Thesis (M.S., Mechanical Engineering)--California State University, Sacramento, 2018.

Efficient hybrid rocket engine designs are highly desirable due to the inherent safety of these systems when compared to the premixed solid rocket motor or bi-propellant rocket engines. Hybrid rocket motors use a pressurized tank to impel liquid oxyge . . .

Using a Venturi to Capture and increase wind velocity are carried out to enhance the performance of wind turbines, the Idea of Ducted Wind Turbines has been an interest because of the ability to increase the velocity through them, the results of multi . . .

Statement of Problem: Improvements to internal combustion efficiency have soared in the last decade due to stricter emission regulations and increased consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. Variable valve timing (VVT), engine start-stop cycles, . . .

In Track and Field, sprinters such as Usain Bolt undergo wind resistance or drag forces during a race competition. Athletic clothing and shoes help reduce drag of a sprinter. Eyewear, which is used to block glare and harmful UV rays, have not been stu . . .

The goal to achieve higher fuel-efficient internal combustion engines is a common goal for engine manufacturers. Current engines reject approximately 20 percent of the fuels energy to the engine cooling system. The waste energy is rejected to the atmo . . .

To better understand the phenomena of various thrust outputs with constant energy input in the RF Resonant Cavity Thruster, a theoretical space travel propulsion system, the impact of microstructural variations in the cavity material was investigated. . . .

Vehicle dynamics is highly dependent on mass distribution. Airplanes are particularly affected by mass distribution. Altering the moment of an airplane change how well it can fly and even lead to disaster [1]. Ocean vehicles will also undergo disaster . . .

The protection of soldiers and law enforcement personnel form ballistic threats is a growing concern with the increase of armor piercing small caliber projectiles. In this thesis, a design will be proposed for a new ballistic plate insert for wearable . . .

A generic remote control airplane is converted into an autonomous UAV. The aircraft’s dynamic behavior is represented in state space form, with a series of 1st order differential equations. Stability and control derivatives are estimated using softwar . . .