Technology Today® Features Archive
R eview past Technology Today articles, organized in reverse chronological order (current year to 1984), by selecting the issue (season and year) in the search box below. Technology Today is published three times a year. To search the entire SwRI site, use search SwRI.
Winter 2013
Mars on Earth
The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes in Alaska provide an Earth analog for Martian geology.
Measuring the Radiation
Environment on Mars
An SwRI-led instrument is determining radiation hazards for future manned missions to Mars.
SwRI engineers use a variety of techniques to ensure the integrity of pressure vessels and other structures.
Within ARMS Reach
An SwRI-developed technique enhances the capability of portable gamma ray imaging devices.
Summer 2012
A Cosmic Energy Source in 3-D
SwRI-developed Hot Plasma
Composition Analyzers will fly aboard four satellites
studying magnetic reconnection as part of NASA’s
Magnetospheric Multiscale mission.
Shared Research
SwRI’s extensive consortia experience
stems from a 1984 law.
A Cast of Thousandths
An SwRI-developed method of
casting diesel engine cylinder heads with greater precision
wins an R&D 100 Award.
Unmanned and Downrange
SwRI engineers successfully
demonstrated military applications for autonomous unmanned
ground vehicles during 2012.
Spring 2012
Clues from Burning Furniture
An SwRI-led study of how
upholstered furniture burns will help fire investigators
reduce uncertainty in determining the cause of a fire.
Searching the Moon’s Shadows
Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter's LAMP reveals craters’ hidden features.
Secrets Written in Dust
Research chemists at SwRI
investigated dust for its ability to retain unique source
attribution profiles.
Aiming for the Stars
An SwRI-led team examined the
potential for a balloon-borne telescope to acquire and track
celestial targets.
Winter 2011
Seeing Sea Ice
SwRI scientists analyze satellite radar
data to gain insight into annual changes in the volume of
sea ice near Antarctica.
Controlling Greenhouse Gases
SwRI researchers develop
advanced centrifugal compressor technology for carbon
capture and sequestration.
Solar Wind Storm
An SwRI-led team’s analysis of data
from NASA’s STEREO spacecraft yields new, detailed images of
a coronal mass ejection headed toward Earth.
Improving Surface Properties of Materials
SwRI
researchers are using advanced processes and diamond-like
carbon (DLC) coatings to reduce wear and strengthen
materials.
Summer 2011
Keeping Jet Fuel Clean and Dry
SwRI’s aviation
filtration test facility helps fuel handling facilities
remove contaminants and ensure smooth flow, from storage
tanks to aircraft fuel tanks.
Particle Emissions from Direct Injection Gasoline Engines
A team of SwRI engineers examines how emissions systems and
engine technologies can affect the mass, numbers and average
sizes of exhaust particles from gasoline engines.
Dual Coil Offset Ignition System Wins R&D 100 Award
An
SwRI-developed technology enables gasoline engines to run
efficiently with high levels of exhaust gas recirculation.
Along for the Ride
SwRI’s role in NASA’s space shuttle
program spanned its career.
Spring 2011
Shining a Light on Friendly Fire
A new radio technology
helps warfighters distinguish between friend and foe.
Taking Asteroids for Granite
Bouncing a pair of
3,000-pound granite spheres together helps refine existing
models for calculating the effects of space collisions.
The Project Information Management System (and more)
A
family of R&D web applications originated with a friendly
bet.
Behavior Training
An SwRI-developed training program for
dealing with behavioral problems is available for home
computers or as an iPhone application.
Fall/Winter 2010
At a Moment’s Notice
SwRI field service professionals
travel the globe to provide quick response solutions to
machinery and piping system dynamics problems.
A Ribbon at the Solar System’s Edge
A low-cost
Earth-orbiting spacecraft discovers much more than
scientists expected.
Sentinel in the Sky
An autonomous airship offers
long-duration, high-altitude capabilities.
Not So Simple SIIMON
SwRI designs, tests and delivers a
hand-held biometrics collection kit.
Summer 2010
Groundwater Voyager
An SwRI-developed miniature robot
sensor creates a map of submerged caves and channels.
From CO2 to H2O
SwRI compressor technology helps NASA
produce water in space.
Clean and Cool
Cooled EGR improves fuel economy and
emissions in gasoline engines.
Winter 2009
Fifteen Years Strong
SwRI’s Planetary Science
Directorate has built a worldwide reputation on
investigating mysteries across time and space, from the
death of the dinosaurs to a close-up look at Pluto.
Listening for Danger Signals
An SwRI-developed system
helps warfighters detect and locate the distinctive radio
signature of a fired weapon.
Food for Thought
SwRI chemists detect foreign materials,
allergens and residues in food samples.
SwRI-developed Coatings Technology Earns 2009 R&D 100 Award
▲ RETURN TO TOPSummer 2009
Going Green
SwRI engineers design, build and test a
prototype wind turbine array.
Hybrids in our Future
The manager of SwRI’s Advanced
Vehicle Technology Section discusses trends in hybrid
vehicles and their role in our transportation energy future.
Before the Fall
An SwRI-developed monitoring system
helps nursing homes prevent patients from attempting to exit
their beds without assistance.
Reading the Rocks
SwRI geophysicists have created a new
algorithm that uses cross-dipole sonic data to estimate
formation properties around the borehole.
Spring 2009
Model Behavior
SwRI researchers are developing an
advanced computer code to simulate high-velocity impact.
Designing a Unique Lab for Advanced Military Vehicles
A
new Army facility will support the warfighter with
next-generation ground vehicles.
Countering Cosmic Collisions
Even relatively small space
objects can cause damage to Earth.
JETT Safety
An SwRI-developed trending tool helps
analyze jet engine performance data.
Winter 2008
Depainting
by Numbers
An SwRI-developed robotic system removes
coatings from off-airframe components of military aircraft
New Materials, New Methods
SwRI researchers are using
advanced computational tools to develop and analyze
nanomaterials
Enhancing Our World’s Energy Supply
SwRI engineers are
developing new technology for subsea natural gas production
Digging Into Simulation
An SwRI-developed simulator
helps train excavator operators safely and effectively
Street Smart
SwRI plays a significant role in the 15th
World Congress on ITS
Summer 2008
Diesel Redesign
A new engine for the Asian market meets
emissions control regulations.
Exploring the Galactic Frontier
The Interstellar
Boundary Explorer is set to reveal fascinating new details
about the region separating our solar system from
interstellar space.
Setting the Standard
SwRI’s Heavy-Duty Engine
Benchmarking Program provides a means to obtain
comprehensive performance and design data on new diesel
engines.
Underground Movement
An SwRI-developed subsurface
contaminant transport software received a 2008 R&D 100
Award.
Spring 2008
Super Hard, Very Tough
Nanocomposite coatings find new
applications in more durable tools and turbine blades.
