Award Data

Traditional finite element methods require conversion of a CAD model into an alternate geometric representation called the finite element mesh. Tools like Cubit, developed at Sandia National Laboratories, have greatly reduced the time to mesh. However, it is still expensive to produce a complete analysis and difficult to have that analysis affect the design cycle in a timely manner. Our studies ...

This Phase I STTR project will further develop our technique for uniformly dispersing single walled carbon nanotubes into polymeric resins. This project will specifically aim to provide them with a mechanism for anchoring themselves to an epoxy matrix during curing in such a way that they are able to accept and absorb an applied load. The successful development of this technology will result in n ...

Luna Innovations Incorporated will conduct a feasibility study of a non-linear, ultrasonic, non-destructive method of evaluating heat transfer and structural characterization of gas turbine engine hot section parts. The proposed concept is a novel ultrasonic measurement which will be used to determine change in heat flux for determining heat transfer. An ultrasonic transducer will be used for th ...

There is a great need to decrease the dependence upon traditional batteries in modern miniature devices. Not only do batteries increase the size of ever shrinking components, they also do not provide the operational lifetime that is being demanded of newer components. Alternative power sources need to be able to scavenge ambient power from the environment to be able to provide power for newer ex ...

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid state joining process with unique characteristics that offer opportunities for cost savings, new fabrication methods, and new structural designs. FSW eliminates many of the problems associated with fusion welding techniques. In addition, FSW generates a “stir zone” microstructure that consists of very fine, equiaxed grains that are ideal for post-weld f ...

The leading edge of the V-22 rotor blade is made of titanium and nickel abrasion strips bonded to the composite substrate. Although effective for rain erosion protection, nickel and titanium show poor sand erosion resistance. In addition, this metal and composite hybrid configuration limits working strain and fatigue life. This hybrid concept also hampers field serviceability and increases the ...

We propose to jointly develop a miniaturized novel chemical sensor system through a collaborative effort between IonFinity, LLC, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Imaginative Technologies, LLC. This field portable chemical sensor system consists of 1) a new and powerful detector called a Differential Mobility Spectrometer (DMS) developed by Imaginative Technologies, and 2) a novel “soft-io ...

Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies, and Industry first responders in any scenario involving hazardous materials require easy to obtain, interpret, and visualize characterizations of the environment that they are about to operate in. The applications that generate and make the characterizations available must be must be technically sound with respect to the influence of the terrain and ...

KCF Technologies will develop compact Broadband Vibration Power Harvesting devices to enable Navy distributed wireless sensor systems. Building on KCF's ongoing work in low-cost vibration power harvesting for industrial wireless sensors, a primary technical advance is to develop a harvester with "broadband" performance over unknown or changing vibration sources. The power harvester will be devel ...

Over the past three years, Lightning Packs LLC has invented, developed, tested, and patented the innovative Suspended-load Backpack which extracts mechanical energy from the vertical movement of carried loads and converts it to unprecedented levels of electricity during normal human walking (up to 7.4 W, about ~300-fold greater than the previously published attempts of only 20 mW). Our human testi ...