Award Data

This project describes research that will lead to the commercialization of the Tool Dashboard, a new technique for pre-process milling parameter selection. In this approach, dynamic models of the cutting tool and holder will be analytically coupled to spindle-machine measurements to predict the tool point dynamics. Given this information, stability lobe diagrams, which display stable and unstable ...

Existing machine tool metrology methods measure the quasistatic errors of a machine tool and, thus, evaluate its static positioning accuracy. Yet machine tools are dynamic, they do not stop and pause in an effort to reach a programmed position. Additionally, current techniques do not identify all of the errors, many of which significantly impact the volumetric accuracy of the machine. Almost immed ...

The performance of modern combustion systems used in propulsion devices (e.g., gas turbine main combustors, augmentors, rockets, etc.) is largely dependent on the mixing of fuel and oxidizer (e.g., compressor air, vitiated air, and oxygen). This mixing process, usually involving a liquid jet emanating into a gaseous flow followed by subsequent breakup and atomization, is critically important to ma ...

Future military communication systems will utilize advanced superconductor digital electronics that will require efficient cooling at low temperatures near 4 K. We propose to improve the efficiency of pulse-tube cryocoolers by addressing the two primary performance limitations. These are operation in adverse orientations and performance of the regenerator at low temperatures. We will develop (1) a ...

Malicious software within a network has the ability to gather information and surreptitiously send it out. This poses a significant threat to critical information residing on the network that is not sufficiently prevented by current network security appli

Advanced space-borne infrared detectors require cooling at temperatures of 10 to 20 K. Cooling loads for these detectors will range from 0.25 W to 1.0 W at the primary load site, with additional loads at higher temperatures. A multistage cooler, capable of cooling multiple loads, will offer large potential gains in system efficiency and weight. Turbomachine-based Brayton cryocoolers are ideal c ...

Providing power for dismounted soldiers on long-duration missions remains a critical technical challenge. Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells convert hydrogen fuel directly to electric power and offer a lightweight and efficient power source for individual soldiers. However, technology for storing the hydrogen fuel is still too heavy to meet the Army’s mission requirements. We propo ...

The nature and requirements of military operations lead to high noise levels, exposing military and civilian personnel to the possibility of noise-induced hearing loss. Otoacoustic emission (OAE) probes can assess the health of the inner ear by testing the response of the cochlea to various types of stimuli. The measurement of emissions at high frequency has the potential to detect noise-induced d ...

There are many efforts underway to develop distributed shipboard health monitoring sensors. These devices face strong opposition by fleet maintainers unless the requirements for power supply cabling and/or battery maintenance are eliminated. Consequently, methods for harvesting energy from local environmental conditions using heat, solar, and vibration are of great interest. As opposed to piezoele ...

Legacy power distribution cables will not be able to meet the future requirements of Navy electric ships. While power distribution systems employing high temperature superconductors (HTS) have the potential to meet this need, further development work is required to improve the performance and increase the technology readiness level of key system components. The proposed work focuses on the current ...