Formulation space exploration is a new strategy for multiobjective optimization that facilitates both divergent searching and convergent optimization during the early stages of design. The formulation space is the union of all variable and design objective spaces identified by the designer as being valid and pragmatic problem formulations. By extending a computational search into the formulation space, the solution to an optimization problem is no longer predefined by any single problem formulation, as it is with traditional optimization methods. Instead, a designer is free to change, modify, and update design objectives, variables, and constraints and explore design alternatives without requiring a concrete understanding of the design problem a priori. To facilitate this process, a new vector/matrix-based definition for multiobjective optimization problems is introduced, which is dynamic in nature and easily modified. Additionally, a set of exploration metrics is developed to help guide designers while exploring the formulation space. Finally, several examples are presented to illustrate the use of this new, dynamic approach to multiobjective optimization.

In an attempt to examine my practice of providing conceptually-based professional development on fractions to fifth grade teachers, I conducted a series of four one hour professional development workshops. I focused on the conceptual understanding of ordering, adding, and subtracting fractions. I examined the solution process that teachers used to solve fraction problems and their abilities to explain and justify their solutions in an attempt to interpret their understanding. My data showed the effects of this workshop series. The study helped determine the effects of conceptually-based professional development on fractions as demonstrated in the teachers' discussions, participation, and written explanations.

The inboard-winglet concept was examined for its flow characteristics by testing for pressure coefficients over the wing and winglet surface in the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel over a range of freestream velocity and angle of attack. The results were analytically applied to calculate aircraft performance of a roadable aircraft, Pegasus II, which used the inboard-winglet concept in its design. The results proved that this concept has the potential to increase a wing lift coefficient at the right combination of thrust setting and freestream velocity better than a conventional wing-propeller arrangement. The lift coefficient inside the winglet channel was approximated as 2D in behavior. It is also shown that the winglets produce thrust at a positive-lift wing configuration. In the Pegasus II, the vertical stabilizers act like inboard winglets and produce a thrust component from its resultant force, giving 5.2% improvement in its effective aspect ratio and resulting in an induced-drag decrease. With an application of the new wing concept, the Pegasus II performance is comparable to other general aviation aircraft. / Master of Science

Prison language is heavily influenced by its environment and is noteworthy for its use of metaphor and metonymy. This study examined the use of metaphor and metonymy, including metaphtonymy, in prison language and how they are influenced by aspects of the environment. The metaphoric and metonymic expressions were selected from the language of incarcerated people and of correctional officers (COs). Data for this study was collected from the podcast Ear Hustle that is produced from inside San Quentin State Prison in California, USA and has been qualitatively analyzed using grounded theory. Additionally, Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) was used to identify and format metaphor and metonymy found in the data. The conventional metaphors and metonymies and metaphtonymy found in the data were used by both incarcerated people and COs. The expressions were compared to the metaphors discussed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) in their work on CMT. In this case, conventional metaphors and metonymies were often used in reference to prison structure. However, incarcerated people also use the unique metaphors INCARCERATED PERSON IS AN ANIMAL and PRISON IS A ZOO that are not evident in the speech of COs. This particular difference occurred in the data when the incarcerated individuals have more negative associations with the issue in question than do the COs. COs instead use the metaphor PRISON IS A TOOL, relying more on legal jargon and technical terms. All three of these metaphors are used by prison abolitionists when talking about prison. The results provide insight into what prison conditions are like for incarcerated people, given how prison environment influences language development, as well as the often-complicated relationships between incarcerated people and COs. Furthermore, the results illustrate that other conceptual metaphors can be found in different language varieties beyond the conventionalized ones found in non-prison discourse.

Frequent and effective design evaluation is foundational to the success of any product development effort. Products used, installed, or otherwise handled by humans would benefit from an evaluation of the product while formally considering both the physical embodiment of the technology, termed technology, and the steps a user should take to use that technology, termed tactics. Formal and simultaneous evaluations of both technology and tactics are not widespread in the product design literature. Although informal evaluation methods have advantages, formal methods are also known to be effective. In this paper we propose a formal method for evaluating tactics and technology simultaneously. Unlike the published literature, this evaluation involves explicitly defined tactics in the form of a written description of the actor, environment, and series of steps. It also involves the use of stage-appropriate, explicitly defined tactics-dependent criteria, which include criteria from a broad range of impact categories, such as impacts on the user, environment, project, and technology.

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