SwRI Research Areas

SwRI Research Areas - Alphabetical Listing
Select a letter to jump to the associated alphabetic section of the research areas list.

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N-PAH (Nitro-polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) Analysis
N-PAHs (Nitro-polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) are commonly found in diesel engine exhaust emissions. Due to their high mutagenicity and generally low concentrations, great technical skills are needed for the N-PAH analysis. SwRI has developed a method using Soxhlet extractor to extract the N-PAHs off the particulate filters as well as the semi-volatile fractions of the emission samples. The sample extracts are then put through a proprietary clean-up process and brought down to a final volume of 100 uL. The sample extracts are analyzed by using a GC/MS in negative ion/chemical ionization/selection ion monitoring mode. This process provides a detection limit of about 1-2 nanograms//N-PAH/sample.
	Fuel Lab Prof Staff
Nanoencapsulation
	Microencapsulation
Nanomaterials
Coolants and heat transfer fluids containing nanomaterials.
	Fluids Filtration and Handling Research
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
Nanosensors
Nanoparticle fluorescence is one detector being investigated.
	Department of Engineering Applications and Systems Development
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
Nanotechnology
Can involve nanoscale technology; specializing in carbon nanotubes and nanochemistry.
	Science & Analysis
	Department of Engineering Applications and Systems Development
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
Nanotubes
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
NASA Instruments
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
NASGRO Software
Fracture mechanics and fatigue crack growth analysis software
	Mechanics and Materials Section
	Administration
Natural Gas - Alternative Fuel
Fuel for engines and vehicles. We do engine design, engine development, aftertreatment development, and emissions characterizations from natural gas-fueled engines. Most natural gas engines also have unique crankcase lubricant requirements. There are both heavy-duty and light-duty applications.
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
	Fleet and Field Evaluations Section
Natural Gas Compressor Testing
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
Natural Gas Engines
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Administration
	Engine Development
	Engine Design and Analysis
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	International
	Lubricant Analysis, Administrative Staff
Natural Gas Flow Measurement
Division 18 offers a range of technical services for natural gas flow measurement. We can provide (1) technical advice on selection of appropriate measurement equipment for any application, (2) technical assessment of any existing or planned measurement installation to determine if it meets applicable industry standards, (3) trouble shooting or diagnostic service for field meter stations experiencing problems, and (4) meter test or calibration services at our Metering Research Facility (with calibrations traceable to national and international measurement standards).
	Administration
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Machinery Piping Design
	Flow Measurement
Natural Gas Locomotive--EMD Project
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Administration
	Medium Speed Diesel Engine Section
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
Natural Gas Meters--Calibration/Testing
	Administration
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Machinery Piping Design
	Flow Measurement
Natural Gas Pipelines
	Materials Engineering Department
	Mechanics and Materials Section
	Administration
	Machinery Piping Design
Natural Gas Properties
	Flow Measurement
Natural Gas Reciprocating Engines
Engine design, engine development, aftertreatment development, and emissions characterizations from natural gas-fueled engines. Most natural gas engines also have unique crankcase lubricant requirements. There are both heavy-duty and light-duty applications.
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
	Fleet and Field Evaluations Section
Natural Gas Testing--Analysis
	Chemical Engineering
	Administration
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fluids Filtration and Handling Research
Natural Gas Testing--Vehicles
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Light Duty Vehicle Emissions
	Fuels and Lubricants Research Division
	Fleet and Field Evaluations Section
Natural Gas Vehicle Cylinders
	Materials Engineering Department
	Mechanics and Materials Section
NCHRP 350
Use of a large scale pendulum to identify the response to roadside features such as sign, traffic, and light posts in vehicular tests.
	Marine Structures and Engineering Section
	Structural Engineering Department
NDE Equipment
Ultrasonic, guided waves (magnetostrictive as well as piezoelectric), eddy current, mechanical scanners, associated electronic and computer based systems.
