Award Data

RESIDUAL LIFETIME EVALUATION OF EXISTING NUCLEAR FACILITIES REQUIRES DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING CONDITION OF CONTAINMENT AND SUPPORT STRUCTURES. CURRENT NONDESTRUCTIVE METHODS FOR SUBSURFACE EVALUATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE USE COMPLEX EQUIPMENT AND RELY HEAVILY ON INTERPRETATION BY THE OPERATOR. A RESEARCH EFFORT IS PROPOSED TO EXAMINE THE USE OF COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING FOR LOCATING ...

Pattern recognition systems using optical correlation are being developed. The optical correlator is a powerful tool since it simultaneously processes large data arrays. This capability reduces data handling and process control, makes the system less susceptable to obstruction and increases throughput. An optical correlator is also a phase sensitive detector. It can read an optical phase mask ...

The final prototype of the Microcircuit Board Repair apparatus will be capable of laying down or lifting metal strips with micrometer dimensions. Under real time computer control, the translation stages will be fully automated or manually controlled. The end user will monitor the process in real time using a camera attached with the source. Laying down the metal lines will be done using Laser C ...

THE PURPOSE OF THIS EFFORT IS TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF AND, HOPEFULLY, VALIDATE THE USE OF TASK NETWORK MODELING TOSTUDY HUMAN FACTORS IN THE CONTROL ROOM. TASK NETWORK MODELING EXTENDS A HUMAN ENGINEERING TASK ANALYSIS INTO A COMPUTER MODEL. WE PROPOSE THAT PERTURBING THE INDIVIDUAL TASKS IN A TASK NETWORK MODEL IN A MANNER PREDICTED FROM CONTROL ROOM DESIGN CHANGES, TASK AUTOMATION, OR THE CO ...

Q-DOT proposes to develop a unizue, lower-power, low-cost beamformer for portable imaging sonars. The original two chip set will form 100 beams from 100 input channels. A 0.3 cm2 BiCMOS chip comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA), a time-gain control (TGC), an apodizer and a Delta-Signma modulation (ADC) for each channel. A 0.66 cm2 CMOS chip accepts 100 digital input channels and produces 100 d ...

SMD proposes the design and fabrication of a two-dimensional APD array. A novel APD array is proposed which requires low bias voltages, thus making it compatible with both CMOS and CCD multiplexer designs. The on-chip CMOS/CCD circuitry will allow for multiplexing of a large number of pixels to a single output. Further, each pixel in the APD array will have its own range detection circuitry allo ...

THE DIFFICULTY IN PREDICTING STRUCTURAL DEGRADATION RATES FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT COMPONENTS DUE TO CORROSION AND OTHER FACTORS HAS LED TO THE NEED FOR COSTLY, TIME CONSUMING INSPECTIONS AND INCREASED COST FROM INTENTIONALLY OVERDESIGNED COMPONENTS. THE SITUATION INDICATES A SERIOUS, UNMET NEED FOR A SIMPLE BUT ACCURATE SYSTEM FOR REAL- TIME, IN SITU, NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ...

Breathable release coatings that can withstand processing conditions up to 750F are needed for use on ceramic tooling. In situ removal of volatiles in solvent-based composite processing is a critical issue that will enable production of high quality parts at lower cost per part. Current release coatings meet neither the temperature nor the solvent transport requirements of solvent-based composit ...