<p>This thesis summarizes investigations performed within design, analysis and experimental evaluation of flexible aircraft structures. Not only the problems, but rather the opportunities related to aeroelasticity are discussed.</p><p>In the first part of the thesis, different concepts for using active aeroelastic configurations to increase aircraft performance are considered. In particular, one study deals with the minimization of the induced drag of a highly flexible wing by using multiple control surfaces. Another study deals with a possible implementation of a high-bandwidth piezo electric actuator for control applications using aeroelastic amplification.</p><p>The second part of the thesis deals with the development of an approach for modeling and analysis of flexible structures considering uncertainties in analysis models. Especially in cases of large structural variations, such as fuel level variations, a fixed-base modal formulation in robust flutter analysis may lead to incorrect results. Besides a discussion about this issue, possible means of treating this problem are presented.</p>

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. / Flapping-wing propulsion was studied experimentally through Laser Doppler Velocimetry. Measurements were both time-averaged and unsteady, and were conducted on a Micro-Air Vehicle (MAV) model developed at NPS by Professors Max Platzer and Kevin Jones. The objective of this work was to further understanding of the aerodynamics of flapping-wing propulsion. In specific, this study examined separation control on the leading fixed wing due to entrainment by the trailing flapping wings. Further, a study of wake topology examined differences between the optimal and off-optimal cases. Experimental studies took place in the NPS 5' x 5' low speed wind tunnel. The model was supported on a test stand and LDV measurements of the flow field were taken. Studies were made at varying freestream velocities, angles of attack, and flapping frequencies. The test stand was instrumented with force balances to show forces in both the streamwise and vertical directions. / Ensign, United States Naval Reserve

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The geometric characteristics of flapping-wing propulsion are studied experimentally through the use of a force balance and a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) system. The system used is built to duplicate the propulsion system currently on the flying model of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) MAV model. Experiments are carried out in a low speed wind tunnel to determine the effects of mean separation and plunge amplitude on the flapping wing propulsion system. Additionally, the effects of flapping-wing shape, flapping frequency, and MAV angle of attack (AOA) are also investigated. Some flow visualization is also performed. The intent is to optimize the system so that payload and controllability improvements can be made to the NPS MAV. / Ensign, United States Naval Reserve

As abelhas da tribo Meliponini apresentam distribuição pantropical. São encontradas mais de 400 espécies pertencentes a 50 gêneros, sendo que mais de 300 estão presentes nas Américas. Os meliponíneos são responsáveis por grande parte da polinização das plantas nativas. A destruição das florestas tem ameaçado seriamente as abelhas sem ferrão, isolando-as em fragmentos e expondo-as ao endocruzamento e aos efeitos de perda de variabilidade genética. No presente estudo, foram empregadas análises moleculares (PCR-RFLP, análise de locos de microssatélites e o sequenciamento de um trecho do gene COI) e morfométrica (Análise da Morfometria Geométrica das asas) no intuito de se verificar a variabilidade em uma pequena população de Frieseomelitta varia residente no campus da USP de Ribeirão Preto (n=33). Para comparação, foram coletados e analisados indivíduos de áreas externas ao campus, ao longo da distribuição natural da espécie (n=36) e também de duas outras espécies F. trichocerata (n=30) e F. doederleini (n=3). Os resultados mostraram maior variabilidade mitocondrial e nuclear para o campus da USP em relação às amostras externas. Pelo menos nove matrilinhagens originaram a população do campus. O grande número de alelos encontrados nas amostras do campus pode ser explicado pela introdução de ninhos, por alta variabilidade já existente nos ninhos fundadores e/ou fluxo gênico via machos. Os resultados moleculares e morfológicos mostram grande similaridade entre F. varia e F. trichocerata, e em contraste, grande distância entre F. varia e F. doederleini, indicando que F. trichocerata deve ser considerada como uma variação geográfica (ecótipo) de F. varia. / The stingless bees present a pantropical distribution. There are more than 400 species belonging to 50 genera. More than 300 are present in the Americas. These bees have a remarkable role in the pollination of native plants. Forest destruction has threatened stingless bees populations by isolating them in forest fragments and exposing them to the effects of inbreeding and loss of genetic variability. In the present study we applied molecular (PCR-RFLP, microsatellite loci analysis and COI sequencing) and morphometric (Geometric Morphometry of Wings) analysis to verify the genetic variability of a small population of Frieseomelitta varia (n=33) resident in the campus of USP - Ribeirão Preto. For comparison, individuals collected across the species natural geographic range and also samples of two other species, F. trichocerata(n=30) and F. doederleini (n=3), were analyzed. The results showed greater mitochondrial and nuclear variability for the samples from the campus in relation to the species overall. Nine matrilines, at least, gave rise to the current campus colonies. The large microsatellite allele number can be explained by recurrent nests introduction, or by high variability already present in the founder nests and/or current gene flow mediated by males. The molecular and morphometric data show high similarity between F. varia and F. trichocerata, and in contrast, high distance between F. varia and F. doederleini, indicating that F. trichocerata should be considered as a geographic variation (ecotype) of F. varia.