Aging Warplane, New Life
Upgraded weapons, electronics
keep the A-10 Thunderbolt II a winning combat aircraft.
Approaches to Corrosion
A panel of SwRI scientists and
engineers recently talked about their respective research
into corrosion's effects, its detection and its prevention.
Space Radiation Forecast
A new method provides
astronauts up to an hour's warning of approaching hazardous
particles from extreme solar events.
Winter 2007
New Angle on Pipe Inspection
Approximately one-third of
U.S. natural gas pipelines cannot be inspected by
traditional methods. SwRI researchers have developed a
technology to inspect these pipelines.
Predicting Potential Failure
SwRI researchers team with
industry to develop aircraft engine reliability software.
Jupiter Encounter
Pluto-bound New Horizons' Jupiter
flyby generates a flurry of discoveries.
Going the Distance
The incoming president of SAE
International answers Technology Today's questions about
vehicles, engines and fuels.
Summer 2007
Detecting Past Life on Mars
SwRI researchers develop new
technique to identify biomarkers.
Carved in Stone
A Texas flood’s aftermath reveals an
unprecedented view of geologic faults.
Putting the Pieces Together
Software-defined radio
technology is part of the network-based space communications
puzzle.
SwRI-Developed Products Win R&D 100 Awards
A new
compressor plate valve and a client’s corrosion analyzer are
among winners for 2007.
Spring 2007
Earthquake Ground Movements
SwRI scientists use
satellite remote sensing to map ground ruptures and surface
displacements.
Encountering Jupiter
Nearly eight years from its Pluto
target, the New Horizons SWAP instrument observes solar wind
interactions near Jupiter.
SwRI Celebrates 60 Years
The Institute responds to the
changing needs of clients and the nation.
Closing the Safety Loop
Technology links smart vehicles
with intelligent highways.
Roadmap to the Driverless Vehicle
An SwRI initiative
uses Intelligent Traffic Systems technologies to improve the
state of the art in autonomous vehicles.
Fall 2006
Balance of Power
Hydraulic-powered components add to
vehicle efficiency, reduce emissions.
The Fluid Properties Meter
SwRI researchers develop
innovative energy meter to determine natural gas properties.
MsS® Heat Exchanger Probe Wins R&D 100 Award
Inspection
system surveys heat exchanger tubes faster than conventional
methods.
Making the World a Safer Place to Live
Technologies that
nondestructively examine materials and structures for flaws
remain vital to assuring the reliability of America's
industrial components and aging infrastructure.
Air Crews in Training
An upgraded simulator helps train
Air Force Reserve C-130 air crews.
Summer 2006
Voyage from the Bottom of the Sea
SwRI researchers help
design a next-generation submarine rescue vehicle.
Friendly Eyes, Hostile Skies
An SwRI-developed flight
management system adds capability to a compact unmanned
aircraft system.
Quality Through a Prism
An SwRI-developed data
acquisition system improves automotive fluid and component
evaluations.
Ensuring the Health of Our Power Lines
SwRI engineers
are working with EPRI to develop remote sensors for electric
transmission lines.
Spring 2006
The Particulars of Diesel Particle Emissions
New
research looks at particle numbers and size as well as mass.
Maximizing a Potentially Significant Energy Source
SwRI
researchers develop ultra-thin metal membranes for hydrogen
gas separation.
Supply and Demand
Despite rising costs, natural gas will
remain an important source of energy worldwide.
Destination: Pluto
New Horizons spacecraft begins an
historic, 10-year voyage to the Ice Planet.
Solar Soundings
A NASA rocket carrying a next-generation
ultraviolet spectrograph for solar physics research will
help answer some of the mysteries of the Sun.
Winter 2005
The Quest for GraIL™
An SwRI-designed graphics engine
reduces cost, increases flexibility on graphics-intensive
applications.
Ringed Mysteries
Cassini finds hot-water plasmas and a
comet-like moon at Saturn.
Sharp Turns in the Road Ahead
New fuels and vehicle
designs could be in the future as oil supplies begin to
dwindle.
Compression Technology for the Next Generation
SwRI
engineers develop new tools to enhance gas transmission.
Summer 2005
Perspectives on Returning the Space Shuttle to Flight
Technology Today talks with a panel of SwRI experts in
mechanical and materials engineering, ballistics,
computational fluid dynamics and impact modeling regarding
the Institute’s role in NASA’s space shuttle
return-to-flight program.
Refueling Realism
An SwRI-developed trainer helps Air
Force refueling boom operators gain skills without flying.
Running the Numbers
SwRI-developed software helps
simplify reliability predictions of complex systems.
Giving F-16 Wings a Lift
An SwRI-developed tool helps
crews remove and re-attach fighter’s wings quickly and
precisely.
Spring 2005
Assuring the Integrity of Mechanical Systems
SwRI
researchers are developing technology to help mitigate the
damaging effects of corrosion.
Stretching the Pipeline
A new transfer system keeps
fast-moving armies supplied with fuel and water.
Virtual-Vehicle Product Development
Auto teams can save
valuable time using award-winning RAPTOR® software.
A
New Approach to Mars
An internal research initiative
targeted Mars for new skills and applications.
Winter 2004
The Power of Design
SwRI engineers develop a low-cost
centrifugal gas turbine.
MEMS – A Small World with Big Opportunities
SwRI
engineers take on the big challenge of working on the very
small scale.
Ears in the Sky
SwRI accomplishes airborne acoustic
surveillance via unmanned aerial vehicles.
FOCAS® on Emissions Technology
An SwRI-developed
apparatus may replace engine-based methods for catalyst
aging.
Summer 2004
Cleaner Pleasurecraft
Lower-emission boats may be coming
soon to a lake near you.
Smooth in the Clutch
New transmissions combine a
manual's simplicity with an automatic's smoothness.
Measure of Success
An SwRI-developed fuel gauge for
spacecraft will save fuel and money.
Mission: Saturn
Cassini Plasma Spectrometer reveals
Saturn's tremendous magnetospheric structure, as well as new
surprises.
SwRI Wins R&D 100 Awards
Vehicle and powertrain
simulation software, 3-D measuring device are among the
year's top inventions.
Spring 2004
Cracking a Cosmic Mystery
Seismology offers clues to the
interiors of asteroids.
On Track Toward Cleaner Large Engines
New emissions
reduction strategies focus on locomotives and ferry boats.
Secure Locations, Secure Medications
Advanced
information technology provides prescription for rising
healthcare costs.
New Life for Aging Systems
Re-engineering helps keep the
Atmospheric Early Warning System vital in a new century.
Fall 2003
On the Leading Edge
SwRI ballistics tests help
investigators determine the cause of Columbia loss.
The Three-Dimensional Solar Wind
Ulysses observations
contribute to an evolving view of the three-dimensional
solar wind from the Sun to the galactic frontier.
