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Technology Today® Archives
Review 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.
Summer 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
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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. Steve 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 Detective
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. Brunett
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
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