A assimetria de cinco estruturas corporais da mosca-das-frutas Ceratitis capitata foi analisada para uma avaliação se poderiam ser utilizadas como bioindicadores. As análises foram feitas em amostras de uma população natural e de uma população de laboratório. Adicionalmente, em amostras obtidas da população de laboratório, os índices de assimetria foram avaliados após a submissão das diferentes amostras à diferentes temperaturas. No estágio de pupa, as amostras foram tratadas nas temperaturas de 17, 20, 25 e 30oC. As estruturas analisadas, em machos e fêmeas foram as cerdas frontais (FO), orbitais (OB), pós-oculares (PO), o comprimento e largura das asas. Nos machos, além dessas estruturas, foi incluída a análise do comprimento de uma das cerdas orbitais, a supra-fronto-orbital (SFO), que apresenta dimorfismo sexual. A variação numérica das cerdas FO e OB foi muito baixa em todas as amostras, não permitindo uma análise da assimetria. A assimetria das demais características, tanto merísticas como métricas, mostrou ser compatível com o modelo da assimetria flutuante (AF). O grau de assimetria de cada estrutura não diferiu entre machos e fêmeas, mas foi significativamente mais alto na amostra da população de laboratório do que na amostra da população natural. No entanto, a assimetria holística (somatória da AF das diferentes estruturas) não mostrou diferenças entre as duas amostras. Nas amostras submetidas a diferentes temperaturas foram observadas alterações significativas no grau de assimetria das estruturas, mas nenhuma alteração no tipo de assimetria que continuou sendo caracterizada como flutuante. Essas análises mostraram não haver diferenças entre os sexos, nem interações entre sexo e temperatura, mas apenas diferenças significativas entre as temperaturas. A assimetria flutuante das cerdas pós-oculares aumenta com o elevação da temperatura, a AF do comprimento das asas e da cerda SFO (nos machos) não mostra correlação com as temperaturas e os resultados indicam que a AF da largura das asas é mais elevada nas temperaturas extremas que nas intermediárias. A comparação da assimetria holística entre as amostras das diferentes temperaturas mostrou que as diferenças não foram significativas. Os resultados indicam que a assimetria das 52 cerdas pós-oculares e das medidas do largura das asas apresentam potencial para evidenciar eventuais estresses durante o desenvolvimento desses insetos. Indicam, também, que a utilização de uma assimetria holísitca pode mascarar possíveis diferenças da assimetria flutuante de estruturas individuais. / Asymmetry of five traits of the fruit fly Ceratitis capitata, an introduced insect pest in Brazil, was analysed in order to evaluate if they present potencial to be used as bioindicators of the \"quality\" of these insects. Samples from a natural population and from a laboratory colony were studied. Moreover, asymmetry was measured in samples from the laboratory colony maintained during the pupal stage, in the temperatures of 17, 20, 25 and 30oC. The analysed traits of males and females, were the frontal, the orbital and the postocular bristles, measurement of the length and cross diameter of the wings and the length of the supra-frontoorbital bristles in the males that show a pronounced sexual dimorphism. Since the numerical variation of the frontal and orbital bristles was very low in all samples it was not possible to analyse the variation in terms of asymmetry. For all other traits, meristic or metric, asymmetry was characterized as following the fluctuating asymmetry (AF) model. AF of the different traits does not differ between sexes, but was significantly higher in the laboratory sample than in the sample from the natural population. No significant differences, however, were found in the holistic asymmetry (sum of AF of different traits) between the two samples. In relation to the experiments conducted in different temperatures, no variations in AF levels were observed between sexes, nor interactions between sex and temperatures. However, significant differences were observed among the samples submitted to different temperatures. AF of the postocular bristles increases proportionaly to the increment of the temperature, while AF of wings and supra-fronto-orbital bristles (in males) lengths showed no correlations with the temperatures, and AF of the cross diameter of wings seems to be higher at the extreme temperatures than at the intermediate ones. When a holistic AF was applied, no significant differences among the temperature samples were observed. The results indicate that asymmetry of the postocular bristles and the length of the wings are parameters showing potencial use as indicators of stresses during development of these insects. They also indicate that a holistic asymmetry may mask variations in the asymmetry of individual traits.

