Award Data

The problem of suppressing acoustically induced vibration in precision equipment is addressed. The study specifically addresses acoustically induced vibration in an airborne optical train. Two approaches will be studied. (1) The first approach is to inertially instrument each optical element, sensing the motion causing optical jitter. The array of vibration measurements are used with a robust ...

Development is proposed of a new, rotary form of Stirling cryocooler which offers longer operating life and much lower vibration than reciprocating forms of cryocoolers. The proposed machine has fewer moving parts to wear and can be completely balanced to eliminate vibration in all planes by simple counterweights on the shaft, which is not possible in reciprocating machines. The rotary desi ...

Ceramic armor is increasingly gaining acceptance as the armor material of choise for defense applications. One way to increase the ballistic performance of ceramic armors is to enhance their fracture resistance br decreasing their gain size (i.e. decreased flaw size) within the microstructure. Nanocrystalline powders, by virtue of their nanometer scale partical size, offer excellent potential to ...

Optomec Design Company proposes to use Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENSTM), a Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (RP&M) technology currently under development at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), as a new method for integrating instrumentation (e.g., embedded sensors) into metal structural components. SNL has demonstrated the ability of the LENSTM technology to produce near net shape stainles ...

The performance and endurance of military electronic equipment depends on the implementation of advanced scientific and engineering technology. Lightweight and inexpensive power supplies with long life would be especially valuable. A useable life greater than four years, independence from solar flux,continuous current, and a materials cost less than $100/Watt-year are advantages offered by photo ...

The objective of this program is to develop an integrated tribology system for advanced low heat rejection (LHR) diesel engines. The system will consist of a substantially improved high-temperature liquid lubricant, for long life under severe conditions; improved compatible engine tribomaterials; and an on-board sensor arrays for direct monitoring of engine oil condition. Surfaces Research lubri ...

Cured aircraft composite materials present a particularly difficult challenge for recycling technology. Those materials have mostly thermosetting epoxy matrices and occur in intimate association with metals, paints, and coatings. Current techniques for recycling thermoset composites, mostly for automotive sheet molding compounds (SMC), involve pulverizing the material for use as fillers. Th ...

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Fastening and joining technology has lagged behind the progress that has been made in other areas of composites for advanced air vehicles. Aerotech proposes the development of reversible polymeric adhesive bonding of composites using variable frequency microwave energy. With this method, composites are bonded using Poly Ether Ether Ketone (a high temperature thermoplastic) which is cured using v ...

The potential of Destructive Adsorbent Technology (DAT) to detoxify sulfur mustard and nerve agents has been demonstrated in the laboratory. DAT employs a new class of reactive adsorbent materials, known as nanoparticles, to detoxify such hazardous substances by removing halogen or phosphorous elements from them. Developed at Kansas State University, DAT has been licensed to Nantek, Inc. for fur ...