Award Data

Evaluation of bridges for vulnerability to scour or other potential sources of damage requires knowledge of foundation conditions beneath piers and abutments that are often unknown. INFRASENSE proposed to develop and demonstrate a response-based parameter estimation method (RPEM) which will address the need for a simple, low-cost system for unknown foundation evaluation. The RPEM system is based ...

A SPARK DISCHARGE DEVICE IS PROPOSED FOR A FAST SENSOR FOR TRACE CONCENTRATIONS OF CHEMICAL AGENTS IN DEEP BASING APPLICATIONS. THE TECHNIQUE WOULD EMPLOY ATOMIC EMISSION DETECTION OF ARSENIC (AS), PHOSPHORUS (P), CHLORINE (CL), AND FLUORINE (F), WHICH ARE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THESE AGENTS. THE SPARK METHOD IS WELL-ESTABLISHED, HAVING BEEN EMPLOYED BY SEVERAL WORKERS TO DETECT THESE SPECIES, AND AL ...

SMALL CONCENTRATIONS OF WATER VAPOR IN THE HELIUM LOOPS OF AHIGH TEMPERATURE GAS REACTOR (HTGR) CAN ADVERSELY EFFECT THEFUEL ASSEMBLIES AND GRAPHITE STRUCTURES. SHORTCOMINGS IN THE PRESENT MOISTURE MONITOR MAKE IT DESIRABLE TO EXPLORE OTHER TECHNIQUES. WE PRESENT A METHOD BASED ON BROADBAND INFRARED ABSORPTION OF H(2)O IN THE 2.7 UM REGION WHICH IS RELIABLE, RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE, AND SENSITIVE O ...

THE VENTING OF ROCKET FUEL (OR OTHER SUITABLE LIQUIDS) IS PROPOSED AS A TECHNIQUE FOR OPTICAL OBSCURATION AT HIGH ALTITUDES. AS A LIQUID IS RELEASED IN SPACE, IT UNDERGOES A FLASH EVAPORATION AND SUBSEQUENT COOLING WHICH RESULTS IN A CLOUD OF VAPOR AND PARTICLES. RADIATION CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT FROM: (1) VIBRATIONALLY EXCITED MOLECULES RESULTING FROM COLLISIONS WITH THE ATMOSPHERE AND CHEMILUMINE ...

AIRCRAFT FUEL LEAKS REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD. AT PRESENT, IF A LEAK IS SUSPECTED IN AN EQUIPMENT-FILLED AIRCRAFT BAY, IT IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE EQUIPMENT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO CHARACTERIZE WHAT MAY BE A LEAK THAT IS SMALL ENOUGH NOT TO BE OF CONCERN. THIS COULD RESULT IN WASTED MANPOWER AND EXCESSIVE AIRCRAFT DOWN TIME. THE PROPOSED INSTRUMENT IS DESIGNED TO FULFILL THE ...

ICE FORMATION ON ROADWAYS AND RUNWAYS IS A PARTICULARLY INSIDIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE ITS PRESENCE IS OFTEN UNKNOWN TO A VEHICLE OPERATOR. QUICK DETECTION OF ICE OR CONDITIONS FAVORING ITS FORMATION WILL ALLOW FOR TIMELY APPLICATION OF DEICING COMPOUNDS. THIS NOT ONLY IMPROVES SAFETY, BUT IT ALSO REDUCES MANPOWER, EQUIPMENT, AND CHEMICAL COSTS BY OPTIMIZING THE TIMING AND METHOD OF TREATMENT. WE PROPO ...

Accurate modeling of radiation from rocket plumes is critical for remote sensing simulations and assessing vehicle base heating. Current computer models use approximate radiative transfer and computational methods that were developed 20-30 years ago. A unified, general, and accurate approach for rocket plume radiation is needed that takes advantage of rapid advances in computer speed and paralle ...

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