Na presente dissertação pretende-se mostrar a motivação, o planejamento e a metodologia usada para desenvolver o projeto e a implementação de um pacote aerodinâmico no veículo de competição da equipe EESC-USP Fórmula SAE da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos. O principal objetivo no projeto da equipe é a dinâmica veicular. À partir disso, será projetado um pacote aerodinâmico a fim de gerar força de sustentação negativa ou downforce, melhorando a capacidade de tração dos pneus com o asfalto da pista e proporcionando maiores valores de aceleração lateral e velocidade nas curvas. Inicialmente é realizado um estudo para encontrar a melhor configuração nas simulações em dinâmica de fluidos computacional (CFD) a fim de otimizar a relação entre a fiabilidade dos resultados obtidos e o custo computacional deles. Também é feita uma descrição geral dos perfis aerodinâmicos a serem usados e um breve analise deles. Com base nesses resultados são projetados o diferentes dispositivos aerodinâmicos, onde são aplicadas estratégias de alto downforce a fim de otimizar o desempenho deles. Além disso, é realizado uma análise do comportamento aerodinâmico do veículo inteiro, com o intuito de integrar as diferentes componentes do carro que são influenciadas pela aerodinâmica. Também é feito um estudo em dinâmica veicular que visa entender o comportamento do carro em pista sob influência das forças aerodinâmicas. Finalmente, o modelo real do veículo é construído e é levado para pista a fim de realizar uma série de testes para validar os dados encontrados nas simulações. / In the present dissertation, it is intended to show the motivation, planning and methodology used to develop the design and implementation of an aerodynamic package in the EESSC-USP Formula SAE\'s race car of the Engineering School of São Carlos. The main objective of the team is vehicle dynamics. From this, an aerodynamic package is designed in order to generate negative lift forces known as downforce, improving the traction capacity between the tires and the asphalt of the track, and providing larger values of lateral acceleration and cornering speeds. Initially, a study to find the best configurations in CFD simulations is performed in order to optimize the rate between reliability of obtained results and computation cost. In addition, a general description and analysis of the aerodynamic profiles used is done. On basis in these results, several aerodynamic devices are designed, and some strategies of high downforce are applied to optimize its performance. Furthermore, an analysis of aerodynamic behavior of the entire vehicle is done with the purpose of integrating other components of the car influenced by aerodynamics. Also, a study about vehicle dynamics is done searching to understand the behavior of the car in track under the influence of aerodynamic forces. Finally, the real model of the race car is constructed and put on track in order to carry out several tests to validate found data in simulations.

The goal of this project is to use inspiration acquired from bird flight to optimize the wing planform of micro-air vehicle wings. Micro-air vehicles are used by the military for surveillance and for search and rescue missions by civilian first-responders. These vehicles fly in the same low Reynolds number regime as birds, and have low aspect ratios similar to the pheasants and grouse of the order Galliformes. Conventional analysis is difficult for low Reynolds numbers, prompting use of biologically inspired methods of optimization. Genetic algorithms, which mimic the process of evolution in nature, were used to define wing shapes that were tested in wind tunnel experiments. In these experiments, lift-drag ratios at various angles of attack were measured on scale model micro-air vehicle wings (with variable length feathers) similar in shape to a bird wing. The planform shape of the scale model wing evolved in the wind tunnel flow over successive generations to ultimately produce superior wings with higher lift-drag ratios. The low angle of attack wings were easily optimized into a wing shape different from and potentially more efficient than the oft-used Zimmerman planform. The process was repeated for a higher angle of attack, near stall conditions, which yielded a different wing planform shape. Chord distributions of the optimized low angle of attack wings were found to closely match the same distributions of birds from the order Galliformes. Results from flow visualization studies meant to illuminate possible physics responsible for the higher lift-drag ratios were also investigated.

