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    Analyzing the Effects of Topography on High-Altitude Balloon Descent

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    CarlsonE_2016_Final.pdf (533.3Kb)
    Author
    Carlson, Elizabeth
    Advisor
    Eric Sullivan
    Date of Issue
    2016-04-01
    Metadata
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    URI
    https://scholars.carroll.edu/handle/20.500.12647/3381
    Title
    Analyzing the Effects of Topography on High-Altitude Balloon Descent
    Type
    thesis
    Abstract
    This project was developed to improve upon an experimentally-based descent prediction program for high-altitude balloon payloads at the Montana Space Grant Consortium’s Balloon Outreach, Research, Exploration And Landscape Imaging System (BOREALIS) program. The high-altitude balloon payloads were launched from flat tarmacs but generally landed in or near mountainous terrain. Terrain has a significant effect on air flow, and thus this project was developed in order to improve the accuracy of the predicted landing latitude and longitude. The project was broken into two parts. The first part was simplifying and solving the Navier-Stokes equations to predict an external wind field incorporating the effects of topography. Since the payload would be entering a steady velocity field, we deduced, with the support of external research, that we could simplify the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Our final simplified equations were solved on a 100 × 100 grid. The second portion was tracking the position of the payload through the grid using interpolation techniques and Newtonian physics.
    Degree Awarded
    Bachelor's
    Semester
    Spring
    Department
    Mathematics, Engineering & Computer Science
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