Waves of the Future
Guided-wave technology that
effectively inspects and monitors large structures is
finding its way into numerous industries and applications.
SwRI wins two R&D 100 Awards for 2003
Software code and
transmission test cell are honored in Chicago ceremony.
Simulating failure for success
A jointly developed
SwRI-NASA computer program accurately simulates cracking in
mechanical components, allowing repair or replacement before
costly failure occurs.
Summer 2003
Center-to-Center
Connecting traffic management centers
will help motorists move across Texas
Testing New Designs in the Loop, Not on the Oval
The
Virtual Vehicle Transmission Test Cell can save valuable
time for auto designers
Safety in the (Very) Long Run
The CNWRA is supporting
the assessment of long-term performance of a proposed
geologic nuclear waste disposal site
Spring 2003
Managing Metadata
Olympus DISS™ software helps
researchers visualize data
A Potentially Deadly Spread
When apple jelly appears,
the fuel delivery system is toast
Through the Looking Glass
SwRI-developed device helps
engineers get a closer look at hydrates
More Power To You
Video sagometer helps utility
companies tap unused capacity from power lines
Fall 2002
Making the "Smart Pig" Smarter
The addition of nonlinear
harmonic sensors improves the discovery of dangerous
pipeline defects.
Seeing in Black and White
New light-based technology
allows surface measurement without contacting the surface.
Higher Education
Field course gives petroleum
geoscientists a top-to-bottom view of the structural geology
of oil exploration.
The Drive for Better Fuel Economy
Fuel, lubricant and
component testing helps industry achieve Corporate Average
Fuel Economy standards.
Spring 2002
Slipping Stealthily Across the Seas
A new antenna design
helps U.S. warships escape enemy detection.
Pixon Reconstruction
An imaging software "pipeline"
enhances pictures of faint objects in deep space.
Slick Deterrent
A new material developed for the U.S.
Marine Corps may help isolate facilities and thwart
confrontational crowds.
Nine Tons of Hardware-in-the-Loop
Simulation and
autopilot designs help NASA develop low-cost space vehicles.
Propane Power
A new propane engine demonstrates the
tough off-road vehicle emissions standards set for 2008 can
be met.
Fall 2001
Fuel Cells
Researchers are integrating fuel cells into
heavy-duty tractor-trailers in a multi-year program to
improve the efficiency of the vehicles.
Nondestructive Testing of Aging Aircraft
New technology
improves detection of dangerous cracks in the nation's older
commercial and military aircraft.
Light Years Closer
New nonlinear filtering technology
can improve the accuracy of instruments used in space
exploration, missile guidance and aircraft flight control
systems.
Navigating Virtual Worlds
A new device enables operators
to use real-world movements in simulated environments.
Diesel Fuel Testing Device Wins Award
The Ignition
Quality TesterTM quickly and inexpensively rates the
ignition quality of diesel fuel, which could result in lower
prices at the pump.
What Made the Moon?
Simulations show a single impact by
a Mars-sized object in the late stages of Earth's formation
could have created the Earth-moon system.
Summer 2001
Accelerating Cancer Drug Discovery
Michael A. Miller and
Jian Ling
SwRI researchers are using 3-D cellular imaging
techniques to assess the potential of cancer-fighting drugs
more quickly.
Gold in Those Hills
James R. Weldy
SwRI-developed
analytical laboratory allows modern day prospectors to assay
their finds in the field.
High Rate of Precision
A team of SwRI technicians uses a
unique instrument to rate surface distress and to quantify
potentially harmful deposits left on engine parts. The
instrument? The human eye.
Cleared for Landing
Brian Fisher
SwRI has developed a
virtual reality simulator for the U.S. Air Force to provide
a more realistic training environment for air traffic
controllers.
Jupiter Lights Up
Researchers observe an unusually
bright flare from the planet with the most powerful auroras
in the solar system.
Protecting the Environment and Human Health
Gang Sun,
Ph.D.
SwRI has a one-stop shop for clients who want to
ensure that their pesticides meet increasingly strict
federal environmental regulations.
Spring 2001
Predicting Rock Burst Underground
Sui-Min Hsiung, PhD
Sound sensors may be able to foretell an impending mine
explosion--technology that could save lives and money.
Fuel for the Forces
Scott A. Hutzler
New fuel-level
sensing and communication technologies that permit real-time
fuel management on the battlefield will help the U.S. Marine
Corps keep its equipment moving to military hot spots when
needed.
Engineering a Miracle
Viewpoint: Necessity, not magic,
is what enables scientists and engineers to create miracles
of technology
Putting a New Spin on an Old Problem
Franklin T. Dodge,
PhD
An experimental facility will help ensure that future
spacecraft can orbit successfully after liftoff by
developing a way to compensate for the motion of sloshing
rocket fuel.
Fall/Winter 2000
Evolution of an Engine
John T. Kubesh
Innovative
technologies are helping heavy-duty natural gas engines to
meet the strictest emissions regulations yet.
Designing Pipeline Safety
Edgar R. Dupré
Engineers are
building safety and reliability into today’s pipeline
compressor systems. Safer Highways, Safer Skies Technologies
that could save lives on the road and in the air are named
significant developments of the year.
Spacecraft Exploration of Deep Space
Clark R. Chapman,
Ph.D.
A prominent space scientist considers deep space
research and the ever-present budgetary ax.
Summer 2000
Gearing Up for CVTs
Michael A. Kluger
The continuously
variable transmission is helping the automotive industry
improve vehicle fuel consumption and reduce emissions.
Keeping Disaster at a Distance
Patricia Moseley Bowles
and P.A. Cox
Computer models that predict where debris might
fall after a catastrophic explosion are helping engineers
safely site aircraft and ammunition magazines.
New Eyes in Space
Stunning images of the previously
unseen magnetosphere are enhancing knowledge of the Earth's
sometimes volatile interactions with the sun.
A Cleaner-Burning Diesel
Novel technologies are helping
the most efficient engine clean up its act for the vehicles
of tomorrow.
Spring 2000
A Decade Later
Dr. Brent M. Nowak
A major retrofit of
the robotic depaint facility – completed 10 years after the
original program began – is keeping the Air Force F-15
fleet flying high.
Computers in the Sky
Carl A. Bargainer, Ronald D.
Knuppel, and David A. Ogden
Unmanned aerial vehicles
outfitted with autonomous guidance and control systems are
increasingly replacing human-piloted craft for dangerous or
expensive tasks.
Improving Tank Car Safety
Joseph W. Cardinal
Damage
tolerance analysis methods are helping the railway industry
assess the structural integrity of tank cars.
The Asteroid Moon
The first ground-based observations of
a moon orbiting an asteroid are helping researchers learn
more about asteroid composition and structure.
Fall 1999
To See the Invisible
Dr. James L. Burch
A half-ton
satellite carrying some of the most sophisticated imaging
instruments ever flown in near-Earth space will soon help
researchers predict "space storms," which can disrupt power
grids and communications worldwide.