Abstract A textbook is a key component in the arsenal of a teacher of English. For this reason, it is of importance that textbooksused in Swedish schools are compliant with the fundamental values of equality, provided in the LPO 94. I will attempt to discover the extent to which English textbooks present males and females in non-stereotyped ways and as equal. I want to provide an overview to show how they deal with gender issues. In addition, I aim at establish whether there are any connection between learning and gender, and whether it hinders the pupil’s language learning. My analysis will draw on previous research  and theories presented by prominent figures in the field, such as, Butler (1990), Mills (1995), Renner (1997), Ravitch (2004) and Jones, Kitetu &amp; Jane Sunderland (1997)among others. Thereafter, these theories, and my own research will be compared, to and contrasted with the guidelines from the Swedish National Agency of Education. This dissertation comprises a qualitative critical discourse analysis of two randomly selected textbooks that have been, or are being used, in Swedish secondary schools. For my study, I have chosen Team 8 (1984) and Wings 8 (2000). In my analyses, a number of different aspects will be taken into consideration, such as the   gender distribution of narrators, main characters and sub characters, as well as the   description of gender/gender roles, and the representation of gender in illustrations. Further, I will study what kind of language is used: the extent to which it is gendered or de-gendered language.  These aspects will be collected quantitatively. The findings from the analysis show that the language in Wings 8 gives a broad and non-stereotypic view of gender roles, which is in accordance with the fundamental values of LPO 94. However, the illustrations tend to portray males and females in what can be considered as quite stereotypical. Team 8, on the other hand, contains gendered language and male dominance; women were placed in the background or left out completely.  Therefore, Team 8 would not be deemed to be compliant with the requirements set by the Swedish National Agency of Education today.   Key words: Education, teaching material, Wings, Team 8, gender, critical discourse analysis.

Na presente dissertação pretende-se mostrar a motivação, o planejamento e a metodologia usada para desenvolver o projeto e a implementação de um pacote aerodinâmico no veículo de competição da equipe EESC-USP Fórmula SAE da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos. O principal objetivo no projeto da equipe é a dinâmica veicular. À partir disso, será projetado um pacote aerodinâmico a fim de gerar força de sustentação negativa ou downforce, melhorando a capacidade de tração dos pneus com o asfalto da pista e proporcionando maiores valores de aceleração lateral e velocidade nas curvas. Inicialmente é realizado um estudo para encontrar a melhor configuração nas simulações em dinâmica de fluidos computacional (CFD) a fim de otimizar a relação entre a fiabilidade dos resultados obtidos e o custo computacional deles. Também é feita uma descrição geral dos perfis aerodinâmicos a serem usados e um breve analise deles. Com base nesses resultados são projetados o diferentes dispositivos aerodinâmicos, onde são aplicadas estratégias de alto downforce a fim de otimizar o desempenho deles. Além disso, é realizado uma análise do comportamento aerodinâmico do veículo inteiro, com o intuito de integrar as diferentes componentes do carro que são influenciadas pela aerodinâmica. Também é feito um estudo em dinâmica veicular que visa entender o comportamento do carro em pista sob influência das forças aerodinâmicas. Finalmente, o modelo real do veículo é construído e é levado para pista a fim de realizar uma série de testes para validar os dados encontrados nas simulações. / In the present dissertation, it is intended to show the motivation, planning and methodology used to develop the design and implementation of an aerodynamic package in the EESSC-USP Formula SAE\'s race car of the Engineering School of São Carlos. The main objective of the team is vehicle dynamics. From this, an aerodynamic package is designed in order to generate negative lift forces known as downforce, improving the traction capacity between the tires and the asphalt of the track, and providing larger values of lateral acceleration and cornering speeds. Initially, a study to find the best configurations in CFD simulations is performed in order to optimize the rate between reliability of obtained results and computation cost. In addition, a general description and analysis of the aerodynamic profiles used is done. On basis in these results, several aerodynamic devices are designed, and some strategies of high downforce are applied to optimize its performance. Furthermore, an analysis of aerodynamic behavior of the entire vehicle is done with the purpose of integrating other components of the car influenced by aerodynamics. Also, a study about vehicle dynamics is done searching to understand the behavior of the car in track under the influence of aerodynamic forces. Finally, the real model of the race car is constructed and put on track in order to carry out several tests to validate found data in simulations.

Flight is a vital component of butterfly natural history, and flight-associated morphology is thought to be under strong selection for the performance of critical behaviors such as patrolling, courtship and oviposition. However, while different behaviors require different proportions of flapping versus gliding flight, few studies actually quantify butterfly flight behavior. Moreover, as butterfly flight is anteromotoric, no prior study has measured the role of hind wing allometry in flight. Using high-speed videography, this study compares the flight of two species of Haeterini (Nymphalidae) that regularly employ gliding flight. We also employ stereo videography and experimental hind wing area reduction to measure the effects of hind wing allometry on flight. Results suggest that although the forewings are reliable predictors of flight in these two species, relative hind wing area can significantly affect gliding flight performance, and should be considered as a factor in future investigations on flight-associated morphology in butterflies.