Villanueva George midp pic

George Villanueva was born and raised in Kahului, Maui, and graduated from Maui High School in 2019. He is an upcoming fourth year at Oregon State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering and pursuing a minor in Aerospace Engineering. He has an interest in CAD design, robotics, 3D printing, and aerospace technology. George is the Event Coordinator for OSU’s Society of Asian Scientist and Engineers Chapter and is a member of the Design, Build, Fly (DBF) Team of OSU’s AIAA Club. After graduation, George eventually plans to work for companies such as NASA, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, or Boeing or return home to work in Hawai’i. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, playing video games, watching anime, and graphic design.

Home Island: Maui

High School: Maui High School

Institution when accepted: Oregon State University

Akamai Project: Developing Concepts for the DKIST Enclosure Entrance Aperture Mechanism Fall Brakes

Project Site: Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (NSO/DKIST), Makawao HI

Mentors: James Hoag and Paul Jeffers

Project Abstract:

The entrance aperture of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) is currently operated by a chain drive system. The aperture was initially operated by gears but was converted to a chain drive system due to issues regarding inconsistent gear meshing and flexing. However, in its current design, if chain failure were to occur, the motor brakes would be ineffective, leading the aperture to collide with its end-of-travel shock absorbers. To combat this, an additional brake concept is to be explored for integration that will slow down and potentially stop the aperture prior to engaging the end stops in the event of chain failure. Brake concept development began with brainstorming and familiarization with existing drive designs. Existing designs, SolidWorks models, and calculations were analyzed, to calculate the constraints and specifications required for sourcing commercial brake component options. Finite element analysis was also performed on the end stops using ANSYS to quantify the need for and inform the requirements for the brake. Multiple brake concepts were then drafted, reviewed, and modified, leading to the selection of three final brake concepts for possible implementation. These concepts included a caliper brake and flat bar concept, and two centrifugal brake and gears concepts, where one incorporates pre-existing elements from the original design and the other a modified version. Furthermore, these presented concepts act as proof of concept that a fall brake system is feasible. Additionally, it will serve as the foundation for a design that will be further refined and worked on in future years.