Pioneering Fuels
Dr. David W. Naegeli
A prominent fuels
chemist talks about the energy crisis and the fuel that will
drive America into the next millennium.
Flow Meter Calibration
Edgar B. Bowles
Lower costs for
consumers and increased profits for natural gas distributors
result from the effective calibration of fluid flow meters.
Summer 1999
Diesel Deadlines
Charles T. Hare and Magdi K. Khair
With
only three years before diesel engine manufacturers are
required to meet new emissions standards, engineers are
using innovative technologies to expedite efficient
solutions.
Assuring Heart Valve Reliability
Dr. James Lankford
Technology derived from early research in the nuclear power
industry is proving useful for assuring the quality of
mechanical heart valves -- crucial for the more than 80,000
adults who undergo procedures to replace damaged heart
valves each year.
The New Space Environment
Dr. David T. Young and John J.
Hanley
NASA's "faster, better, cheaper" concept radically
changed experimental space science -- and fostered the
development of one of the most efficient plasma sensors ever
to fly.
Cooperating Competitors
Bruce B. Bykowski, Dr. Jay L.
Fisher, Dr. Robert L. Bass, Dr. Gerald R. Leverant, and Dr.
Thomas W. Ryan
Technology Today talks with a panel of SwRI experts in
automotive emissions, nondestructive evaluation, mechanical
systems, materials engineering, and engine design to find
out what makes cooperative industry research an efficient
means to an otherwise expensive end.
Spring 1999
Big Bang, New Moon
Dr. Robin Canup
Computer models
suggest single or multiple collisions between young Earth
and other bodies could have blown the right amount of debris
into orbit to create our moon.
Looking Beneath the Earth’s Surface
Laura M. Connor, Dr.
Charles B. Connor, and Peter C. La Femina
A system that
detects underground magnetic anomolies enables survey
technicians to quickly visualize and interpret buried
geophysical data.
Fueling a Trip From Mars
Steven T. Green and Danny M.
Deffenbaugh
As probes venture deeper into space, researchers
are evaluating several options for producing fuel on Mars to
support manned missions to the Red Planet.
Hybrid Solutions
Dr. Ashok Nedungadi and Mark Walls
A
new, parallel hybrid powertrain design may be the key to
significantly increasing fuel economy and reducing
automotive emissions.
Fall 1998
What’s Under Europa’s Icy Crust?
Dr. Clark R. Chapman
Tidal forces from nearby Jupiter may create enough internal
heat to keep water liquid beneath Europa’s icy surface.
Studies could provide answers for scientists who wonder
whether Europa may be the solar system’s best hope for
extraterrestrial life
Cracking
the Fatigue Mystery
Dr. David L. Davidson
SwRI
technology enables engineers to study the formation and
behavior of tiny cracks that develop when metal is stressed
over thousands of service cycles, such as may occur in power
plants and turbine engines.
Getting Near the Core
Grady L. Lagleder
A Japanese-built
robot and SwRI ultrasonic transducer technology allow
nuclear power plant inspectors to detect flaws from the
inside of steel pressure vessels — despite radioactivity and
cramped spaces.
Smart Skeletons
Daniel P. Nicolella
Imagine a material
that senses varying loads, adapts to maintain reliability,
repairs itself when damaged, and survives tens of millions
of load cycles. We walk around with this material every day
— and we can’t survive without it.
Summer 1998
Feeling the Heat
Kevin S. Honeyager
A new, handheld
weather station allows accurate measurement of workplace
conditions to warn of impending heat stress.
Aerial Act
Dr. Keith A. Lysiak
Realistic computer
simulations are replacing scale models and expensive,
full-scale mockups in the search for the best site for
shipboard antenna arrays
Ensuring
Environmental Safety
Dr. Michael G. MacNaughton
Technology Today talks with Vice President Dr. Michael G.
MacNaughton about SwRI’s role in ensuring environmental
safety during the destruction of outdated chemical
munitions.
Out the Window
Dr. S. Alan Stern
A compact telescope
turns the space shuttle, or even a high-flying aircraft,
into a cosmic observatory — enabling researchers to observe
Comet Hale-Bopp as it retreated toward the sun.
Spring 1998
Putting the Bite on New Materials
Dr. Stephen T.
Wellinghoff
Materials scientists are developing a novel
restorative material for use in dental composites. The
material, made from tantalum oxide and silica nanoparticle
fillers in a liquid crystal monomer matrix, retains
desirable properties of existing restoratives while avoiding
short-comings such as susceptibility to shrinking and
cracking.
Cold Reality
Dr. Gregory J. Hatton and André M. Barajas
Engineers have designed and built a unique, virtual-long
multiphase flow loop to study hydrates, ice-like solids that
can form in deep-water flow lines, blocking hydrocarbon
production.
Tracing Engine Wear
Martin B. Treuhaft and Dr. Xiaojian
Tao
Even as an automotive engine is humming smoothly,
critical internal parts are slowly wearing away. To measure
this wear accurately and quickly without repeated engine
teardowns, SwRI scientists use calculations based on gamma
ray emissions from particles worn away from engine parts
that have been irradiated.
Turning Bullets into Baseballs
Dr. James D. Walker
Which
would you rather have hit you: a baseball projected at 130
miles per hour or a 0.30-caliber bullet fired from a rifle?
While one choice may be uncomfortable, the other is likely
to be deadly. Research into new kinds of body armor, aimed
at making bullets behave more like baseballs, could mean the
difference between sudden death or another turn at bat.
Fall 1997
Saturn: A Journey of Exploration and Discovery
Dr. J.
Hunter Waite and Dr. David T. Young
When the Cassini
spacecraft leaves Earth in October 1997 to begin its
seven-year, 1.4 billion kilometer journey to Saturn, it will
carry the most sophisticated set of experimental equipment
yet flown to any planet. Institute scientists developed two
elements of the Cassini instrument package.
The Heat Is On
Dr. Daniel Boice
Using knowledge gleaned
from studies of planets and comets, Institute scientists are
building computer models to further understand the "urban
heat island" effect, a phenomenon thought responsible for
increased temperatures in large cities.
The Hunt for Hydrocarbons
Dr. Jorge O. Parra
Theoretical
and numerical models of oil and gas reservoirs, developed by
SwRI scientists, aid in exploration for hydrocarbons.
Spring/Summer 1997
Replacing Cells to Fight Disease
Dr. Niraj Vasishtha
Encapsulating and transplanting pancreatic islets of
Langerhans has received much attention as a treatment for
insulin-dependent diabetics. SwRI scientists are testing a
biomatrix that may be able to extend cell viability and ward
off immunorejection.
