Theses and dissertations published by graduate students in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Old Dominion University since Fall 2016 are available in this collection. Backfiles of all dissertations (and some theses) have also been added.
In late Fall 2025, all theses will be digitized and available here. In the meantime, consult the Library Catalog to find older items in print.
Theses/Dissertations from 2018
Thesis: Distributed Sensing and System Identification of Cantilever Beams and Plates in the Presence of Weak Nonlinearities, Patrick Sean Heaney
Thesis: Dynamic Response Modeling of High Speed Planing Craft with Enforced Acceleration, Brian K. Johnson
Dissertation: Identification and Optimal Linear Tracking Control of ODU Autonomous Surface Vehicle, Nadeem Khan
Dissertation: Design and Implementation of an Artificial Neural Network Controller for Quadrotor Flight in Confined Environment, Ahmed Mekky
Thesis: Gust Alleviation System for General Aviation Aircraft, Lucas Coleman Mills
Thesis: Human-Robot Collaborative Force-Controlled Micro-Drilling for Advanced Manufacturing and Medical Applications, Parimal Mahesh Prajapati
Thesis: Single-Stage, Venturi-Driven Desalination System, Brandon Proetto
Thesis: A Cost Effective Design for a Propeller Thrust/Torque Balance, Nicholas Barrett Sadowski
Dissertation: Understanding the Mechanical Behavior of Costal Cartilage at Their Curved Exterior Surface Via a Tactile Sensor with a Built-In Probe for Distributed-Deflection Detection, Jiayue Shen
Thesis: A Scientific Approach to Understanding the Head Trauma Endured by a Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, John William Michael Sorbello
Thesis: Robocatch: Design and Making of a Hand-Held Spillage-Free Specimen Retrieval Robot for Laparoscopic Surgery, Farid Tavakkolmoghaddam
Thesis: Effects of Automated Fiber Placement on High Strain Rate Compressive Response of Advanced Composites, Alexander Trochez
Thesis: A Monolithic Internal Strain-Gage Balance Design Based on Design for Manufacturability, Thomas Ladson Webb III
Dissertation: A Stepwise Compression-Relaxation Testing Method for Tissue Characterization and Tumor Detection Via a Two-Dimensional Tactile Sensor, Yichao Yang
Dissertation: Investigation of Microfluidic Kelvin Water Dropper and Its Applications in Contact and Contactless Electrowetting, Elias Yazdanshenas
Dissertation: Solid Oxide Electrochemical Cells for High Temperature Hydrogen Production: Theory, Fabrication and Characterization, Can Zhou
Theses/Dissertations from 2017
Dissertation: Multi-Mode Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Using Differential Evolution Algorithm, Faisal Manour Altarazi
Thesis: An Investigation into the Potential Benefits of Distributed Electric Propulsion on Small UAVS at Low Reynolds Numbers, Engin Baris
Thesis: Development of the Compact Jet Engine Simulator From Concept to Useful Test Rig, Henry H. Haskin
Thesis: A Low Cost Inflatable CubeSat Drag Brake Utilizing Sublimation, Adam Charles Horn
Thesis: Investigation, Modeling And Validation Of Digital Bridge For A New Generation Hot-Wire Anemometer, Karthik Kamalakar Joshi
Thesis: The Effect of Bone and Ligament Morphology of Ankle Joint Loading in the Neutral Position, Jinhyuk Kim
Dissertation: Using Optimality Theory and Reference Points to Improve the Diversity and Convergence of a Fuzzy-Adaptive Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimizer, Amit A. Kulkarni
Thesis: Development of a Data Acquisition System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System Identification, Donald Joseph Lear
Dissertation: Optimal Ship Maintenance Scheduling Under Restricted Conditions and Constrained Resources, Vi Hong Nguyen
Dissertation: Computational Methods for Nonlinear Systems Analysis With Applications in Mathematics and Engineering, Geoffrey Kenneth Rose
Dissertation: Development of an Analysis and Design Optimization Framework for Marine Propellers, Ashish C. Tamhane
Theses/Dissertations from 2016
Dissertation: Thin Film Studies Toward Improving the Performance of Accelerator Electron Sources, Md Abdullah Al Mamun
Thesis: Parametric Investigation of a Laboratory Drop Test to Simulate Base Acceleration Induced By Wave Impacts of High Speed Planing Craft, John D. Barber
