with a run time of 2nnO(1) [1]. This algorithm uses the Quantum Search algorithm (often called Grover\u27s Algorithm), and the Quantum Counting algorithm. Chromatic Number is an example of an NP-Hard problem, which suggests that other NP-Hard problems can also benefit from a speed-up provided by quantum technology. This has wide implications as many real world problems can be framed as NP-Hard problems, so any speed-up in the solution of these problems is highly sought after. A bulk of this thesis consists of a review of the underlying principles of quantum mechanics and quantum computing, building to the Quantum Search and Quantum Counting algorithms. The review is written with the assumption that the reader has no prior knowledge on quantum computing. This culminates with a presentation of algorithms for generating the quantum circuits required to solve K-Coloring and Chromatic Number

Caimyn Lutze Senior Art Portfolio

https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/artportfolios/1005/thumbnail.jp

Winter Patch Grazing, Patch Burn Grazing, and Bird Communities in Western South Dakota

Ground nesting bird species are on a considerable decline and research efforts are being made to increase these populations throughout the Great Plains. Ground nesting bird communities found in the Northern Great Plains are driven greatly by varying amounts of cover and area size. Past research implemented patch-burn grazing to increase structural heterogeneity and to increase grassland bird habitat in the tallgrass prairie. While bird populations were very responsive to this management in the Northern Great Plains fire management is viewed negatively, especially for Midwest cattle ranchers. We implemented research to determine if winter-patch grazing on mixed grass prairie could increase the structural heterogeneity of pastures and increase avian diversity similar to the patch-burn grazing. A year into our research, a large wildfire came through the main research area burning a considerable amount of the research pastures. This presented an unique opportunity to examine structural heterogeneity and avian diversity for winter patch-grazing vs. a pasture with both winter-patch and burn-patch in the Northern Great Plains. The primary avian objectives of our study post-fire were to (1) compare bird species diversity, composition, densities, and nest success, and (2) evaluate habitat structural differences. This data will allow us to compare two different management strategies in the same mixed grass prairie research site

The Quest for Self: Studies of Individuality in Willa Cather's Fiction

This research examines the theme, individuality, and discusses how it changes throughout Gather’s career. The following chapters consider what was occurring in the world and in Gather’s own life that may have affected her work. They show that even though her novels’ characters and ambience may change dramatically, individuality remains a theme throughout her career. Most often. Gather presents a struggle for individuality in three different ways.At times Gather’s characters resist marriage and family, knowing that it threatens their sense of self. Other characters marry and then discover later in life that because of their social responsibilities, they have lost their true self. The novel then becomes a psychological struggle in which the protagonist attempts to either regain it or accept the loss. Finally, Gather believed that people are most aware of their true selves when they are young, before their lives revolve around social commitments and responsibilities. Therefore some of her characters seek individuality by attempting to return to youth.Master'sCollege of Arts and Sciences: Liberal StudiesUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117840/1/Lutze.pd

Back in the cycle: A review of the taphonomy of biomineralised tissues

After death, bones and teeth, biomineralized tissues composed of an organic and an inorganic part, are often the last remaining structures of an organism. The processes that affect biological tissues post-mortem is collectively defined as taphonomy. Forensic taphonomy studies the post-mortem modifications of remains in relation to a variety of physical, chemical, or biological agents, with the aim of assisting forensic investigations. Current research has typically focused on taphonomic effects observed in single depositional environments. This review summarizes the to-date information on the known taphonomic agents present across five depositional environments (burial, subaerial exposure, aquatic environments, burnt and frozen remains), and the effects generated on biomineralized tissues. Taphonomy is a relatively new sub-discipline of forensic anthropology and includes several areas where research is limited, such as the taphonomic processes in frozen and aquatic environments and the post-mortem alterations of teeth. As more research is conducted, the benefit of incorporating forensic taphonomy into forensic investigations have become increasingly evident. Each depositional environment features a range of characteristic taphonomic effects, which may be used to generate an accurate description of the post-mortem histories of remains. By providing training in forensic taphonomy investigative techniques, and incorporating them into investigations, more precise information may be gathered, potentially leading to faster turnaround times and case resolutions. The information presented in this review will prove useful in assisting the forensic community and may stimulate future research