Saving Lives with SABER
M. LaVarre Bushman and James A.
Moryl
Created to cut through battlefield confusion, the
Situational Awareness Beacon with Reply system, or SABER, is
being used by the military to reduce friendly fire, track
troop and asset movement, and link existing command,
control, and communications systems.
Toolkit for Tomorrow’s Car
Scott T. McBroom
Lighter,
more efficient, powered by low-emissions technologies -- the
car of the future is being shaped by engineers and analysts
whose tools are advanced simulation and modeling programs.
Added Safety and Convenience for San Antonio Motorists
Institute researchers are developing a number of innovative
features to improve traffic flow and increase traveler
safety. The improvements will be implemented through the
Texas Department of Transportation TransGuide System.
Fall 1996
The Many Languages of Training
R. Curtis Heinen
Instructional courseware development experts at SwRI devise
effective learning environments or military and commercial
clients through the use of multiple training strategies and
advanced interactive tools.
Roadside Safety
John W. Strybos, P.E.
Institute
engineers continue to build on more than 30 years in
research and development of effective safety devices for
state highway departments and private industry.
Where the Pipeline Meets the Permafrost
Marina Q. Smith
An innovative combined analytical and experimental approach
provides a cost-effective means of assessing Trans-Alaska
pipeline corrosion and settling.
Summer 1996
Let’s Clear the Air
Technology Today interviews Karl J.
Springer, former vice president of the Automotive Products
and Emissions Research Division at SwRI and nationally
recognized authority on the control of vehicle air
pollution.
Fuel Cells Come Down to Earth
Edward A. Bass, P.E.
Used
for the last three decades to supply electric power for
spacecraft, fuel cells are making the transition to
automobiles. Institute researchers are developing promising
new designs for fuel cells destined for vehicle propulsion
systems.
IMAGEing Magnetosphere’s Response to Solar Wind
SwRI
will serve as principal investigator on a NASA mission to
provide the first global images of the effects of solar wind
on the Earth’s magnetosphere.
Predicting a Fault’s Next Move
Institute scientists have
developed a software program called 3Dstress™ to evaluate
the tendency of faults and fractures to slip or dilate,
depending on the orientation and magnitude of in situ
stresses.
Spring 1996
Engine Design
Stanley K. Widener
Sophisticated
computer-based tools are revolutionizing engine design by
revealing new facts about components in service, resulting
in reduced development time and improved product quality.
Harmful Compounds Yield to Nonthermal Plasma Reactor
Dr.
Michael G. Grothaus and E. Robert Fanick
A new air pollution
abatement technology can transform a broad range of harmful
constituents into less harmful compounds using a fraction of
the energy consumed by existing techniques.
Cold War Legacy: Low-Level Nuclear Weapons Waste
Dr.
Glenn M. Light
Institute capabilities in nondestructive
evaluation and sensor technology are being applied to the
characterization and long-term storage of low-level nuclear
weapons waste.
Fall 1995
Biomaterials: Body Parts of the Future
Dr. Cheryl R.
Blanchard
Institute scientists are developing materials and
techniques to address the problems of biocompatibility,
wear, and failure in joint, organ, and tissue replacements,
to improve and prolong their performance in the human body.
Comet Reservoir Detected at Outer Reaches of Solar System
Dr. Harold F. Levison
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, a
team of scientist from the University of Texas at Austin,
SwRI, and Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada, has confirmed
the existence of the Kuiper Belt of comets.
Rapid Prototyping Engine Control System
A flexible tool
designed at SwRI to help engineers and manufacturers develop
and test engine control algorithms can be used with a
variety of fuels and engine configurations
Summer 1995
Assessing Long-Term Volcanic Hazards to the Geological
Disposal of Nuclear Waste
Dr. Charles B. Connor
Probabilistic models, studies of analogous modern cinder
cone eruptions, and new tectonic analysis methods help SwRI
scientists predict potential volcanic events in the Yucca
Mountain region.
Mapping the Invisible Moon
Dr. G. Randy Gladstone
Scientists are studying the moon’s surface with an
ultraviolet imaging technique that may be used in the future
to gather information about the geological history of more
distant objects, such as outer planet satellites and
asteroids.
The Art and Science of Microencapsulation
Dr. John
Franjione and Dr. Niraj Vasishtha
Considered something of an
art because of the many scientific and engineering
disciplines it encompasses, microencapsulation is undergoing
a new level of security as researchers seek to better
understand compound fluid jet breakup.
Keeping Food Fresh Longer
Dr. Stephen T. Wellinghoff
A
biocidal polymer coating to retard containment growth in
food packaging shows promise for health care applications as
well.
The following titles are not available online. Send your request for copies to mmartinez@swri.org.
Spring 1995
Back in Style: Magnetostrictive Sensors
A common element
in engineering applications during the first half of this
century, magnetostrictive sensor (MsS®) technology was
eclipsed for several decades by piezoelectric devices.
Institute scientists have rediscovered the value of MsS
techniques as they attempt to locate and monitor flaws in
structures as varied as pipes and engines.
The Quest for Improved Transmission Efficiencies
Automatic and manual transmission and transaxle testing
capabilities at SwRI have been enhanced by the addition of a
specialized fixture to evaluate transmission gear-box
components. Institute researchers are using the results of
the comprehensive testing program to help the industry meet
fuel economy goals.
Relief from Space Flight Motion Sickness
Scientists at SwRI are exploring alternative methods of
administering anti-motion sickness drugs in anti-gravity
environments, both to combat physiological drawbacks to
conventional means of drug delivery and to make such
procedures more comfortable for those undergoing them.
Understanding the Impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy
9
After practicing in a number of different
investigations of the impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with
Jupiter last July, Institute scientists are beginning to
report the preliminary results of their work.
Fall 1994
Locomotive Exhaust: On Track
Steve Fritz
and Vernon Markworth
The railroad industry is experiencing
record growth, coupled with an increasing emphasis on the
regulation of locomotive engine emissions. Institute studies
are assisting regulatory agencies and the industry in the
collection of baseline emissions data, so appropriate goals
can be set.
Worldwide Tracking via Satellite
Lavarre
Bushman and M. Pike Castles
An SwRI-developed beacon the
size of a VHS cassette can transmit precise location data
from any point worldwide to a central receiving station.
Hot Spots
Institute engineers have
devised a way to trace engine wear by irradiating critical
engine components.
Upgrading the Nation’s Largest Space Surveillance Radar
J. Mark Major
Wielding custom-designed RF power transistors
and integrated electronics, SwRI engineers are enhancing the
performance and reliability of the largest space
surveillance radar in the U.S.
Summer 1994
Investigating the Effects of Pesticide Exposure
In the Home
David E. Camann
A technique to remove
interfering compounds from carpet dust, allowing the
effective isolation of pesticide residues, is just one
advance made at SwRI in the effort to link environmental
pollutant exposure with disease.
