Award Data

The ultimate objective of this project is to develop an instrument capable of remote detection and location of tornadoes and/or storms containing tornadoes. There are many reports, both scientific and anecdotal, suggesting that tornadoes and tornadic thunderstorms emit anomalous electromagnetic (EM) radiation-both RF and luminous. This radiation is characterized by unusually high rates of EM pulse ...

We will develop technology, termed a Ruggedized Wind Measurement System (RWMS), to measure directly extreme winds with high space and time resolution, focusing on the winds that occur beneath hurricanes at land fall. This development effort will include design, fabrication of two prototype RWMS units, and a series of proof-of-concept demonstrations in strong mountain-induced downslope and severe t ...

It is proposed to develop a miniature guarded hot plate apparatus that can be used to determine the thermal conductivity or thermal resistance of very small specimens (1 to 3 cm square) of thermal insulation materials over a temperature range from at least -40 degrees Celsius to +65 degrees Celsius, with the apparatus having the capability to carry out measurements under controlled environments of ...

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In the program, we will develop a measurement system based on the dynamics of the machining process. This system will use the variation in the forces or accelerations occurring during machining to characterize the mechanisms occurring between the cutter and workpiece. This will provide real time indications of the finish of the surface that is being created, the proximity to the chatter threshol ...

During the last two decades, software to support the manufacturing lifecycle has become pervasive. Sophisticated off the shelf packages are available for most standard manufacturing activities such as MRP, inventory control and dynamic scheduling. Unfortunately, most of this software has been developed in isolation by independent vendors and does not interoperate well with other independently de ...

The feasiblity of developing a PC based, pulsed ultrasonic test system for the economical and reliable testing of aluminum cylinders for sustained load cracking is addressed. A system consisting of a host PC, ultrasonic pulser/receiver and data acquisition hardware, control and analysis software, and transducer fixture for accurate positioning is proposed. In addition to the system development, ...

Recent catastrophic failures of Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) aluminum gas cylinders and similar air tanks have generated the need for a highly reliable, low cost inspection method to insure the integrity of these tanks. The failures of these tanks have been the result of crack formation in the neck and shoulder area. The cracks originate from the interior wall and can re ...

The storage photostimulable phosphor (SPP) technique has been demonstrated to be sensitive to ionization radiation. It is especially suited for detecting alpha particles since the efficiency is practically 100%. In addition to being able to quantify total ionization deposited in a SPP sensor, it also captures the radiation source distribution information in a digital image which can be readily ana ...

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