Award Data

A quality simulation which allows a user to simulate the acoustic emissions in a multi-source environment and then study the effects these conditions have on a set of acoustic sensors would be of great value. As acoustic sensors technology continues to advance with robust algorithms for detection, tracking and identification as well as high performance hardware providing real-time operation, thes ...

Active clearance control promises considerable improvements in rotating component efficiencies and compressor surge margin. These improvements are essential to meet stringent performance requirements for next generation propulsion systems. The improvements are more pronounced for small engines, because clearance effect in small engines accounts for a bigger portion of rotating component losses tha ...

Control systems that stabilize the operation of a compressor around the surge line have been demonstrated in controlled laboratory conditions on fixed speed compressors. Jet engine manufacturers are considering this technology for improving engine performance and operability by reducing the compressor surge margins that are currently built into engine control logic. To demonstrate this technolog ...

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Southwest Sciences will develop a novel fire detection technology based on optical spectroscopy, using diode lasers and fiber optics. Rapid, quantitative detection of part per million concentrations (or better) of multiple gases, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, and a fiber optical distribution network permits one laser to be used for at least 800 di ...

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A NEW AND INNOVATIVE CLASS OF ADAPTIVE COMPUTATIONAL PROCEDURES IS TO BE DEVELOPED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF NUMERICALLY-MODELING COMPLEX FLOWS INHERENT IN ADVANCED HELICOPTER-BLADE DESIGNS. THESE PROCEDURES MAKE USE OF MATHEMATICALLY CONSISTENT ESTIMATES OF LOCAL NUMERICAL ERROR, AND AUTOMATICALLY REFINE OR UNREFINE THE MESH OR INCREASE OR DECREASE THE LOCAL SPECTRAL ORDER OF THE APPROXIMATION ...

This project applies a combination of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Genetic Algorithms (GA), and CAD software to the problem of optimum armor design. Previous work for TACOM has established the efficacy of ANN/GA as applied to the problem of 1-D armor design. This new work will extend the concept to full 3-D vehicle geometries (CAD models). The CAD part of the code will handle the 3D data d ...

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It is proposed to demonstrate the applicability of advancement materials, that has been developed for aerospace and military applications, to fuel cell technology to lower cost, increase performance, and decrease weight for future man-portable power systems. MER's advanced C-C composites will be investigated as bipolar plates to decrease weight, increase mechanical integrity, decrease resistivity ...