Reducing Diesel Engine Emissions by Altering Fuel
Properties
Terry L. Ullman
The Institute has
responded to recently legislated changes in diesel fuel
specifications with new technology to measure and
characterize emissions.
Taking the Charge Out of Pipe Repair
Oren Tranbarger
Electrostatic charges that build up on the
inside and outside surfaces of gas industry polyethylene
pipes can be dissipated safely, thanks to a system developed
by Institute researchers.
SIMDAS
Gregory T. Noren
Designed for
military mission planners, this modeling, simulation, and
data visualization tool can be adapted to commercial
applications as well.
Spring 1994
Deep Immersion Virtual Environments
John
P. Cater
SwRI-developed virtual environment training systems
for astronauts and firefighters allow exposure to hazardous,
exacting duties in the safety of a development laboratory.
Altering Material Surfaces to Prolong Service Life
Dr.
Geoffrey Dearnaley
A new facility at the Institute will
enable a variety of device and component surfaces to be
strengthened by bombarding them with energetic ion beams.
Astronomy on the Edge
Mysterious and
distant, the possible home of short-period comets, the
Kuiper belt has so far eluded direct observation.
Researchers at SwRI are employing billions of computations
to add to the scanty knowledge about this area on the rim of
the Solar System.
Fall 1993
Ballistics Research and Computational Physics
Dr. James D. Walker
Certain aspects of near-instantaneous
ballistics tests defy observation by conventional means, but
simulating impact and explosive events through computational
physics allows insight into material behavior and
interactions.
Reformulated Gasolines: How Do Their Emissions
Measure Up?
Dr. Lawrence R. Smith
Engineers at SwRI
have developed a versatile suite of analytical techniques to
quantify reactive organic gases in the exhaust and
evaporative emissions of reformulated fuels.
Balloon-Borne Stealth
A military
surveillance system suspended by balloon promises cost
savings, less chance of detection, and added safety of air
crews.
Sweden Selects Institute for Waste Disposal
Program
The SwRI Center for Nuclear Waste
Regulatory Analyses will assist Sweden in licensing an
underground repository for high-level radioactive nuclear
waste.
Flying Longer, with Confidence
Dr. O.
Hal Burnside
Institute researchers evaluate strategies to
extend the service lives of military aircraft in the face of
declining defense budgets, new technology, and concerns
about structural flight safety.
Summer 1993
Low-Emission Transportation Fuels
Norman
R. Sefer
Tailoring experimental fuels for engine and vehicle
research.
Missile Test Flights, Minus the Flight
Paul F. Fitzgerald and Steve B. Hugg
Test firing a cruise
missile is complex and costly, but programming its flight
computer with simulation software is a practical alternative
means of analyzing missile performance.
Seeking Out Engineering Training Needs
Dr. Chia-jer Tsai
A computer-based survey can provide
answers. Signal Soup Robert W. Robison How digital signal
processing picks one radio wave out of many.
Combating a Pilot’s Invisible Enemy
Institute scientists explore new ways to eliminate spatial
disorientation.
Spring 1993
Out of Bounds
Dr. James Lankford and
John Campbell
How scanning probe microscopy is carrying
materials research out of bounds.
A Successful Career Built on Failure
Staff Engineer Herman C. Burghard reflects on his
experiences in the evolving field of failure analysis.
Biodegradation Approach
Dr. Matthew L.
Alexander
SwRI’s biodegradation approach to the destruction
and control of wastes.
Combine and Conquer
Donald W. Johnson
A
new device allows simultaneous performance of hyperbaric
procedures and magnetic resonance imaging, promising to
advance our understanding of certain medical phenomena.
Troubleshooting for Utilities
An
in-plant monitoring system boosts the efficiency of
combustion turbine operation.
Fall 1992
New Light on Auroras
Dr. Jill Marshall,
Dr. Jim Burch, and William C. Gibson
Moving beyond passive
observation to active experiments in space, Institute
researchers shed new light on auroras.
TESS: Tools for Spray Studies
Lee G.
Dodge
Computer modeling helps resolve the puzzling behavior
of evaporating sprays.
Friendlier Skies
A visual training
program on the detection and avoidance of windshear will
help pilots fly.
NeuView Spies Faults in Electronic Components
Hugh Spence
Infrared images and artificial neural networks
join forces as the newest investigative team on the boards.
Designs for Safer Screens
William H.
McGinnis
Hazards associated with video display terminals may
be elusive, but the chase is on for lower emissions.
Summer 1992
Laying to Rest the Tombstone Syndrome
Dr. Melvin F. Kanninen
Despite crowded skies and aging air
fleets, continuing research makes commercial aviation
progressively safer.
Engineer, With or Without an Engine
Charles D. Wood
Chip Wood, former Institute vice president
in charge of the Engine, Fuel, and Vehicle Research
Division, discusses his career.
Natural Analog Studies for Geologic Disposal of
Nuclear Waste
Dr. William M. Murphy
Analogous
system studies permit the appraisal of processes likely to
influence nuclear waste repository performance.
Spinoff from Space
Richard L. Murphy
Transferring NASA-developed technology to commercial users
can give a competitive edge to the American economy.
Spring 1992
A Drive for Better Measurement of Natural Gas
Flow
Dr. Robert L. Bass
Needs for improved
accuracy, control, and cost effectiveness lead to the
launching of a unique Metering Research Facility.
Taking the Measure of Antennas from on High
Tim A. Millington
An experimental technique enlists the
pinpoint positioning capability of global positioning system
navigational satellites to calibrate shipmounted radio
direction finding antennas.
Understanding the Effects of Variations in
Natural Gas Fuel Composition on Vehicle Operation
Steven R. King
The variable properties of natural gas fuel
provide challenges for engine design and development
engineers.
Untangling the Roles of Man and Nature in the
Upper Atmosphere
The delicate atmosphere sustaining
life on Earth is changing. SwRI scientists probe the part
solar wind particles play in the dynamic chemistry of the
upper atmosphere.
Spring 1991
Toward Environmentally Friendly Small Engines
Charles T. Hare
Despite difficulties, exhaust emission
problems need to be recognized and faced.
Portable Factory Automation
Dr. Steven
W. Dellenback and Steve Novosad
Custom software integrates
islands of automation and is adaptable to eight different
production facilities.
A New Way of Studying Pharmacological Effects
Dr. Richard Geary and Dr. Michael Miller
Microdialysis-radioimmunoassay technique demonstrates
effectiveness.
Tracking Pesticides
Tracking pesticides
from the garden to the living room rug.
Summer 1991
Why Don’t We See More NMR in Industry?
Dr. Colin I. Nicholls
Misconceptions obscure the worth of
nuclear magnetic resonance, a valuable measurement
technique.
When High Technology Meets a Human
Innovative training methods are needed for safety and
effectiveness.
Natural Gas Is Not a Liquid Fuel
Roy C.
