Recycling Space Debris as a Stepping Stone Towards a Permanent Lunar Presence

This study proposes the novel concept of recycling space debris as a means of supplying material resources for the establishment of a permanent Lunar presence while simultaneously cleaning up Earth’s orbital environment. This expands the scope of traditional debris mitigation efforts, which focus only on removing debris. As a first step, the...

Energy-Conservative Data-Driven Modelling for the two-scale Navier-Stokes Equations

This thesis presents an energy-conservative data-driven approach in modelling the closure terms of the Navier-Stokes equations casted through the Variational Multiscale (VMS) framework. For context, the VMS framework is applied in designing stabilised finite element methods for multiscale phenomena in which stability is not guaranteed. Under...

Mechanical Behaviour of PA2241FR used in Selective Laser Sintering

This research focuses on the possible causes of variation in the tensile strength and stiffness of witness specimens that are used in the manufacturing of aerospace grade selective laser sintered parts. Using specimens and data obtained from Materialise of the PA2241FR samples, the crystallinity and porosity of the samples was determined. The...

Spatial Disorientation in a Hexapod Simulator: Evaluating the Effect of Expectation and Display Perception on Control Reversals for Experienced and Novice Pilots

In previous studies, pilots made roll reversal errors (RREs) when responding to a ‘moving- horizon’ type attitude indicator (AI). It was argued that it was the ambiguity of this display leading to RREs. Later, using non-pilots, it was found that RREs were in many cases caused by expectation-induced misperception of the AI bank angle, which can...

Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Ground Effect on the FV Aircraft: Influence of Ground Effect on the Flying V Aircraft

In order to meet the growing market demands of quieter, more aerodynamically efficient aircrafts, manufacturers constantly strive to innovate and optimize their designs. Over the years however, the extent of innovation related to the conventional 'tubular fuselage' configurations have somewhat reached a stalemate as the gains obtained have only...

Implementing 3D printers to produce airworthy aircraft cabin parts

The research phase starts with an extensive literature study. To this end, a research question was drawn up, which reads as follows: What possibilities does Additive Manufacturing (AM) offer in airworthy aircraft part production and in what way can suitable parts be selected and redesigned? The most interesting findings from this literature...

The effect of nodal topology on cellular solid mechanics: A preliminary diagnostic experimental investigation

Additive manufacturing allows material structuring, supporting the fabrication of multiple-level structures or metamaterials. Through the lens of classical stress reduction, nature’s cellular solid structures feature stress-homogenizing nodal topologies. Avian long bones are an example. Research into the mechanics of open cell cellular solids...

Stimulation of Dutch startups in the Aerospace: A comparative case study on the barriers that dutch startups will face entering the aerospace market and how they can be overcome

The aerospace industry may seem a very innovative and renewing sector. However, when looking at the evolution of the aeroplane, it is clear that no radical innovation has taken place the last 70 years. It is not surprising considering the domination of the industry by big, traditional companies, who are known to be slow innovators. The most...

Compression-Compression and Tension-Compression Fatigue of Textile Carbon-Epoxy Composites: Experimental Testing and Instrumentation

Efficient design of woven composite structures is limited by a knowledge gap in predictive modeling of their behaviour. Fatigue modeling in particular is difficult and limited by a lack of experimental data. For compression-compression (C-C) or tension-compression (T-C) fatigue, experimental results in literature are uncommon. In this master...

Potentiodynamic anodizing and adhesive bonding of aluminum for the aerospace industry

The aerospace industry progressively develops alternatives for chromic acid anodizing, since Cr6+ is known to be toxic and carcinogenic. In this work, potentiodynamic anodizing of aluminum alloys AA1050 and AA2024-T3 clad was performed in phosphoric sulfuric acid (PSA) and sulfuric acid (SAA). I has been shown that anodic film morphologies can...