Dissertation: Secondary Electron Emission from Plasma Processed Accelerating Cavity Grade Niobium, Miloš Bašović
Thesis: Carbon Deposition During Oxygen Production Using High Temperature Electrolysis and Mitigation Methods, Timothy Adam Bernadowski
Thesis: Long-Term Quantitative Study of Wind-Tunnel Balance Calibrations Across Multiple Calibration Systems, Ryan James Callahan
Thesis: A Comparison of Microstructure and Uniaxial Compressive Response of Ice-Templated Porous Alumina Scaffolds Fabricated from Two Different Particle Sizes, Nikhil D. Dhavale
Thesis: Development and Implementation of a Propeller Test Capability for Gl-10 "Greased Lightning" Propeller Design, Brian Edward Duvall
Thesis: Detecting and Resolving Air Traffic Conflicts Using a Point of Closest Approach Method, Marc S. Easton
Thesis: Experimental Investigation of Turbulent Structures and Non-Equilibrium Effects in Axial Wake Vortices Via Particle Image Velocimetry, Jeffry William Ely
Dissertation: Concurrent Spatial Mapping of the Viscoelastic Behavior of Heterogeneous Soft Materials Via a Polymer-Based Microfluidic Device, Wenting Gu
Thesis: Development of the Compact Jet Engine Simulator from Concept to Useful Test Rig, Henry H. Haskin
Dissertation: Testing and Analysis of an Exergetically Efficient 4 K to 2 K Helium Heat Exchanger, Peter N. Knudsen
Dissertation: Development of a DSM-Based Model for Managing the Design of Complex Systems Considering the Impact of Technological Obsolescence, Gershom Kwaku Obeng
Dissertation: Design of Experiments Enhanced Statistical Process Control for Wind Tunnel Check Standard Testing, Ben D. Phillips
Thesis: A Hybrid Position Feedback Controller for Bistable Structures, Mehmet R. Simsek
Thesis: Modeling Shock Waves Using Exponential Interpolation Functions with the Least-Squares Finite Element Method, Bradford Scott Smith Jr.
Dissertation: An Examination of the Indentation Size Effect In FCC Metals and Alloys from a Kinetics Based Perspective Using Nanoindentation, David Earl Stegall
Thesis: Experimental Analysis of Turbulent Structures and the Effects of Non-Equilibrium on an Axial Vortex, Michael P. Thompson
Dissertation: Nonlinear Flight Control Design Using Backstepping Methodology, Thanh Trung Tran
Thesis: Thermo-Mechanical System Identification of a Shape Memory Alloy Actuated Mechanism, Cody Alexander Wright
Dissertation: Constrained-Energy Cross-Well Actuation of Bistable Structures, Masoud Zarepoor
Theses/Dissertations from 2015
Dissertation: Flight Dynamics Nonlinearity Assessment Across a New Aerodynamic Attitude Flight Envelope, Ayman Muhammad Abdallah
Dissertation: Nano Scale Mechanical Analysis of Biomaterials Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Diganta Dutta
Thesis: Multiple Point Constraint (MPC)-Based Variable Node Super-Element, Mohamad Eftekharjoo
Thesis: Characteristics of Laser-Induced Plasma Flame Kernel Formation and Evolution, Wilmer Flores
Dissertation: Dynamic Project Time and Cost Evaluation Under the Combined Influence of Contract, Quality, and Uncontrollable Change, Thomas V. Hammock
Thesis: Achieving Wing-Like Structural Response With Piezocomposite Unimorph Thin Plates, Francis Hauris
Thesis: Development of Analytical Sensitivity Analysis for AHP Applications, Marie L. Ivanco
Thesis: Guidance and Navigation for A Spinning Projectile Using A Strapdown Seeker, Timothy J. Josey
Dissertation: Isogeometric Analysis for Electromagnetism, Tahsin Khajah
Thesis: Design of Timing Circuit for Fuel Injection Conversion and Development of Laboratory to Analyze Engine Performance Using a Dynamometer, Aditi Jayram Limaye
Dissertation: Constrained Discrete Phase Control of a Heaving Wave Energy Converter in Irregular Seas Using Reinforcement Learning, Praveen D. Malali
Thesis: Validation of Open Chain Model During Kinematic Analysis of Joint Mobilization of the Foot: An In Vitro Study, Anthony Ross McNally
Thesis: Thrust Prediction for a Rotor Operating in a Ship Airwake, Mathew Thomas
Dissertation: Uncertainty Estimates and Prediction Interval Development for Internal Strain Gage Balance Calibration Systems, Kenneth G. Toro
Thesis: Performance Characteristics of Fluidic-Based Thrust Augmentation Using a Slot Jet for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Propulsion, Brendan A. Wiedow