Meyer
A different point of view in engine design leads to
intriguing results when varied piston geometry is used to
compare effects of high and low turbulence.
NESSUS: A New Tool for Safer Structures
Dr. Ben Thacker
and Dr. Harry R. Millwater
Software for probabilistic
analysis provides a means for improving safety and
reliability of complex systems.
Fall 1991
Is Anyone Building a Robot that Can Do Windows?
Dr. Earnest Franke and Dr. Ashok Nedungadi
Present system
controllers demand precise data and cannot handle inexact
terms like fast or slow, or jobs like cleaning windows;
however, research with fuzzy set theory is opening the way
to new capabilities for automation with imprecise values.
Assuring the Safety of Natural Gas Vehicles
Dr. Stephen
J. Hudak
Success for gas in this new role depends partially
on defining effective procedure for fuel tank certification.
Measurement of Weight in Space
Ruell F.
Solberg Jr.
Newton’s second law of motion helps determine
mass in orbit.
The Magnetic Detectiv
Portable and
painless, a new scientific instrument discovers hidden
growths in the breasts of women, and provides the answer to
the paramount question, benign or malignant?
Spring 1990
Slurries You Can See Through
Dr. Richard
J. Mannheimer
Development of transparent versions of
ordinarily opaque slurries provides a new tool for research
in solids transport.
Visualizing Flow in a Horizontal Well
Institute scientists are studying downhole cementing
behavior using a section of oil well borehole.
Outer Planet Auroras
Dr. J. Hunter Waite
The study of auroral processes yields clues to understanding
the magnetospheric environment.
Fooling our Fine Feathered Friends
Research is underway to prevent birdstrikes on airliners
headed for the heavens by fooling our fine feathered
friends.
Through Thick and Thin with NDE
Dr.
Glenn M. Light
Advances in composites technology demand
advances in nondestructive evaluation.
Summer 1990
Toward Neural Networks
Dr. Bruce C.
Mather
Researchers are constructing new computer
architectures that are able to learn.
Qualifying Fuels to Avoid Intake Valve Deposits
Lee J. Grant and A. Doug Brownlow
Fuel-related driveability
problems called for development of a new fleet test
procedure.
Air Injection Reduces Emissions
The
addition of air injection to an electrically heated catalyst
can reduce emissions from fuel.
Tossed in Space: The Problems of Orbital Debris
Randy J. Tullos
Spacecraft designers are challenged by the
threat of impact from thousands of objects in orbit.
Fall 1990
Measuring Particles in Interplanetary Space
Dr. Jill A. Marshall
New Institute instruments on a proposed
cometary mission should provide important clues about the
formation of the solar system.
A Universe of Dynamic Particles
Dr.
Daniel D. Kana
From structural shock and vibration to
modeling of fluid rotary motion in space -- reflections on
three decades in engineering dynamics.
Alcohol Fires: Now You See Them, Now You Don’t
Methanol would be a safer fuel if its flames were more
visible.
Transportation of Radioactive Materials
Dr. John Hageman
Background radiation is found to provide
much greater risk from exposure than transportation.
A Landmark Decision
The American Society
of Mechanical Engineers designates the SGA/PCRC analog
facility at SwRI a historic mechanical engineering landmark.
Engine Test Stand Procedures Simplified
A novel system streamlines engine, lubricant, and emissions
testing for the automotive industry.
Spring 1989
Liquid Dynamics in Space Vehicles
Dr.
Frank T. Dodge and Dr. Daniel Kana
Fluid motions and
thermodynamic can seriously affect spacecraft performance;
low-gravity phenomena that have no counterparts on earth
must be understood for future long-duration missions.
Flying On with Updated Technology
Richard D. Somers
Turbine engine monitoring system
development helps take old technology into the new age.
A Dusty View of Comet Halley
Dr. Daniel
C. Boice
The dynamics of escaping gas and dust, the probable
site of polymer formation, are clarified in new research.
Spatial Disorientation
Investigation of
a major cause of fatal military aircraft accidents is
leading to a new technique to tell pilots which way is up.
Summer 1989
Laser-Induced Luminescence
Dr. Ralph H.
Hill
Fluorescence and phosphorescence provide the basis for
research techniques that are widely useful and in some cases
unique.
Improved Technology for Offshore Separators
An international research program will make oil, gas, water
separation more seaworthy.
Sealing Leaks in Wastewater Impoundment Liners
Glenn T. Darilek
Innovative method show that electricity can
help seal leaks, as well as find them.
Tensile Test Record Still Unbroken
Stephen C. Grigory
SwRI still holds the tensile test record.
Penetrating the Puzzles of Ballistics
Dr. Charles E. Anderson
New approaches are combined with
conventional techniques to seek better protection in space
and on the battlefield.
Fall 1989
Diesel Engine Design for Cleaner Air
Nigel F. Gale
For economical emissions control, engineers
look to the source in the engine combustion chamber.
The Making of Microcapsules
H. Wade
Schlameus
Micropackaging of progenitor bone cells is a
current landmark in a 40-year history of technological
ingenuity.
Probabilistic Methodology in Nuclear Waste
Management
Dr. Prasad K. Nair and Dr. Justin Wu
Predicting barrier performance on millenial time scales
requires development of new techniques.
Science Education for America’s Youth
Dr. Daniel S. Mitchell
Effective channeling of private
sector support is a key factor
Spring 1988
Something in the Air
Dr. Donald E.
Johnson
Expertise gained in years of environmental programs
is applied to monitoring the air at a site for chemical
weapon destruction.
Putting NDE Technology to Work -- Fast
Wayne T. Flach
Nondestructive evaluation of nuclear power
plants is improved by development of advanced systems for
mechanical scanning and data acquisition.
The World’s Largest Autonomous Submersible
Texas-built large scale vehicle will help in design of
future submarines.
Summer 1988
Developing Vehicle Electronics on the Run
E. Sterling Kinkler Jr.
Automotive electronic controls can
be modified in operation using a sophisticated new aid for
developmental engineers.
To See the Bone Grow
A tiny implant
gathers clues to help solve a biomedical mystery of extended
space flight.
Natural Gas: Old Fuel for New Uses
Shannon Vinyard
Innovative engineering supports expanding
use to meet needs of emissions standards, lower costs, and
fuel supply reliability.
Fall 1988
Radio-Emitting Planets
Dr. Douglas
Menietti and Dr. Chin S. Lin
Natural radio signals have been
detected from four planets, and space plasma theoreticians
are looking for explanations.
Quest for Advanced Ceramics
Innovative
means are used to study pore evolution in ceramic materials.
The Mystery of Crack Growth
Dr. David
Davidson
Study of fatigue crack growth bears on both
prediction of material behavior and hopes to produce better
materials.
Running a Two-Cycle Outboard on Diesel
Modifications show feasibility of direct-injection,
spark-assisted, tow-cycle diesel operation.