	Applied Physics Division
	Ballistics and Explosives Engineering Section
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
NDE--Ropes
	Applied Physics Division
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
NDE--Turbines
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Materials Engineering Department
	Environmental Performance of Materials
	Failure Analysis & Technical Services
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Near Infrared Spectroscopy
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fuels, Lubricants, and Fluids Applications
	Earth and Planetary Sciences
NEBS Testing
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Administration
	Structural Engineering Department
	Structural Engineering Department
NEBS--EMC Testing
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
NEPTUNIUM 237
ANALYSIS FOR NEPRUNIUM-237
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
	Performance Assessment Group
NESSUS
NESSUS is a practical tool for assessing uncertainties and predicting reliability to support decisions involving cost or safety critical problems.
	Administration
	Mechanics and Materials Section
	Structural Engineering Department
Network Security
Network Security
	System Security and High Reliability Software
	Network Communications and Infrastructure Group
Network Wireless
Network Wireless
	Aerospace Systems Engineering
	System Security and High Reliability Software
	Network-Centric Systems
	Network Communications and Infrastructure Group
Networking and Data Communications
Knowledge of and experience with a wide array of technologies, methods, protocols, and techniques in data communications, including wired and wireless networking such as ethernet, TCP/IP, and IEEE 802.11, as well as non-network technologies such as standard and customize serial communications buses.
	Aerospace Systems Engineering
	Administration
	System Security and High Reliability Software
	Network-Centric Systems
	Network Communications and Infrastructure Group
Networks - ad hoc
Networks - ad hoc
	Aerospace Systems Engineering
	System Security and High Reliability Software
	Network Communications and Infrastructure Group
Neural Networks
	Administration
	Avionics and Support Systems Department
	Network Communications and Infrastructure Group
	Biomedical Engineering Section
NI-58
ANALYSIS FOR NI-58
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
NI-60
ANALYSIS FOR NI-60
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
NI-63
ANALYSIS FOR NICKLE-63
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
Noise and Vibration Harshness (NVH)
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Administration
	Structural Engineering Department
Noise Tests--Machinery
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Administration
Noise Vibration Testing
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Administration
	Engine Design and Analysis
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Administration
Non-Lethal Technologies
	Administration
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
Non-Lethal Weapons
These projects focused on the simulation of weapon effects and the development of strategies and tactics for use of the weapon. Division 10's experience is with the Vehicle Mounted Active Denial System (V-MADS). Division 10 worked with the Human Effectiveness Directorate at Brooks Air Force Base.
	Department of Electromechanical and Optical Systems
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
Non-Newtonian Fluids
We can perform some limited materials testing of non-Newtonian fluids. We can perform flow tests in scale-model and full-scale experiments.
	Fluid Dynamics and Multiphase Flow
	Flow Measurement
Nondestructive Testing
Eddy current and magnetic test methods
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Novel Concept Generation/Eval
	Fluid Dynamics and Multiphase Flow
	Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division
NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) Control)--LTC or PCCI
Internal combustion engines, Compression Ignition Engine, Diesel Engine, Spark Ignition Engine, Gasoline, and Natural Gas, using alternative combustion modes LTC (Low Temperature Combustion) or PCCI (Premixed Charge Compression Ignition)
	Diesel Technology Section
NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) Control--SCR and LNT
Internal Combustion Engines, Compression Ignition Engine, Diesel Engine, Spark Ignited Engine, Gasoline, and Natural Gas, using fuel, fuel additive, catalyst, SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) or LNT (Lean Nox Trap. Control of NOx emissions from stoichiometric and lean operating engines and vehicles is a major area of research, development, and testing.
	Chemistry & Refining Process Development
Nox (Oxides of Nitrogen) Control--SCR and LNT
Internal Combustion Engines, Compression Ignition Engine, Diesel Engine, Spark Ignited Engine, Gasoline, and Natural Gas, using fuel, fuel additive, catalyst, SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) or LNT (Lean Nox Trap. Control of NOx emissions from stoichiometric and lean operating engines and vehicles is a major area of research, development, and testing.
	Administration
NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) Control--SCR and LNT
Internal Combustion Engines, Compression Ignition Engine, Diesel Engine, Spark Ignited Engine, Gasoline, and Natural Gas, using fuel, fuel additive, catalyst, SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) or LNT (Lean Nox Trap. Control of NOx emissions from stoichiometric and lean operating engines and vehicles is a major area of research, development, and testing.