Thesis: Triboelectric Solar Generator Concept and Experimental Research, Elias Yazdanshenas
Theses/Dissertations from 2014
Dissertation: State Variable Model for Unsteady Two Dimensional Axial Vortex Flow with Pressure Relaxation, Mazin Mohammed Elbakri Abuharaz
Dissertation: Role of Surface Chemistry in Nanoscale Electrokinetic Transport, Secuk Atalay
Thesis: System Identification of an Autonomous Surface Vehicle, Christopher John Cook
Dissertation: Fluid-Structure Interaction Modeling of A F/A-18 Twin-Tail Buffet Using Non-linear Eddy Viscosity Models, Ahmed M. Nagib M. Elmekawy
Thesis: Laminar Deflagrated Flame Interaction with A Fluidic Jet Flow for Deflagration-To-Detonation Flame Acceleration, Joseph P. McGarry
Thesis: Design and Construction of a Reconfigurable Pilot-In-The-Loop Aircraft Simulation Workstation, John J. Miller
Thesis: Methods for Initial Relative Orbit Determination Using Angles-Only Observations, Ethan M. Pratt
Thesis: Design and Implementation of an Aircraft Human-In-The-Loop Engineering Simulator, Joshua Reed
Dissertation: Implementation of Analytical Fatigue Models Into Opensim to Predict the Effects of Fatigue on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Loading, Michael A. Samann
Thesis: Design Improvements for a Reusable Horizontal Takeoff and Landing Aircraft for Use on Mars, Brian A. Skoog
Theses/Dissertations from 2013
Dissertation: Field Emission Studies Toward Improving the Performance of DC High Voltage Photoelectron Guns, Mahzad BastaniNejad
Dissertation: A Polymer-Based Microfluidic Device with Electrolyte-Enabled Distributed Transducers (EEDT) for Distributed Load Detection, Peng Cheng
Dissertation: Use of a Rolling Road System in Crosswind Conditions, Mau-Kuo Chen
Dissertation: Subtalar Joint Instability: Diagnosis and Conservative Treatment, Julie Choisne
Thesis: Control Design and Implementation for an Autonomous Surface Vehicle Using Azimuth Thrusters, Stanton James Coffey
Thesis: Static and Vibration Analyses, and Sensitivity Analysis of Stepped Beams Using Singularity Functions, Carla Rocio Davila
Thesis: Preliminary Development of A Subject Specific Finite Element Model of the Hindfoot, Liang Dong
Thesis: Micro-Scale Dielectric Spectroscopy of Biological Cells, Arindam Ghosh
Thesis: Design Advantages of Skin Friction Drag Reduction Using Riblets, John Michael Gregory
Thesis: Conceptual Design of a Reusable Mars Aircraft, Bryce L. Horvath
Thesis: Theory of Constraints Project Management in A Manufacturing Environment, Shihching Kraft
Thesis: Active-Twist Rotor Blades Design, Analysis, and Testing, Andrew Randall Kreshock
Dissertation: Computational Dynamics for the Flexible Multi-Body System, Yu Liu
Thesis: Design and Implementation of Software for Technological Forecasting and Modeling Technological Obsolescence, Gershom Kwaku Obeng
Thesis: New Test Capabilities for the 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Wind Tunnel, Ben D. Phillips
Thesis: Examination of Micromotion-Induced Transient Effects of Brain Tissue Interfaced with A Neural Probe, Michael A. Polanco
Thesis: Characterization of a Spiral Microfluidic Focusing Device for Continuous Single Cell Impedance-Based Cytometry Applications, Daniel Riley
Thesis: Micro--PIV Measurements and Numerical Simulations of Induced Charge Electro-Osmosis Around a Conducting Metal Rod, William George Rosen
Thesis: An Investigation of Unsteady, In-Cylinder Flows of a Mock-Up Internal Combustion Engine Using Particle Image Velocimetry, David Schleeper
Thesis: Nonlinearity Index Analysis of Periodic-Chaotic Stall-Spin Aircraft Motion, Daniel Paul Tapolcai
Thesis: Development and Assessment of an In-Situ Load System, Kenneth Toro
Thesis: Investigation of Buoyant Transport Systems for Martian Exploration, Jake A. Tynis
Thesis: Multi-Objective Preliminary Design Optimization of Planing Craft Using Differential Evolution and Artificial Networks, Robert Eugene Weidman
Theses/Dissertations from 2012
Dissertation: Numerical Study of the Performance of a Model Scramjet Engine, Ayad Alhumadi
Dissertation: Molecular Dynamics Studies on Nanoscale Gas Transport, Murat Barisik
Thesis: Near Earth Asteroid Mission Design for 2000 SG344, Gökhan Çahşkan