Spring 1987
Minimizing Chemical Exposure Hazards in Marine
Transportation
Dr. Robert L. Bass, William J.
Astleford, and John Prevost
Ten years of research in
problems of chemical vapor exposure have led to development
of a marine worker occupational safety and health program.
Innovative Eddy Current Probes
Designs
using ceramic or air bearing tips permit precise, high
speed, nondestructive examination of jet engine components.
To Reach for the Deep
Accomplishments of
Alvin and other deep-diving submersibles recall 30 years of
effort to provide technology needed to probe the great ocean
depth.
A Better Way to Evaluate Wire Rope
SwRI-developed fatigue test machine will help determine
better service removal criteria for large diameter mine
hoist ropes
Summer 1987
Advanced Engines: Barriers and Solutions
Charles D. Wood
Consideration of two major barriers to
advancing reciprocating engine design leads to new concepts.
Vehicle Systems Development for the Future
Gary L. Stecklein
Microcomputer control promises
improvements in steering, suspension, and engine operation.
Managing Complexity in Automotive Engineering
Richard B. Curtin
Both vehicles and factories pose
challenges for systems engineers.
Oil Film Thickness Measurement in an Operating
Engine
Albert J. Brunet
A trend to lower weight,
multigraded motor oils leads engineers to seek an improved
high temperature, high shear viscosity test.
A New Way to Investigate Fuel Deposits
James G. Barbee
Electrical properties of varnish-like
accumulations provide a key to development of a new research
method for quantified investigation of deposit formation.
Fall 1987
Top Hat Over the Ice Cap
James R.
Sharber
Work on a computerized design methodology for space
research instrumentation leads to aurora-hunting in the
Arctic.\
Custom Testing in the Design of Complex Systems
George K. Wolfe, J. Pete Harrell, and Steve C. Grigory
Full-scale testing helps bridge gaps between standards-based
specifications and service conditions for military fuel
delivery systems.
The Polymer of Comet Halley
Dr. Walter
F. Huebner
First polymer found in space is identified in
comet’s coma.
Fuels for Defense
Debra K. Bronstad
A
unique army research facility observes its 30th anniversary.
Spring 1986
Mysteries in Microminiature
H. Stan
Silvus
Quality control for electronic equipment
manufacturers is aided by painstaking procedures of
construction and failure analysis.
Helping Industry’s Drive to Modernize
Steve B. Hugg, Susan B. Crumrine, and Kent A. Janes
Among
numerous programs related to computer integrated
manufacturing, a notable challenge was posed by the need to
devise a new system for testing complex electronics on an
automotive assembly line.
Engineering in Medicine
Dr. C. William
Hall
Artificial organs and biomaterials development requires
multidisciplinary efforts crossing boundaries between
engineering and medical sciences.
Advanced Ceramics Technology
Advanced
technology could solve problems relating to ceramic diesel
engines.
Summer 1986
Machines That Look Out For Themselves
Dr. Earnest A.
Franke
Machine vision is still far short of human
capability, but in specialized applications it can perform
numerous useful functions.
Microcomputer Control: Enhanced Performance,
Simplified Operation
Gary L. Stecklein
SwRI-developed systems monitor performance and execute
complex functions in response to simple commands.
Purposeful Polymers
Dr. Steven T.
Wellinghoff
Polymer materials scientists apply
interdisciplinary thinking to achieve practical goals in
numerous areas.
Fall 1986
Help in the High Lines
Jerry A. Henkener
SwRI-developed remote manipulator system will assist
utilities in maintaining high voltage transmission lines.
Lifetime Prediction for Cracked Turbine Discs
Andrew McMinn
Reliable techniques for sizing cracks in the
turbine rotor blade attachment area are needed to assess
safe service life.
Designing for an Uncertain World
Dr.
Thomas A. Cruse
Probabilistic methods are being developed to
help engineers deal with the variability of real world
factors affecting structural design.
What Has Happened to the Cetane Number?
Dr. Thomas Ryan III
Standard procedure for rating diesel
fuel ignition quality does not reliably predict performance;
new methods are being sought
Spring 1985
The Hope of Artificial Intelligence
Dr.
Pamela K. Fink
It is beginning to pay off, but don’t expect
miracles.
Fuels for the Future
Alan A. Johnston
Looking beyond current supplies, coming years will demand
more efficient uses and alternative sources.
The Earthquake Machine
Roger Bessey
Creating tremors in the laboratory can save lives and
property in the cities of the world.
Soil Stabilization
SwRI technology helps
stabilize soil.
Summer 1985
Learning from the AURORA
Dr. Joseph N.
Barfield
SwRI instruments sent into space add to
understanding of the aurora and the earth’s magnetosphere.
Relying on Structures
Dr. Thomas A.
Cruse
When something breaks, it’s the job of Institute
engineers to find out why and what can be done to prevent
recurrence.
Sophisticated Avionics, Sophisticated Testing
Walter A. Downing Jr.
Institute experts help the Air Force
standardize automated test equipment
Fall 1985
Fire in a Computer
Arthur F. Grand
Simulating full-scale room burns in a computer model
highlights the complexity of fire.
Nondestructive Evaluation
George A.
Matzkanin
Rising demand for quality, reliability and safety
is driving NDE research to expand in scope and
sophistication.
The Forces of Fluids
Large flow loop
helps engineers study structural problems of flow-induced
vibration.
Key to Unlocking Gas Reservoirs
A
borehole television system identifies and characterizes
factors affecting natural gas production.
Spring 1984
Analysis in Milliseconds
The Institute
broadens the base in automated evaluation of vital ship
components for the U.S. Navy.
Of Robots and Rivets
Innovative
adaptations mean big savings in aircraft maintenance.
Accelerating Lime Production
A new
catalyst has important implications for major industries.
Monitoring Particles in Space
Work is
launched on a new satellite to patrol the upper atmosphere
Summer 1984
The Future of Gasoline Engines
Dr.
Robert H. Thring
The need for high specific power, low cost,
reduced emission levels and greater fuel economy are factors
that determine the future of gasoline engines.
Winning the Woodpecker War
A new formula
provides the answer to winning the woodpecker war.
New Techniques Developed for Fuel Spray Analysis
Dr. Thomas W. Ryan III
High-resolution photographs reveal
previously inaccessible views of vaporization processes.
A New Probe for Electric Fields
Portable
system makes it easy to obtain field strength measurements
in confined spaces.
Fall 1984
Improving the Breed
Paul Lepisto
How the
world’s largest independent fuels and lubricants testing
organization is dedicated to improving the breed.
SC-1
A versatile new computer proves as
valuable on the ground as it is in space
Earth Resistivity: A Revealing Technique
Dr. Thomas E. Owen
From early use in detecting mineral
deposits, this method has gone on to success in finding
abandoned mines, sinkholes, and even military tunnels.