	Administration
NP-237
NEPTUNIUM-237 ANALYSIS BY ALPHA
	Administration
	Division Quality Assurance
	Administration
	Performance Assessment Group
Nuclear Chemistry
	Administration
	Inorganics/Radiochemistry
	Geochemistry
Nuclear Component Qualification Testing
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
	Administration
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Console: Varian UNITY(r)Inova(r) NB High Resolution NMR, Magnet: 9.39 T actively shielded narrow bore magnet (new in Jan 05), 1H Resonance frequency: 400 MHz, 13C Resonance frequency: 100 MHz, Probes: ATB: Multinuclear tunable probe for liquids (includes observation of 19F, 31P, 15N, other nuclei), Nanoprobe: Observation of small amounts (~40 ?L) of liquids and slurries, Solids probe: Analysis of solid samples, Computer: Sun Blade 150 with Solaris 9 operating system, Software: VnmrJ V1.1D Accessories: Pulsed field gradient module, Extended range variable temperature unit (-150 to +250 ?C).
	Administration
	Administration
	Synthesis and Drug Delivery
	Department of Environmental and Demilitarization Technology
	Power Systems Section
	Surface Engineering and Materials Chemistry Section
Nuclear Power Plant Fluids and Solids Test
	Fuel Lab Prof Staff
	Lubricant Analysis, Administrative Staff
	Fluids and Machinery Engineering Department
Nuclear Power Plant--Elec Failure Analysis
he SwRI Component-Analysis Group specializes in failure analysis of electrical and electronic components. Included in the Group's experience are (1) electrical devices (e.g., relays, circuit breakers, switches, transformers, motors, solenoid valves, capacitors, resistors, heaters, pressure transmitters, etc.), (2) discrete semiconductor devices (e.g., transistors, diodes, optoelectronic devices, silicon controlled rectifiers, etc.), (3) integrated circuits (e.g., operational amplifiers, logic devices, voltage regulators, etc.), and (4) a wide variety of other electronic and electrical components. In cooperation with the SwRI Quality-Assurance Department, the Component-Analysis Group offers a Nuclear Quality-Assurance Program (NQAP), which the client may request if required. Laboratory equipment supports key failure-analysis operations including photography, optical microscopy, x-radiography, package opening, scanning-electron microscopy, elemental analysis by energy-dispersive x-ra
	Department of Electronics Systems and Robotics
Nuclear Power Plant--Fire
	Administration
	Fire Resistance Section
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
Nuclear Power Plant--Materials
	Materials Engineering Department
	Environmental Performance of Materials
	Failure Analysis & Technical Services
Nuclear Power Reliabililty Data
Reliability data for nuclear power.
	Systems Engineering
	Applied Physics Division
	Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department
Nuclear Waste Management
Research, technical assistance, and project management in all aspects of storage, transportation, and disposal of nuclear materials. Nuclear materials and related facilities for all components of the nuclear fuel cycle are addressed. These include but are not limited to uranium mining and leaching, uranium mill tailings, nuclear materials processing and reprocessing, fuel fabrication, decommissioning, and both interim storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive wastes. Available expertise and experience span all relevant technical disciplines. Systems-level studies are conducted using integrated safety analysis, total-system performance assessment, regulatory analyses, and environmental assessments. Within the US, support is provided to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other regulatory authorities. Internationally, clients include both nuclear facility/program developers and regulators.
	Systems Engineering
	Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses
Numerical Electromagnetic Modeling
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
Numerical Methods
Expertise in the development of strong and weak formulations for the numerical solution of systems of ordinary or partial differential equations, including higher-order spatial and temporal methods. Expertise in the development of numerical methods for signal and image processing, statistical methods for pattern classification, and visual methods designed to provide insights and understanding of complex models or large volumes of data.
	Network-Centric Systems
	Science & Analysis
	Applied Physics Division
	Staff Engineers and Specialists
	Administration
	Computational Mechanics
	Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses
	Performance Assessment Group
Numerical Simulation
Determination of constitutive parameters.
	Emerging Technologies
	Administration
numerical weather prediciton
Develpo and apply numerical codes to predict the weather of Earth and other planets.
	Scot Rafkin's Homepage
NVH Analysis
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
	Department of Emissions Research and Development
	Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division