Award Data

Nanoscale, material sensitive, imaging techniques are critical for progress in many disciplines as we learn to master science and technology at the smallest dimensions — on the nanometer to atomic-scale. However, progress in both science and technology is becoming increasingly limited by the constraints of current imaging techniques and metrologies. Fortunately, by combining coherent extreme UV ...

This Phase II project aims to assemble the key set of sensor modalities that are needed to reliably view the key process anomalies and properties of laser powder bed fusion. The research team will down-select from the Phase I sensors investigated and integrate the sensors into a sensor fusion software package that facilitates data collection and synchronization, and eventually feedback control of ...

Terrorist use of radioactive nuclear materials via nuclear and/or radiological dispersion devices (dirty bombs) is a serious threat. Therefore, it is crucial to detect proliferation of nuclear material. Critical challenges include: (a) high sensitivity detection of signature emissions from radioactive isotopes, and (b) cost-effectiveness for deployment of sensor networks across large storage facil ...

Based on the results of our Phase I work, one significant barrier to optimizing battery performance lies in understanding the relationship between bulk solids and particle flow properties and the flow into the die. Our hypothesis: an increase in quality batteries production can be achieved if powder preparation process can be optimized and the die filling process controlled. We feel that control o ...

Metallic additive manufacturing (AM) is an attractive technology for the production of lethality test articles due to the potential for significantly reduced lead time and manufacturing cost. However, in order to be effective in providing accurate lethality data, the properties of the AM material have to match closely the properties of conventionally manufactured alloys found in real threat target ...

Optically pumped magnetometers provide very high performance but they cost tens of thousands of dollars, and they are large and power hungry. Recently we successfully developed and commercialized laser pumped magnetometers with size, weight and power consumption that is an order of magnitude below current state-of-the-art without sacrificing performance. In this project, the focus will be on produ ...

One important challenge for the reliable prediction of liquid fuel effects on the combustion in aviation combustors and augmentors is the accurate modeling of underlying physical processes, involving the evaporation of fuels, preferential vaporization, scalar mixing and ignition. LES methodologies are required to accurately capture these transient and inherently unsteady combustion processes. In t ...

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects people, data, and "things" (e.g., software, sensors, platforms), facilitating the translation of information into actions. Although naval platforms’ networks and communication suites have evolved significantly in the past few years to support such required connectivity, one of the greatest technical challenges still facing the military community is the proce ...

Ocean surface winds are critically important in naval operations. They may aid, hinder, or negate maneuvers and operations, and are a primary consideration in routing ships. Continuous and reliable information on favorable and unfavorable sea state is critical for a broad range of naval missions, including strategic ship movement and positioning, aircraft carrier operations, aircraft deployment, e ...

Additive manufacturing is a disruptive new manufacturing paradigm that hold tremendous potential for creation of novel designs and introduction of novel new alloy systems. However, much of this potential remains unrealized due to a lack of robust material properties databases. Accurate calibration of materials models and robust part qualification and certification regimes both will require massive ...